Member Referrals Are Like Gold!

Corrie Kooistra, Lelystad, May 21, 2011

Corrie Kooistra is a wonderful lady that was searching for the truth. She went to many churches but always felt that it wasn’t quite what she was looking for. One day, she was talking with her friend Dorothea Knetsch, who has been a member for quite some time and is a strong member of the church, and asked if she could come along to her church. Sister Knetsch obviously said yes, and they went together. The first week, Corrie felt like it wasn’t the right church. She even said she wouldn’t come back. However, the next week, she came right back with Sister Knetsch, and the week after, and the week after, and so on. She had been coming to the church for about a year and then decided to meet with the missionaries, who at the time were the elders in Almere, Elder Mickelsen and Elder Osmond. They taught her for a few weeks and helped her progress for a month or so before Elder Schwartz and I, Elder Hanks, came to open up Lelystad. We continued to teach her, and she continued to progress. She talked about her desire to get baptized, but first had to talk to her children about it. We challenged her to do so, and a few weeks later, one beautiful church morning, she came up to us and said "21 May." It took us a second to process before we understood that that was the day she wished to be baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and become a member. We were so thrilled and so was she. It was amazing to see the light on her face as soon as she told us. About a month later, on that date, she was baptized by a Brother Theo Hoolle. The baptismal service was wonderful and she had many family and friends there to support her on her baptismal day. The next day, she was confirmed a member of the church and you could see a literal shining from her face and truly feel the happiness coming from her. She is a wonderful lady, and will be a strong member. (Written by Elder Hanks)