BAPTISM!!!!

The Miede Bueno  family (who are preparing to enter the temple)

Hola Todos!

This week was truly a week of miracles! 

1) This week we were teaching a family who haven't been going to church much, and stopped pretty quickly after they joined the church. They had many questions, as they always do, but were very willing and had a desire to learn and start to do what's right. We had a lesson where we taught about the word of wisdom and the law of chastity, which are two sacred and very important commandments. We were a bit worried about how they would respond, but felt that it was what they needed. 

At the end of the lesson we asked them if they had any other questions. At first they told us no and that they were ready and willing to keep these commandments, but then the husband said he had one that wasn't really related to the lesson. We told him he could ask whatever questions he had, and he asked us what they needed to do to be sealed in the temple. They have progressed so much in the months we've been teaching them (at the beginning they actually hid from us occasionally), and they now have the desire to prepare to enter the temple so they can have the guarantee that the line that is so sadly said in many wedding "til death do us part" (or something like that) no longer applies--that their family will be together in the life after this one.

2) Jorge (one of the people who recently got baptized) went to the temple! He went to help those who didn't have the opportunity to be baptized in this life, and he even baptized for others! 

3) HECTOR WAS BAPTIZED!!!!!! Hector, who I talked about a little bit last week, was baptized and confirmed this weekend! He has changed so much since we started teaching him 2 months ago. He is a completely different person. He has found freedom from his many burdens which he had carried for many years, through the Atoning Sacrifice of Jesus Christ. He now has a confidence, and hope, even a light that he didn't before. He has found new meaning to his life, and we couldn't be happier.

Hector (and his friend Marco) Angel, Hermana Candy, and us 

4) Angel Martinez (who was baptized about 4 months ago) baptized him! Angel has worked hard to always be worthy and do the right, and because of this, and the priesthood authority that he received, he had the opportunity to help Hector make this covenant with God. 

This church, this gospel, is so incredibly true. Through these teachings, which are teachings from Jesus Christ, lives can and do change. Through Him we have the opportunity to change who we are. He gives us this invitation, that we should "come unto [Him], all ye who are heavy laden, and [He] shall give thee rest." (or something like that, my memory of the scriptures in English is definitely weakening). I invite you all to turn to Him, to trust in Him. At times we feel like our lives are too heavy for us to bear, but He has offered and promised to help us, if we are only willing to follow Him. 

I love and miss you all like crazy!

Hermana Naatjes