Baptizing Weekly



Making Pupussas





We don't get to walk like David and Stephen did.  We have to drive this stinkin' truck!



Dear Family,

That was so fun to speak with you all yesterday. The time seemed so short. Glad to hear that everyone is doing well. Thank you for your continued prayers and support. I took some pictures of the apartment to try and help you understand but my companions thought it was so weird. The pictures of the alligator sign and the swamp are from our morning jog. We live right next to an alligator park and we run there in the mornings sometimes. Today we finally saw an alligator for a minute before it went underwater.

The Colon's baptism was perfect. It was a hectic day but the Spirit was there. We started the day at the office then went and gave a blessing and visited a member, went to the ward mother's day activity (pictures included) which was a blast because the Colon's were there, then went to Aisha's (Colon's daughter) volleyball game, then came and got ready for the baptism.

Eduardo (the father) was pretty nervous beforehand which was surprising because he doesn't get nervous. He served a few tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and told us that during that experience he was generally calm. So we were surprised. But when he walked down into the font with Elder Woodland, he was crying. As I was explaining on the phone, after Elder Woodland baptized Eduardo, I baptized Kimberly and Elder Woodland and I were just standing in the font listening to "Come Thou Fount" coming from the other room and soaking in the Spirit. It was amazing. They were both confirmed yesterday in Sacrament Meeting and Eduardo received the Aaronic Priesthood in Elders Quorum. My faith has increased so much as I have had the privilege to participate in their conversion. 

To explain a little better why they were baptized this week and not next weekend; we had a lesson with them on Tuesday night and thought we would introduce to them the idea of Eduardo baptizing Aisha. We had just finished watching the Mormon Message "The Power of God" and teaching a bit about the priesthood. When we asked Eduardo if he would like to baptize Aisha, he was silent and then his wife said, "He would love that". Eduardo then said, "Yeah, that would be pretty awesome". So we made the plans and worked like crazy.

We had Zone Conferences Tuesday-Friday this week and we did a training on how to baptize weekly. It was powerful to bear testimony that it is possible to baptize weekly and then teach how to do it. The Spirit was present and I learned so much. It has been an incredible week.

I have come to understand very deeply what Nephi means in 1 Nephi 3:7

 7 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I ^awill go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no ^bcommandments unto the children of men, save he shall ^cprepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.

I finally am starting to understand that the Lord really truly provides a way for us to fulfill each commandment that He gives us and that He gives us commandments so that He can bless us. In each Zone Conference, President Ashton taught about the Atonement. He always ended by reading D&C 123:17

17 Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us ^acheerfully ^bdo all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the ^csalvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.

I know that this is true. He only asks us to do all that we can and then we can leave the rest to Him. Our best will never be good enough alone but it is all He requires of us before He makes up the difference.

I love you all and continue to pray for you! Please pray that Aisha will be baptized this weekend.

Love,

Elder Case