just another roller coaster week

James got baptized!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yay! He got baptized on November 22 which is cool for me because that date has not always evoked the happiest memories. It’s a sad day for me because of what I lost, but now it can be a happy too because it will remind me of the rebirth that comes with binding yourself to Christ through baptism. He almost didn’t get baptized though. Of course the adversary had to have one last stab at James. We had an appointment with James the night before the baptism. He called us on his way home from Austin. He told us that he wasn’t going to make the appointment because they were going to be late getting back. Why? Because they were having to stop the car every ten minutes to let James run out and …how can I say this delicately…well, so he could be sick. Anyways, he had the worse flu bug ever. Fever, puking everything thing. Was he still going to get baptized? Well…he still wanted to. He didn’t want to postpone it and said he’d be fine. The next day ward told us to postpone the baptism because he was sick and we were starting to come to the same conclusion…however, we are missionaries and we know that postponing a baptism is usually a very, very bad idea except for extreme circumstances…I don’t have enough time to explain why, but just trust me. Well, we left it up to James and there was nothing stopping him. So we filled up the font, set up the chairs, printed out the programs, and then waited because during the middle of church James had to go home and sleep. And we waited….everyone was asking us what we were waiting for…oh, just James, the person getting baptized. We called him and he kept saying he had to grab random stuff. What was taking him so long? It was only 45 minutes…but that is a long time in that situation. Anyways, no one really cared because Pleasanton ward is awesome and the people just relish life as they live it and aren’t bothered by sudden changes in plan. Well, finally James came in. Everything was ready to go, everyone was there…except for one person. Charles Bray…James’ best friend and a recent convert himself who had since gone less active. The whole time we taught James he told us how he knew Charles would come to his baptism because he would know how important it was for him. Oh sad day. He started to step into the font when suddenly the door opened and in walked Charles!!!! Everyone gasped and smiled to see him since he hadn’t been to church for quite awhile. Sister Dodge and I were ecstatic. So James got baptized. It was quick and simple…nothing fancy or huge because ordinances are just a gate. Baptisms are not my favorite part of the mission…they are way too stressful. My favorite part as being a missionary is visiting my recent converts after baptism and seeing their testimonies grow and watching them come closer to Christ. Best experience ever.

And guess what! Anna-marie is getting baptized. We taught her last week and invited her to be baptized. She was hesitant so we talked awhile longer with her and then we asked her again…and she said yes! As soon as she did the entire room filled with the Spirit. It was cool…and of course she started crying and it was great. She told her mom and her bother back in Dallas after our appointment. Her brother was so excited about it as she read parts of the Book of Mormon to him over the phone. He asked if he could have a Book of Mormon too. So we sent the Dallas missionaries over to him and they talked to Anna-marie’s whole family and her brother for sure is now getting baptized and the rest of her family wants to learn more. Oh wow, oh wow. Sister Dodge and I are so glad we stopped to talk to her the time we did a month ago. It made the hundred billion times we talked to people who were not ready totally worth it.

So things in Pleasanton are going really well…the sad part is…I’m getting transferred…tomorrow. Sigh. I’m totally sad. I am going to miss Anna Hopp (my October recent convert sooooooooo much!) She is learning so much and she’s coming back to church now because she is finally healed enough from her surgery to come back. I am going to miss James and Anna-Marie. I’m going to miss Clarissa and Toby (other converts) and the Swaims, Partridges, and Mitchells. I know going to a new place will be good, but I was not prepared for how much I would have to say good bye on my mission. It’s awful. But I’ll hold tight because the Lord has never led me astray and I’m starting to trust that more and more.

farewell pleasanton

sj