Family,
I
just don't even know how you start an email recounting a week like the
past week! I guess like this: "Jed! Congratulations on being baptized!
That is so exciting! Good for you! I wish that I could have been there
to see it, but you absolutely made the right decision. We can't even
begin to understand how big of a deal baptism is, but you'll be blessed
for your whole life. Here's what the Savior has got to tell you about
it:
21 And
[since Jed] will hear my voice [he] shall be my sheep; and him shall ye
receive into the church, and him will I also receive.
24 For behold, in my name [is Jed now] called; and [because he knows me, Jed] shall come forth, and shall have a place eternally at my right hand.
(Mosiah 26)
22 For
behold, this is my church; whosoever is baptized shall be baptized unto
repentance. And whomsoever ye receive shall believe in my name;
and [Jed] will I freely forgive.
23 For
it is I that taketh upon me the sins of the world; for it is I that
hath created them; and it is I that granteth unto [Jed] that believeth
unto the end a place at my right hand.24 For behold, in my name [is Jed now] called; and [because he knows me, Jed] shall come forth, and shall have a place eternally at my right hand.
(Mosiah 26)
Secondly, Toni got baptized
this week! It was such a miracle. We set the date on Friday, and she got
baptized 2 days later. We were talking on Thursday about how Elder Baker and
Elder Lindemann (another missionary who has served in Vernon
previously) were going to be in the Vernon area for exchanges, and so
they'd be at church this Sunday. And we thought, why doesn't Toni just
get baptized this weekend? Everything would just be perfect! Toni has
been taught since sometime in August, and I've been working with her
ever since coming to Vernon 4 or 5 months ago. And we've probably
planned in her baptismal service 5 or 6 times in the previous months.
And she was SO READY to be baptized. But she travels a lot, was sick a
lot, and had different obstacles to her baptism, so it had just never
happened. She was going to be out of town this weekend, but she ended up
not going on her trip so we went in to go and teach her with the goal
of setting a baptismal date. We started by talking about how she's
gotten answers to her prayers, how she knows the Book of Mormon is true,
how she's gotten her connection with God back, and how she knows that
she needs to be baptized. And then we invited her to be baptized on
Sunday and the spirit was so strong. It was amazing. At first she was
kind of incredulous, but then she started to think about it, and just
said "I guess I don't have any reason not to be baptized. Yeah. I'll be
baptized. What do I need to do?" It was amazing. We just pulled
together a baptismal service, there were a few more bumps in the road
(it almost got delayed for another month so that her friend in Alberta
could be there, etc) We just kept going, and the result was one of the
most powerful baptismal services that I've ever attended. Since Elder
Baker was around, he was able to baptize her. When she came up out of
the water, she just said "wow".
And... now it's transfer
calls later today, and I am very sincerely hoping that I don't get
transferred, because I want to be able to confirm Toni next week, on top
of all the other miracle people that we're teaching here in Vernon.
But... we'll see!
In between church and the
baptismal service, Elder Baker and I had the chance to go on a brief
exchange for a few hours. It was awesome. We had an appointment with one
of our investigator's future daughter-in-law, (complicated situation)
who's future husband is a less active member who just loves the church
and is working on coming back. Anyways, she's now pregnant, which has
forced her to stay away from partying and the rest of her previous
lifestyle, and so she's been able to get some perspective and she's
totally ready to be taught. There are just so many miracles. But
anyways, it was just great to work with Elder Baker again. We're just
two peas in a pod. So that was miracle #2.
Lastly, we've just been
seeing so many miracles with the people that we are teaching! Vicki, who
I've previously mentioned, is just getting closer and closer to
quitting smoking. She's been facing a lot of social pressures from
people at the church she previously attended, and is just staying
strong. She's meeting with us consistently and just doing great. At one
point, she was on the streets of Vancouver (which is why a member family
raise her kids) and she has just turned her life around and is just
doing great. The Krugers are doing great, too. Sister Kruger now has a
job, and so that family has some sort of income. They just need to quit
smoking, too! Tobacco. It's just the worst. Canada has horror-movie
status warning pictures and messages on the boxes of their cigarettes,
and they're taxing the daylights out of them, but people here are still
just smoking machines sometimes. It's the worst. You can definitely see
that following the guidance of prophets is the right thing to do. Tis
better far to avoid all those issues.
Elder Fitzner and I have a
deal going that if he can eat 7 McTanks (which is what we call when you
put McDonald's entire dollar menu ($1.40 here...) chicken sandwich in
between the patties of their dollar menu double cheeseburger) then I
have to pay for all of them. BC missionaries don't have the same weight
loss concerns as in Korea. We still eat seaweed, but usually it's in the
form of all you can eat sushi, and the rolls are deep fried.
Well, sure love you all! Thanks for all of the support. Hope that it's just a great week for one and all.
Elder Blotter
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| Elder Lindemann, Elder Baker, Toni, Elder Fitzner and Elder Blotter |
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