The Spiritual Crazy Train

Hi family! What an exciting week. Some of the highlights include:

- One of the most terrific baptisms I have ever seen

- One of the most incredible lessons with an entire family of 8 that was super powerful.

- Another run in with Kiefer.

- A new incredible companion.

- A talk in sacrament meeting

Things are going really well. This area is great and my new companion is fantastic. I am very content and happy where I am at. 

Spiritual: Dhani was baptized on July 12 2014. What an incredible experience. He was so happy. It was incredible to see the change that took place in his countenance. The baptism went without delay or difficulty. He got permission from his parents the night before. We had fasted with him the day he was going to ask and it turned out really well. Another evidence that fasting really is a tool to help us exercise faith.  What an incredible feeling it is to stand in the baptismal font with someone that has become one of your absolute best friends and help them enter into a covenant to follow Christ. Wow. It was a truly special day. I felt so humbled by being able to participate in this ordinance. After he was baptized, we were walking back to change and I asked him if the baptism was what he expected. He said "the baptism itself was what I was expecting, but I was not expecting the feeling that would come with it." It was remarkable. He has truly changed his life to follow Christ. We asked him if he was planning on serving a mission and he replied "Of course man!" I feel such profound joy at his decision to enter into this covenant and change his life. I am happy because he is happy. I am amazed at the powerful spirit that accompanies these ordinances and I am absolutely enthralled with this work and this feeling. I seriously don’t want to be the only one who feels this way! Go out and share the Gospel! Take some initiative and do hard things. Be a creative thinker and problem solve! Find a way to help others be happy and in doing so you will feel happy yourself.

Funny: Oh Kiefer. Last time it was profanity during the prayers and this time it was his guitar. We went over to see if his less active friend was there and he invited us in. We warily went in. He sat us down and then showed us into his music studio where he then proceeded to pull out his guitar and play. My ears are still ringing. There were 6 huge speakers and one really good really enthusiastic guitarist. I don’t think the spirit likes Ozzy Osborne. We were able to pull it back by sharing a message with him, but it was one of those funny times when we really couldn't do much to stop the Crazy Train. 

Where I am at: My new companion is that cla​ssic "Hard working farm boy from Idaho." I love him to death! We work hard and miracles have happened since he came here. It’s going to be an amazing two transfers here. In other news President Mella is a serious go-getter. For Mission Leadership Conference he pulled up some stats. One of the things he pulled up is what it would look like to double or even triple the baptisms in the mission! It’s going to be a different pace coming up here! The baptisms are going to be focused on beginning with the end in mind and having more people enter into this covenant. I am so excited. This new energy is right what the mission needs. I am doing well and I am very happy. I love this Gospel and I love you all!