"Is He Still Alive?"

HAPPY NEW YEAR! I hope that everyone had an amazing holiday and have made some goals that are going to help you this year. One thing that I did this year that I haven't really ever done was make goals, haha oops. Because this year I will be a missionary for the whole year 2021, how crazy is that! But when I made my goals I put a picture of Jesus with them so now I will really be held accountable for them, haha! I think this is something that is going to be good for me and help me really be able to see my progress. I hope that you all have the chance to reflect and make new goals, it is an amazing thing when you ask God for help! 

This last Wednesday was Gunnar’s Baptism, it was amazing. He is such a cute old guy and I know that it is going to be good for him. On Wednesday we got everything set up, we had a nice little dinner with the Halls before and then met them there. We had a good little group there to support him. I was able to speak on baptism and Hermana Krieger spoke on the gift of the Holy Ghost. Then it was time they both got in the font, (let me hurry and remind you that Bro. Hall that is baptizing his 60’s and Gunnar being baptized is 82!) Brother Hall said the prayer and baptized him and got him up barely, haha. They unplugged the font and all of the sudden all of the Elders in our district come running up saying they have to do it again! He didn't say in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Well, we ran and got both of them. Gunner tried to put the plug in, he got in the font and went under the water, I feel like his head was under the water for more than 2 minutes or more and he didn't come up for air at all. All of the sudden you hear a member in the back say "Is he alive?" We thought he was dead and then all of the sudden he popped his head up and said “well, I can’t get it in”, Haha! We told them to hurry and do it again while there was still water in the font. They did the prayer and said it right but then Brother Hall couldn't lift Gunner back up. So after a hot second he grabbed his shoulders of his jump suit and just yanked him up. It was all so good and the spirit was there. We were also able to have a good laugh.

But what is so cool about the whole situation is Gunner is going to Puerto Rico. He got baptized on the 30th, then confirmed on the 3rd and left for Puerto Rico on the 4th. How crazy that it all just was able to work out. Gunner needs a little looking after and it would be awesome for him to still meet with the missionaries down there. Well it turns out I remembered I have a friend in Puerto Rico. Nick Thorpe is serving there. I messaged him and told him about Gunnar and the situation, asked if we could do a video call so he could get to know them, and feel better about him going there as a new member and his situation. Also so we could get his records there so he could start to meet with the missionaries in Puerto Rico. It worked out, we were able this last week to do a video call with Elder Thorpe and his comp., Gunner, Hermana Krieger and Me! It was so cool! What a miracle, and it all worked out. God works in mysterious ways. And what a small world that it is! 

He was confirmed and it was beautiful he had so many members in the circle with him, what a blessing and reminds me how blessed we are to have the amazing power of the priesthood in our life's today. 

Then today for the district activity we went to the church and had a nerf gun war. Let me tell you it was so much fun to run around and shoot at each other and capture the flag. 

This week I want to share with you, Alma 2:30.

30 And it came to pass that Alma, being a man of God, being exercised with much faith, cried, saying: O Lord, have mercy and spare my life, that I may be an instrument in thy hands to save and preserve this people

Because of this new year I encourage you all to find a way that you can be an instrument in the hands of the Lord this year! Because once we are willing to help others, God is going to give us the things that we are in need of! Remember Him always and he will bless you! 

I love you all and I hope that you all have an amazing week.