Leo's Baptism

July 27, 2015

Hola a todos!

Esta semana pasada fue TAN lindo!!! [This week was sooo good!] Leo was baptized! Saturday was his baptism. Hermana Maya and I made lots of invitations. We kept reminding the members about the baptism because, it happens a lot here, few people go to the baptisms and it´s kind of sad because no one shows support. So we were a little worried. The leaders in our branch really don’t help us out, at all, so Hermana Maya and I spent all day Saturday setting up chairs, getting things ready, buying the torta [cake] and making cookies. We asked the members to bring pizza or empanadas or something to share.

The baptism was scheduled for 6PM and at like 5:45 no one had arrived. We were a little worried but we kept up our faith in the members. But THEN, oh my gosh, people started to flow in; it was nuts! Like investigators, less actives and members were just flowing in. We were rushing to set up more chairs and make room for everyone. They all brought food and like, dude, there was a lot of food. We counted about 65 people that came to the baptism!!! And Leo´s parents came to watch too!! It was amazing!

We had planned that the primary would sing a song, ¨I Love to Look for Rainbows.¨ And I, personally, played the piano. It took a lot of practicing in the week with the children but it turned out so spiritual! We had planned the speakers and everything.

The actual ordinance was so spiritual. It gave me chills to see so many people there supporting Leo and to see Leo´s face. He was so happy! The spirit was so strong and so exciting!

Then we all ate food. The Sociodad de Soccorro [Relief Society] and Hermana Maya and I served the food. There was pizza and empanadas and chipa (a cheese bread here that is really good!) and tons of stuff. 

It was an amazing experience and definitely one that I will never forget! 

On Sunday was the confirmation of Leo. As they were confirming him I again was filled with chills all over, as he was now accepted into the church as a member! He is planning on going to the temple in December to do baptisms with Adriana, his girlfriend! 

It was an amazing experience! 

My Zone and Mission President

Last night was also a lot of fun. We had a Noche de Hogar with a few members, a less active member and her boyfriend, who is not a member, and an investigator, Vanesa. We helped Hermana Menez cook. The food was so good! There isn’t a lot here in Argentina that is like ¨wow” but this was really good!! We made homemade ravioli. We made the dough and filled them with papas y queso [potatoes and cheese] and they were amazing! We also made mbeyu, which is from Paraguay. It´s like a bread but uses madioca flour and cheese; dude that was amazing!!!  

Today for P-day we had a zone activity. It was really fun. We did a scavenger hunt and had to run around Garupá, a city close to Posadas.

My Zone in Garupa

The Pope came to Paraguay about 2 weeks ago and it was nuts here because everyone was crossing the border to go hear and see him! 

There are a lot of pioneers here in Apostoles. The wife of the branch president is a convert. She was baptized when she was young and served a mission in Washington DC North at the same time as Bryce and Aprille! I want to ask a lot of people for their stories! 

That is about everything really exciting that happened this week, but it was so great (:

This coming week will be a lot of tracting again! 

Love you all, 

Hermana Newell