Chapter 70: El Día Blanco
The
Día Blanco (The day of white) was an idea instituted by our district
leader a couple weeks ago. The challenge is that we would all fast and work for
one day so that we would see a baptism. Marta was able to fall in our hands,
and we worked and worked so that she would be prepared to be baptized on July
19--El día blanco. It was honestly a very easy process. It was as if God had
been preparing her all her life, and we just reminded her of the things she had
already known before. She was more worried about the outfit she was going to
wear to her baptism than the actual doctrine that we were teaching her. It was
just like everything clicked. She went to school to be a wine tester, and she
said, "Ok, I won´t ever drink coffee, tea, alcohol, or smoke....
Next?" haha Now, if only all of our investigators could be like that.
Tithing--makes sense. Chastity? Has always lived it. It was honestly so
incredible to see how angels really are preparing the hearts of these people. I
was especially excited for this baptism as well because my whole mission I have
wanted to have a Spaniard convert...I have loved dearly all the cultures here,
but everyone thought I was sent to Spain to teach the immigrants. It was nice
to see my first Spaniard--Catalan no less-- baptism here. The ward was all
there to support her and it was a wonderful service. The only problem was the
water got cut off for our entire building half way through filling the font, so
we were panicked when all that was coming out were little drips....we were able
to get it about 3/4 of the way filled, but it made it really hard for the
baptism, and they had to do it three times to get her all the way under. Oh
well, what can you do.... I really will never have the perfect baptismal service.
haha We were so excited with the baptism that we really didn´t notice how hard
the rest of the week really was. We have been working with the family of one of
recent converts a ton, and they all came to church last week, and we were SO
excited. Especially since the dad hasn´t been to church in over 20 years.
However, their daughter (who was the closest to baptism) ran away this week.
What?? And so the whole family was in shambles when we passed by, and it was
just so sad. I couldn´t help but look at all that Marta was sacrificing this
past week and how happy she was and then looking at this family that just can´t
get their feet in the water, and wonder, "why not?" The gospel
doesn´t bring instant answers to all of our problems, but it brings long-lasting
happiness for eternity. I am so grateful that Marta was able to recognize that.
After her confirmation this Sunday, she sat down during sacrament meeting and during
one of the talks about the temple, she just had tears rolling down her cheeks.
I asked her what was wrong, and after the meeting, she came over and told me
she just felt so impressed that her grandma who passed away was waiting for
her, and she just felt so much responsibility in getting these names done. I am
so excited to start down this road with her of teaching her about genealogy and
the temple. I feel like God prepared her just for us so that she could start
doing this work for her ancestors, and He trusted her to do it. It was a
beautiful day all in white, but I know that there is a day to come where
she will be all in white in the temple, and that day will be far more rewarding
to her as she opens the door to her own exaltation and that of her ancestors. I
love the beautiful plan of salvation that our loving Father in Heaven has
prepared. It just makes sense--it has all the answers that will give us
happiness in white. All in all, I know the Lord is watching over the work here,
and we will see many more "dias blancos"!
Les
Quiero!!
Hermana
Hopkins
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