Une Autre Semaine Ensemble 🇫🇷

Transfers were supposed to be this past week but, due to a train crash in Córdoba, they will end up being tomorrow instead! My companion was able to make it to Madrid and is now home in Bolivia, but I was in a trio this week with the other Elders from our ward. It was a lot of fun, but a little bit crazy with trying to work with both our friends in both areas. We did lots of videocalls and we even set a few fechas! 

This week was also exciting because we were preparing for the baptism of Yeremi and Eddi. Eddi has been taking the lessons from an Elder that speaks French and is now ready for baptism and Yeremi was waiting to turn 18 because his parents had not given him permission to be baptized. Two interesting cases, but overall an amazing baptism! We had a talk in French translated into Spanish, and the confirmation was also given in French to Eddi. Yeremi was baptized by his friend who had introduced him to the church. 

We are working a lot with our recent converts to prepare them for the temple. Expanding the vision with all of our friends to the temple has been a helpful change. Baptism is the door, meaning only the beginning of a path of continued blessing and covenants. Speaking of recent converts, a friend of ours was taking the train from a nearby city to come to church. There he met the recent converts, also coming to church, and got to know them. They live really close and will now be traveling together!!

I'd like to share a scripture that we shared with a friend this week. It shares the story of Peter and an eunuch and his short, but powerful baptism.

36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

It is clear that all that was required was a belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. In the Book of Mormon we receive greater insight of the blessings that come from baptism, and what actions are promoted by this faith in Jesus Christ, but the root is the same. Baptism is a new beginning motivated by our faith and our desire to change. It is the beginning of a life guided by the Holy Ghost, a life of progression, growth, learning, and discipleship. May we be more willing to extend this beautiful invitation to all. 

Elder Dougall