A Beautiful Day

Today was our second baptism!

We have been working with Daisy, Sam, and Dan for a few weeks now and they are all outstanding people!  

Daisy is 12 years old and her mother Judith and sister Cyndi were baptized in August when Daisy was away at boarding school.  We have been so delighted to teach this bright young girl!  She was always prepared at each visit and understood all that we were teaching.  If we asked her a question she ALWAYS knew the answer.  She always did her homework and was prepared for each lesson.

Daisy also bore a special testimony after her baptism.  She spoke of feeling clean and that all of her sins were washed away.  She said, "I feel like I have been born again, just like I came out of my mother's womb.  I wish all those who are not baptized could be."  At the end she broke down and quickly finished her testimony.  It was really sweet.

Here is Aaron, (a member from the branch that is close with the family) and Daisy before the baptism began.

Sam is 14 years and has been coming to the church for many months now.   One day as we were teaching an investigator at the church, Francis brought in Sam, who we had seen around, but did not know he was not a member.  He was quiet at that first discussion but as we continued to teach him he opened right up and we have discovered that he is a very intelligent boy.  He has a good friend, Emma (Emmanuel) who is a member of the branch and so he has been coming to the activities and to church. with Emma.  He was not at church last Sunday and then he was not at our YSA activity on Monday because he was sick.  

On Wednesday we had a 'program 'set with Sam to have his Baptismal interview but he didn't show.  Last week we made a visit to the Central Market to meet Sam's mom and to get permission for him to be baptized.  He was so excited about her saying yes, so we couldn't understand why he would not show up for his appointment.  We started teaching a lesson with an investigator there at the church and Emma poked his head in the room so I went to talk with him.  He said Sam was sick with Malaria.  (I have come to realize that when someone gets sick "Malaria" is the go to word for just about everyone. )  We left our investigator in the capable hands of Francis and another YM and we went in search of Sam to give him a blessing.  Long story short, we couldn't find him.  Emma had heard that he was starting to get better so we let it go at that.  The next day at the church Sam came strolling up just like nothing was out of the ordinary.  

Elder Phelps jumped at the opportunity to interview him.  

After the baptism today Sam bore a powerful testimony.  He talked of when he first started coming to the brach he felt like a stranger.  Then he said, "But after today I am a stranger no more." He spoke of knowing that Jesus Christ is the Redeemer and bore testimony of the prophets Joseph Smith and of President Monson.  It was powerful!

Lastly is Dan.  He is 22 and has already done so much in his life.  He is a Tailor and also is the head teacher at the orphanage that I posted about last week.  Dan is an amazing man!  He has been learning a lot and has been 'supa' excited for his baptism.  He was introduced to the Gospel by Nelson who is a member of our Branch.  They are both Tailors by trade and work close to each other at the Central Market.  Dan has been a joy to teach and is always so gracious.  He is excited to be a missionary to the people out in Budaka (where the orphanage is) and has already introduced us to a prime investigator named Sam.  We have set a date with Sam for December 24th!

Dan also bore a great testimony and was most thankful for all of those people who helped him get to this point in his life!  He was baptized by his dear friend Nelson.

The group

It's been a wonderful full day!  We head out to Busia tomorrow where we are planning an especially long day.  First is PEC, then we speak in Sacrament Meeting, then there's a baptism, then we have branch council to help the EQ figure out their home teaching, (apparently with everyone else learning from the experience?) then we drive to Jinja for the night.  The next morning is Zone Coference with Elder Hamilton the Area President presiding.  Then we feed everyone in the group (around 60) lunch.  Then we head to Kampala for the night.   On Tuesday we are going to get a few things we need and then make the long trip back to Mbale.  When we get back our week is pretty full with teaching assignments, with another baptism scheduled for next Saturday. 

They don't call it missionary WORK for nothin'!