May 2: The best baptism

After so many blessings the adversary starts working on you again. But listening to the spirit prevents backslide or failure.

We had one of the best baptisms ever with the Parreno family last Saturday. It was one of the hardest baptisms I have had. Two or three weeks ago we had almost given up hope for them, but the spirit gave us patience to endure. Because they had not yet finalized with us that they would be baptized. They did not get interviewed until last Thursday. We had already notified some possible speakers, but having not been announced in sacrament meeting we still completely filled the little Relief Society room. Our investigators, the Mercado family, even came to the baptism – although they left their little children outside in the car (I felt just a little bad about that). Most everyone came early (a wonderful addition to baptisms that we have been working on here) expect the Parreno family which did worry me just a little, but they came and we saw the light in their eyes that comes from truly covenanting to follow God. They were confirmed on Sunday and Joel Parreno received the Aaronic Priesthood. Many people commented that this was a quality family. We don't give credit to ourselves because they have been taught off and on for more than two years, but we are grateful to be here to help in their conversion.

That was quite an amazing story this last week too with a new investigator. We had found Jellen Bunag a few weeks ago. She said she had join most religions still being discontent, but assumed that we only taught men or couples. We already have a strong Relief Society here so we are focusing on males, but I am not one to turn away one who is ready to receive the gospel. So we taught her and then could not get back to her. We knew she read a lot already from the Book of Mormon, but every time we dropped by, the neighbors said she was not there. Finally, one night after teaching the Parreno family last week, a member told us that she was looking for us. Then the next day when two elders working in our area for a day because their area was so far, they left a note that said "Return now to Jellen Bunag, she is ready to be baptized". We found this quite funny because we had only taught her twice and not really focused on baptism. However, when we returned the next day, she was so excited to see us. It turns out that she had been hiding from us, whenever we dropped by, but after running into Bro. Rebutar, the very old Elder's Quourm President and Ward Mission Leader, he helped her understand the Book of Mormon and touched her heart. It was then that he frantically started looking for us, telling members who told us that one night, waiting outside by the street until our curfew in case we passed by. Then Elder Pacunza and Phillips (a trainer and trainee) stubbed upon her, and finally relayed the message to us.

This is just the beginning of her story. So she felt the spirit, and wanted to be baptized soon, but one thing she has always wanted to do was quit smoking. She was smoking more than a pack a day and on the next lesson she said that she wanted to be baptized on her birthday which is May 22. The problem was she had to stop smoking yesterday to go a month without smoking. If she stopped right then though, we could make an exception. We committed her very strongly, the spirit was there or we could not have done so. The next day she smoke just one stick and now she is doing great! I have never seen someone with that strong of an addiction quit so fast. It was her strong faith in Christ and great desire to be baptized and helped her so. She is a widow that went from rich to poor and now just wants to make it back to heaven.

My greatest joy here is finding people that love being members of the true church of Christ. We could convince more people to be baptized, but it would then be just as easy for Satan to convince them to go inactive. We really feel that the Lord is leading us to quality people he has prepare. Our ward is weak so we are looking for the next leaders of the church here. The youth here are awesome. This week they are having a one week mission, and so far they are really enjoying it. I love being a missionary, even though trials accompany the work. Don't worry about me I am in go hands, just continue to pray for me. I love you all.