Hey! Thanks for all the birthday wishes, and the birthday video. That was fun! I
wasn't able to hear it but I'm sure you guys singing was wonderful!! Thanks a
ton! I had a really special birthday. It was really busy! Like every Sunday we
started out yesterday calling everyone in the morning and trying to wake them up
and get to church. As always nobody answered. The A-- family came, and D-- (A teenager we are teaching, his cousins are Mormons) So that was
good!! Then we had a quick lunch after church, and raced over to the A--
house because we had to explain some stuff about the baptism and do a last
minute interview for the dad. Elder Moss and I spent a good hour or two over
there a few days ago trying to prep the dad and he agreed to baptism!! So we had to do that really quickly after church. He ended
up not getting baptized though, I guess there are still some things we need to
address. But he will be getting baptized soon. His wife was baptized though! I'll
tell a little bit more about that later.
After that we had to go and set up for the baptism about 30 minutes before
it was supposed to start and we realized the font wasn't filled yet.. not our
fault!! I hate to point fingers but there is only one person in the stake that
has a key to the baptismal font (By the way, in Murietta the missionaries had
their own key..), and we called him on Friday and he told us he would get it
filled. I guess he forgot. So we had to call him and get him to come fill it up,
which takes a considerably long time. So the baptism started a little over 30
minutes late. But when it started it started good! The spirit was present.
Hermana A-- couldn't stop crying. I know she felt it. I know
she knows God is proud of her, and I know she has been prepared long before we
met her by angels. One of them being her mother. The baptism was a very special
experience, and it's experiences like these that make all the rejection worth
it. I am sure sure will be followed by her family, and they will make it into
the eternities together. That's what kind of family they are. They are very
special.
So, I can't say enough about her. You guys should hear when she prays. She
talks with God, like literally talks with him, and you know he is listening. We
had so many experiences with that family this last week, and the members that
came with us to visit them. She is going to make a great addition to the ward
family.
So the baptism was great. Elder G-- came back to baptize her so it was
good to see him again. Elder M-- and I gave talks, mine was on the gift of the
Holy Ghost. It was a good little sermon I gave :)
Then after the baptism we went to a members house for dinner. We went
inside and sat down, and I noticed that the room was all decorated for a
birthday, but at this moment I kind of forgot that I was having one. So I asked
if they had a birthday party this week and the hermana said we are having one
right now. It made me smile! It was a fun little birthday party. Some of the
other members showed up and brought cake. It was really nice of them. I don't
know how they knew it was my birthday. I think my companion had something to do
with it. The little rascal!! He's a great guy. But yeah they sang to me birthday
songs in Spanish, and we ate cake. It was a grand time!!
So that wraps up my birthday. It was the best! It only lacked you guys
singing to me, and it looks like you guys completed that for me and sang to my
proxy bear. Thanks for everything. I got all the boxes and cards. Thank you! You
guys are the best. So It looks like I got to go. Love you guys!
Love, Elder Higgins
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| Birthday Baptism, so special Hermana A! |
 |
My 20th Birthday! |
August 12, 2013
Whaaat's uuup!! Hey! I'm glad to hear everyone is enjoying the respective lives. Thank you
for sending birthday boxes. I can't believe my 20th birthday
is already sneaking up on me.
I had an awesome week. Elder M-- and I are having fun and visiting a lot
of people. We had our temple trip this week. So we got to go there once again! I
loved as always. The new video was pretty impressive and I'm kind of dying to
get back there to see it again! Elder Moss and I got in a pretty extensive "bash" (with a random person)
I call it reasoning these days. Bashing isn't good, but reasoning is :) Anyway,
we felt like we had to defend the faith because he was bashing on Joseph Smith..
It was pretty good actually looking back on it because it was two white guys
reasoning in Spanish, and I would say we came out on top. His last few arguments
were really weak.
The familia A-- is still on track for baptism! She (the mother) has
started to have very interesting dreams since we started teaching her. She has
had some about her mother and stuff, and she always tells us about them. Anyway,
I think she has expected her answer to come in the form of a dream.. Which all
during this week she has been saying she doesn't know if she is ready because
she is afraid of letting God down after she is baptized, and she still wanted
that answer. So Elder Moss and I have been praying for her to have a dream or a
specific answer. I feel like she has met every requirement to Moroni's promise.
She is very sincere, and her intent is true, and she has been reading and
praying. So why not pray for a dream if it's what she is looking for. So
yesterday they came to church, and she is still loving it there. We didn't get
to talk to them much though because church is a busy time. As they were leaving
the church though she said to my companion (I was engaged in another
conversation across the room) "I had I dream and I got my answer about baptism.
It was very beautiful." then she said she would tell us more about it later. We
haven't seen her since then. We are going to see them tonight though. I'm pretty
excited to hear what she says!
So yeah. That's the week! Love you guys! Keep cool!! Love Elder Higgins :)
We had a good week. The A-- family is progressing a lot. They came to
church for a second time and are still loving it. They are starting to open up
more as well and ask more questions. They are reading the Book of Mormon. Like,
actually reading it! From the beginning!! The mother is halfway through with
first nephi already. It's super cool! The Dad has really progressed as well, and
I can see a new light in his eyes. They are date for the 18th of August. My
birthday! We also put S--, the one with the son that passed away,
on date for the 31st of August, and she accepted. She is very interested in The
Gift of The Holy Ghost, and keeps asking us questions about it. Like how have we have
felt it in our lives and stuff like that. She also reads a lot from the Book of
Mormon, and loves it! We read Alma 36 with her the other day because she says
she doesn't feel the presence of Christ in her life, and so we read that with
her, and discussed how we can feel His spirit. Obeying His commandments, we
found out that's the secret, even the commandments that seem minuscule are
important, and can provide us with more of His Spirit. We also had some other
interesting lessons, but I don't have too much time. I wish I could type faster
and tell you more.. But I can't.
But, I do love you guys, and I have a testimony of the messages that I have
been called to share with everyone. I hope you all have a good week this
week!
Love you! Bye. Love, Elder Higgins
