A Baptism and some good ole fashioned tie-burning

Dear Family,

 

Okay, first off, I have to say, I'd rather eat mundungo than cow intestines...just saying….(one is cow stomach…the other cow intestines???  I think it's funny he would prefer one over the other.  Ew.) 

And....................OBDELI GOT BAPTIZED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was so so so so so so so so so so soooooooooooooo amazing. We had stake conference this weekend, and so we went to church early to start filling the font, and we left a couple of times to check on it and make sure we had everything ready. So then conference ended, and guess what? No obdeli. His dad was there and everyone from the branch that was staying was there, but no Obdeli. We had told everyone it was going to start at 12:30, right after stake conference, just because everyone runs on hispanic time and comes late to everything....So we were actually planning to start at 1 (Wow….we thought Mormon standard time was bad) :). It was so so so stressful getting everything all set up and all ready, and we couldn't find any baptismal suits, and then Pres. and Sis. Jeppson were there and our zone leaders and my district leader and the AP's, but the guy who was going to be baptized wasn't even there!!!!! He finally rolled in at about 1:15, and we ran him into the dressing room!!!! We got him and his dad all ready, and then got them out and took a few quick pictures (sorry, I only got one on my camera...), and then got it all started at about 1:30!!  I translated for Sis. Jeppson, and we had a talk on baptism. (side note, when we were singing, sis jeppson said I have a beautiful voice ;)) Then came time for the baptism. We escorted him to the door. Two brethren from the ward were witnessing, so we watched from the side door. Obdeli was so nervous!! He was shaking haha! But he followed his dad down into the water, and they got right into position. His dad closed his eyes, and said the prayer from memory. "Basilio Obdeli Gomez Luis, habiendo sido comisionado por Jesucristo, yo te bautizo en el nombre........." and then he went down into the water. As soon as he came up, he wiped the water out of his eyes, and then him and his dad embraced and just bawled together for about 3 minutes!!! It was sooooooo amazing!!!!!! The spirit was so strong!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You could definitely feel the love they have for eachother and for their desires to do what's right. After they got changed, we had a talk on the Holy Ghost, which he will get next week. Then his dad, the Elder's Quorum president, gave the "welcome to the elders" shoutout (I'm totally curious what the 'shout out' is??  And maybe we should do something like that in Relief Society!). After he said welcome to EQ, he talked to him and said a few things as his dad. He said he's so proud of Obdeli, and just expressed how long he's prayed for this day and how happy he is. Then we ended with a prayer, and went to eat :) The food is always so good. I think I gained two pounds from that meal alone ;) ABout half of the people at Obdeli's baptism were his brothers and cousins that he lives with, in total about 15 people. None of them are members, and none of them have expressed interest in our message. But they were all there to support Obdeli. One of Obdeli's brothers (i think it's his closest one, he's a really cool guy!) came up to him after the service, and they hugged and cried together too. It was so powerful! Pres. Jeppson said that that was one of the most powerful baptisms he has ever been too. So did all the other missionaries there. And guess what!!! That's the first baptism my area has had in almost 3 YEARS!!!! 

 

We went and talked to Zacarias (obdeli's dad) when we were cleaning up, and he thanked us with tears in his eyes for the work we have done and for us being here and thanks for being missionaries. It made me feel so good! I feel so accomplished haha!  I feel like my work in Morristown is done. I'm ready to be transferred. I feel like I've met my purpose.

 

 This picture is of me burning a tie because today is my 6 month mark.  It's tradition.

(Holy moly - In some ways it seems like it's been forever, and in other ways the time has flown!)

The rest of last week was pretty lame...We have been working so hard. We just haven't been able to get into people's homes. We seriously try all of our first plans, and all of our back ups just about every day. It's alot of walking, and it feels like so little success. But that baptism was worth it :)

 

With E Diaz, I just feel like he's been doing things to bug me. So we'd both had it, and we yelled at eachother for a few minutes, and really didn't talk to eachother for the rest of the day on Friday. But that night, we worked things out, he asked if there were things I wanted him to change, I told him to think about it and we'd work it out the next day in comp study. So the next day, we talked about a few things that we're both going to change, and ever since then, we haven't had any problems. Every once in awhile, I still get annoyed ;) but I guess that's how life goes, isn't it? ;) (I have to admit, I'm having a hard time picturing Tanner yelling at anyone…that's so not his usual style.  This companionship is pulling things out of him we've never seen.  But so glad they are both willing to work at it.)

Like I said, this weekend was our stake conference. The Focus was on hastening the work, but more specifically, "because I have been given much I too must give." It was really really good!! The speakers talked alot about the members giving of their time to be examples, to go out with the missionaries, lots of things! I learned alot! One talk in particular that I really liked was about fasting. I don't remember everything the guy said (I was stressing about obdeli's baptism;)) but I do remember that I felt that the principle of fasting was true. That as we fast and pay our fast offerings, we are helping to build God's kingdom. I can especially see it in action because we have this family in our branch, the Padillas, who literally have nothing. We've opened their fridge a few times, and there isn't even enough food to feed E diaz and I for two meals. And they have the two parents and three kids, ages 12, 11, and 9. The kids are so tiny. It's horrrible to see!! But every time we go over there, they always offer to give us something. It's so humbling to see, that even when they have nothing, they are so willing to give. So just remember, we have been given much, so it is our responsibility to give according to what we can.

 

That's about all for this week! Congrats Ty on making the team, that's fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I did get the pants, thank you for those! I have to go to the doctor again on friday, my lymph nodes are still swollen...Good luck with the move and everything
! I'm a little bit excited to see the new house ;) I'm glad you were able to stay close!! That's great!! Love you all, have a great week!! :)

Love,

Elder Tanner Nelson