That was a good collection of emails. I guess the only thing I can say is congratulations to Jennifer. Congratulations to Delmer as well. Sounds like many spiritual experiences, and I felt that spirit even though I´m many miles away.
It´s strange how many changes can happen to a family in a year. I suppose it´ll be even more strange after two. In the coming weeks Elder Ockey will make his way home, leaving me as the lone ranger out here in the mission field from our immediate family. That´s not the only thing that´s changing though.
This week is the last week in the transfer, which means the lasts for President Asay are coming to an end. I had my last interview with him yesterday, and it was hard. President has helped me so much over this year of my life, I can´t imagine the mission without him. Additionally, the Fitchs, the marriage couple in the offices right now, are getting ready to head out. Leaving me with my new trainee, Hna Jones.
The Jones got here last week, and have been busy starting to learn their office detail. I´ve been busy with training, also with trying to get out in the area. The more time passes in the mission, the more balls you have to start juggling.
Last weekend, we were privileged to witness the baptism of Gimena Alegre. Elder Gibbs had worked so hard with her; it was hard to baptize her without him. Before the service, I stood up in the offices looking at the picture of our old staff. Feeling the weight of everything he left behind on my shoulders as the rain poured down on the glass chapel walls. "Wish you were here for this one," I said out loud. It was a hard change, but a change for the better, as Elder Gibbs is as we speak changing the mission out in the coast.
The Baptismal service was beautiful, and Gimena was more than ready. At the end of the meeting, Guillermo, her father, got up and expressed his desire for the rest of the family to enter the waters of baptism, so that they could eventually enter the temple as a family and be sealed. The spirit was powerful, and I knew their goal of an eternal family was in reach.
We had a week. We were able to take out a baptismal date with Damian, finally. We had a meeting in the church where we talked about the sacrament and the importance of the atonement. After we showed him the baptismal font, and the picture of Christ being baptized. We emphasized that he didn´t just go to any man, he went to John the Baptist, who had the authority to perform a baptism. We went upstairs and watched the restoration, explaining that the authority to perform a baptism the same as Christ´s has been restored to the Earth today. The spirit was beautiful, and Damian after some questioning, agreed to be baptized on the 3rd of June... Under one condition. If Argentina goes to the finals in the world cup, we have to postpone the service, which brings me to my next point... Everyone pray for an argentine loss in the mundial!
Veronica finally made the step of going to church. She loved the service, loved everything she learned. Her neighbor to the front of their house, Arnaldo, helped her finally make the jump to get to sacrament meeting. She told us in her appointment last night that she loved church, and that she wanted her entire family to go. Luis, her husband agreed. Veronica is unreasonably elect. She already keeps all the commandments, and reads and prays every night. She tells us how much she loves the scriptures and loves to learn about God and strengthen her faith in him. It is one of the greatest rewards as a missionary to see people love the gospel. So many of us think of things as a drag, as forced. We have to go to church. We have to read our scriptures. But to see the few people that aren´t bothered by commitments, that love the laws of God and applying them to their lives, that gives me the greatest joy. Seeing people walk in righteousness. Any time I feel down when we get discouraged working, I think of those moments when people embrace and love the truth and it makes all the struggles worthwhile.
Daniel is almost ready for baptism. He told Elder Boyer during sacrament meeting on Sunday that he would like one of us to do the baptism, and the bishop to do his interview. We explained that another missionary would be doing it. The point is, we´re already talking logistics. It´s just a matter of him committing to do it. Also getting over his family problems. The gospel message needs to sink into his heart a bit more. He loves doctrine and covenants and the latter portion of the Book of Mormon. Very studious, and still very devoted to scouts. We went out with Jesus, a member that lives close, and taught him about the plan of salvation. When Jesus tried to talk, Daniel denied him explaining it was a "Scouts only meeting." It was a bit embarrassing, but luckily we were all able to laugh about it afterward. Unfortunately Boy Scout members in Argentina are hard to come by, and his fanaticism is starting to slightly disturb us.
And one quick story
We received a reference from Daniel to a man who lives just down the street who had received the discussions with the missionaries a few years ago. He let us right in, explaining that he was waiting for us. He talked about a hard life that he lived, but a desire to change. We left the book of Mormon with him and invited him to read and pray. When we went back the other day, we found out that he had done both. He explained to us that he was looking to change his life, and he loved the part in third Nephi about baptism. After a bit of explaining, he agreed that he felt good about reading the book, and of course wanted to go to church, but all in all, agreed that he wanted to be rebaptized. We set a date for the 31st of July, but we may move it earlier depending on his progress.
All in all
The state of the area is wonderful. Things aren´t perfect. We have good days. We have bad days. But all in all we have many investigators that are making life changing decisions, and our prayers really are being answered to be led to the elect. We always hear about being lost in missionary work, and at least for me it was always a nice idea. But now that I´m here, witnessing the wonderful changes that are happening in these people’s lives, that´s all that´s important to me. I know that this Gospel has a powerful message that changes people. Our circumstances may change, but the gospel never changes. I love this work. I know that God directs it.
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