Interviews and baptisms!

We have been continuing on with our interviews with each zone since last week and they have kept us really busy.  We were in Lethbridge from Monday night to Thursday last week, and on Friday we drove to Magrath and Cardston for interviews, then we drove clear over to Taber to attend the baptism of Darlene Heinitz.  It was a wonderful baptism--I just can't tell you how special it is to see someone embrace the gospel and feel the love of their Heavenly Father and Savior and choose to be baptized into their church.  I was so proud of our elders, Elder Dredge and Elder Rodriguez, that taught her.  Elder Dredge also performed the baptism and Elder Rodriguez gave an amazing talk on baptism and the Holy Ghost.  It was great.  From there we drove to Fort Macleod to interview our sisters there, and then to Champion for Steve to do a baptismal interview for someone our elders were teaching there. We have never been to Champion, and it was such a dark night we couldn't really even tell what it was like there- but we found the church! After the interview we then we headed back to Calgary and got home about 11:00 that night.
Saturday we began preparing for our zone conferences to be held next week and we also attended the baptism of Katrina and Jen Sparling.  This was also very special because the sister missionaries had actually taught them in our home a couple of times.  So, it was so neat to see them progress and choose to be baptized.  And to see a mom and her daughter--it was just so sweet!  This gospel truly does change people's lives.  When people learn that they can repent, and be forgiven of sins that have bothered them and plagued them for years, it is so incredible.  To see them feel peace and joy that they didn't think possible is nothing less than a miracle.  I am so grateful for our Savior and His atoning sacrifice for each one of us.  It is difficult to comprehend HOW He did it, but I know WHY He did it and it is because of His great love for each of us.  If He hadn't gone through with the atonement, we would have no chance of returning to live with our Heavenly Father again. We would have no way to repent and change and be rid of the burden of sin, and the weight it carries.  I am so grateful for what He did for me.  I am so grateful for this knowledge.  I wish everyone knew it!  One of the discouraging things on our mission is to see how hard our missionaries work to find people to share this wonderful message with, and how difficult it is to find them!  It is really a test of their faith.  But we love their dedication and their righteous desires, and their resiliency!  They keep getting up and going out, even when it is so tough!  We are so proud of them.

In Cardston we stopped by with Elders Harrison and Whicker to see Kevin Shipley-our friend we met at the
very first of our mission.  

The baptism of Katrina and Jen Sparling.