Brother Bingham Miracle 5-18-14 

We have been teaching Mackenzie, she is a care giver for brother Burton Bingham. Brother Bingham is 97 years old and has dementia and about the cutest old man on the planet. Since beginning our teaching to Mackenzie we have noticed recently that she has been struggling with the understanding of the necessity of religion and how it will truly bless her life. 

Brother Bingham is a retired-active member of the church. He was the stake patriarch and very knowledgeable in the gospel- complete with the aurora of the spirit. That being said, since I knew that about him, every time we have been over there to visit and teach Mackenzie, I have said a silent prayer in my heart, that at least once he would be coherent and help us in our teaching Mackenzie the gospel. That in some way he would understand the questions we would ask him, and would respond with his testimony, in hopes that a small miracle might occur and Mackenzie would come to understand more fully how the gospel has blessed his life, and how it can and will bless hers. 

 Typically he sleeps in his den chair while we are there, and only opens his eyes and says a few sentences that don't make sense, but this time was different. During our latest visit with Mackenzie, brother Bingham was very alive, and very involved In our conversation, all things considered. As we taught Mackenzie about the miracles that Jesus Christ performed while on the earth we shared bible videos with her and I told her my testimony that miracles happen everyday. That even though Jesus Christ himself is not here, that his power is on the earth, and as we are faithful we can see the miracles. Well, God works in mysterious ways, that is when our miracle happened.  

When we asked brother Bingham questions pertaining to the gospel we hoped to receive gospel answers from him, but the first few questions he didn't answer. Then slowly we noticed that he would answer our other questions and answer them correctly instead of his typical answer of " what are the gas prices, or what time is it?" We noticed he was coming to be more conscious of the conversation at hand, rather than in his own mind. So we asked him questions we all knew he would know the answer too, like " how long have you been a farmer?, and what do you farm?" Hoping he would continue to stay with us.  And it worked. 

There were some really funny moments that had the 4 of us laughing. :) ( the 4 of us being Mackenzie, me, sister Oliveira and sister Joyce Metoyer.)  

He asked us once, what this thing was that was In front of him - it was his walker- and we responded with " it's your home." And in a mocking tone he responded: 

"I ask you all the time, what is this thing, where am I.. And all you say is, " it's your home Burton!" And shook his head in a diva-esque, matter -of -factly way.   It was hilarious. Mackenzie told us how he has done something similar to her when he wants to leave and go for a drive he says " your 97 , you can't drive. This is your home." 

It was super funny! 

At the end of our lesson, we asked brother Bingham if he would give us the closing prayer, since he was " there with us." So we asked him to say the closing prayer for us and sister Metoyer said "bless Mackenzie", and he said.  " what? She wants to be black?!" Pointing over to me he says, " this fine white lady wants to be black? The lifestyle of a black woman is very different." Oh it was so funny! We laughed for a long time after that. :)

So after a few minutes we asked him again and he agreed. In his tender and beautiful prayer, I could feel that he knew perfectly well who he was talking to, and of the closeness he felt to our Father. It was obvious that he was listening and understanding what we were discussing with Mackenzie. The spirit directed him and we could feel of Heavenly Fathers love. In his prayer he asked that we would be able to understand and recognize why things happen to us. He also thanked God for the wonderful day and for the privilege of being here on this earth and for the opportunities we have.  All of those things, were in someway related to the very topics we had discussed with Mackenzie,( one of the things being why her mother passed away when she was 12).  It was amazing and I felt the spirit flood that room and tears came to my eyes as I realized the great miracle this was in my life, and an answer to my prayers. 

As we were leaving I knelt down next to brother Bingham, first to take a picture with him, and then to ask him to teach Mackenzie about Jesus Christ. After a few tries of explaining to him to teach of Jesus Christ, he got on a train of thought that could not be stopped. He began by telling her to serve, that members of the church fulfill their callings by serving. That as we read the books and magazines and publishings of the church we will understand Jesus Christ.  Then he drifted into a prayer and then concluded by saying "we love thee, in the Name of Jesus Christ, amen."  

What a blessing this has been, something I hope to never forget.  Our Heavenly Father loves each of us, and uses us as tools no matter our age or capabilities dependent upon our righteous desires to serve him. I hope that in someway I can follow the example of Burton Bingham and be righteous and faithful to the end, always worthy to be used as a tool in the hands of The Lord. " wherefore ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold this saith the father; ye shall have eternal life." - 2 Nephi 31:20 

At our exit we said to him. " we love you brother Bingham! " 

 And he said " does your husband know that?"  

