Spencer - Called to Serve: Week 29 - A Baptism, Small Miracles, and Bat Hunting

All is well down in the land of the islands. Last week was a week of hard work and finding new people. Sometimes I take for granted the small daily miracles and focus too much on the big miracles. As a missionary small miracles happen DAILY!!!!!! Whether it be, being able to speak to people and they understand, being in a lesson when it rains, finding the golden investigator, or something that happens that is a blessing to you! It happens everyday.

These past 2 weeks I've been getting everyone's packages and letters. I am so grateful for all of that support and love, it is truly felt. With that being said the chocolates and everything has faired a lot better than I thought it actually would. Just a little melted with the same great taste! :)

We have spent a lot of mornings and nights this week bat hunting. Yes bat hunting! Every night they fly into our house and make a mess and it sucks to clean up so we as Elders have taken matters into our own hands! :) So far we've taken down 2 and yes properly disposed of them. Hopefully their friends realize whats going on and the problem will lessen.

Just a funny story....... on Saturday we were heading home to prepare for futsal. Elder B. wanted to stop by the ATM. When we stopped by it started pouring and pouring and not stopping. The street flooded but that doesn't stop people here. Motorcycles were wizzing by and trucks and we as missionaries were just getting splashed as we stood on the side waiting for the rain to stop. We were already wet and just decided to go home instead of waiting. I could have swam in the water if I wanted. Every pedal it got deeper and deeper and deeper until we were pedaling in water up to our knees on the bikes! That was quite the experience!!

This marks the beginning of my last week of training! Tomorrow and Wednesday we have PLD so President and the AP's are coming for interviews and lessons and all that fun stuff!!

Last week we were able to go the Suku temple which was really cool. One of the oldest temples in the Jawa Island up in the mountains. There is no such thing as switch backs here and with manual cars there is a fright here and there. :) It was a really cool place to visit and see.

As for larger miracles that happened this week:

The youth that we have been working with has now come 2 weeks in a row to church and actively comes to futsal. Every week he is more open and smiling and laughing. His progress has been awesome and if he keeps up the friendship he has started with the other youth, he will easily be able to serve a mission in a couple of years. I love working with him and love seeing his progress in the Gospel.

Our investigator that has been fighting the word of wisdom is giving his all and is sick. He is down to 1 pack of cigarettes and 1-2 cups of coffee a day. He still agree to a baptismal date because he will feel terrible if it doesn't happen on that day. We are still working with him to come to church. That is a different hurdle of its own! He will be baptized whether that be in 3 months or 3 years he feels the truthfulness every time and wants to baptized.

Lately we have been asking members to write their testimonies in the Books of Mormon so they can share with their friends. The other night we decided to visit a member that lives pretty fair. We got their and did our lesson and asked them to share the gospel. The brother went on to say that they just had a family home evening with each other on sharing the Gospel. He said that they have been praying as a family to share it and we came with the Books of Mormon. He said, " I guess this is the first step in sharing the gospel is getting the Books of Mormon." They took 2 of them and the Lord will help them out. -- it just goes to show that the counsel in D&C is true that we must obtain the word before we give it......Literally!

Yesterday H was baptized into the Jebres ward. I was super happy to be a part of that because Elder B and I were the ones to kind of find him (he found us) give him the Book Of Mormon and teach him the first lesson. His progress in the gospel has been something amazing to watch. Although my part was small in his conversion, to me it was a big part.

It sounds like things are going well for you all. Thank you! Keep up the good work???

Elder Hayes