Makes It All Worth It

Hola mi familia y mis amigos!

I hope you all have had a great week and that all is well!! As always, thank you so much for you emails and support!  I truly love it and I am very very grateful!!

So this past week was so unbelievably full of amazing things that I don't even know where to start.  Okay chronological order then.  

So, first off I forgot to mention last week but we were cleaning the apartment on Monday and we ended up finding a cat and her two new baby kittens living in the extra room!  It was an absolutely hilarious day with watching and trying to get the cats out of the house.  The kittens were adorable and it was hilarious!  We ended up having a neighbor come and grab them and then the mom couldn't find the kittens and it was a whole big thing but truly hilarious!!  

Okay now onto awesome spiritual moments and experiences.  So on Tuesday Hma Johnson and I had the opportunity to have intercambios again with the Hermana Leader.  Her job is to watch over the Hermanas in her area and make sure we are good and our areas are good as well.  Last time Hma Johnson went with the Hma Leader so I went with her this time.  Her name is Hermana Molina and she is from Santiago here in the DR.  She is an awesome missionary and it was an amazing day full of powerful lessons and a lot of learning!  It is always amazing to be able to teach with a different missionary and see how they teach and interact with the people.  Hma Molina is so full of love and genuine concern for everyone.  She teaches with a lot of love and understanding!  One quick story: we went to our first lesson of the day in the morning with a new investigator named Miguelina.  She is new and we didn't know much about her yet.  We went in with the plan to talk about Heavenly Father and prophets.  As we were starting, Hma Molina started talking about how the Gospel blesses families and Miguelina immediately started crying and talking about the rough relationship she has with her father.  It was such a powerful and personal moment and we then got to testify and remind her of the perfect love of a perfect loving Father in Heaven.  It was a great lesson, we learned a lot about this sweet girl and it was definitely guided by the Spirit!  I told Hma Molina later that I knew she was meant to come with me that morning because it would not have been that type of lesson without her!!

The rest of the week was also amazing!  We had a zone meeting in Barahona and got to hear some great messages from the Elders and Leaders of our zone.  They are all awesome and have such a genuine desire to help.  Hma Johnson and I spent a lot of the week preparing for the Wilkin's baptism which was this Saturday!!  We visited him a lot and read a lot with him in the Book of Mormon as well.  Saturday morning, we went to the capilla to clean and prepare for the baptism.  We also have interviews with the Mission President, President Nuckols, and his wife Hermana Nuckols.  This was my first interview with the mission prez since being out in the field and it was awesome.  We talked about certain challenges of the area and mission and what we've been working on.  It was a great experience to receive some guidance and direction from this inspired leader who has been called of God to lead and direct the work here.

Wilkin and his mom who barely speaks
Spanish but is the sweetest thing.

Okay so now onto the best moment of the week and my mission so far: Wilkin's baptism.  I honestly had no idea how I would feel but it was just the best feeling I've ever had in my entire life.  Saturday we held a baptismal service for Wilkin and a girl who lives out in Tamayo.  Her family makes up most of the members out there and it was great to be with them and the Elders and to have so many people there in support of Wilkin as well.  He showed up right on time and was really excited.  We took pictures with everyone and then the service started.  Violeta, a member from Tamayo shared a talk on baptism and Hma Johnson spoke about the gift of the Holy Ghost.  Hma Johsnon and I also did a special musical number of ¨Señor, me te seguire¨ or ¨Lord, I would follow thee¨.  Wilkin was just super relaxed and going with the flow.  He was baptized by President Cuevas from the Elders Quorum and it was just amazing.  When he had the opportunity to share his feelings at the end, he just expressed his appreciation for the Savior and for this opportunity.  It was so simple and sweet.  I couldn't wipe the huge smile off my face the whole time.  It was just such a warm and amazing sense of peace.  I felt so unbelievably grateful to have been able to be an instrument in the Lords hands to help Wilkin learn and progress and draw closer to His Father in Heaven and Savior Jesus Christ.  Sunday during Sacrament, Wilkin was confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and received the gift of the Holy Ghost.  He was so funny and smiling in his new white shirt and tie that we gave him.  During his blessing, I definitely started to tear and was overcome with the Spirit and just a huge appreciation for Wilkin and his desire to follow Christ. 

Hermana Johnson, Wilkin, President Cuevas, Hermana Graham 

Being there in support of Wilkin and being able to watch as he made this important covenant with the Lord, made everything in this mission worthwhile.  No matter what we've been struggling with or trying to learn, everything was lightened and made more sweet as we were able to help this awesome young man start this journey with Christ at his side.  I know he will continue to change and feel these blessings in his life with the gift of the Holy Ghost.  I am so grateful to be here in the Dominica Republic.  There is no place I'd rather be and no work as important and that can bring such joy into our lives.

I love you all so much. I am grateful for every single one of you. I hope you all have an amazing week!

CON AMOR,

Hermana Graham