Baptism! March 27/28, 2011



This is the view from Bishop Tohiariki's back porch. Hawke Bay is visible, but it's just a thin blue line in the background.

This week has been a crazy one! But delicious all the same.

All week Elder Triantfillakos and I have been planning and arranging for Christine's baptism. Despite all the stress that nothing was going to work out, it went beautifully! Her parents came (we were panicking until they showed up right when it started) and some of her friends from school. And we had a pretty good turnout from the ward, considering it was only just announced last Sunday. We also had our new investigator, Gabriel, come with his member friend Michael, and they both loved it.

The baptismal program went perfectly and the Spirit was indeed there. The Primary president, Sister Halbert, spoke, as well as Sharlene (Christine's foster mom). After the actual baptism, while we were changing into dry clothes, they played the Restoration movie, and when I came back in halfway through, I was watching the reactions of Gabriel and Christine's parents. It's such a powerfully spiritual movie and it was a great opportunity for them to feel the Spirit.

Being able to baptize Christine was such a uniquely wonderful experience. I can't really describe it. But I loved it! So it was wonderfully fantastic to have Christine baptized! It's been almost a year since this ward had a convert baptism, and we're hoping to have two more soon enough when Rebecca and Eamonn are ready (Rebecca gets her test results next week, and hopefully she'll get baptized the week after!). Gabriel has a baptismal date as well, but he wants it to be May 16th (his birthday), so that will be awhile.

Gabriel, so you know, is awesome. He's a big fella, in his 30's, who loves having us come over. The second day we went over to teach him, we met his friend MIchael, who was over hanging out, and just happens to be a less-active member. Before we had arrived, Michael had been talking with Gabriel all about the church (in a good way) and so Gabriel was way excited when we showed up! So we've taught the two of them a few times this week, and as I said, they both came to the baptism and are already friends with half of the ward. It made Gabriel all the more excited to be baptized, though he was a bit worried that there wouldn't be enough water in the font for him to fit under when he gets baptized (the water was pretty low because Christine is so small). But I assured him we could fill it up more for him. Or maybe find a river to do it in.

I was so glad to see Michael at church yesterday. He said Gabriel couldn't come because he was knocked out from his medication or something. Rebecca also came to church again! Eamonn couldn't come because his mom was taking him somewhere or something. And sadly, we're not quite sure what's going on with Matt and Jenny.

Transfers are this week, but Elder Triantafillakos and I are both staying here as companions. We had interviews with President Jolliffe last week and he has been impressed with the changes we've brought about in this area and wants us to keep it up until next transfer when one of us will be leaving.

For General Conference, it will be broadcast at the chapel the following weekend, so I'll let you know how much I loved it in two weeks.

The Church is truuuuue!

Tell the girls I'm so proud of all of their hard work!

I love you all very very much! 

 Just remember:
"True happiness comes only by making others happy"---David O. McKay

Keep doing what is right, and praying day and night!

Have a wonderful week!

I love you all so very much!

Love,

Elder David John Rowe