Week 62: Preparing for Baptism and A Secret Garden?

 Aloha!

This week was awesome! We are just getting ready for the two baptisms for Chance and Gilbert this next week! We are super stoked and so proud of these two. Gilbert has been the friends of missionaries for sooo long and me and it's crazy to think that he's finally ready! While working with Chance, we've seen that he's a pretty normal kid but it's inspiring to us that he's getting baptized for himself and his family and showing a righteous example for his friends and family.

Gilbert will be baptized Monday October 17th at 12 pm. Not sure why in the middle of the work day but whatever works for him . Chance will be baptized Saturday the 15th at 6pm. We are getting everything organized for food, the programs, etc. and I just get more and more excited! Baptisms have been such a joy for me to witness my whole life. And it's an absolute treat to see people in different lands get baptized as an Elder.

 

In our finding efforts this week, we met a really awesome guy named Wyatt! We knocked on his door and saw this guy weed whacking just outside the small stone wall and he said he lived there. So we went over to talk to him and became friends! After a bit of getting to know him and introducing ourselves, we offered to share with him a message and he agreed. We taught him the restoration of the Gospel and he liked it! He has a general knowledge of God and Jesus Christ and even accepted a copy of the Book of Mormon!

We ran into some people this week who had a past with the church and left for diverse reasons and didn't want much to do with us. But the only thing we can do from then is just be their friend. Show them that the church and the gospel inspires people to be their best self and not to be strictly preachy. It's all about love (:

The other day, we met up at Marsha's apartment because she wanted to show us something up the canyon. So she jumps on her bike and says "See ya there!" So we drove up the Waimea canyon to this place she was talking about and stopped midway on this one-lane road to check out some scenery and this really cool swinging bridge that hangs over a river! Indiana Jonesy stuff. Then she catches up to us, we follow behind her to the end of the road...and it's a beautiful grove of trees with flowers and beautiful smelling plants everywhere! And she has a tent that she hangs out in for days on end just to take in scenery. I've never seen a more beautiful place in all of Hawaii! It was a sight to behold.

The week went really well with a lot of fun adventures like this. And it's a good reminder that while we do our daily work for Jesus Christ; we have fun doing it! We were actually given some counsel from our mission leaders that we should try to focus on having more faith and joy in the work. And I agree. It can seem overwhelming at times, but the work is meant to be joyous! And whenever I am working back-to-back, I find myself trying new things and having a great time!

So if you love the thing you're doing, then have fun with it! "Men are that they might have joy." - 2 Nephi 2:25

Can't wait to tell you how the baptisms go so stay tuned! I love you all and have a great week.

- Love, Elder Nielsen

P.s. I got in a small car wreck. Just a fender bender. I'm ok BYE!!!