1st baptism!!

Let me tell you a few highlights of our weekend here in Lea valley!

Sister Cummings, Brother Augustine--ward mission leader, Peter, Sister Soulier

PETER WAS BAPTIZED!!! :D

Yes it was really neat.

However baptism weeks are so stressful.
Let me just explain what happened day of...

Day of baptism is daylight savings. We called and reminded Peter the
night before and he laughed and said he wouldn't forget. Well roll
around to 10 am the next morning at sacrament meeting, and no Peter.
Here Sister Cummings and I are taking the sacrament and there is no
sign of Peter! Ah he is going to be baptized today and he is not even
here to take the sacrament!! We were just a little stressed. Thank
goodness 20 mins later Peter walked in. So we have eyes on the person
being baptized. First step: complete.
Next step: fill up the baptismal font! Okay, well we need a key. And
guess where the key is? Well, your guess is as good as mine because no
one knew where the key was. Gah of course. Fast forward 30 stressful
minutes and we found the key! Yay! So we start filling the font and it
is warm water thank goodness! Stratford district had to baptize in
freezing cold water yesterday because their boiler was broken.
One more hitch: one of the speakers for the service didn't show
up....awesome. Okay then. Luckily, Brother Roosendaal came up and gave
a talk on the spot.
And Peter had to be dunked twice because his forehead stuck out.
And we haven't been able to get a hold of Bishop because he has been
on holiday for the past month or so. So does he know if there was a
baptism? Hopefully. But we did have bishopric support, thank goodness.


It was incredible. Yah, it is hectic and chaotic and stressful. But the
spirit is so strong. Sister Cummings and I were able to perform I Know
my Redeemer Lives thanks to Mom and the talks were perfect for Peter.
While Peter was changing after the baptism, I was going to play
intermediate music but Sister Blossom had other ideas. She had members
from the audience pick a favorite hymn and then I would play it while
they sang. Let me tell you my small piano skills are being put to the
test. Side note-I've officially became the pianist for Relief Society.
It is very difficult.
After the baptism Peter came up to us and said, I'm so happy! I'm so
happy! Ah yah Peter. We are happy too :) You could see the look of
pure joy on his face. It was amazing. I can't wait for him to one day
go to the temple. His wife passed away a long time ago and he will be
able to be sealed to her for time and all eternity. What a blessing.

Experiences like that are hard to write and so good to live through.

And Marc is doing so well too!! His baptismal interview is scheduled
for Thursday so hopefully all goes well :). We got to hear part of his
testimony last lesson when we were going through the baptismal
questions. He says he really feels like a different person from last
month when he didn't know the church. It's amazing. I remember we
asked him if he was willing to keep living the Word of Wisdom and he
agreed. Then he shared something with us. He said his dad offered him
a cappuccino last week and Marc said he felt like he shouldn't have
it. Instead of just saying no because the missionaries asked him, he
physically felt like he couldn't have it. Telling him this was the
effects of living commandments--that if we are willing to trust in God
and follow his commandments, he will give us added strength to help
us--was really neat. He just keeps nodding his head and saying ya ya
that makes sense.
I'm so excited for him. Especially because his first lesson with us
was the first lesson I got to teach in the mission field. The church
will be so good for him :)

Love, Sister Soulier :)

Sister Cummings, Joanna, Michael, Joshua, Sis Soulier

Sis Soulier and Sis Cummings, Marvin