I love epilogues. I'm such a sucker for happy endings.
The past two years have been indescribable. I really mean that. I have no idea how to describe the past two years. I can say they've been great, I can say I've loved them, I can say I learned so much, that I grew, that I became a man, and its all true. (Except the last part. That's still not true, but I thought I'd slip it in there casually to see if anyone objected.)
But there is just nothing I can say to do it justice. My joy is so incredibly full. I don't even think I really knew what joy was 2 years ago. My mission has been nothing if not miraculous- and by Miraculous I mean full of Miracles. so I think it's fitting that I close with one more miracle.
On Wednesday, we met with an investigator, Ciana. We followed up on her reading assignments, and asked if she had been praying. She said no, because "she forgot."
Oh my stars, people are so frustrating.
So we wrote it down on a sticky note, which she then taped to the inside of her Book of Mormon. "Pray!" We reminded her of the importance to pray to know if the Book of Mormon is true, and to have real intent to act on the answer she'd receive.
She wanted to be baptized, (her wording is "It's not If, but When") but wanted to finish the entire Book of Mormon first. We encouraged her to read it all, but explained that baptism is not meant to come after "Enduring to the End" but after Faith and Repentance. At this point in time Ciana is in the Isaiah Chapters of 2 Nephi.
She agrees to pray, but tells us that her mother is coming in town this weekend, and due to family issues and stress, baptism is really just too much to consider right now. We committed her to pray, and left it at that.
Thursday morning we drop by just to check up on her. She invites us in, and begins by saying "I've cleared my schedule, my mom isn't coming til next month- I can be baptized this weekend. Can you make that happen?"
Haha. Can I make that happen.
We make the calls, get everything in order, and proceed with the baptism.
Except,
oh wait, the water heater at the Church is BROKEN! We spent the entire
day boiling water in the kitchen and dumping it in the font. It was
exhausting, but totally worth it. We didn't get it hot, but it was
significantly less cold at least.
It was a BEAUTIFUL baptism. Elder Burton and I sang at it. (We sing everywhere. After member dinners we say, "For our spiritual message, would you like a scripture or a song?" and they always choose song)
If you remember Maya, who was baptized about 2 weeks ago, we had one more lesson with her last night, where we watched Mountain of the Lord, and talked about preparing for the temple. She wants to be sealed to her family next year :)
Finally, on the way back to the car to drive home Sunday
night, we get a call from an unknown number. It's a part member family
in our ward it turns out, and the 9 year old son wants to be baptized.
He took the discussions earlier this year, but the mother felt he
wasn't ready. Yesterday he came to her, and said he'd thought and
prayed about it, and was definitely ready and sure of his decision, so
she called us :) He's on date to be baptized a couple weeks out. Isn't
that amazing?
Two years ahead, time crawls or flies
The difference, in your perception lies.
A step of faith will wet the soles
Then part the sea of grief and woes.
The grace, the light, the joy, the truth,
The change inside is irrefutable proof.
Two years behind, a life ahead,
Thoughts dance while my body lies in bed.
The future is a fluid thing
And becomes whatever my choices bring.
Doubt bows to Hope, so happily
I soon will see my family.
- Elder Chase Williams Lonas
