It Was So Powerful

     Tony went through with his baptism this Saturday and it went really well. We had a huge turnout from the ward because Tony has been learning for over a year and a half. After his baptism he bore his testimony and it was so powerful. He began by saying thanks to everyone and then said, "I really do just want to thank you all for saving my soul." Then he burst into tears. It made everything worth it. I love this guy so much. I told him that I will be back in a year when he and his wife Danita are sealed in the temple. They are both going Wednesday night to get temple recommends to go do baptisms for the dead. They have progressed so far in the gospel and are ready to receive callings, hold the priesthood (for Tony), and go to the temple which is exciting.

     Also our date set Brooks moved his date from August 23rd to August 16th. He called the first missionary who taught him about three years ago to come baptize him and that was the day that worked. Brooks has changed my whole life. He has a rare condition that the doctors haven't been able to identify yet which makes his muscles slowly deteriorate. He can move his neck and use four of his fingers on both hands. When he contracted the disease his wife left him and took his 14 year old son with her. He has had one of the hardest lives, but I have never heard him complain once. He has the brightest smile every time we talk and I can't wait for him to enter the waters of baptism. the whole ward loves him and they have one family a week go over and do family home evening at his house. 

     Last night we held a fireside where we have 4 or 5 recent converts in the mission share their conversion experience and missionaries come with their investigators. One of the recent converts from the Hmong Branch, Nalee Xiong, spoke about her story. She had met with the missionaries for about 4 years when she finally decided to be baptized. She said the thing that helped her most was when she finally decided not just to pick and choose the things that she liked, but to just accept the whole truth and bring her life to God's rather than try and change God. That experience really helped to understand the sons of Mosiah a little bit better. There was so many recent converts there and so many investigators that it made me wish I could serve for 14 years and just continue to teach people this message. Things are going well though and love y'all. Have a good week.