Dinosaur Day

On the way to the church to email home this afternoon, a woman stopped us because she thought Sister Clement was someone she knew. When she figured out that we were mormon missionaries, she gave us a loud, long-winded rant about how we have a different bible and we don't believe in the Holy Ghost or that we need to be born again to enter the kingdom of heaven. I asked her, "Where did you hear that?" And she yelled in my face, "In the Bible!" So then I had to explain, "No no, I mean where did you hear that we don't believe that?" We then had the opportunity to calmly explain that yes, we do believe in the Holy Ghost. We do believe that every person must be baptized, or "born of water and of the spirit." We do believe in the Bible. And we believe in ongoing revelation from God. She calmed down pretty quickly and chatted with us for a few minutes before her bus came. By the end of the conversation we had given her our card (and she had given us her own) and had a group hug. Sigh. People. 

Other than that, this week has been swell! My companion passed her 3-year anniversary of being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! We also had GENERAL CONFERENCE, which is always AMAZING. We visited my last area, Kirkland, to attend their district meeting, which was fun. We gave a training on having faith to find, and we managed to incorporate trust falls. That was entertaining. :) 

Oh, and one of the BEST things about this week is that we went to the temple to do baptisms for the dead with a recent convert in our ward! She was able to submit names of two of her own ancestors. It was a joyful moment when she entered the water of the baptismal font to perform this essential ordinance for her very own cherished grandmother. Now her grandmother will have the opportunity to accept or reject baptism, whereas before, she didn't have the option. If she accepts, she may also accept the higher ordinances of the temple performed in her behalf later on, the highest of which being sealing to her loved ones, to live with them forever. I wish everyone in the Church could have this experience!! Imagine that - a soul who has passed on who was previously powerless to change her fate now has the opportunity to be justified and sanctified by the Atonement of Christ and to receive eternal life in the celestial kingdom. What could be more beautiful? I myself got to go in the water to do baptisms as well. (It's the closest thing to going swimming I've experienced in over 13 months.) It was awesome!

AND guess who was in the parking lot when we arrived at the temple!!!!! RAFAEL AND MAXIMO!!! My recent convert from the Victoria ward and his 4-year-old son!!! I was SO HAPPY to see them!!! :D :D :D The blessings of temple attendance are endless!!!

I hope everyone had a chance to watch General Conference. What insights did you get? What are you going to change? I'd love to hear from you all! :) 

Sister Shaver