This last week was a wonderful one full of us trying hard to find new people to teach and also working every day with Lawanda and Tiauna to get them all prepared for their baptismal interview and for their baptism. Everyday that we went over to their house to teach them I was blown away by how ready Lawanda was to be baptized. She just kept getting more and more excited about her baptismal day and I could see the light in her growing. Her home is such a different place to visit now. She has become such a great example for her children. She gets so excited when we come over because she wants to learn more and more. So then...it HAPPENED!!! LAWANDA AND TIAUNA got BAPTIZED!!!! I can honestly say that it was the most beautiful baptismal service that I have yet experienced on my mission. This one baptism was worth all of the time, heartache, sweat, tears, and effort that a mission brings. I would totally do it all over again just to see Lawanda and Tiauna receive the gospel and watch their lives change. During the service I looked over at Lawanda(right before she was about to go to the font and be baptized) and she was crying. I have never seen her cry before, but I felt the joy that was radiating off of her and I could not help but cry myself. I have never felt so close to heaven in my entire life. I know that the service that day was packed with people, the ones that we could see and the ones that we could not. When I looked over at Tiauna I realized that she was receiving the gospel and being baptized right before she enters her teenage years. I know that this will effect the woman that she will become and that she will have so many more opportunities for success. As they both were baptized there came over the people gathered there a very very special spirit. Our ward mission leader got up to speak about the special feeling that was in the room and her got emotional as he talked about how special Lawanda and Tiauna are. He is so right. They are the most special people that I have ever met and I feel more blessed than I could possibly put into words that I have had the incredible opportunity to meet them from the very beginning and to then see them enter into the covenant of baptism. I never in my wildest dreams could have imagined that I would be a part of something so magnificent. My decision to come on a mission has been the best one that I have ever made.
Yesterday they both received the Gift of the Holy Ghost during sacrament meeting which is what Lawanda said "I am most excited about!". They both came back to sit with us on the pew after having received this most wonderful gift and I could feel the change in them. I wish that you could all see them! Lawanda is so happy that she just laughs all of the time. She reminds me of myself. She just laughs at everything now and is always smiling. Their lives continue to have hardships but they have an understanding with how to handle things knowing who they really are now. Tiauna actually got to be a part of the Primary Program in sacrament meeting yesterday. She did so well although she was super nervous. All of the kids love primary and Lawanda loves Relief Society. She also already has some great friends in the ward. Thank you so much to all of you who pray for me because when you pray for me I know that it goes to those who we are teaching because it really is about them and not us.
My companion and I both have gotten el gripe (the flu). I actually was feeling pretty lousy on the day of the baptism and yesterday but there was no WAY that I was going to miss any of the meetings. The Lord helps us to do what we need to do even when we physically don't feel up to it. We really can do anything through Christ who strengthens us.
I made this journal for Lawanda that has Christ on it and Mary at the tomb on the front and says "Facing the future with hope" and then on the back it has Jesus and it says "Never give up". So don't. Do not ever give up on your righteous desires. The wonderful thing about the fact that we are all here is that before this life we CHOSE to be here. So choose to not give up. We have the wonderful gift of progression here. I think a real definition of hell is to not be able to progress. So our lives can be our own heaven if we are continually progressing. This is not to say that there will not be heartache, because there will be, but if we are learning and growing we still have reason to rejoice. :D
I love you all!
Hermana Thorne
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