The Waters of Baptism!


When we were packing to serve our mission, I looked at my temple clothes and wondered if I should bring my white pants and white tie in case I was able to baptize. However, I rationalized that with us working in the office, there would never be an opportunity to use them. Well, I was wrong! Earlier this week we went to help the Hermanas with a problem in their piso, and after we got it fixed, they told me that their friend had requested that I be the one to baptize him. I was shocked. I didn't even think I knew him, and I didn't think that he knew me, but they assured me that he did, and had asked for me personally. Well, it turns out that he had come to institute and liked something about Hermana Musser and me and so today I got to baptize him. His name is Joel Antonio Puerto Villas. I was able to borrow a pair of pants and a white tie from President Heckmann. Joel is a sweet young man and the Spirit was super strong. It was a great baptism. I was grateful to be able to be part of it.

Compared to the baptism, this week was pretty ordinary. Summer in Barcelona is pretty hot and muggy, but this week we actually had a couple of cooler days. We even slept with the windows open one night. However, I am pretty sure that it is just the "calm before the storm" as far as heat goes. That is why when the AC went out on Friday at work, it caught our attention. We will have to be ready to sweat it out until we get it fixed. 

This week in the "Come Follow Me" study I got a whole new understanding about D&C 82:3. I had always looked at it as the Lord saying where "much is given, much is required" and that we have a greater responsibility when He blesses us, which is still true. However, if you turn that around a little bit and look at it as where "much is required, much is given" we can see that the Lord really is there for us, and blesses us when He requires something difficult from us. I believe that is also a true principle, and we have certainly seen His hand in our lives as we have tried to do His work here in Spain. I know that He is aware of us and is been working overtime giving us those "tender mercies". It is wonderful.

This coming week will be a little wild. They are going to start remodeling the office. I don't know what that will mean as far as being able to accomplish the work, and I am frankly a little worried about it. Especially since the following week we have the possibility of receiving 26 new missionaries if all of their visas come through. We have never seen a group anywhere near that size in the last year, and so this will put everyone to the test!

I hope that you all have a fabulous week. Heavenly Father is real, and we really are His children. I hope that this precious truth sinks deep into your very soul. He loves you, and so do we.

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