the New York, New York South mission (just across the pond!), and to
another cousin Hunter McOmber, who I am pretty sure just entered the
MTC and is going to Houston, Texas!
This week has been crazy so I am just going to give you a few of my
journal entries that I am keeping on my iPad, they sum it up pretty
well
July 13 Paulina, Julissa, Julio
Today I went on a exchange with my district leader Elder Brooks, in
his area (Bayonne). The last lesson, we taught was a super awesome
lesson! Paulina has been investigating the church for 23 years, and
Julissa has been for the last 6, waayyyyyy to long. So we talked
lovingly but boldly for a whole hour just about how baptism is a
blessing and a starting point rather than a scary end destination.
They were still unsure, I felt like we were going nowhere so I decided
to have us all kneel and have Julissa give a prayer for whether or not
they should be baptized and what day, and have us sit and wait until
they knew they had an answer. So we knelt down and I looked of over at
the clock and it said 8:23. We started a prayer that last a minute and
then we waited...with our heads bowed... Me and elder brooks said
nothing and waited... Finally they got up together and sat back down.
I looked at the clock and it said 8:47. We had been kneeling on the
floor for 24 minutes. Julio was the first to speak, He said he knew it
was the right thing to do and that he just had talk to his son first
(who is a member of the church). Paulina and Julissa followed suite
and the spirit was soooooooo strong. I found out from elder brooks
that that was the first time Julio had been taught by the
missionaries. I already know that will be one of my favorite
experiences from my mission.
July 16 bitter sweet bitter
The 15th was such a crazy day. I heard my cousin, Elder Rigtrup, give
his dying testimony in zone conference. He has been in my district for
my whole mission and it wasn't until I saw him give that, that I
realized that he is really going home. Though he has been trunky and
talked about home the entire time, I knew he was working hard. I spent
all of today's shower in tears over the fact that he and my companion
(Elder Woodward) are going home, I wish they would just extend! Then
after zone conference we went to Alex's house and went over the
baptismal interview questions. He is completely ready for baptism, so
I was on a complete high. I met Alex 26 days into my mission, and now,
exactly 3 months later, he is being baptized. I love him to death and
will always stay in contact with him. We then went over to Moses
house, where he continued where he had left off a couple days before,
expressing how he felt like there was too much going on in his life to
worry about whether or not he should get baptized. After trying to do
and explain everything I could, trying to figure out what really was
holding him back, he was still saying the same thing. We finally left
him 2 Nephi 31 (which talks about the gospel of Jesus Christ and talks
specifically about the importance of baptism) and talk him to pray
really hard, for a long time to know what it is God wants for him. He
accepted and whatever he says today will be what we have to do,
whether it's to continue to prepare him for baptism or to leave him be
and hope that he will pick up the Book of Mormon again at a later
date. I have come to truly love it out here. I honestly never want to
leave my mission, these bonds that I am making with the people, and
other missionaries, are stronger than life itself. I am looking
forward to the day that I get to reconnect with all of them.
July 17 good day
Morning: Today is the day of Alex's baptism! It has been a very long
journey, but it is only the beginning for him. But I want to talk
about the news I just got about Paulina, Julissa, and Julio. They are
officially getting baptized! When they said they had to talk to the
son (victor, a active member in the church) they were figuring out
when he could come back and baptize them!!!! September 7th is the day.
I am honestly so grateful that I was able to meet them and witness
first hand the spirt work with them. I am sooo happy for them and for
Alex. Like it says, Good Day.
Night: Today was such a blessing. We met with Moses before church to
see what his decision was, he told us that he wanted to get baptized!
He came to church. In sacrament meeting Alex turned to me and said,
"Elder McOmber, I can't thank you enough, you have been there for me
from the beginning, I am nervous but so excited." I just about cried.
Alex's baptism went so well, the ward loves him! He had 3 people
invite him over for dinner, and the bishop and stake president want
him to have a calling as soon as possible. And he is excited to have
one. Just when Alex left the room to go with brother Starks into the
baptismal font, Jahadah walked in and sat down behind me. She tapped
on my shoulder, when I turned around she had the biggest smile on her
face and was holding a temple recommend... Needless to say I was soooo
happy. Me and elder Woodward are going to the temple with her on
Saturday!
This week has been a great week.
Love you all!
Elder McOmber
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