Baptism of Savka

Dear Family and Friends!

Wooo!!! This week has been one of my favorite weeks here in Republica! It's been Milagroso!! Aww, it's been incredible! I love this work so much!

This week was awesome! There were a lot of things that happened this week and honestly I'm pretty wiped out right now! But It's SO WORTH it! I love it! 

This week the Lord blessed us so much! Really I don't think I have ever been so focused on my mission before! This is the time to show it all off! This past week we were able to enter a lot of new houses and we found a lot of new investigators as well! IT is amazing to see the fruits of this sector and to see it's progress in these past 3 months! Truly, the Lord requires every effort! 

So as you can tell from the title of this email, Savka got baptized! Woo hoo!!! :) BAPTISM! Aww I love baptism soo much! It is one of the most powerful things I have ever experienced seriously! Aw! :) But it wasn't all easy games and all. 

But to start off this week's stories we were able to pass by Savka almost every single day this past week. We were a little rushed trying to teach her all the lessons before hand but she really was excited for her baptism. Finally, I had to go on divisiones and that day Savka had her baptismal interview and it all worked out perfectly. Oh, as well, Savka's mom came down for a visit to see her and we had to present ourselves and it was little weird in the first impression that we had with her telling her that we were going to baptize her daughter. But she was totally fine with it, as well Savka is 19 years old and is an adult now. 

But just as the Book of Mormon explains, there's always in opposition in all things. So Saturday came along and we were pumped because it was our big day! The baptism! Just when we were about to leave the pension we got a call from Savka. . . I answered it and the first thing I heard was someone crying. . . Suddenly my heart froze and I got so nervous. I knew something happened and it took her a while to catch her breath, but after she was able to mumble out the words of how her boyfriend was being really rude to her and kept yelling at her that she shouldn't get baptized. I tried my best to just listen and to follow what the spirit was telling me to say. I was able to calm her down and we were able to have a calm conversation after. But she was too nervous that she couldn't even think straight. She hung up after saying that she didn't want to get baptized that day. . . . 

But the good thing was that Savka gave us the number of her boyfriend because she wanted us to talk with him. . . after she hung up and letting my comp know what happened, none of us wanted to call the boyfriend. But I decided to do it and started to talk with him. He explained his reasoning of why he thinks Savka shouldn't get baptized and kept telling us that she isn't ready for baptism. I kept listening for a long time and I honestly didn't know what to say. I would say a few phrases but then he would keep going on. Truly, it was sad to be able to "feel" literally the contention through a simple phone call. But I still couldn't get myself to say anything. Finally, there was as long pause and I had the impression that I needed to testify to him. I cleared my throat and told him that I was going to explain this simply and clearly that way he couldn't get confused. I called him by name and said, "I'm Elder Cowan, yes, you may look at me as if I'm an American foreigner, but don't get deceived by my last name, but instead look what Elder means . . . I then went on to explain as missionaries we literally take upon ourselves the name of our Savior Jesus Christ and how we are His representative that He sent to save His brothers and sisters. I told him that there was no doubt in my mind that I was called of God. That through a modern day prophet I have been selected to work in Chile to specifically rescue my sister, Savka, and that there were no doubts in my mind that I knew I was going to fulfill that purpose one way or another.

After he apologized and told us that he was sorry for taking things too dramatically. He said he would call Savka to let her know what she should do. Then we had to go start filling up the font and eat lunch and had some other lessons. I had the impression to call Savka again at about 4 (her baptism being planned at 6) to see how she was doing. When she answered she was still confused. She started to doubt and even though her boyfriend told her to go through with the baptism, she still was confused. I honestly tried everything! I told her some stories of past baptisms that have happened, of experiences before the mission, sharing scriptures through a phone call but at the end she still wasn't sure. Finally, I asked, "What can we do for you?!" which she responded asking me a simple question that kinda caught me off guard, mumbling she asked, "What would you do?" . . . . After telling her all the past things that I had already said, I realized none of it was working and that I really needed to answer this question good. So I responded saying, "What would I do? Well, I would choose to be baptized. And you know why? Because I know that if I do, I will be granted the gift of the Holy Ghost and in the end of everything, that's how I want to feel everyday: feeling the Holy Ghost. For me it's the most beautiful feeling we have and I know we can follow the spirit by the way we feel, if we are happy, if have the spirit, if we are confused, those feelings don't come from the spirit."

After sharing my response there was a really long pause. . . sometimes I get a little impatient with those types of long pauses, then I asked her the same question, "What would you do?" Then she sat there pondering over it and told me, "I want to feel the same way you feel when the Spirit is with you . . . I'm going to get baptized." 

WOOOO! It was such a relief to feel that! Truly, it was a day full of stressful phone calls and when she said that it was about 5 o'clock--only an hour before her baptism! HA ha! Aww, it was soo stressful but at the end, I don't even think I can describe my gratitude for the Holy Ghost. The Spirit of the Lord is the only member that truly makes these changes in the hearts of man. Not us. I'm so grateful that Savka could recognize how precious the Holy Ghost is. Later on Elder Daniel was able to baptize her and it was so powerful. It was more powerful the next day as I was able to confirm her and give her this precious gift of the Holy Ghost in her life.

Miracles truly happened. And I don't know how the Lord does it, but I am so grateful for all that He does! He loves these people soo much! And I love working for Him.

I know last week I said that Nicolas was going to get baptized, but we felt that he needed a little bit more time to understand the things that way he can have a stronger testimony. He has his baptismal date for this week.

As well, Shirley, who I cant remember if I wrote about her last week, but she is a cousin of a super active family who was actually present in one of the lessons with Savka that we had in the family's house. We started teaching her and she is incredible! She is sooo prepared! We have already had 3 lessons with her and she, as well, has a baptismal date for the 30th! This weekend. She saw the baptism of Savka and she has been progressing soo much. She has attended twice now and she just wants a confirmation to know that Joseph Smith really was a prophet. Truly, she is a miracle! Even thought it's only been a week that we have known her, she is awesome! She used to be super timid and shy, but now it's amazing to see her smiling in every lesson. If we can help her get her answers to her prayers, she, as well, will be baptized this next week. But if not, for sure the next week! She is so prepared!

Truly, the Lord is blessing us soo much! It looks like we will be baptizing weekly this transfer! Ha ha, which is our goal! Truly, this transfer is going to be legendary! I love this work so much! Thank you all for your prayers in our behalf! Truly, that helps so much with the work! The Lord is our captain and I love being right behind Him and fighting this great battle! I love this mission so much!

Love,