Hello Everyone!,
Well this week I had my very first surprise baptism! We have been working with Helen, the sister of our former Relief Society Counselor and now Branch Missionary, for over three months. She is here for about five or six months to have her baby. She has been investigating the church with her husband for about five years and always thought the church was nice, but didn't really see the need to be baptized again. (She had been baptized in the Catholic and Pentecostal churches.) We have been seeing her as often as possible, even when it seemed like she was doing the opposite of progressing. About three weeks ago her husband came for the birth of their son, just for a few weeks, and we knew it was time for them to make some changes.
About a week ago Helen asked us how much time we needed between the time she decided to get baptized and the time it happened. She was surprised when we said the next day! She didn't feel quite ready yet, mostly because she was going to have her baby any second, and didn't want to risk his health, so we said we would see her on Sunday as usual. On Sunday, her sister Kareen signed up to feed us lunch on Saturday afternoon. We stopped by a couple times during the week, went to the hospital just a couple of hours after Andre was born on Tuesday, and were there on Thursday morning when they came home from the hospital. Of course, with the birth of a new baby and visiting family, there were LOTS of things going on, and not a lot of time to talk seriously about baptism.
Then, Saturday arrived and we had a great lesson on baptism as we ate. Helen jokingly said, "What if I just get baptized tomorrow?" We told her she should do it, but laughed along with her. We also found out that Carlos would be leaving on Wednesday to go back to Peru. As we were driving away from the house I turned to Hermana Dollahite and said, 'You know, we should just do her baptism tomorrow." Hermana Dollahite was thinking the same thing.
However, we had heard from several people that women can't go into a public pool or hot tub for 6-8 weeks after they have a baby. But, a baptismal font is a little different, so we drove ourselves to Costco and bought some bleach - 586 ounces of it. So less than an hour later we went back and asked Helen if she really did want to get baptized the next day. She said "Yes, absolutely, I'm ready." So we called the Zone Leaders, did the interview, called our Branch President to let him know, called our Ward Mission Leader to make the programs, and cleaned the font with lots and lots of bleach-twice!
Helen had a set baptismal date for 18 and a half hours and it was perfect. Most of our investigators have dates for months, weeks being rare. 18 and a half hours! It was absolute insanity. We were worried that morning that maybe she had changed her mind. But she got there early and kept saying over and over before her baptism that she was ready, ready to do it and receive the Holy Ghost. We did it before church so that she could be confirmed in our Branch's first ever Branch Conference, with the entire Stake Presidency in attendance. After Helen was confirmed a member of the church and given the gift of the Holy Ghost, her son Andre was given a beautiful blessing by President Lopez. I can't think of anything better for the stake to witness than a confirmation and a baby blessing! The Spirit was so strong, I felt almost like the room was pulsating. What a gift this Branch has been given, to be a part of this miraculous transformation of a woman and a family. Furthermore, her husband Carlos was able to see it all and I have no doubt that he will be following her into the waters of baptism shortly after she returns to Peru. As he held his baby son and while she was changing into dry clothes, he even bore his testimony. He told those in attendance how wonderful the church was, and that he was so grateful to be surrounded by such amazing people, and to have his family around them too.
What a blessed life we live as missionaries! to be a part of something so incredible...I feel like no matter what I do I will never be able to do enough to thank my Heavenly Father for the blessing of serving a mission. How could I have ever had the idea that I was giving something to Him by serving? I am getting everything and more. What a life. I am truly the luckiest person I know. If any of you have any doubt about the love God has for his children, I challenge and invite you to ask Him how He feels about you. He will let you know that you are absolutely precious. I am so grateful to have each of you in my life.
I love you all,
Hermana Levanger
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