BAPTISM!!!

Well this week has been an incredibly long week.  I can barely remember last Tuesday.  Its seems like it was forever ago but it was still a really great week.  Dani's baptism was great.  Because it was on a Tuesday all the activity day girls and the youth came.  It was a highly attended baptism.  It was great.  Dani was baptized by her father in law.  They flew from Utah for one day- just so they could be there.  Dani was a little nervous and I'm not sure if she was super thrilled that there were a ton of people there, but at least we didn't make her talk so she should count her blessings. 

Absolutely my favorite part of the baptism was watching Dani's family.  After the baptism Dani's father in law came up piratically in tears- thanking us.  I just wanted to give him a hug.  And then as we were leaving Mike, Dani's husband, came up and just thanked us so much.  You could see that he was so happy.  He could see his eternal family coming together. Both sister Christensen and I felt super awkward when people thanked us or told us god job, but we loved seeing how happy they were as a family.  I think there is nothing like a baptism to make me realize how very little I do as a missionary.  I go and I teach an adequate lesson, and then the spirit does the rest. Then the investigators only make the commitments if they are ready.  Missionaries have such a tiny role in the conversion process.  It is all Heavenly Father and his child. 

Anyway we are just thrilled that we had a baptism last week, and more exciting news- we have a baptism coming up next Monday.  I know, it is super fast.  The investigator, that we picked up last week is getting baptized next Monday.  I'm in a bit of a daze because things are happening super fast.  We asked him to pray about baptism and then in our lesson on Saturday he brought it up himself.  He told us that he had prayed and that he wanted to be baptized.  Sister Christensen and I were thinking maybe 2 weeks- give him time to actually get all the lessons (we were only half way through plan of salvation with him)  He suggested his birthday on April 12.  Then the member we brought with us kind of took over and said that was too long and he should get baptized on April 2 with the Elders investigator.  So, there we go.  We talked to Jeremy later about it and he was absolutely fine with the date.  He is so excited and I know that the gospel is going to help him.  YEAH!!  This week we are planning on meeting with him every day to get ready for baptism. I kind of feel bad for him because its like a cram session, but Jeremy is super excited about it. 

The baptism accidentally got announced on Sunday, which kind of made me cringe.  You are not supposed to announce a baptism until after the baptismal interview, but the word got out and it was announced over the pulpit.  At that point we hadn't even gotten through any of the commandments like law of chastity of word of wisdom.  We taught those last night and he took it well.  Jeremy is really really prepared. 

On a less spiritual note I would like to proudly announce that I have been a big girl this week and eaten a lot of food that I don't like.  Two families have fed me fish.  I ate it and it wasn't that bad.  And then we had a sister in our ward give us breakfast and she served us eggs Benedict.  I really can say that I hate eggs.  The fish was fine- the eggs were disgusting but I ate it all anyway.  And I did it with a smile. I just want people to understand that this is a really big deal!  Oh also I have a sneaking suspicion that I have an allergy or something to avocado.  I've been getting occasional stomach aches which is unusual.  But in the past 3 weeks I've had supper bad ones.  Like roll up and moan stomach aches and they both happened after I had large amounts of  Guacamole.  I'm not sure but I think it's is no good for me. 

Hmmm.  What else happened this week.  I forgot my planner and so I can't really remember all that well.  So we have a secret investigator.  We know that we are teaching her, but she doesn't know.  We teach the sweetest little Filipino lady in our ward.  She was my first appointment here in vista.  We were preparing her for the temple but now there isn't too much of a point of teaching her except for her cousin.  She has the funniest cousin ever named soli.  She would come to over whenever we ate ate Sister Crawfords on Friday.  One of those dinners we pretty boldly asked if she wanted to take the lessons and she said no.  She was pretty certain about that.  Well ever since then we have had to move our weekly appointment with sister crawford to Friday which is Soli's day off.  Soli has come to every single appointment. She knows we are teaching and that we will try and get soli into the lessons.  And she always contributes.  She is like our secret investigator.  We are a little confused but I absolutely love soli and if nothing else just love to talk to her.  It is the cutest picture of two old little Filipino women talking and laughing together.  Adorable. 

We have transfers on Saturday.  We are pretty sure that Sister Christensen and I are staying together.  It is going to be a small transfer and I don't think a lot of sisters are going to be transferred.  I am pretty bummed because one of my FAVORITE elders in our district is going home, don't tell his companion.  I don't know what it is in the mission but there is a group of elders who will not tell us when they are going home.  The elder who is going home is training and his greenie has no idea.  I would be so mad if my trainer did that.  Oh well, to each his own. 

Well I love you so much.  I miss everyone back at home.  The church is true.

Love Sister Allred