Hahaha and sister Metoyer said 

 " No! They are missionaries!" 

 . Oh.. ( with a smirk) ha! 

Love him! 

Love from the Midwest,

Sister O'Neil 

WEDDINGS, BAPTISMS, MIRACLES, AND BUNNIES

5/19/14

OK! So this week I learned the valuable lesson that Preach My Gospel is inspired of God. That it comes from the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve and therefore it comes directly from Jesus Christ. Please don't ever undermine it or degrade it. To me it is a sacred book that with out which, I would be lost as to how to be successful in this work.  I know it is powerful direction given to us, and as we follow it with exact obedience we see success in our Missionary efforts and a greater endowment of faith that we can be member missionaries. Follow the counsel from Elder Ballard - obtain a copy and study it :) I know it is true.   and you will be blessed! :)

Ok - ok  i know you dont want to hear me preach all day long.. i do that already... :) haha #fulltimetestifier  #gospelistrue.

 now this week was amazing! and it has been a long - full week.

It snowed on wednesday! WHAT THE..... ILLINOIS has issues :) just kidding  i really loved it. 

Sue update! - first thank you for the prayers directed for her. they are being answered.!! this week we talked with Tim, Her son. and He said that he wanted his dad to learn from us. and so he called up his dad - Jerry and asked him if we could come over later that day. SOO we went and had an amazing lesson. Sue was there with us and she testified of the things she knew to be true. IT was simply amazing! it was like a member present lesson, but shes not a member yet! hahaha!!  SO COOL! the spirit was strong. It is a great experience because Jerry is a paraplegic and is almost deaf, so we have to choose our words very carefully and speak slow clear and loud. causes me to carefully measure my words.  

Then on Saturday we had an amazing day.  We had our monthly coordination meeting with Bishop at 7:00 am and then right at 9:00 we had the wedding of Salvador and Sandra.  Sandra has been a member, and to make a long story short, is in love with Salvador but initially Salvador didn't want anything to do with the church. The elders and the spirit worked their magic and he is now the newest member of the Sycamore Ward. He has been waiting for 3 months to be baptized, completely ready, but couldn't because he had to be married to Sandra first. We had to wait for divorce papers to come from Honduras, and they were held up because the country just wanted more and more money for them.  so finally they arrived and the ward rallied around them and threw a wedding together in a week. It was amazing to watch how the ward truly came together and everyone put in effort to help them. It was a wonderful experience and beautiful memory I hope to never forget.  Such an example to me of all that is possible when everyone works together for a common righteous cause. 

Directly following the wedding we went into the relief society room and Salvador was baptized! WOOT!! I love baptisms.

the rest of that day felt like a Sunday. there was a peace to the day and it was simply beautiful. - the weather has been nice too! :) 

This week we visited a less active family. Sister Lea Roberts has been sick. she has a hole in her lung and has been struggling, but we went and visited with her and her kids and they had a bunch of baby bunnies ( i dont know what they are called, a flock?, a school?, a nest?, a heard? a family?  what is a family of bunnies called??? hahaha)   They were the cutest little things ever! just a few days old and were opening their eyes the day  we were there. so fun!  But their family is awesome. we enjoy our visits with them. :) 

This Thursday Kylie Ryder will be baptized! I am so excited for her! and the family decided to have the baptism here in Sycamore, so we are happy and grateful for that decision. It is nice to have a convert baptism with parents who are members, because they will take care of all the nitty gritty details. :) 

There was a HUGE miracle that happened last night at brother Binghams home. I am in the process of writing the story on my iPad and will send that your way when i finish it today.  He is so hilarious and we had an amazing time with him. I love Burton! :)  hahaha last night as we left we said " we love you brother bingham!' , as we were leaving and he said " does your husband know that?"   hahahah he is a funny guy! :)  just think about 97 years for one second... his teenage years were in the 20s and 30s! WHAT?!?!!  So i will send that too you. and hopefully you will be able to understand the siginificance of this event!  amazing! :) 

I love you!  - actually.... its a toss up between you and missionary work to be honest! hahah just kidding :)

Sister O'Neil