"Hope you have a good life."

Robert got baptized on Saturday!! Was it the most stressful baptism ever? Yes. Yes it was.

As of Saturday afternoon we had not heard anything from his mom that whole week. We didn't know if everything for the baptism was still good to go or if everything for the program was taken care of (turns out it wasn't). SO even though much of the program was scrappily put together last minute, the most important thing is that he was baptized! And the spirit was there :)

The next day was fast and testimony meeting in church, and Robert got up to bear his testimony! It was so neat to see him get up there. He was just so happy to be baptized and receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost and to be a member of Christ's church!

As a thank you present Robert gave us candy in a plastic margarita glass (oh the irony) along with a card he wrote.

In case you can't read the card in the picture, here is what it says: "Dear Missionary, Thank you for teaching me Hope you have a good life! - Robert"

It was very sweet, coming from a 9 year old. It also made me think about how many of the people I am teaching and working with I may never see again after my mission. I will do my best to keep in touch, but there really is no way for me to keep a close relationship with everyone after I am gone. And I realized that I am totally okay with that. I am confident that the people I have taught  will continue to grow within the gospel as long as they stay active and have the help and support of local church members. Robert will probably not remember me specifically when he is older. I am just one of many missionaries that he will meet throughout his life. But he will always remember the things he learned and the things that he felt. I am just a tiny part of a much bigger picture. God's work is so vast, and I am grateful to take part in a tiny little piece of it.

We have started teaching a man named Tom. He is married to a member who has not been active for a long time, but together they decided that it was time for them to go to church and strengthen their relationship with God. We have taught him twice now, and it is such a pleasure to teach someone who is so prepared. He grew up Catholic, and told us how as a kid he would get so frustrated and confused because he would ask the priests or nuns questions, and often their answer was "That's something that God doesn't want you to know!" He had many questions, but they have already been answered in the short time we have been meeting with him. It makes me appreciate the gospel even more, to know that God DOES want us to know the plan that he has for us. It is not meant to be a mystery. If we are supposed to follow Christ, he is absolutely going to give us enough knowledge to know what we are supposed to do and why we are supposed to be doing it. And he not only encourages us, but commands us to gain that knowledge while we are here on earth. Having that knowledge is something that members of the church so often take for granted. It is so basic to everything that we do and everything that we are, that we sometimes forget all the people who are still lost and wondering what life is all about. The Gospel of Jesus Christ brings us answers, and brings an assurance of God's love for us!

Dru has been doing great as well. When we first started teaching him he was very gung-ho! about it. He is stil enthusiastically learning everything he can, but he has now started to realize that living the gospel can require some big changes in his life, and that change isn't always easy. But change is exactly what repentance requires. You have to change to align your words, thoughts, desires and actions to be in line with God's will for us. And it's HARD! But what's so great about Dru is that even though he sees that change is very hard, he still has the desire to change. He sees that there are so many greater blessings available to him that require more effort on his part, but are so worth it in the end. Changing is difficult, but it draws us closer to God and allows him to bless us in so many ways.

Love you all! Have a great week!

Sister Daelemans