Baptism!

Dearest family,

Thank you so much for your wonderful emails. I was really touched by everything you wrote. I appreciate your prayers and I can feel of your love for me.

Things here are going so so well. I'm completely exhausted today, but I think that's because it's been so windy lately. Really, it's kind of ridiculous, but the wind will not stop! It has almost blown me off my feet a few times. I'm hoping it's here to blow all the cold weather away. I was looking through my pictures the other day and really missed warm weather! Missionary work without a coat -- haha. We'll see, everyone says we're due for one more snow storm. I'm grateful to only have one winter and two summers to serve.

Miracles! One -- DELROY GOT BAPTIZED ON FRIDAY. :)) :) :) And it was beautiful. So perfect. He arrived super early and brought some of his family with him (something we didn't think was going to happen!). His aunt and grandparents came and absolutely loved it. So much so that they came to church again yesterday, gladly took copies of the Book of Mormon, and want to learn more. We had a great turnout for the baptism. We've worked really hard to get lots of different people to come on joint-teach and so a lot of the ward already knows DelRoy, and because it was his birthday even more people came.

The baptism itself was beautiful. When he came up out of the water he started crying; it was really touching. When I asked him after how he was feeling he said, "Like I’m walking on water." I was privileged to give the talk on the Holy Ghost and to my terror, well, not terror, but just very intimidating, I made my solo debut singing. Elder Klippel and I did an arrangement of “Oh My Father.” He played his guitar; I played my flute and we both sang. It turned out pretty ok I think. I kind of had lost my voice by the end of the night though. Afterward the ward had a cake for him and it was just so great to see him and his family being accepted by everyone.

I think one of the most special moments for me personally was during it all DelRoy came up to me, shook my hand and said simply, "Zuster Holbein, Bedankt." It wasn't something I needed to hear, and really, I didn't even do anything, the Holy Spirit and he did it all; it was just a really nice moment. President Brubaker always says that nothing binds two people together like a common spiritual experience. I agree.

Other miracle -- 2 of our new investigators Bettina and Rahaj. They are from India and are amazing. We met Bettina a few weeks ago during a consecrated hour and we had our first appointment this past Saturday night. And this gets really cool. So we get to their street and I keep saying to Zuster Kremer, "This looks so familiar". The thing is though, we've never been there. We get in the apartment and sit down and start talking. Rahaj, the husband, turns to us and says, "Last August we had two missionaries from your church ring our bell. The told us they had a message about Jesus Christ, but I told them we were having dinner so they would have to come back. They never did though. That's why we are so happy you met Bettina in the park."

And then as soon as he said that I REMEMBERED. Last August I spent one night here in Amsterdam while traveling on the way to Den Haag for zone conference. That night Zuster Fritz and Zuster Ekstrom went to FHE and Zuster Cranford and I went and did a consecrated hour ... on that street! It all came back so clearly I could even remember ringing his bell. Amazing! We are now in contact again. Little did I know when I did that hour back in August what would happen -- that I would end up serving here, and that we would end up finding Bettina in a park. What a miracle. It’s proof to me that God knows every one of His children. Everyone has their time. That I know for a fact.

Well lievers, I love you. I pray for your health and safety as you pray for mine. Thank you for your examples of faith. I know that God answers our prayers. I am learning to trust in Him more as my faith is tested. Look up a talk called "But If Not..." by Elder Dennis E. Simmons I think. It was given in April 2004 General Conference. It has really changed my perspective on a lot of things.

You all are the best!

Met liefde,
Zuster Holbein