Juan's Baptism

Monday, September 1, 2014

I'm a bit sad that you guys aren't coming, but it will be really fun to go home with all the girls I came with. We´re in it for the long hall. So far all nine of us are still here! Cambios came. Hermana Boley is the new Sister Training Leader. I knew that one was coming. She´s awesome. Anyway, our zone ended up with 25 or 26 baptisms, I think. One of our contributions was a little stink and didn't get confirmed so I don't think we are part of that number yet. Next week, haha! He was a stink from the start. Sunday we were walking around and found a miracle... We found a less active member's house. She has 10 kids and almost all were baptized, except Juan...who turned 9 on Tuesday and wanted to get baptized for his birthday, haha! We found him on Tuesday and taught him and his parents and siblings. He was so excited, so we called the Elders right then and there to come and do the interview. Our District Leader is Mexican and he had a local companion from GUARAMBARE!!!!! WOOH WHOO! Anyway, we met them and walked to Juan's house. He was excitedly waiting...until he saw the Elders...then he got a little timid. Then he figured out he had to talk alone with one of them and he was out of there...! He ran, far and long! So the Elders went home and we went back the next day. We found Juan and he still wanted to get baptized, he was just deathly afraid we were going to bring the Elders back to his house. Poor thing! Anyway, so we made a secret master plan that we would just bring him to the church on Thursday, where Elder Lyon, the zone leader and least scary guy in the world, would be waiting to give his interview. Seriously....we (the sisters) nicknamed him Elder Lamb. Anyway, it worked! Juan got to the church after practicing his baptism all day in the river and pots of water. He told us he loves swimming. Elder Lyon won him over and he had his interview. They changed into white, we took pictures, gave talks, prayed, sang, etc. The time to enter the pool arrived. Elder Lyon entered.... The doors are shut.... We can't see anything.... Then we hear Juan start screaming and crying.... All of a sudden, the kid that has been practicing his baptism all week is scared of the water. THEY WERE IN THE WATER FOR AN HOUR! The whole time, trying to convince him to do it, while his siblings and a couple members are sitting in the other room...listening to him cry. It was a disaster! They finally led him out of the font and to the bathroom, where while still crying, he told his mom that he really wanted to get baptized! Soooo...he went back in...and 45 minutes later...Juan was baptized!  It was the longest baptismal service in history! But it happened.... We just have to get his mom to stop drinking and doing black magic and get Juan to church for his confirmation.... The Church is TRUE! Paraguay is crazy!
And I love you all! Yajoheshata! 
Hermana Thacker