Dear friends and family,
Hi!!
So guess what?! RQLin got baptized this weekend! It was such a good experience. Everything ran super smoothly...except for the actual ordinance haha. We made sure EVERYTHING was perfect. We got to the church 2 1/2 hours early to fill up the font and made SURE it was nice and high and the water was warm, since he isn't a fan of water. We kept turning off the water and watching it to make sure we had plugged the font correctly, and it wasn't draining at all, so we felt really confident.
The programs were beautiful - our ward missionary, Kristen, made them for us. Everyone in the program came and many of the ward members came to support RQ. He said he was a little nervous, but excited.
The program started and everything was perfect, and then the doors to the baptismal font opened...the font had drained to about a foot and a half of water!!! Oh man. So, the actual ordinance was rough. He ended up getting baptized 3 times so he could make it under the water all the way. Whew. The first time, Harrison - who baptized him - kept him under water so long haha. Oh man. He kept trying to fully submerge him since the water was so shallow and almost drowned him!! When he finally let RQ come up for air RQ took a breath and asked if he was fine...and nope! He had to go two more times. The last time he went under, they had to do it on his knees haha. The water was SO low.
We tried so hard to make it perfect. But perfection isn't in this world, I suppose. #struggleisreal
But! He made it though, and he felt really good. The Spirit was there so strongly - it was a sweet experience.
The most powerful part, though, was honestly when he got confirmed yesterday. Jason Chinn confirmed RQ and gave him the most powerful blessing I have ever heard! RQ absolutely loved it and said he just felt a burning in his chest during it. I am so thankful to be a part of his life. I feel so privileged to be serving the Lord in this part of His vineyard.
Disclaimer: we really had plugged the drain; the seal broke. There was another baptism the next day and the water drained for that one, too.
I'll send some pictures :)
And as for transfers, I am staying in Vallejo! Sister Harmer is leaving for Vacaville. I will be serving with Sister Naqia, a missionary who is pretty new - she's been out for 4 1/2 months. It's going to be so nice not to train haha. Not that I dislike training...I've just been training for 6 months and it'll be nice to have a little break. Sis. Naqia is from Fiji! I hear awesome things about her, so I am pumped to work with her.
I am sad Sister Harmer is leaving me, but I'm excited for her new adventure :) She is so special and I am so thankful I got to work with her.
Funny contact story:
We contacted a crazy! (The usual). This guy we started talking to on a street corner was acting a little odd so we tried to say good bye and walk away, and he yeels out to us, "Next time, I'll bring the eye droppers for when the car gets close to the curb. You know?"
...What? Oh man. Crazies. #vallejo #theyalsochosetocomehere We're all children of God, no matter how nutty we may act.
Oh man. Good times.
Well, I don't know what else to write this week. Choose the right and have fun. Life is already hard enough. Laugh through it all and life gets a little easier :) Love y'all!
Love,
Sister Nikole Decker
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