This week was something very special and something I will never forget. I have literally been waiting to tell you all this for so long and I am so happy to be able to share this with all of you. This week, our Sister Missionaries had a ton of success. They baptized 3 people this week. Two of them were little girls and the other was a woman. The woman that was baptized name is Karla and I hope that her story helps you at home in your life.
I arrived with my companion at Karla's house to do a baptismal interview so that she could be baptized the next day (we are zone leaders and as leaders we interview people so that they are ready to be baptized.) The cool thing was that I had met their family before but her and her boyfriend were'nt there the last time that I went. We arrived and I met her and I could tell at first that she was a really rad person. I told her that I was going to interview her so that she good get baptized the next day. Unfortunately, during the interview, due to some rules as missionaries, if a person tells us certain things, we cannot approve their baptism without Presidents permission. She opened up to me and told me some things that I was unsure of and somethings that she had done in her past. I told her that I don't have keys to repentance so the case would have to go to the mission president. I told her that I was unsure and that for then, she would have to wait until we could talk to President. She was heartbroken. It was painful to see and hear her desire to be baptized becuase she had been waiting for so long and her and her boyfriend were going to be married the next day so that she could get baptized. She was devastated and it broke my heart to see her pain.
We finished the interview and I tried to call the mission president. After an hour of waiting, he answered and I explained the situation in private. President said that he didnt have time to come down and visit her and have an interview in person so he told me to have me call him back so that they both could have a phone interview. After the call with President, I explained to Karla what was going to happen and told her that everything was going to be alright. I expressed to her that we loved her and I gave her the phone. After about an hour in private in her home, my companion and I and the sisters waited outside to see what was going to happen. It was very difficult. After an hour she came out looking calm and with eyes wet with tears. She said "Tomorrow I am going to be baptized, and your mission president wants my husband to baptize me." We all leaped for joy. It was a moment of pure happiness. Joy that came from our Heavenly Father. When her boyfriend arrived, they hugged each other so hard and her boyfriend came over to us and gave us a big hug. We smiled and we cried. We were at peace and we felt hope. Over all, we felt the love of our Savior Jesus Christ and his Atonement.
Afterwards, we decided to go to our house so that her boyfriend could borrow some baptismal clothes and he needed and a coat. so I lent him my suit coat. They thanked us then left. They next day was even more special. We got up early in the morning to go with everyone to go see them get married in the Registro Civil. They said their vows and were married. What a beautiful experience! And we are even more excited to see them when they get sealed in the temple!
I arrived with my companion at Karla's house to do a baptismal interview so that she could be baptized the next day (we are zone leaders and as leaders we interview people so that they are ready to be baptized.) The cool thing was that I had met their family before but her and her boyfriend were'nt there the last time that I went. We arrived and I met her and I could tell at first that she was a really rad person. I told her that I was going to interview her so that she good get baptized the next day. Unfortunately, during the interview, due to some rules as missionaries, if a person tells us certain things, we cannot approve their baptism without Presidents permission. She opened up to me and told me some things that I was unsure of and somethings that she had done in her past. I told her that I don't have keys to repentance so the case would have to go to the mission president. I told her that I was unsure and that for then, she would have to wait until we could talk to President. She was heartbroken. It was painful to see and hear her desire to be baptized becuase she had been waiting for so long and her and her boyfriend were going to be married the next day so that she could get baptized. She was devastated and it broke my heart to see her pain.
We finished the interview and I tried to call the mission president. After an hour of waiting, he answered and I explained the situation in private. President said that he didnt have time to come down and visit her and have an interview in person so he told me to have me call him back so that they both could have a phone interview. After the call with President, I explained to Karla what was going to happen and told her that everything was going to be alright. I expressed to her that we loved her and I gave her the phone. After about an hour in private in her home, my companion and I and the sisters waited outside to see what was going to happen. It was very difficult. After an hour she came out looking calm and with eyes wet with tears. She said "Tomorrow I am going to be baptized, and your mission president wants my husband to baptize me." We all leaped for joy. It was a moment of pure happiness. Joy that came from our Heavenly Father. When her boyfriend arrived, they hugged each other so hard and her boyfriend came over to us and gave us a big hug. We smiled and we cried. We were at peace and we felt hope. Over all, we felt the love of our Savior Jesus Christ and his Atonement.
Afterwards, we decided to go to our house so that her boyfriend could borrow some baptismal clothes and he needed and a coat. so I lent him my suit coat. They thanked us then left. They next day was even more special. We got up early in the morning to go with everyone to go see them get married in the Registro Civil. They said their vows and were married. What a beautiful experience! And we are even more excited to see them when they get sealed in the temple!
After that we helped the sisters prepare the chapel for the baptism. We filled up the font and set up the party tables and the cake, everything. The moment that Karla came out of the font was a moment that I can't describe. She was at peace. She was clean. Her husband gave her a big, amazing hug. She came out and we all cried. It was super special.
We then made them close their eyes after the baptismal service and took them into the room where the party was and where everyone was waiting to surprise them. They turned the lights on and yelled SURPRISE and they were so happy. When my companion and I were there, I just stood back and watched everything. I watched the people having a great time and how happy Karla and her husband were. Tears filled my eyes. I NEVER thought that it was possible to come to love a family and a person so much in such a short amount of time. I felt like I had known them for years.
The thing that affected me the most of this experience was at the end of everything. After everyone had left and cleaned up. It was just the missionaries and Karla and her family. She told me something that changed my life. She told us "When the missionaries first arrived at my house, my life began to change. But my life changed completely thanks to you two missionaries. I am completley changed" She told me specifically afterwards "Elder Smith, I will never forget you. Thank you for helping me change my life. I will never forget you and I hope that you never forget us." I immediately thought of the part of my Patriarchal Blessing that says "you will help many enter the waters of baptism and they will remember and be thankful for you." Her prayer was answered and so was mine. Until then, I didn't really understand that part of my blessing. As soon as she told me that, it struck my heart.
This was an experience that I will never forget. I love her and her family so much and they weren't even our converts. I will always be grateful with my Heavenly Father because he allowed me to be a super super small and imperfect link to make a part of that experience possible. I am so thankful for this work. I know the Savior lives and he loves us. I love you all very much.
Elder Smith
Giddy Up
We then made them close their eyes after the baptismal service and took them into the room where the party was and where everyone was waiting to surprise them. They turned the lights on and yelled SURPRISE and they were so happy. When my companion and I were there, I just stood back and watched everything. I watched the people having a great time and how happy Karla and her husband were. Tears filled my eyes. I NEVER thought that it was possible to come to love a family and a person so much in such a short amount of time. I felt like I had known them for years.
The thing that affected me the most of this experience was at the end of everything. After everyone had left and cleaned up. It was just the missionaries and Karla and her family. She told me something that changed my life. She told us "When the missionaries first arrived at my house, my life began to change. But my life changed completely thanks to you two missionaries. I am completley changed" She told me specifically afterwards "Elder Smith, I will never forget you. Thank you for helping me change my life. I will never forget you and I hope that you never forget us." I immediately thought of the part of my Patriarchal Blessing that says "you will help many enter the waters of baptism and they will remember and be thankful for you." Her prayer was answered and so was mine. Until then, I didn't really understand that part of my blessing. As soon as she told me that, it struck my heart.
This was an experience that I will never forget. I love her and her family so much and they weren't even our converts. I will always be grateful with my Heavenly Father because he allowed me to be a super super small and imperfect link to make a part of that experience possible. I am so thankful for this work. I know the Savior lives and he loves us. I love you all very much.
Elder Smith
Giddy Up
More photos from this week:
