Tuesday, September 3, 2013

"Santos Venid‏" (Come, Come Ye Saints)



We totally had a baptism this week. That's always nice, right? A member's kid turned 8 years old on Sunday, and we went last week to teach him about baptism. It went well. He understands baptism like an 8 year old understands baptism. When he was asked why he was getting baptized, he answered, "Because Jesus was baptized first." It was an awesome experience. We went into the water and the water came up to about his neck…makes it super easy to baptize like that. When I was baptized I probably was immersed just by walking down into the water. I was just a little guy. But it was awesome. We had a bunch of food afterwards too. He had to travel to Vineland because our chapel doesn't have a baptismal font, so we all treked up there.

We saw a really cool miracle this week. We were visiting a more-or-less active member of the branch with another more-or-less active member. We had a really good lesson of the covenants that we make and how we should keep them. We finished the lesson by singing "Come, Come, Ye Saints." After we finished singing the song, another man that lives in the house came out and told us that as he was listening to us sing and he felt something. He absolutely loved the hymn. He asked us to come back. The hymn did all the teaching. It told him all that he needed to hear. The hymns really do have so much spiritual power. They are a pure vehicle of the Spirit. I have a strong testimony of that.

One of our investigators, Pedro, is more-or-less progressing. He love what we teach, sometimes reads,  and says he will come to church, but then never does. We have thought about reading 2 Nephi 9:34 (“Wo unto the liar, for he shall be thrust down to Hell!”)  to our investigators when they commit to come to church. Look up that scripture. It's short, sweet, and true. Anyways we have a Noche de Hogar every Monday night. He loves coming to that. Yesterday, they had a birthday party for someone in the branch. A member went and picked him and his family up, and when we got there, they were being completely fellowshipped. They were laughing, having a great time, and didn't look uncomfortable or awkward at all. Their kids were playing with member's kids, and everything was going great. Our branch is great a fellowshipping new members. They need to work on fellowshipping the rest of the branch, but we're taking baby-steps here.

Yesterday we ate this seafood soup. It was kind of gross. Just imagine taking a bunch of fish, putting them into a blender, bones and all, then pouring it into bowls, then adding some shrimp, a crab, and some fish-fat. It was ok, but not worth the smell that was on our hands and clothes for the rest of the day. I had to go and scrub myself in the shower last night to get the smell off me. But that's ok, pictures forthcoming.

Well this church is true. I love teaching people about it. I have come to know it SOO much more. I can say that I do know. It is a good feeling. I love you all. Thanks for supporting me and for being there. Thanks for all the birthday wishes last week. It was a good one. I got my face smashed in some cake. It was super yummy.  Jesus is the Christ. He lives. He loves us. All that he asks us to do is live in a way that makes Him pleased with us. When we do, we are promised the blessing of eternal life. Why would we let anything get in the way of that? Why would we compromise our eternal reward for some temporal pleasures that moth and dust corrupt? We aren't perfect, but we can try. Then He will make the difference.

Love you all!

-Elder Dial



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