¡¡¡EMANUEL FUE BAUTIZADO!!! :)‏

Dear family and friends,

This week was so fantastic.  The obvious highlight was Saturday!!!  Emanuel and Iara (daughter of Hermana Maria Jose Cabrera, a less-active member) were both baptized!!!!!!  I was able to baptize Emanuel and on Sunday I was able to confirm Iara.  

At the baptismal service, it was like a happy dream.  I felt the Spirit so strongly and peacefully in a way I have never felt it before.  Emanuel is such an amazing person, and the Lord truly prepared him for us before we arrived.  All we had to do was teach him and help him make commitments.  He truly made a lifelong covenant with God on Saturday, and the incredible gift of the Holy Ghost will help him keep that covenant his whole life.  I feel so privileged to know him, and to have had the chance to baptize him.  The whole service was very happy and peaceful.  I have never felt the Spirit in such an exuberant, constant, joyous fashion before.  I couldn´t wipe the smile off my face.  Seeing the members and families that attended the service was so special and exciting!!!

The Sunday service was also very special.  Seeing the two new members of the church was just fantastic, and the Spirit was strong during their confirmations.  I am SOOO grateful for the gift of the Holy Ghost.  It is a grand blessing that we don´t fully appreciate, but we have it, and we can always learn more about how to recognize and follow the Spirit.  Indeed, He can help us in every single aspect of our lives.  I am learning to trust that guidance more and more, but it is difficult to discern at times.  However, the Spirit is always available to us as long as we are worthy and listening and seeking and acting.

Emanuel wants to get married to his girlfriend!!!  We shall help them make plans to go to the temple together.  Maria Jose Cabrera also wants to get married to her boyfriend!!!!  He sat in on our last discussion with her family, and his interest in the church is slowly growing.  These two beautiful couples need to go to the temple!!!  They will be so blessed.  We shall do all we can to help them make that a goal.

Church was also amazing because of who showed up.  Maria Eugenia came!!!  She even bore her testimony!!!  She is progressing, and it is amazing.  I was humbled when she thanked us at the pulpit for helping her to progress by reading the scriptures and praying.  I think she wants to be baptized, she just has to figure out what to do with her boyfriend.  We shall continue visiting her periodically.

So much more to write, but my time is spent.

Curiosities:

1. fireflies!  I have never seen them before.  Very beautiful.

2. Frogs!  Everywhere!  Squished flat in the street by cars!

3. I met a Mennonite from California who barely speaks Spanish!  What??!!

4. much more, but no time . . .