What a week...busiest yet!

 Luke had a LOT to talk about today!!!!  He started telling us about his busiest day yet, Saturday.  They helped the Stake with youth activity where they were on mock missions and they were in the mini MTC.  They split them up in groups of about 10-12 people and they rotated classes.  So Luke and his companion had the opportunity to teach all the kids about baptism.  They were in the mini MTC all day from 7:30 am-3:30 pm.  After all the classes they took the kids out and had them go tracting.  Luke thought they would be shy, but they were out passing out Books of Mormon, pamphlets, etc. and they had no fear!

It started to get late and Luke was stressing out a bit because they were supposed to meet their friend Facundo at 4:00 so they could review things before his interview and then baptism at 6:30.  They were a little doubtful that he would even show up because they hadn't had much contact with him during the week because he doesn't have a cell phone.  But they got to the church late and there he was sitting patiently on a bench.  They were so surprised!!!

So they started reviewing all the lessons with him but time was ticking.  Usually they would go over the interview questions before the interview but they were rushed and so they decided to skip them.  But then all of a sudden Luke felt prompted that they needed to go over them.  So he listened to the Spirit and as they were going over them they realized there were some things that they were unaware of that Facundo needed to talk to their mission President first.  So they called him and he had him talk to one of his counselors.   But as they are getting him on the call they find out the font broke and only filled up to the second stair!  And the water was freezing!  And then if that isn't bad enough the power went out!!!  Oh my!  But amidst all the chaos Luke felt calm.  

Luke said Facundo went in and talked to the Mission Presidency member and came out completely different.  Very humble. The scripture Alma 34:31 came to Luke's mind when he saw the change in Facundo..."...now is the time and the day of your salvation; and therefore, if ye will repent and harden not your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you."   They doubted Facundo and his readiness at the beginning, but he came out very repentant and humble and they could see his soft heart! What a special kid.  He has been a victim of abuse and a hard life.  But he truly wants Christ in his life. He even biked to the church and stayed there from about 4:00 until 7:30!!!!

And then it hit Luke that the water and the power weren't coincidences.  People would have wondered why the delay (because Facundo needed to have these extra interviews).  Instead of it being embarrassing for him that the baptism was delayed because of him, the delays were because of the power and water!  A tender mercy that was not lost on Luke!

Things finally got worked out and it was time for Facundo to get baptized.  That was an adventure too.  There was still only water up to the second stair.  So Facundo had to sit on the font floor and after the baptismal prayer he had to lay down FLAT!  Luke was one of the witnesses and they looked closely.  He said the water barely covered his nose!  They kept him down for 5 seconds just to make sure he was fully immersed.  It was so intense that when he came up out of the water Luke clapped on accident!!! :)

After the baptism Luke and his companion went into the dressing room to check on Facundo and he was sitting there shivering.  They asked him how he felt and he said "I feel like Jesus Christ!" :)  Luke was thinking No No NO!  Let's not go that far :) 

Facundo didn't have any baptismal clothes and so he borrowed Luke's white shirt and some other clothes.  He was sitting there shivering and they told him to change into his clothes.  He looked at them confused and said he couldn't because he wore his shorts under the pants!  Oh no!  So they just went with it and a cute sister took off her coat and gave it to him.  I love this picture that shows him in the coat...

The craziness didn't stop there.  After the baptism they sat down with him to fill out the baptismal record.  They asked him his birthday.  He said Dec. 4th!  Luke instantly recognized that that was Emma's birthday!  And then he asked what year.  Facundo said 2004.  2004!??!!  Wait...that would mean he was 17 not 18!!!!  Yikes! That means they just baptized a minor without parental consent!  OH NO!  They said are you sure?  2004?  Facundo said yes.  And then they told him "Facundo that means you're 17 not 18!"  He said "What? No I'm 18!"  So they told him to go home and look for his ID papers and bring them to church the next day so they could verify.  So they walk him outside for him to get on his bike and his bike was GONE!  Someone stole it!!!!!  So they thought.  But thank goodness they realized someone moved it inside the gym.  Phew!!!!  

They went out tracting and realized they were near Facundo's house so they decided to go and talk to his mom.  They were nervous because they knew she wasn't a huge fan of the church.  She is Evangelical so they didn't know how she would react.  Facundo answered the door and was surprised to see them.  They asked if they could talk to his mom.  He said she was sick in bed.  They said they really needed to talk to her anyway.  They go in and sure enough she is sick in bed.  They ask her if she wanted a blessing and she said yes!  Luke said the Spirit was so strong during the blessing.  After the blessing she said she was already feeling a bit better. 

So they started to explain the situation.  They asked when Facundo's birthday was and she said Dec. 4, 2004.  She said he was 18.  They asked if she was sure.  Then they told her if it was 2004 then he is actually 17 years old.  She was shocked!  ha ha ha!  Then they told her they baptized him thinking he was 18.  She was surprised he got baptized!  She said "He did?"  Facundo explained how good he felt about his decision.  He told her that the next day he was getting the Gift of the Holy Ghost.  She told him that the Holy Ghost is at her church too.  He told her "No you don't"  (Luke cringed and hoped she wasn't offended!)  They had a good discussion and they even showed her a video about the temple.  She finally consented to signing the baptismal papers.  What a relief!!!!!

