This week was really amazing. Everything went perfectly and Elder Bowen and I have been really blessed. I guess I'll first talk about Mary's baptism! It was so great and everything went great. She was really nervous when she first got there, but after a little time she wasn't as nervous and she knew that she was ready to turn over a new and clean leaf so that she can become happier. Elder Leavitt baptized her because she wanted him to since he was the one that first ran into her a few months ago. It was probably the best baptismal service that I've ever been to. For some reason the spirit was really strong and I just felt a really overwhelming sense of peace and calmness during it. Elder Bowen and I were the witnesses of the baptism and when Mary was baptized I felt the spirit even stronger than earlier. I definitely could tell that Heavenly Father was watching over the wonderful service so that he could watch another one of His children make the commitment to start over and follow Jesus Christ. For awhile it's been frustrating for me to see so many of the people that I've met not want to change or have something in the way to stop them from becoming happier and sometimes I've felt a little bit discouraged because I have been 6 months out and haven't gotten anyone to the point of baptism yet. But when the spirit comforted me at that service I looked back at my mission in a whole different way. Instead of watching Mary be baptized and think that after 6 months I finally accomplished getting someone to baptism, I looked at it as just that Heavenly Father prepared me for 6 months to be ready to get someone to baptism. I think that I look back in a whole new perspective, and it's made me so much more grateful and humble knowing that God was there all along helping me become who I needed to be for Mary so that I could help her get all the way to that day.
I think that as a missionary especially, I am constantly being changed and shaped so that I can be prepared for the next challenge or success that we may have. Heavenly Father wants us to be happy and have great success in our lives and that's why sometimes he may delay things we want or need so that we can appreciate and cherish them as much as possible when we DO get them. I am ever appreciative of the things that my Heavenly Father gives me as I teach and live the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am thankful for the opportunity I have to share things with others that have made me happy so that they can be happy as well. We all get our beliefs and views first from someone who has shared theirs with us, and it's important to always share our experiences and knowledge with as many people that we can so that we can see the ones we love and know become happier in their lives. It was great to see Mary finally get the blessing that she has so long deserved. I have definitely felt an amazing sense of joy this week from seeing Mary be baptized.
Other than the baptism this week went really well too. It's been storming just about every day, and Elder Bowen and I usually get caught in it, so our days are always interesting. This week mostly consisted of preparing Mary for her baptism so there wasn't anything else that was too exciting.
One thing that is exciting is that my district had 3 baptisms during this transfer! We all have been having a lot of success and it's been great. Elder Leavitt and Harris have another baptism here on the way soon too. The District is doing awesome and I'm glad that all of us are staying in our areas this transfer.
Hope your week was good and fun.
Love
Elder Sean Bills
ps I finished the Book of Mormon again! Highlighted and marked and all haha. Also I hit 6 months tomorrow and turn 20 in a month!!!! ASDFJASDFOAJSDF B YAYAYAYAYY!!!