October 8, 2011

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

(I sure hope that includes you, family.)

Well. We´ve got another baptism tonight. Sebastían Duarte. The Lord prepared him, the Spirit touched him, and all things fell in to place. He´s a nine year old, son of Hna. Estela Duarte, who never wanted to get baptized, and now has had a mighty change of heart. He´s rejected every missionary who´s ever come in to teach him and encourage him to be baptized. Some of the best missionaries I know have been passed by his house. His mom told us that she asked him when we weren´t there, "Do you really want to get baptized? No one will be upset if you say no. You can tell the truth. No one will obligate you to be baptized." He responded with an enthusiastic, Yes! Elder Wray showed him a colorable picture of the savior getting baptized, that said, "Seguiré el Ejemple de Jesucristo al bautizarme." It really got him. It´s a blessing to see the Lord´s timing and will come about. He truly knows us, individually, and times the events of our lives to our needs. Next up: Natalia Servín. Her husband, Pedro, will be blessing their child in Sacrament Meeting tomorrow.

Elder Wray has put his heart and soul into magnifying his calling here in the office. He´s really made the administrator´s job something organized and efficient, and continues looking for ways to improve. Along with that, he gets his Idaho Farmboy side of him on right when 4:30 hits, and gets outside the office to start working his tail off. He´s a friend and an example. It´s a blessing to call him my Companion.

When I plan and prioritize with God, He makes time to accomplish things that could never get done in a normal work day. Miracles happen when He is on my side. Or better said, when I come over to His side. Humbling myself to His will has been, and is still, a wonderful (often painful ;_) journey. I´m grateful for the patience that He has with me, as He shows me my weaknesses, and then lovingly waits for me to call for help. ;_). He wants nothing but the best for me, and I´ll be forever grateful to my Father for that.

Moniter tans. We´ve all got them here, just on the front side of our faces that face these computer screens all day. I think Elder Curtis has a zebra-striped one from the blinking flourescent light that doesn´t work very well in his office.

Hasta Luego,

Elder Joshua C. Stewart