Sister Alldredge Down Under

YOU WILL NOT BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENED THIS PAST WEEKEND......

sooooo as you know, it was Chris's baptism... So friday afternoon he got his interview and everything was great, he was excited and we were pumped. So saturday morning, we woke up and got ready and went to the chapel to get ready for the day. As we pull up, there was this huge blow up princess bounce house on the chapel grounds and there was music pumping inside. So me and sister Lilo go in there and the cultural hall was all decked out for what looked like a wedding reception but what was actually like a 3 year olds birthday party. Samoans dont mess around. :) But then they turned off their music for their dance practice and they soon after left. So we waited for a bit for the zone leaders to come and they started filling up the font and setting things up. Then the member that was supposed to pick up Chris came, without Chris. So we asked him where he was, and he said that he had gone to his house but Chris's brother told him that Chris had went somewhere the night before and hadn't been home yet. But we weren't too worried because it was only like 9:15.

Then after a while, he went to pick him up again and came back.. without Chris. The problem with Chris is that he doesn't have a phone.. so me and Sister Lilo just said a prayer and tried to stay calm. ha, then we told the member to go back and wait at his house until got Chris. Then it was 9:45... so me and Sister Lilo decide to go for a drive around Marsden looking for him as heaps of members in the ward pass us to come to the baptism. So we were just driving around and so we went to Chris's house and the member was there, and so we talked to him and then he starts saying, "don't worry you wont be held accountable if he doesn't get baptized" and stuff, and so that made me start crying. So we left and were crying and laughing and praying and not really knowing what to do.. so we went back to the chapel at 10 and called the zone leaders to come out to the parking lot, because we didn't want to have to tell everyone to go home. So they came out and we decided to say another prayer.. as soon as it ended, i felt at peace. I had faith that Chris would come but I also knew, and had faith that if he didn't, that it was God's will. And as soon as I thought that, the member pulled up with Chris is the passenger seat. AHAHAHAH you shouldve seen Sister Lilo and I... hahahhaah So we rushed in and he got changed quickly and we only started the baptism about 10 minutes late. :) The baptism was really good and the spirit was soo strong when he was baptized. Then after he got to bear his testimony and he talked about how he really felt how satan was trying to tempt him last night because he knew he was going to be baptized. Then he said that he knew Joseph Smith was a prophet and that Jesus Christ is the son of God. The spirit was so strong. It was such a special experience! Then on sunday he was confirmed, and after he received the gift of the holy ghost, he was walking back to his seat and wiping his eyes form crying. So special. I LOVE those tender mercies that God so mercifully allows us to experience. Those moments make all the heart ache worth it. Even though Chris almost gave us a heart attack. hahahah

Well just know that Heavenly Father is sooo aware of you. He knows what you need, He knows why you are going through the things you are going through, and He also is soo loving that He would not allow you to go through the pain and suffering and hard trials unless it truly did help us to become more like our Savior and to ultimately return to Him someday. Never doubt that. And at times when you may not understand, instead of wondering why we are going through something, ask, "what does Heavenly Father want me to learn? or How can I become more like the Savior because of this?" always rembmer and focus on the Savior and think about Him and the pains that he suffered and went through, and then yours may not seem so bad. :)

Well I LOVE YOU SOO MUCH! But i love my Savior and my Heavenly Father more. I hope you have a great week and that you know and can experience the power of prayer in your life.

Love always, Sister Alldredge