BEST WEEKEND EVER!!! I mean, I've had some amazing weekends in my life, but nothing (yet) is quite comparable to seeing a whole family baptized! What a blessing and miracle conversion is! Yeah, so the Smiths were baptized on Saturday! Ouida, Darrell and Brody. I still can't get over how prepared they were, and the incredible conversion process. You could see it in their eyes. At the baptism on Saturday, we had over 100 people there! Plus, our mission president was able to come, which was cool of him. He comes to as many baptisms as he can, but it's still cool to actually see him there. The actual ordinance was amazing. Darrell started crying, and I almost did! Then, Sis Asay and I sang, Savior Redeemer of My Soul (I think I'm going to try to sing is at every baptism I have). I almost choked up after the second phrase and had to pull myself together so we could sing! There wasn't a dry eye by the time the whole service was over, the spirit was so strong. Darrell and Mary's daughter, Kayla, was there with her fiancé also, and they agreed to have the elders sent to them in Hurst where they live. Yay!
Then, yesterday they were confirmed. I love confirmations so much. Because when the words, "receive the Holy Ghost" are said you can feel the spirit almost "whoosh" into the room! The whole spiritual level spikes, and I don't know how you couldn't feel it in that moment. Darrell said that when he was sitting in that circle, he could "feel the power of the priesthood". Isn't that cool?! And next week, he'll be ordained to the Aaronic priesthood! Brody probably will be as well, but we're not sure exactly what will happen because he doesn't turn sixteen till the next day... they might let him become a priest anyway, or he might be a teacher, and ordained a priest the next week, or he might just wait a week.... I don't know. That's in Bishop's court, not ours, luckily!
Speaking of things that are in my court though... we are working with this Cambodian woman who doesn't speak hardly any English. Luckily we have two men in our wards who speak Cambodian and can translate! The thing is, she may or may not be mentally capable of making the decision to be baptized. We can't really tell. So, we are to pray and ponder about this. President said whatever we decide (whether or not she should be baptized) he will support. It's a lot of responsibility, and I'm definitely praying a lot! I really don't want to decide the wrong thing with her... but I do believe that the Lord will guide our decision and it will be the correct one.
I really appreciated your words of encouragement and love, ... Something I find interesting with Sis. Asay, especially, is that none of these health problems were prevalent before she left for her mission. She said that before this, she only had one or two migraines, she wasn't almost ever nauseous, her ankle obviously wasn't injured, and her back was manageable. But just one thing after the next keeps attacking her. ... She's an amazing missionary, and I feel so blessed to have her as my companion. I continue to pray for her, and I just hope this all gets figured out with me, so that her future companions and she can just hit the streets!
Well, I don't really know what else to tell you! It's been a good, crazy week. I feel so unimaginably blessed for my opportunities here, especially with the Smith family. I just know that Mary will be baptized (by Darrell!) before too long. I'm so excited for that day. Then, I will figure out a way to come back for their sealing. I have to.
All my love,
Sister Erika Marks ☀
p.s - Also, Dad, HAPPY FATHERS DAY!!! I was thinking out you all day yesterday, and though I wasn't allowed to call home, know you were in my thoughts. Also, I swear, you have something in the mail from me, I'm so sorry I didn't get it off on time (we can blame the Hughes genes this time...) J but I swear it'll be there soon! I love you so much!
Then, yesterday they were confirmed. I love confirmations so much. Because when the words, "receive the Holy Ghost" are said you can feel the spirit almost "whoosh" into the room! The whole spiritual level spikes, and I don't know how you couldn't feel it in that moment. Darrell said that when he was sitting in that circle, he could "feel the power of the priesthood". Isn't that cool?! And next week, he'll be ordained to the Aaronic priesthood! Brody probably will be as well, but we're not sure exactly what will happen because he doesn't turn sixteen till the next day... they might let him become a priest anyway, or he might be a teacher, and ordained a priest the next week, or he might just wait a week.... I don't know. That's in Bishop's court, not ours, luckily!
Speaking of things that are in my court though... we are working with this Cambodian woman who doesn't speak hardly any English. Luckily we have two men in our wards who speak Cambodian and can translate! The thing is, she may or may not be mentally capable of making the decision to be baptized. We can't really tell. So, we are to pray and ponder about this. President said whatever we decide (whether or not she should be baptized) he will support. It's a lot of responsibility, and I'm definitely praying a lot! I really don't want to decide the wrong thing with her... but I do believe that the Lord will guide our decision and it will be the correct one.
I really appreciated your words of encouragement and love, ... Something I find interesting with Sis. Asay, especially, is that none of these health problems were prevalent before she left for her mission. She said that before this, she only had one or two migraines, she wasn't almost ever nauseous, her ankle obviously wasn't injured, and her back was manageable. But just one thing after the next keeps attacking her. ... She's an amazing missionary, and I feel so blessed to have her as my companion. I continue to pray for her, and I just hope this all gets figured out with me, so that her future companions and she can just hit the streets!
Well, I don't really know what else to tell you! It's been a good, crazy week. I feel so unimaginably blessed for my opportunities here, especially with the Smith family. I just know that Mary will be baptized (by Darrell!) before too long. I'm so excited for that day. Then, I will figure out a way to come back for their sealing. I have to.
All my love,
Sister Erika Marks ☀
p.s - Also, Dad, HAPPY FATHERS DAY!!! I was thinking out you all day yesterday, and though I wasn't allowed to call home, know you were in my thoughts. Also, I swear, you have something in the mail from me, I'm so sorry I didn't get it off on time (we can blame the Hughes genes this time...) J but I swear it'll be there soon! I love you so much!