Beautiful Baptism - Friday, November 12, 2010

A gorgeous morning!! The sky is clear, sun shining, and perfect temperature. Rich tells me we should enjoy it while it lasts as the forecast says rain for three days next week. Ug!

After settling into our workday, it became apparent that I may be holding down the office alone again for a little while. But as it worked out, only Elder Kroff and Elder Paz needed to be gone. There was yet another check to be signed and Elder Paz needed to pick up from the Unicenter mall the twenty blankets he ordered yesterday. So those two took off and Elder Peterson and I stayed behind.

With transfers coming next week, Elder Peterson is hoping for all the changes soon so he can order flights to and from the South if needed and remises to get missionaries here and there. So far nothing has come from the President because he is winding up his massive tour of the mission where he and Sister Gulbrandsen have visited every apartment of our missionaries. He is conducting his interviews this time in each missionary's apartment. It is great for him to see where they live and the condition of the apartments. They told us they are to visit the apartments once a year. Needless to say there has been major cleaning and tossing out being done by the missionaries. It has been a good thing for that reason only, but I'm sure they will be ever so grateful when it is over. It has taken so much time and perseverance on their part. They will have visited about eighty apartments.

My final big project before transfers was completed today. I compiled my list of supplies to be ordered from the Distribution Center and got it on it's way. Now I can work on my desk manual of procedures and instructions. I made some headway on that today too.

We left the office around 5:00 knowing we would be returning at 7:00 for two baptisms. Elder Lowry and Elder Urra had a mother and son being baptized and we wanted to support them. These new members will be a part of the San Fernando ward so we know they will be well received and fellowshipped.

The elders pose with Esther Rosario Eraldes and her son, Joan Casaverde. Esther's mother holds one of the twins that are just a month old.

Both mother and son bore their testimonies after the baptism and did a great job understanding what they had just done and the significance of it. They were ready for this big step in their lives. Joan said in his remarks that he was glad to be baptized and have his sins washed away. Today is also his birthday. He looks like a good big brother to these babies. The father of the babies left her shortly before they were born. Nice guy!

While the baptism interviews were being conducted yesterday, Elder Kroff acted as grandpa and rocked one of the babies. Oh, I would have liked to have done that!

Our four chicas came to support the baptism. It's just what these people do here, and especially those from the San Fernando ward. They are super fellowshippers!! Our darling young friends want to have one more meal with us at our apartment before we leave. We said we would cook for them this time and plans were made for next Saturday to have an American breakfast at lunch time. They are soooo excited! I'm afraid it's going to be hard to say goodbye to these sweet young girls that have become so attached to us.

We ate some postres that were furnished for the after baptism celebration and then left for home getting here about 9:30. We logged on to the computer and Marianne was on skype so we buzzed her. She said that Urban had just left to go play with cousin Scotty and spend the night at his Aunt Lori's. Darn, we just missed him. We haven't talked to him for a long time and miss the little guy. Melissa and Urban are in Utah this weekend where she taught a class at a quilting retreat that was held in Alpine. She was an invited presenter. Can't wait to hear about it!