Spencer - Called to Serve: Week 60 - Great Things in Manado! A Happy Reunion, Faith in the Gospel Changes People's Lives

Sweet pics! Looks like a few big things are going on! While big things are going on there, big things are going on here! Sister N and Sister L were baptized yesterday! They had the biggest smile on their faces coming out of the salty ocean water! If you don't remember, we received their names from their mom who lives in Malaysia over Facebook. It goes to show how technology can be used for the progressing of the work. It was a blessing to teach and learn with them and I look forward to more learning and teaching so that they can go on to make more covenants later on in life.

Here's a small story about faith. Our miracle family has just been taking everything gospel related in and just absorbing it. They aren't missing one beat of anything! On Saturday night, the 19-year old son who will be getting baptized with his father this Saturday, got into a small motorcycle accident. Although small, it was enough to stay in bed a little longer. The father, who has already had a stroke, half of his body is working, traveled the distance to church with his 16-year old daughter who will be baptized in a couple weeks by her brother or father when they receive the Aaronic Priesthood. They were offered a ride home from church early because as you may know, transportation is very hard here. They both turned it down and said they would find their own solution to get home just so they could stay at church! It was so amazing to just witness that!! Their faith has increased and the Gospel has changed their lives! They are amazing!

Jakarta was awesome! I was able to meet some of the other missionaries from my MTC group that I have yet to meet and spend Monday night working with them! It was so cool just to see how much we had grown and our abilities now compared to when we first started! It was nice. We talked about our mission and how last year as a mission we baptized 142 people and this year we are expecting to surpass that. We set some more goals and just talked about through our obedience will achieve this. It's been a few years since this mission has seen over 200 baptisms!! Talking about that just gets me pumped because I know there is great things in store for us!!

I wish Max a farewell but also a welcome to the World's best army! I know that he will do great things and I eagerly wait to hear about others that are leaving on their missions in the next few months!! FIND, TEACH, BAPTIZE!!!

The time seems to be getting faster and faster with each day that passes by. To be honest, I don't know where the time went!! Great things are going on here and the Lord is leading us all!! I know that the church is true and that Baptism is a saving ordinance!! I'm re-reading the Book of Mormon and just every time that book opens just knowledge, light, and truth come out!! Nothing beats it!

Love you all and pray for the best!!

Elder Hayes