April 17, 2017

Elder Ritchie, Steven & Elder Mickelsen
Baptized April 15, 2017

HEEEEELLLOOOOOOO everybody!!! This week was awesome! So much good stuff! From good weather and EASTER, to having a baptism this weekend!!! It was such an awesome week! 

So basically, the highlight of my week was the weekend. Throughout the week we were all over the place. We had a District P-Day at the beach in Ayr, where we made a Law of Chastity sandcastle, and then we played soccer on the grass by the beach! It was really great!!

Then we went back to Kilmarnock, which is the DL's area and we had an exchange after a district meeting. That was really good. My DL right now is Elder Cropper, so it was fun to go on exchange since we were companions all the way back in Coleraine!! So that was good! Then we spent the night in Kilmarnock again, and headed back to Stranraer on Wednesday.

We had Steven get a baptismal interview, which he passed, and then we brought Steven and the Kilmarnock Elders over to a house to do a service project. We pulled out rhododendron bushes. If any of you are planning now or in the future to plant rhododendrons, I beg with you, please reconsider. Their roots reach all the way down to the depths of hell, and they do not like to be removed. And we had to remove 6. But it was really good fun! Good work out as well!

But then we went and taught Book of Mormon class and then just crashed! It was a long day! So the next couple of days we had finding to do, and then on Saturday, Steven was baptized. And lemme tell you, there is nothing more spiritual than watching someone you know enter the waters of baptism. It was such a rewarding experience to see Steven make this step in his life. It was good to see all of our hard work pay off as well!

That evening, we got our moves call and I will be staying in Stranraer! My new companion is named Elder Rodriguez! He is from Colombia, and that is all I have been able to find out about him. Elder Ritchie is moving to Kirkcaldy in Dundee Zone. Which is where we predicted he would go!

And then on Sunday we had our Easter service. And it was a good one. Because not only did we have all the good talks and things planned, but we also had Steven's confirmation. Which I had the opportunity to do. It was so awesome. The Spirit truly does tell you what the Lord would have you say. I have this really bad habit of thinking about what I am going to say. But then I get up and begin the blessing and I don't say anything that I thought about, but it all turns out really well. And that is because we aren't the real bosses. The Lord is, and if we are ready to receive instruction and words, then we will receive it. It's just so good! After church we gave Steven the priesthood as well, and that was a really awesome experience too. To be in a tiny branch is really humbling.

To see how much each member does and to see how much they treasure new members, truly an eye opening experience. It was just a really baller week!

Jesus is the Christ, and He is Risen!!! 

Love you all!