Monday, March 21, 2016

Week 23: Kathy and Kimberly baptized

Hello hello! It hasn't been too long since I last sent out an email; only four days ago haha! 

On Thursday evening we had dinner at a member's house, and for St. Patrick's Day they dyed their food green (we had breakfast food: eggs, pancakes, hashbrowns,etc), it was quite a festive dinner! Later that night we went on team-ups with a member named Jerry, who's been a member of the Church for about a year and a half. He had just received his temple recommend on Tuesday, so we are all very excited about that. I literally jumped and shouted for joy when he told us that he passed his final interview with the stake president! Everyone we had scheduled to see that night with Jerry were not home, so Jerry was driving us back to where we locked up our bikes, when I had a quiet thought to go and see Michael and Berna, two former investigators that we had stopped teaching recently. I contemplated whether or not to do it, but I figured since we had noone else to see, we might as well try. So I decided to act on that prompting and told Elder Morton and Jerry that we should go see Michael and Berna, to which they agreed. We drove to their house, and we ended up talking to Michael out on their front doorstep. He didn't seem to excited to see us, probably because he was sick the past few days. But when we told Jerry that Michael works with sheet metal, Michael's demeanor changed a little bit, and BOOM, there was a connection! Him and Jerry started talking about construction stuff since they both work in that field, and Michael softened up a little bit. We were even able schedule a visit with them for tonight! Woohoo! 

Saturday was the baptism for Kimberly and Kathy, two girls we've been teaching. They were 30 minutes late to the baptism because their mother had to get them clothes for the baptism, but in the end they arrived. As soon as the two girls came out of the changing room with their white jumpsuits on, we could see a change in their demeanor, like they were ready to step into the font. The talks that were given were great. I had the opportunity to baptize the younger of the two, Kathy, and Elder Morton baptized the older sister, Kimberly. When I was in that font with Kathy and I raised my arm to the square, I had so much love for the two girls! I am so proud of them and their progress they have made. Yesterday on Sunday we confirmed them members of the Church and they received the Holy Ghost. I confirmed Kathy, and Elder Morton confirmed Kimberly. It was an honor to be able to exercise priesthood power to bless another person one of our Heavenly Father's most precious gifts, the gift of the Holy Ghost!

Well, I hope and pray that you will try to have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. It truly is a still, small voice, that is why it's more difficult to feel the Spirit when listening to loud music, or when you are yelling at someone in anger or when someone is doing the same to you. Sometimes it speaks to us more quietly than we want it to sometimes haha, but that's how it's supposed to be. Otherwise life would much easier, which would mean that we truly wouldn't be tested in this life. Listen intently to promptings that you may receive, and pray for the guidance of the Holy Ghost. He is there to help you, so don't be afraid to act on how you feel from the Holy Ghost. I can promise you that as you do so, you will be able to feel peace much more often in your life, you will be more happy and content, and you will be able to feel your Heavenly Father's love for you much stronger. 

Well, that's all folks, study the scriptures and pray always! They do nothing but bless you and make your life better!
-Elder Ruiz

Also, check out this awesome arrangement that the Mormon Tabernacle Choir put on!  


From left to right:  Me, Kathy, Kimberly, and Elder Morton!
St. Patrick's Day - green dinner!


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