Hey family,
Hope all is well back at home! It's been a crazy week this week here
in Huddersfield! There was a lot going on! My companion Elder Viani is
a good guy, he's quite funny! His English is not the best so he asks me
how to say a word in English like every 30 seconds! He honestly though
is a really good guy outgoing about everything! I don't know if it is
just the Italian culture but he is passionate about everything he
does! Like when he makes food he's dancing and singing at the top of
his lungs and he gets really into putting the
ingredients, he is really precise about it! He makes the best pasta
as well! One night, this was funny, I had just got done following up
with the teams and I turned the corner and he was turned around facing
the mirror with his backside towards it! I was a little thrown off but
I went back around the corner so he didn't see me and just kind of
peaked my head around, he was flexing his butt off and on in front of
the mirror! He was like alternating cheeks and making noises! Honestly was
one of the funniest things ! I just started bursting out laughing! He's
like, "what you not like Elder Tuita?" In his thick Italian accent it honestly
was so funny I wish I would of gotten it on video! He's a good guy!
Besides Elder Viani this week was super stressful! When I gotten into
the area one of the three companionships that left had someone getting
baptized this week! So she was left to us! The day I got there I got a
call from the bishop saying how this girl shouldn't be baptized its too
early, she's not ready! I had not met Sharon yet, I guess the bishop had
just found out that week and so he basically told me we would be
pushing her baptism back! I explained to him my previous experiences
of pushing baptisms back and usually how if we push dates back when
they are ready the adversary is just too strong he'll swoop in and ruin
everything! In my first area in Grimsby, there were two baptism that did not go through
because the Bishop felt it was too quick and we had to pushed them back. Something
ended up happening to them both and we lost them. It was tough because
I new they were both ready they wanted to change their lives so
badly! But without out entering into covenant that gave them access
to Christ and his atonement, the adversary was just too strong for them
and within that extra week Satan got a hold of them! I
explained to him if she is not ready we will have to push it
back 3 weeks, because after this week she was going on vacation for 2!
So it was either she be baptized in 4 days or she would have to wait
another three weeks! After hearing everything from Bishop he explained
she had only been taught two discussions. The missionaries never taught her in
her home it was just on the patio, and on top of that there was never a member
present! I begin to have my own doubts, but when I was able to meet her the
lesson was amazing and we had a member there
as well. The spirit was so strong! It was way evident that she was
ready and that this is what she wanted! She had stopped smoking cold turkey
she had felt the spirit, she was very converted! She was so exited for
her baptism on Saturday, leaving me feeling very stressed not knowing how to
convince this bishop that she was ready! It was so clear that she was ready,
and an over whelming feeling came to me that her baptism needed to be on
Saturday! Despite of this spiritual experience I remember being on my
knees with so much fear coming to me! All of these thoughts started
coming to me so I prayed again and still felt very strongly to do
whatever was possible to make the baptism happen on Saturday! I remember
sitting there feeling very alone and feeling very overwhelmed but I
knew what was right and what the Lord needed me to do! I called
Bishop and he was not happy, he basically told me we weren't having a
baptism and that we Elder were pushing this baptism! He was very upset
but I tried explaining to him as best I could that she was ready, and we can't stop her
from wanting this! An hour later president called and I explained to him the
situation! Things were not looking good, the ward was not happy I was
new and I just felt like everyone hated me! On top of that Sharon had
just gone missing we could not get a hold of her! I remember coming
home and praying that night asking Heavenly Father for help! I
remember feeling so lonely but while I was there praying it was almost
as if he was there comforting me himself! I
was reminded of what the savior went through and the lonely path he
made back to his Father in Heaven! I went to bed that night with piece
in my heart! That morning Sharon called us and told us she had just
been in the hospital for an emergency but was good to go! I called
Bishop again and begged him to let it happen! After a lot of talking we
finally came to an agreement to have the baptism on Sunday after
church! Sunday came around and Sharon had a dream the night of of her
father telling her she was making the right choice! She was crying all
the way through her baptism! When she received the Holy Ghost one of
the members gave her this blessing it was one of the most beautiful blessing I
had ever heard! She was emotional all the way through! It was amazing!
I remember sitting there during the baptism with so much gratitude in
my heart! Afterwards, Bishop came up to me and and shook my hand
and said good job elder! You could tell he knew it was the right
choice! I think I realized and what the Lord wanted me to learn from
this is how the Lord is always with us when we are doing his will! I
am gratetful for his spirit!
Hope you have a great week!
