Sunday, September 14, 2008

Awesome Missionary Weekend

We dropped in early for a bapatism in the Olmstead ward in the Bronx and found a party going on. Board game night and going away party for Bishop Brignoni and his family.
Gilbert Jr., sister Brignoni and Bishop Brignoni and thier daughter. They are moving to Arkansas next week end. Gilbert just got home from his mission two weeks ago. We hope for them all the best. You will always be in our hearts and memories of our mission ward in the Bronx.
Frank Diaz and his family at Laguardia Airport. They are from Chile. Sister Diaz and the girls are all headed back home. Frank will join them in about 6 weeks. They have been in our Branch in Monticello. Their Visa ran out and they didn't want to stay here illegally so they are headed back to Chile. Frank was the bishop in Chile for 5 years. He speaks very little english. He needed help getting his family and all their luggage to the airport Saturday. No one from our branch could help so we volunteered. Just so happened that there was a Baptism of two girls we knew in Olmstead ward, so we jumped at the chance. (Side note-we all got their just before their plane took off. They wouldn't load their luggage and they just barely made it on the plane. They took as much as they could as carry ons. Several big pieces of luggage had to stay, Franks wife called him today to let him know that they had no dresses to wear to church today, they were in the luggage that got left behind.)
Bishop Faldmo and his wife Nikki. He replaced bishop Brignoni in the Olmstead ward. He is an awesome young man doing a fine job. It was so fun to see all of our friends from the Bronx.
Meet Lisa Champlain. We have been teaching Lisa for the last 6 weeks. She was so excited to be baptized today. She invited a few of her friends. One friend, Teresa and her family came. Another James who is her social worker came. Most of the Branch stayed for her baptism after church.
She asked Elder Ellett to baptize her. It was so exciting for us. But the true joy and happiness comes from watching the light of Christ come into Lisa's life. Her countenance has really changed. She has been so diligent with making committments and keeping them. From stop smoking and drinking coffee to the law of Chastity. She retains so much when we teach her and answers great questions. She has a fear of water, but when she came up out of the water from being baptized she smiled and said she felt so good.
Elder Iro from Tahiti with Angela and Bianca Eckhoff and Elder Jones. We had the great opportunity of visiting with these girls and their Dad, Brother Doug Eckhoff and Lena their mom, in their home when we were in Olmstead. Because of a chain of events we were able to be at their baptism on Saturday night. It was so amazing. Mom is still a sceptical Catholic. But we all have hope for her. Brother Eckhoff, their dad, was baptized right before we arrived in the Bronx. He was one of the first members we met. Our first subway trip to the Temple was with Bro. Echhoff and his missionaries going to do baptisms for the dead. Brother Eckhoff received the Melchizidek Priesthood last Sunday and baptized his girls. The Elders will confirm them today at church. Elder Iro and Jones did a special musical number for the baptism. A beautiful arrangement of "I know that my Redeemer lives." The spirit was so strong, we were so blessed to be there. The girls were so excited to see us. We were thrilled to see them on their special day and so many of our Bronx friends.

No comments: