June 8, 2009

This week we have transfers so this wednesday im getting a new companion, his name is Elder Adams, alot of people thought he might be the next assistant so that means he will be a hard worker i cant wait! i cant wait to just let lose and work hard, But.... I have GREAT news i had my first baptism on Saturday!

I got to do the baptizing and confirming as well!!! It was such a cool story, ill try to tell it as best i can, we baptized Maria, who is one of the ladies from Peru, we went over there on Friday night at 6 and we were not sure if we were gunna get to baptize her cause she leaves today to go back to peru, she was just visiting her daughter, But anyways so we went there and taught them a lesson it was a do or die situation, and she had alot of concerns because she was not living with her husband casue he had cheated on her but it was real hard to get a divorce in the Catholic church, and she felt like they had rejected her almost. But anyways so we were just trying to answer all her concerns with scriptures and bear testimony, and challenging her, then she says will you pray for me? so then i ask to get down and kneel, and we all prayed silently, i prayed my heart out never have i prayed so hard, i prayed that the Lord would just tell her that she needed to join the church and that all her fears would be swept away, i guess everyone else had stopped praying and had looked up but i was still praying and i was the last one, kinda like those times where your like oh man how long were you done for, was i sitting there long? haha But we got up and sat in our seats and she said im not imagining this, I saw The savior, This is Maria talking by the way, She said i was just praying and praying to know if he was there, Then i saw him dressed in red and white with his long beautiful hair, and he just waived to me and waived and waived for me to follow him, then he said Come Maria. Then she knew that she needed to be baptized, so we set to have her baptized the next morning at 11!

i was so excited the spirit was so amazing! It was the Coolest experience ever. I then got to baptize her it was beautiful ill send pics, she is now so strong and is already telling us to work on her daughter more who we have been teaching as well. She felt the saviors love so purely. It was Amazing. I got to confirm her in Church on sunday as well, it was my first as well, but it went real good, then she even got up and bore her testimony to the ward, and my companion translated it to everyone from spanish to english, She is going to be such a strong member. Just think she leaves to go home today, and she told me she never thought about getting baptized here, she thought if ever she would in Peru, It was Truly a miracle! I saw a miracle this weekend! She also told us that years ago she had a dream where everybody in her family was all dressed in white and so happy together.

IT truly is a miracle and she was truly prepared by our heavenly father. The Lord places people in our paths at just the right times. Im so grateful i was able to be a part of it. This is exactly why im out here. The feeling could never be any better. She is so kind and amazing she said she will never forget us. Ill never forget her. It was a great week, I know that as i work hard and keep trying these miracles will continue throughout my mission. How cool Was this miracle? Man i love this work so much. Im glad your all doing so well. Im staying in Myrtle beach For another Transfer at least. Take care ill hopefully have another miracle next week, cause each week truly is a miracle! Love yall so much.

Con Amor,
Elder Riding