Feliz Navidad
Feliz Navidad….Feliz Navidad….Feliz Navidad….Prospero Ano y Felicidad!!! Well, it’s been a great week…and an even great weekend. We had a baptism on Saturday, her name was Anastacia Munoz, a hispanic lady whose son had just gotten baptized in November, so she felt the spirit and decided it was time for her to get baptized. As all baptisms are, it was a crazy one. We arrived at the church, at 11, to start filling the baptismal font. We had made the whole baptismal program and due to lack of spanish speakers, I was going to conduct it. Anastacia had origanally asked Brother Jesture to baptize her, but he was out of town. Then she want President Cullar (the branch president) to do it, but since he doesn’t speak Spanish, he didn’t feel comfortable doing it. Then, We asked Brother Tomas (the Spanish group leader) to do it the night before, and he agreed. But, 5 minutes the baptism was going to start, he told us he wanted one of us to perform the baptism, that he really didn’t want to do it. It was great timing..huh? So, Elder Ferons said he would conduct the meeting, if I wanted to baptize her (I haven’t baptized anyone since last year…Dec. 18th, 2005). So, we ran home, I got my white cloths and we got to the church, right as they did, at 1:15 (service was supposed to begin at 1). Then it turns out that our 1st speaker went back home to get her sister and we ended up starting at 1:45. It was alright though. So, I ended up baptizing Anastacia. It was a great meeting…the Spirit was super strong, and it was also a lot of fun.
I guess the significance of it all is something very special to me. Because I was kicked out of the MTC on December 18th, 2004 (today is the 2-year anniversary). I remember that day vividly, that I came home and then I was released. Mom and Dad went out in the evening or something, and I bet Julie remembers that I was downstairs for awhile and then I came up and she could tell that I was having a hard time. I remember being downstairs and hitting the realization what had happened, that I was no longer a missionary. I truley felt troubled and perplexed, not knowing what to do, what I was to do and the purpose of being home again. I can remember few such moments that I felt so devastated, lonely and even to a sense abandoned in my life. Well, after the initial shock, and after fervently praying for help, I felt a soothing comforting whisper that everything would be alright. I felt the power of the atonement make peace to my mind and my heart and I felt the love of God. I knew that I could do it. I knew everything would be alright. I wasn’t sure if I would be a missionary again, but I was sure if I stretched myself for that goal, that I would be made whole again, in whatever path life would lead me. I continued onward and after 7 months, I became a missionary again. Then, last year, December 18th, 2005, 1 year to the day of that miserable day, I saw the fruit of labor, I was able to perform the baptism of Sandy Granados. Joy had filled my soul, I knew everything had happened for a purpose. I experienced yet another great year of missionary work and I could feel the love of God for me and many blessings that I had recieved. Then this last Saturday, Dec. 16th, 2006, I baptized Anastacia Munoz. This time it wasn’t to the day but I did go home on the same Saturday. It is another witness to me that God loves and knows us and if we live true to what we know and the commandments, he will bless us immediately and give us what we need in the very moment of despair.
I didn’t quite know that this email would turn out like this, but I do know the Gospel has been restored to the Earth through Joseph Smith the Prophet, that we live in the fullness of times and that Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer of the World, lives today and leads and guides this church. He was born of humble birth, in a manger, in a foriegn land. In his life, he demostrated perfect love, charity, faith and humbleness. He died for us, he lives for us and it is my testimony and my witness, through the Holy Ghost, that he will return again in glory to rein upon the Earth, and to intercede and plead on behalf of us. Let us all continue living right and worthy for this moment. In this Holiday Season, let us strive to pattern our lives after the Savior and all try to become nicer, kinder and gentler to each other. He lives. He is the example. He is the Christ.
With Love, wishing everyone a Merry Christmas,
Elder Hardy