I hope you had your baptism yesterday. Was Darla ready? We have been praying for her.
Brandt was set apart to be the deacons president yesterday, so now we have two President Williams' in our home. I'm sure dad would gladly give up his title though. :)
I've been working on a lot of projects lately which keeps me busy. I guess it's that time of year to get organized and spruced up with fresh paint, plastic containers labeled with stuff, and everything put in its place. I love to have things clean and tidy---too bad they don't stay that way.
I read another book about Afghanistan this week. The author was Khaled Hosseni and it was titled And the Mountains Echoed. It is interesting how our lives are woven together into a tapestry that we won't fully see or understand until we're all together on the other side. I'm grateful for the knowledge that God will make things right in the end. I've also listened to some pod-casts and one in particular was really fascinating and horrifying titled "The Prophets of Doom." It was about the Anabaptist's after Luther and the Reformation. If a person went against church or state, he could literally write his death warrant. The phrase, "Medieval Torture", is a sterile understatement of what happened. I cannot even imagine living during that time period. There is absolutely no romantic view in my mind of knights, castles, and princesses. It was a bloody business to speak your conscience and live by your convictions if they differed from the conventional thinking of the day. At any rate, I'm grateful for freedom, our constitution, the Bill of Rights, and our country.
I've also been listening to the latest conference talks. They are very uplifting.
We love you tons!
Love,
Mom
Dear Mom,
Darla did get baptized, and she was ready. Thank you so much for her prayers. She told us about a crazy experience she had before she was baptized. Right before she was heading to the church for her baptism, a man pulls up in a car. He gets out of the car, all dressed in a suit. He walks by, and then he starts talking to Darla. Turns out that he is a minister from another faith. She said she was going to be baptized that day, and he asked in what church. When she said that she was going to become a member of our church, he began to teach her false doctrine. The Spirit was with her though, and she was able to recognize that it wasn't true. He even offered to baptize her himself! When the conversation ended, he got right back in his car and drove away.
When she told me that story it confirmed to me that the work we are engaged in is true, and that there are truly forces that work against us. She had a wonderful experience at her baptism. She came up out of the water smiling, and it made her sister cry. She had a lot of her family and friends there, so I hope that they follow Darla's example. Hopefully we start teaching them soon.
Her confirmation was powerful as well. The Bishop confirmed her, and I could tell that the Spirit struck him. The stake president was in the circle as well. I'm blessed to be able to work with leaders in the church. I'm able to learn a lot from them, and I can see the impact that we as missionaries have on them. When they trust us the work hastens.
The zone put on a free car wash at the church, and we were able to give people church tours. Everyone that I guided felt the Spirit powerfully. One man said that he could see it shining in my face. That was a powerful moment for me. I'm grateful that I have been able to let the Light of Christ burn more brightly through me. My mission has been sanctification process. I want to keep the changes I've made and progression I've had with me forever.
It is wonderful to hear that Brandt is Deacons Quorum president. He will do such a great job. I'm glad that I have two presidents in the family, ha ha.
It is interesting to hear about the things you have been reading and listening to. There is so much to know. The more I know, the more I'm grateful that God has placed me where He has.
Love,
Elder Williams
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