Email 48 - "Three Moments I Will Never Forget"

Andrea's Baptism!

Setting up and conducting the Plan of Salvation Activity

"Check out this shot Hna P sent me this morning! That's our investigator, Richard, and SUNNY BAPTIZED HIM! So much happiness :D"

"The Larsens brought us lunch during activity prep :)"

"American cookies! Made with Spanish ingredients, but they turned out okay :)"

Hello family!

So I guess this Sunday was Father's Day, right? Happy Father's Day, Dad!! :) And THANK YOU, Brodricks, for the envelope full of love and happiness that got to my apartment this week. That was AWESOME. 

This week wiped us all out. For the last few days, we've been waking up each morning feeling like we've only slept for about 5 minutes, haha. It's been such an awesome week!!

For starters, we spent a morning with our one-legged buddy, P--o, cleaning his house, and that was super fun. He's a really sweet, humble guy whose brother just got arrested, so he's completely alone. The members have really been helping out a lot, calling him and checking up on him, and trying to get him ready to receive the priesthood :)

We also had zone training this week, and the Elders from the south of the island (including Elder Poulson from my ward at BYU) came up, and then we had a conference call on a webcam with a companionship from two other islands (we're all together today at the Larsens' house again, playing ping pong and eating yummy food). That was pretty awesome. 

The 4 things we focused on were the basic needs we, and our investigators have: 1. to be loved 2. to be trusted 3. to be understood, 4. to be appreciated.

We're already noticing a difference in our lessons as we've been keeping those things in mind. Especially with F----o, who's progressing again and working on getting his answer.  And we FINALLY got a Conference Ensign! :D

Now for the good stuff. Three moments I will never forget:

1. Andrea's baptism on Friday was a spiritual Thanksgiving feast, folks. She is so, so adorable, and knows exactly why she needed to be baptized. Her whole family came, and they were all very touched by the Spirit, even her mom's tough-guy boyfriend, Y--i, told us afterwards that he was feeling something special.

The Primary sang and gave short talks, we taught about the need to be like little children, and Andrea's testimony at the end was precious. The best part, though, was Andrea's smile when she came up out of the water. So, so happy, so pure, and so full of the Holy Ghost. 

2. And remember N-----a? She came to the baptism, and as we were socializing with everyone after the service, I went over to talk to her and D----e. When I got over there, I asked what she thought, and D----e blurted out, "She wants to get baptized!!" I looked at her, and she nodded. We talked about how she's been reading and praying, and what she's been doing to receive an answer. I asked her, "So you've gotten your answer?" And she just gave me a big, long hug, and cried. 

3. We spent all day in the chapel on Saturday with the Elders, setting up everything for our activity. It was very fun, occasionally stressful, and very, very worth it. What basically happened was this:

-everyone started in the airplane, where we had a safety presentation (how to pray, haha) and everything, and then they watched the mormon message from Elder Nelson about his experience on a crashing plane.

-with flashing lights and us missionaries banging on stuff, we simulated a plane crash, and then I walked in, dressed in white, to explain what happened.

-We went through the Spirit World and the three kingdoms of glory, and a wave of the Spirit hit everyone as they walked into the "Celestial World," where everything was white, and we had a happy, eternal family sitting together. All of us missionaries agreed that the Spirit we felt after having seen the contrast of the lower kingdoms was surprisingly similar to the Spirit we feel in the temple. 

Like I said, we're in the "mission home" today, so I don't have a whole lot of time, we need to let everyone else get on to write home, too. But I hope you all have a taste of what an awesome week it's been.

It's crazy that this is the last week for Hna Caballero. She seriously never even mentions it, it's amazing. It comes up sometimes with the members, but she's completely chill about it. I realized this week that it's only because she's been giving her all for the last 18 months that she can be so relaxed about it all ending. I know I really need to step-up if I want to be the same way!!

Anyway, I love you guys tons :) I hope you all have another awesome week of summer. It sounds like Brad and Kate are keeping busy with some awesome things, and I've been praying all goes well with the wedding prep and animation application for Mike! (Write to me! And send me sketches!)

I LOVE YOU!!!!

Love,

HCL :)