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| Jeftie, Jeanbie and Cyber |
BAPTISM! Jeanbie, Jeftie (found out this is actually how you spell it), and Cyber. It was such a cool baptism. They wanted it early in the morning so that they could feel good the whole day. :) We had their baptism at 8 am on Saturday morning. Jeanbie showed up in the skirt that Sister Madronio left her, and the other two were wearing their nicest jeans and shirts. Their excitement was tangible in the air. When they got the white jumpers on, Sister Jeanbie was almost jumping up and down, she was so excited. Bishops family is so amazing, and they all came to support the baptism. The service was really neat as well, and at the end they all bore their testimonies. Jeftie has been practicing his testimony for the last month. He said he kept bearing his testimony to all his friends and praying for his class to practice so that he wouldn't be scared on his baptism day! :) He went first and did a good job. I always feel like a mom who freaks out over every new step their baby makes. Each step they make feels like Christmas. Their testimonies are so pure and innocent and I can't even remember their bratty-ness when I first met them. They are so pure, humble, determined, and powerufl. They all spoke about serving missions in the next few years when they reach the right age. Can you just see it? All three of them serving throughout the world? Changing the world? It gives me goosebumps to think about. The most inspiring part of the day, was the testimony of Cyber. He is 18, never been to highschool, orphaned, finds his food each day by doing chores for people. For example, he will fetch thier water, and run their errands, chop their wood, cook, etc. so that he can eat with their family and sleep there for the night. He moves around families every couple weeks, but always in Paglaum. He has always been quieter in the lessons since he is not used to such a class-like setting, and is always more shy to pray or answer questions. But over the last couple of weeks, we have seen the wheels turning, and logic clicking, and the spirit filling in all the missing pieces. One lesson, he interrupts the lesson (which was about family history), looks up, and just says, "I always need to go to church don't I. Until I'm really really old." I just chuckled and said, "yes, we all do." He smiled and right there promised he would go for the rest of his life. He had committed before, and he had been to church 6 times, but for the first time, the spirit taught him something that internalized in his soul. The power of his statement still rings in my ears. So yesterday, he was last to bear his testimony. He had been so scared and told us previously that he didn't want to do it. But after his baptism, he just stood up with so much confidence and talked about Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon, he thanked me and all my companions who have taught them, talked about the holy ghost, and even closed in the name of Jesus Christ. He was the only one who remembered that at the end. I couldn't help but cry at his progression. It's so beautiful. This gospel is beautiful. It was the best "last baptism" I could ask for.
I love you all and want you to know how thankful I am for all for all of you! Allyson, you are amazing, keep up the dedication, motivation, and hard work. It's the hardest when the results don't come as fast as we wish, but just as it says in PMG chapter 1, a successful missionary will know they have done their best, when they feel the spirit testify through them. They will know they have done their best.
I love you! Palangga ko kamo!
Sister Smoot
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