Sunday, December 4, 2016

Monday, December 5, 2016
Touchdown!!  He shoots...he scores!!!  Goal!!!!!  

Great news, Daniel and Alofa got married and Daniel got baptized!!!!!!!  Man it was such a good day!  The whole week Elder Taito and I were so pumped for the wedding and baptism we couldn't even wait.  I don't have heaps of time to write today because Elder Taito and I had to help our sisters move flats.  That was quite an adventure because it is getting really warm!  This whole week the weather has been so nice!  We have been out on the bikes and loving it!  Sorry for all the exclamation points, my mom probably thinks I'm yelling haha.  I am really pumped to tell you about the baptism.  So Saturday was the baptism and it was such an awesome day.  We started the day off by having the meanest lesson ever with a guy at the park.  We had a set appointment that fell through at 10 and then we saw this guy with his partner and little girl at the park up the street.  We decided we would go over and talk to him.  We ended up teaching this guy named Eti who is a 7th day.  Every time I meet 7th days you know you are in for it, they usually try and bash with us, but not this time.  Eti was the most respectful guy ever.  Eti is a big Samoan fella and probably in his low 30's. He was the most respectful guy ever and he wanted us to teach him.  He said he had heard a lot about or church, but that he didn't think a lot of it was true.  We taught him about the restoration and it all made sense to him.  Their church already agrees about there being an apostasy, so when they are open about the gospel the restoration really makes sense to them.  He loved the message of the restoration and when we recited the first vision the spirit was so strong.  We gave him a book of Mormon and quickly got his address.  Guess what though?!!!  His house is one street out of our area so we have to give him to the Mountfort elders.  I was so sad!  But regardless it was a mean way to start the day and it's still awesome that he will get to hear the gospel.  Well at 12 we headed to the chapel to fill up the font.  Shortly after that, Daniel arrived and guess what he was rollin’ up in?  A stretch Hummer!  We went out and greeted him and even got to sit with him in the hummer and take some pictures.  People started turning up for the wedding while we finished filling the font.  Finally it was 1:00 and it was time to start the wedding!  It was the first time I have ever been to a wedding in my whole life!  I have been to my aunt and uncles weddings, but they are always in the temple so I have never actually seen a wedding ceremony.  It was so awesome!  We were all sitting down waiting for Alofa to come into the room.  Daniel was up at the front of the room standing up and waiting for Alofa.  I know elders shouldn't use the word cute, but it was so cute watching Daniel wait for Alofa.  He was pacing back and forth and you could tell he was so nervous and emotional.  He kept trying to hide the fact that he was fighting himself to hold back his tears.  Finally the music played and Alofa came walking up the front steps.  Daniel was so happy I can't even explain it.  The wedding ceremony was really nice and it was conducted by our Bishop Leelo.  Lots of Daniel and Alofa's family came to support them and so did a lot of the members from our ward.  After the wedding ceremony we got ready for the baptism!  Daniel had asked me if I would baptize him so Daniel and I went and got changed into our baptismal clothing.  I was worried about baptizing him because I think I'm the worst baptizer in the history of baptizing.  I have never done it right on the first time.  Remember when I baptized Guislen and how many times it took.  Well I was really hoping that I could get it right on the first time.  I also was worried that I might not be able to pull up Daniel because he is a pretty big fella.  Well it came time for the baptism and I started walking down into the water.  At first I didn't notice, but as I got deeper I realized the water was screaming hot!!!  Elder Taito and I had let the water warm up for quite a while so it would be nice and warm when Daniel got baptized.  The worst is when it is cold and you have to get baptized in cold water.  Well it was really warm, but I didn't have too big of a problem with it.  Then Daniel started coming down into the water and I could tell that he was shocked by how warm it was.  He finally made his way over to me and he was like, “this is really hot.”  With a worried look on his face he was like, “I have to go under?!”  I tried not to laugh and said “yes.”  Well we finally got sorted and I said the prayer and baptized Daniel.  Finally haha!  I got it right on the first time.  Daniel and I gave each other a little bro hug and we walked up the steps.  I was really worried that he got burned by the water and I asked him how he felt.  He said he felt really got actually.  He said he felt like a burden was lifted off of him.  He was really happy and I could just feel a difference in him.  Well we gave each other a big hug and then we went and got changed.  While I was changing I realized, oh no!  Guess what I forgot?!  Why is Elder Brunson always forgetting things, suitcases, my camera cord, today I lost my SD card reader which I use to send home my pictures, an extra pair of underwear when I baptized my neice Sidney.  No, I did not forget another change of underwear, but I did forget an extra white shirt.  I forgot that my shirt would be getting wet.  That just shows you how long it has been since I have baptized someone haha.  Well good thing I have a really good companion!  Elder Taito held my shirt up to the hand dryer and it actually worked really well.  We got changed and finished the baptismal program.  It was really awesome!  After the baptism we went back to Daniel and Alofa’s for a feed!  Elder Taito and I hadn't eaten all day so we were pumped!  There was heaps of good island food, so I was in Heaven!  The whole day was such a blessing!  Daniel and Alofa looked so happy!!!!  I'm so glad Heavenly Father has given me the opportunity to be a part of their family!  Katie was just telling me something really interesting.  She told me how when she had a baptism she realized it wasn't her doing the work, but Heavenly Father.  I had the same feelings as I was at Daniel’s baptism.  I realized that it was the Lords work and I was just an instrument in his hands.  I was so thankful for Heavenly Father trusting me to be that instrument.  It is amazing how everything just fell into place.  There is no possible way though that Elder Taito and I did that.  It is the Lord’s work and only he is able to make all the puzzle pieces fit together perfectly.  This week I also learned another great lesson.  It was around Thursday and Elder Taito and I had been working hard all week.  Not only that, but I feel like I have been working really hard for the past 4 transfers, yet we have pretty much no teaching pool.  I was like, “why are we working so hard and nothing is coming?”  Then I realized how selfish I was.  I stopped to think and realized we are going to be able to be part of Daniel’s wedding and baptism!!  What an amazing opportunity.  I don't know how many missionaries get to have a wedding and baptism.  I continued to ponder on the great blessing and the scripture we all love in Doctrine and Covenants Section 18 verse 15.  How great was it that we were helping Heavenly Father bring one soul unto his son Jesus Christ!  I was immediately humbled and so thankful for the blessings in my life.  Please remember that in your callings it doesn't matter about the number of lives you change, if you only change one life, even if it is your own, you are successful and fulfilling your calling.  I love my Heavenly Father and his perfect plan which allows us to face opposition which in turn allows us to grow.  I hope you all know how much I love and care about you.  

Love,
Elder Brunson       


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