Casandra's Baptism!

Hello!

This week went by so fast! It started out with our District meeting on Tuesday. In District meetings, we get to practice with the other missionaries in our District so we can learn and progress as missionaries. I always get so nervous when we teach other missionaries, but this week I decided that I was just going to listen to the spirit, and go with the flow.

My companion and I got to practice with our District Leader, it was one of the most spiritual lessons I think I have ever taught. All of our eyes were full of tears. I am so grateful for Jesus Christ and for his baptism. I am so grateful that he could be baptized so that we could follow his example and receive all the blessings that he has for us. I know that it is so important for us to make this covenant with Our Heavenly Father.

The rest of the week was full of making plans for Casandra's baptism! Woot!  We made all of the invitations and handed them out. Then we made bookmarks, programs, banners, letters and anything else we could think of.

We were a little bit upset because everyone in the Ward said that they wouldn't be able to attend the baptism because it was a difficult time of the day, because of the women's broadcast later that day we had to schedule her baptism for 12 noon. None the less, we went into full planning mode.

We got to the Church at 11:30 am to find the font full of dirt. WHAT? I couldn't believe it was happening again! We saw that it was SO dirty from the mirror over the font.  So, we ran around to the back so we could get in, and the doors were locked... AH, so we run to the institute office and one of the counselors of the mission is there, but of course, he doesn't have keys. So, we come up with a brilliant plan, I would jump over the glass to unlock the doors. WHAT?  But, with help from President Vasquez and my companion, I jumped the glass to unlock the doors in a skirt, no less. Ha, the mission is always an adventure!

We solved the first problem, but then the font wouldn't drain...AH!  We tried to call our bishop but, he wouldn't answer his phone so, we called the Elders and they came running. They started to look outside and move levers and things to try and get the font to drain while we were cleaning it, and then suddenly the font starts filling up with water! We started screaming,  and then had to bail all of the water out with trash cans.

We finished cleaning out the font around 12:05 pm and NO ONE WAS THERE. Not even Casandra. AH. We call her and she says that her grandma was working and wouldn't let her go alone. We decided to wait until someone showed up with a car to go get her. We finished decorating the room and setting everything up at 12:30 and still no one is there. I wanted to cry.

We franticly start calling everyone and then a miracle happened. A brother from the other ward showed up and a YSA, they said that they could go get Casandra. 5 minutes later 20 people walked in the door. We couldn't believe our eyes. :)

We then had a beautiful baptism. After all of the stress, we were so happy that she chose to be baptized. Later that night we got to watch the women's conference, it was the perfect end to a wonderful day.

On Sunday, we get to church and the sister that usually picks up Casandra shows up without her...WHAT? It turns out that her grandma wouldn't let her come because the meat store wasn't open, and Casandra needed to buy the meat for their food. So, we go running with the Young Women's president to look for her, because if she didn't get confirmed she would have to get baptized all over again.

We get to her house and she wasn't there so, we started helping her grandma with the food so she wouldn't be mad that we were going to take Casandra to Church,  and just then Casandra walks in. Her grandma let her go, and she was able to be confirmed, it was the first time I have been late to church my whole mission.

There opposition in all things. We had a strong testimony of that this week. But I am so grateful to know that Heavenly Father has a plan for each and every one of us. He knows that things aren't going to be easy, but if we do what is right we will always to be able to see the blessings in our lives. I am so grateful for every one of the experiences that I have here in the mission field and for the miracles I can see and feel.

I love you all so much and will be praying for you all this week!

Hermana Riedelbach