The ball is the Gospel! Sorry to give away the metaphoric title.
We baptized two this week, and We're excited for them. They were going to be three baptisms... but one almost died. We sent her to the hospital, but she still wants to get baptized, so that will be this week.
Maria was suffering from really severe pain when we found her, on the way to the church minutes before the baptism. We gave her a blessing and she calmed down immediately. I have no doubt that God's hand helped her immediately in this moment because of this women's incredible faith.
I remember when she first told us about how she prayed after church a few Sundays ago about whether or not the church was true. She said, "I just felt a joy, and I felt happy for hours. I was talking with my friends and laughing like I hadn't done for years. I know this church is the true one." She has also said that she's been feeling better ever since we came to start visiting her, and that she knows she has to get baptized. I love her so much, and know it will all work out in the end.
Julia and Zenia are the two that got baptized Saturday, and while it was the most stressful day of my life, I wouldn't trade it. They were both happy, and it was so awesome to see Zenia the very next day in the dedication of the temple, Tegucigalpa Honduras! Saturday we watched the cultural celebration, and it was so cool. I got to see all the old areas where I have been participating. I almost cried. haha.
It was also cool to explain temple work to Zenia yesterday, considering her father has died. She doesn't totally understand everything yet, but I know that she will have a powerful testimony of eternal families because of the temple that now exists here in this country. I'm so excited.
Last night, we went to teach Juan Carlos again, and he's been reading more in the Book of Mormon, which is good. But he still falls when he doesn't read, and we had to reemphasize it again. In the end, he accepted a baptismal date! We're pumped.
I remember when I first showed up in the home, I was talking to the wife before I had even met the husband. She said that he had talked to tons of missionaries before. I asked her if he had ever read the Book of Mormon, and she said, "not really." I told her, "Hermana, I feel that your husband will be getting baptized much sooner than you think."
We didn't do anything. We just got to know him, taught the Restoration, and hit the Book of Mormon as hard as we could. He read, and was converted.
We are teaching another "eternal investigator" who is the mother of a member who married a return missionary. They all say that she is progressing more than ever now, and think that she'll actually get baptized. I've concluded that eternal investigators stay eternal because they don't read. If ANYONE reads the Book of Mormon, they will be converted. Some won't make the decision, but if they keep reading, baptism and eventual progression are inevitable.
The book is THE KEY to our religion, and there is a reason that it had to be finished and printed before the Gospel was restored.
We got a call last night that some old lady just moved here and wants to get baptized... this place is crazy.
I love this mission! It's amazing! You should go on a mission too!
Love,
Elder Kent Thalman
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