Baptism

Before the baptism....

And after... LOOK HOW HAPPY HE LOOKS!

August 17th

Dear Family, 

I mean it would be safe to say that this was one of the longer weeks of my life but one of the BEST EVER! It was the highest emotional roller coaster I've been on yet! pure happiness, sadness, and love!

Baptism planner episode 2: (I'm making a TV show because they are always HECTIC times!)

So Tuesday we went over to Fernando's house and he's like Hermana's I'm moving to Alabama on Saturday... we are like but WHAT ABOUT YOUR BAPTISM?? He's like can we do it tonight?? I start like frantically calling every leader i can think of. He's like Hermana Wagstaff please sit down I was just kidding but i thought it was a great idea... so we take him to the church and get his interview and plan the baptism for friday. 

Friday rolls around... it's just your normal morning... birds are chirping, Hermana Palmers got a Migraine, the old women downstairs is yelling for her ugly black kitty, scalding hot shower, granola and yogurt, and then the day really begins... 

We head to Fernando's with a white shirt and tie all wrapped up. (limited supplies. Luckily i had tissue paper from an old package) His aunt says he's gone to work... so we call him and he ACTS like he forgot that is was friday and says he won't be home in time for the baptism... Even the most elect investigators are hard. Satan works so hard on these people who make the decision to be baptized. We find out that he's actually just at home so he agrees to let us come over and talk to him on the porch. (Jose Acosta the member that was going to drive him to the baptism at 5 was just waiting outside his house) We go up and we talked to him for AN HOUR AND A HALF! He's like Hermana's, "I'm not ready, I'm so confused, i feel so alone, can't you guys just come to Alabama and baptize me next sunday?" He was so sweet he said, "You guys opened my eyes to the most beautiful life but I'm so scared." while we are there on his porch he said probably 20 times, "Que haga Hermanas?" which means "what do i do?" And every time he said that you could tell the spirit testified to him that THIS IS WHAT HE NEEDED TO DO. We kept testifying and testifying and sharing personal experience after personal experience but the thing that got him was when he said, "I'll just be baptized next sunday i promise." and we said, "Fernando do you really want to live 8 more days without the spirit?" We said a prayer with him and he stood up, went inside and walked out looking sharp as a pinecone. We got down to the car and i was like, "oh do you have a towel?" and he's like, "hermana i can't go back inside. If i do i don't believe i will come back out!" AND THEN IT HAPPENED AND IT WAS BEAUTIFUL! He made me speak at his baptism because he loves to embarrass me.  But we really did because we are best friends! ahhh he is so amazing!

But Family i just want you to know that this man changed my life! We were all crying sitting on his porch and it made the baptism even sweeter. The spirit was stronger than anything i had ever felt and i knew that he could feel it! uhhhhhh but seriously if one more convert leaves me to another state i'm going to lose it! It's always like the happiest moment and then they just up and leave. It's so bitter sweet!  But it was an amazing baptism and i know the ward sent you some pictures! It's crazy to see how much he changed.The spirit brings a light into our eyes and he had it! He couldn't stop saying how happy he was and i just couldn't stop thinking HOW MUCH I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!! I've never loved something so much! I've seen a small glimpse of how God sees and loves us because i have never loved people so much! i just wanna eat everyone up! 

I'm so sad he left to Alabama. I'm going to eat ben and jerry's today. That's what it's come to... hate to say it! 

But ya know there really is sunshine in my soul... and it's fabulous!

love you 

Nats!

p.s. need advice with Elders who act like we are in KINDERGARTEN... SEND HELP TO HOUSTON ASAP 

baby shower? am i right?? nope not a rattle just a darling shirt and tie we picked out for FERNANDO

Of course move the beds together! we have so much fun

taco truck night!

my companion makes fun of all the things i have in my bag... just my sin detector supplies from chick fil a kids meal.. whats a better thing to pack along. I really have the weirdest things in my bag!