When they left they got a call from the AP's that some Elders were on a bus and missed their stop in Resistencia and the next stop was 4 hours away in Formosa!  So they needed them to pick them up and let them stay the night at their apartment!  Wow this day was full of surprises!  Funny thing is their friend saw these Elders at the store and picked them up and brought them to Luke's apartment!  Man God really put all the puzzle pieces together today!

All of that was just on Saturday!  Luke had other awesome experiences during the week.  One lady he taught is named Brenda and she lives right next door to the church.  I remembered Luke mentioning her last week, that he saw her standing outside looking at the church and so he stopped to talk to her.  Well they had a lesson with her this week.  They took her on a tour of the church.  When they got to the font she asked what she needed to do to be baptized!  What!?  That's amazing!  She said she has really felt alone and had been praying for guidance.  She felt a little bit angry with God that he hadn't given her answers and peace.  One day she saw Luke and his companion standing out front as she was walking to the store.  She was scared to talk to them and so when she was coming back she was going to go a different way.  But that is when Luke saw her last week and started talking to her!  (Luke told us last week he was prompted to talk to her!) She was receptive and even came to the ward FHE activity they had.  She felt so welcome there and felt the Spirit. 

Her little daughter calls the church the "school" and has been begging her mom to go.  She also wanted her husband to come but he is Catholic.  She told the Elders to pray for him that he would come with them.  Sunday morning Luke and his companion went over to see if they were going to be coming and she was already getting ready.  AND...her husband ended up coming too!  She said she felt so good and now she talks to God all the time and asked for forgiveness for being angry with him.  During their discussion they asked her if she would like to be baptized and she said YES!  

Another man they met with this week was Carlos.  Carlos is a neighbor to the Elder's Quorum President in the ward.  He came and did a tour at the church.  He was a little bit negative and acted like all churches were the same.  When they stopped at the picture of Christ coming to the Americas he was a little bit taken off guard.  He said "What? I don't remember that in the scriptures!" So then they were able to talk about the Book of Mormon with him.  He was again surprised.  Then they showed him the font and the Spirit was so strong in the room.  While they were in there Juan, a recent convert that was with them, bore testimony about his conversion.  He told Carlos that he used to feel lost.  The missionaries came and taught him about baptism and he was so excited to hear how his sins would be washed away and he would be clean.  He said his baptism was life changing and now he is a completely different person.  The Spirit was so strong and Carlos was in tears as he told them he was wrong and that not all churches are the same.

They continued the tour and then he saw the picture of Christ giving the apostles authority.  They testified to him that we are the only church with the authority passed down by the laying on of hands.  He was puzzled and asked how?  So then they went into a discussion about the Restoration.  But he was still confused...how did Joseph Smith get the authority if he lived in 1820 and Jesus was in 34 AD???  So then they taught him of resurrected beings and Joseph Smith getting the Priesthood.  He was amazed!    After their tour he went home and read all of 3 Nephi 11 and even came to church!  He said he feels really good there.  What a great experience!

And last he talked about Ramona and Ernesto.  They are a couple that the Elders were teaching previously.  Ramona's daughter is a member but Ramona never wanted to join.  But now she is meeting with the missionaries and has a desire to be baptized BUT she and Ernesto are not married.  One stumbling block is that Ramona's ex husband has passed on and she will get some inheritance but she only gets it if she is unmarried.  So they are putting off their wedding until that money comes in.  But who knows when the money will come.  It could be months.  Luke testified to them that the money is not worth it!  They need to show the Lord their faith by getting married right away and don't put off living the law of chastity. 

 Juan, the recent convert, was also at this discussion and he shared his experience that he and his wife also had to get married before his baptism.  He told how the Lord blessed them.  He and his wife put in their papers to the government to get married and the government postponed their date.  They were very disappointed because his baptismal date was approaching.  So they decided to go into the government office and someone had cancelled their appointment nd so they were able to get married that day!!!  He got married and baptized the same day!

Luke and his companion opened their scriptures and they both turned to 1 Nephi 3:7.  They had Ramona read it and told her to substitute Nephi's name with her own name.  So she read "And it came to pass that I, Ramona, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." Immediately she made the connection and said "Hey this is like my situation right now!"  Luke told her "Ramona the world would say to wait for the inheritance, but it you keep the commandments, the Lord will bless you.  He will bless you with peace, and a connection with Ernesto because you are both committing to the Lord."  After she got excited and said she wanted to renounce the inheritance and go ahead and get married!  Luke was so excited and so happy that her faith was so strong!

They both came to church Sunday and even brought friends!  Luke and his companion went and visited them again and there was a different feel.  Ernesto was very hesitant and worried about a wedding and baptism at the same time.  Ramona was still onboard and threatened to leave him to get baptized.  Woah Luke said!  But he didn't have to say much because then Ernesto said "Ok I have one thing to say,  we'll go tomorrow and get the paperwork figured out."  So we are praying for them this week that they can get married without any stumbling blocks!  

So there you have it, what a week!!!!  There is a lot going on in Formosa!!!!