A Great Sabbath - Sunday, June 6, 2010

Another beautiful day with the temperature in the 60's. Couldn't be better!

Our Sunday morning preparations for church went smoothly, and along with scripture study, prayer, and last minute preparations on Rich's Temple Prep lesson, I was able to make some spaghetti sauce for our dinner this afternoon. I should make it more often because we love spaghetti, but I don't -- and can't figure out why not!

The elders were in the office when we arrived. They leave their suits there and change back and forth as they need to wear them. It works for them. I changed from my flat walking shoes to dressier heels for church. It is also convenient to leave our coats there since there is not a coat rack area in the church.

Relief Society went well, and it is always a friendly group of ladies. The President, Marta Aguirre, gave the lesson. I counted heads and there were 20 in attendance today. The Young Women came in for the opening exercises and left after they said the YW theme. It is nice to see they follow the same outline as we do in the states. We have a good group of faithful young women.

Our Sunday School Temple Prep class had a good attendance with only three not coming. Rocio and Ezequiel were not there, and Mirta was not there for the third week in a row. So much for our visit and pep talk to her and Carla. However, we heard that Carla's daughter had the chicken pox. But, for three weeks??!!

Sacrament meeting was Fast and Testimony meeting and at 11:56 (church ends at noon) about five teenagers went up on the stand to wait for their turn at the pulpit. Needless to say we didn't get out on time, but it was good for them to take the opportunity to bear their testimonies. By about 12:15 the meeting ended.

Choir practice was held immediately after the block with the counselor reminding everyone as the postlude music was being played. Our branch conference is next week and we are singing Jesús es mi luz (The Lord is My Light), and Brillan rayos de clemencia (Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy). The last one is for men only, but we are all singing it. Since the pianist is only playing chords for the left hand, and the soprano note for the right, there is no harmony. In order to have some variation in the hymns, the women sing some verses, or part there of, and the men the same. It is most confusing as we switch back and forth. We never quite know when we are to sing, so we watch and listen carefully to our neighbor. Another practice prior to Sunday has been set for Friday night at 7:00. I guess that means we will have to do our grocery shopping on Thursday again.

Our spaghetti dinner tasted so good along with a green salad and real ranch dressing. We ate too much and became very sleepy after the dishes were done. Our hour nap lasted for two, but we woke up refreshed.

The highlight of the day was the baptism this evening of Lidia. She is a special young lady that Elder Hales and Elder Peterson have been working with for several weeks. She approached the church and the discussions with caution, wanting to learn all she could to make sure she would be a devout member. She swayed back and forth, but was earnest in seeking an answer. She wanted to know if it was the right thing to do. Her turning point was when Elder Peterson gave her a conference talk by President Monson on how much God loves us. She said it brought her to tears and felt that he was speaking directly to her. She decided to be baptized and is now totally converted.

Elder Kroff was asked to sit in on several appointments with Lidia as the elders could not teach her without an adult present. During the times that she was doubting and struggling, they were grateful for his wisdom and input that helped dispel some of her fears.

Tonight at the baptism she wanted him to give one of the talks. She comes from a very active evangelist family, her uncle being a preacher, so she had a large group of family at the service. Elder Kroff did a wonderful job, as usual, to the delight of the six missionaries that were in attendance -- four from Virreyes, and two from San Fernando. Elder Lowry, the new AP, said he did an "amazing" job and was elated that one of his investigators who was there and was unsure, had a change of heart after listening to his words and was ready to set a baptism date.

Lidia has a lot of friends, both from the San Fernando ward and the Virreyes branch, and they were all there to support her in this big step in her life.

After baptisms, refreshments are always served. This group was so large that the tables had to be set up in the cultural hall. Lidia's sister made a chocolate sheet cake filled with pudding and whipped cream that was absolutely wonderful. It had been frozen and thawed just enough for easy handling and went in a flash. Plates of other cookies, banana bread, and potato chips, plus drinks were also on the table.

I am so happy for these handsome elders that we love so much, and especially for Lidia and her life changing decision. She bore a strong testimony after her baptism, and when Elder Hales confirms her next Sunday, she will have the Holy Ghost to guide her throughout her life if she remains true and faithful. She is a sweetheart!

These beautiful young ladies are some of Lidia's friends from the San Fernando ward and we see them a lot at the church. Abish, Shirley, Daniela, and Sahara are strong young women and radiate goodness.

What a testimony builder this evening has been! The gospel is true! What else can we say?