Week 62 - Baptism of the century!

June 28, 2010

Hello to all my favorite people in the world!
What a great, great week! And I'm sure you can guess why. Erin's baptism!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) (I think that's 20 !'s, that's how exciting it was) There was such a wonderful spirit there, again, it was just awesome. There were A LOT of people there to support her too. After two years of waiting for this moment, it finally was able to happen, so a lot of people wanted to be there for her and I'm SOOO glad that I got to be a part of it. During her actual baptism, since it's so short, usually I'm just like "yay for them, they are baptized!" But with hers, during the actual ordinance, the spirit was just sooo strong! I felt like I was being lifted and just filled with so much joy. It was so great to see. And then when she came up, she just gave the guy who baptized her the biggest hug! She did it!!! Hooray! I just can't even express to you how great it was, despite me saying it all the time. I wish you could have been here to witness it too. President and Sister Summerhays came too. They have also been very involved in her life over the past 2 years. Whenever they would see her, they'd just give her words of encouragement and sometimes President would call us up randomly and just say "I was thinking about Erin and I think you need to share this with her to share with her mom." It's been cool. Everyone loves this girl. She is going to be such a great instrument in the hands of the Lord! I know that He has special blessings just waiting for her!
Sad news though.......I'm getting transferred tomorrow. I was kind of expecting it and preparing myself for it, but when President actually told me on Saturday night, it became a reality. I'm really leaving Pittsburgh! I was half thinking that I was going to end up dying here (in mission terms). I've really, really, really enjoyed the 6 months I've had here and have just come to love the whole ward I'm serving in. I'll miss them all so much. But I know that good things are coming ahead of me. So I'm excited to see what the next 3 months have in store. It's a bittersweet moment. I'll let you know in my next email where I end up going to and the address of where I'm at. So if you happen to send anything in the next week, send it to the mission office address. Thanks! :)
Just a little update on Sam and David. We had a lesson with Sam on Wednesday and we brought Erin with us to share her testimony and conversion story because he was really wanting to talk to someone who was a convert. Her testimony was so strong and Sam really opened up to her and asked her a whole bunch of questions. The spirit was really strong in that lesson, probably one of the top 5 spiritual lessons I've had on my mission. Then we all bore testimony of the Book of Mormon and how it brings us closer to the Savior. I'll never get to see him again :( But I know that he is in good hands with the Lord and with Sister Anderson. She's an amazing missionary and she will try her hardest to get him baptized too! Same with David. David actually came to Erin's baptism and really liked it. Then he came to church yesterday and stayed for a linger longer the ward had. He's a really social guy and just goes up and talks to everybody so he pretty much made friends with the whole ward. They love him! haha. He's getting more and more serious in his investigation with the church so I am hoping and praying that he recognizes his answer and knows exactly what to do to act on that answer. Again, he's in great hands with Sister Anderson and I can't wait to hear about when he gets baptized! :)
Well that's about all the exciting news of this week. I'm going to miss Pittsburgh. So many great memories and miracles here. I hope you all have a great and wonderful week and I can't wait to hear about all that's happening at home next week! I love you all so so so so so so much!
Love, Holly