Ooo, I'm getting goosebumps just talking about it.

Holy man.  Where can I even start?

WE HAD A BAPTISM!!!  WOOOO!!

It was a fantastic service too.  We were somewhat worried this week about Katie, because she always gave us vague answers how she was doing on the Word or Wisdom.  Our district leader cleared that right up--she's taken to drinking Hot Chocolate instead.  Wham.

The service itself was simply beautiful.  We had a short meeting between church and the baptismal service to hammer out all the details.  Katie took a moment to thank the leaders of the church, saying how she felt like a stranger at first, but now she feels right at home in our branch.  It was heartwarming and the Spirit was so strong.  Katie looked so nice in white.

Both her sons and the eldest girlfriend came to sacrament as well, and stayed for the service.  Sa-weet!

Elder Giles and Katie got down in the font and you could tell they were both nervous.  As Elder Giles put her under the water, she began to struggle and didn't go all the way under.  So he tried again, but this time as she struggled, he shoved her under the water.  Holy man was it funny.  She came out and laughed and said, "Oh thank you, Jesus!" A member later commented she was nearly shouting hallelujahs as she came out.

Sister Keuter and Sister Hall gave wonderful talks and because conference is next week, we layed our hands on Katie's head and I confirmed her a member and gave her the Gift of the Holy Ghost.  When it was all said and done, tears were streaming her face.  I have never seen her happier.  The Holy Ghost was so strong the entire service.  Ooo, I'm getting goosebumps just talking about it.  It was so beautiful and so perfect.  Wham.  This is what it's all about.  Bringing souls to Christ.

I've learnt a lot about the Holy Ghost this week.  He is present as you exercise the Priesthood.  That much was clear as Elder Giles gave a blessing of comfort to Arcando, Anita Boutee's young son.  Also, the Spirit comes to us in calm, peaceful times.  This week, as Elder Giles was napping, I sat down on our comfortable couch with a tuna sammich and a bag of cheezies and simply stared outside in the blue sky.  There was relaxing music and I took a moment to ponder and appreciate everything the Lord has done for me--including sending his miraculous son, Jesus Christ, to perform the greatest act in history.  I thought about the atonement and what it has done for me and I was overwhelmed by warm fuzzies.  It was small and simple, but yet so grand.

Spiritual mode, downshift.

So we finally gave those Jellybeans to Solymar.  This is literally the text we got later, "Soly heeft genoten van de Jellybeans alleen was ze te gulzig met eten...  ze heeft 2 dagen buikkrampen gehad omdat ze de halve zak had opgegeten (Soly has enjoyed the Jellybeans.  She was greedy with food ... she had 2 days abdominal cramps because she has eaten half the bag.).  Hahaha."

Solymar literally ate half of the bag in less than a week's time had stomach cramps for 2 days.  Yikes!  Oh man, you should have seen her face when we gave them to her.  Her eyes were like saucers.

Mission succeeded.

Good for Levi (Boswell).  He's a champ. Tell him he is good guy and a champ.

I bought a new bike today for 25 Euro.  I'm going to sell it to somebody for 25 Euro.  Woo.

AND TRANSFERS.

Oh teh noez.

So.

Here it is.

Wham.

I'M STAYING!!

And I'm becoming the District leader of a new district.  Huh?  I didn't even know.  It's Den Helder, Almere, Lelystad and Lelystad 2 district.  They're putting Sisters in Lelystad.  They bought a new apartment that they were going to put the Lelystad Elders in, but I guess they get the shaft and have to continue living in Almere.

Our friend Elder Giles is but a dream now.  He's getting the boot all the way down to Leuven.  LEUVEN!!  I'm so excited for him, holy Moses.

My new companion will be Elder Wiskom.  I actually don't know how it's spelt.  ADVENTURES, AWAY!

Well, life is now interesting.

We met Daisy and Libeth this week.  That's about that.

A super cool family gave us a referral to visit their friend this week.  We went by and it turns out she was super positive and awesome.  She called up the family right away to thank them for sending us to her.  We have a dinner appointment with her and this family tomorrow!

Well, this week was awesome.  Next week should be interesting...

tot volgende keer,

Elder Burgess