Tristan was baptized on Saturday! I got to baptize him. We have
about 9 investigators coming to church consistently and they are all youth. We
have 5 investigators with very solid baptismal dates. We are planning on
extending more baptismal invitations this week. This past week has been
incredible. We have watched the youth come so far. One young man we taught
earlier this week, who said he wouldn't be baptized till he was old now has a
date for the 9th of august. He made some major changes, like he wants to live
the word of wisdom and the law of chastity. He tries to help the other young
men prepare for baptism too by talking with them and giving answers. Elder
Jacobson and I have been teaching the Aaronic priesthood class at church and
the young men understand priesthood very well. In fact last night as we were
teaching Des, Michael came running up to us and asked us "you have the
priesthood right, You can give blessings?". We answered yes and then he
took us over to his neighbors house where she just had a stroke so we gave her
a blessing. Then we helped carry the larger lady down the hill with some of her
family members and other neighbors so that she could be taken to the hospital.
It was a surreal experience. I felt like an EMT. It was just another reminder
that you never know when you will be called upon to use your priesthood to
serve others. That is just one of the many incredible experiences I've had this
week. The best have been watching the youth change to be more like Christ. They
are just so desirous to do what's right. They used to smoke and drink and do
all kinds of bad things. They now come to church every Sunday, they are living
the commandments and they are starting to really get into the Book of Mormon.
All I can say is that I am grateful that I get to be a part of this. It has
been so fun this week, and Elder Jacobson and I have become really good
friends, which is sad because he is going to Guyana and I will be training a
Jamaican named Elder Gordon. The Gospel is changing so many lives and it is a
testament to the truthfulness of the message which I get to share. Our teaching
pool has about 25-30 solid people in it. I am keeping a journal so we'll have
to look at it when I get back. I like the shirt. Things are great! Hurrah for
Israel!
-Elder Parker
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