Know. Live. Love.

TEACH REPENTENCE, BAPTIZE CONVERTS!

Yep, this week I had my FIRST BAPTISM! It was a crazy week.

 

On Tuesday, we finally got back in touch with Juliauna and Matthew and their family (the 9 and 8 year olds we started teaching who were on date for Saturday) and they were still planning on getting baptized on the 29th, even though we hadn't been able to come and teach them (turns out they were at church, we just didn't see them). So Hna Hanson and I frantically set up lessons with them every day, called to make the arrangements for the baptism, got the interviews set up, made the programs - it was nuts! We were able to teach them everything in just four days, and all of the lessons went really well (aside from some crying when I tried to distract one of the kids by giving them my fidget spinner and then everyone wanted to play with it ...)

The baptism was on Saturday. It was wonderful to see how excited they were, especially Matthew - he couldn't stop smiling, and he said the moment he entered the church, "Do we get to put the white clothes on now?" It was mostly just their family who came, but Brigitte's dad is super less active and we've never been able to get him to come to church, but he was at the baptism AND he came to church yesterday and stayed all three hours! Her nonmember sister also came yesterday, so it was a weekend of miracles. The Elders in the ward also baptized two converts, so there were FOUR confirmations in sacrament meeting yesterday, as well as a homecoming talk, which was amazing! When Bishop Bluth blessed Juliauna and Matthew, he talked in both of their blessings about how they would be examples and strengths for their families, about how they would share the gospel with others, and how they would be married in the temple one day. It was a little surprising, because they're so young, but so humbling to think that I had the smallest part in helping them get started on this path for hopefully the rest of their lives. They're such great kids who truly have a desire to follow the Lord!

Wednesday, we biked ALL DAY, and I got a pretty bad sunburn because I forgot to put on sunscreen. It's cleared up, though, and we had Aloe in the house, so it was all right :) We did a lot of biking this week because we're running out of miles, and I enjoyed it for the most part, but it was hard! At one point I got stuck in this ditch, and Sister Hanson was trying to help me out, and then a member suddenly ran down out of nowhere - he'd parked his car on the side of the highway when he saw us and run over to help. It was really sweet! I'm so grateful for the members here, they're amazing!

 Transfer news! I'm staying in Queen Creek, but changing areas, so I'm going to Sister Showalter's area (the north side of the ward) and Sister Hanson's getting Sister Fuimaono as her new companion :) (same address)

Love,

Hermana Garner