Tristan has been living with some members in our ward and has been taught by missionaries for many years. He has had friends help bring him to church every week. From there he started learning about the gospel of Jesus Christ and the importance of prayer. His older siblings were baptized recently and so Tristan became interested in working towards baptism as well.
Tristan’s life has been pretty difficult, as he’s had to move frequently from his parents in Florida to North Carolina. Through these trials he began to be reliant on God. At first Tristan was shy and hesitant to meet with the missionaries, but as time went on he started to trust them more and loved having them come by to share the gospel lessons. It was amazing to see how he and his brother Philly progressed. They grew spiritually as they read scriptures, prayed, and went to church.
Tristan was only 9 years old at the time of his baptism but we were able to see how smart he was. As we taught the gospel of Jesus Christ, we used some hand signals to remember the 5 principles and many times he taught them back to us. As we studied the stories in the Book of Mormon he was always excited to learn more. As we taught about the Holy Ghost, Tristan began to be excited for the influence it could have in his life. With his unique situation he felt the need for the guidance and comfort it could give him.
Within the stories in the scriptures and in their personal lives, Tristan and Philly especially saw the power of prayer.
Throughout the time of meeting with the missionaries, Tristan’s grandma became very ill and had to go to the hospital. As they prayed for support from the Lord, she was able to recover from her illness and return home safely.
Tristan was hesitant at first to accept a baptismal date, but as we set a goal for him, he prayed and took a step of faith, deciding to be baptized. Every day before his baptism, he committed to praying and checking off his baptismal calendar.
Right before his baptism, Tristan said he felt nervous. But, as soon as he got in the water, the nervousness went away. After his baptism, Tristan was seen smiling for the rest of the day. He now has such a shining countenance and cheerful spirit. Tristan’s decision to be Baptized and to receive the Holy Ghost has blessed both his life and the life of his family. Tristan has set a strong example for his younger brother Philly, and we know they will grow to become even greater disciples of Jesus Christ together.
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