Wow what a week‏

First of all Israel, Alex and Rosa were all baptized and confirmed! My companion baptized Alex and Rosa and I baptized Israel and the confirmations were done vice versa. It was such a sweet moment to baptize Israel. I've been waiting to do that for so long! The only problem was the water was cold. :( We filled up the font at 12:00 pm and there were three baptisms that day... Israels was the last, so the water ended up being a little chilly. With these three baptisms Elder Manumaleuna and I have reached our transfer goal of 4 baptisms!

Joshua was able to come to Israel's baptism and he said that while Israel was being baptized he felt a warm feeling and he had this urge to go on a mission. The member that gave him a ride to the baptism pulled $10 out of his wallet and told him to open a mission fund account. Joshua came to church the next day and he had a great time. He is praying the days go faster so he can get baptized already! He's a real great kid.

We also found a new family this week. We received a referral from the spanish elders. We've been getting alot of those lately because Elder Lau is the "king of referrals." We haven't really been able to contact them because we've been spending our evenings nourishing our baptism dates, but since they've all been baptized we were able to go and try and find these people.

We drove up and down one street to find one but no where in sight so we moved onto the next one, George VanDoren. We knocked on his door and introduced ourselves. He said, "I know who you are, please come in." We sat down with his wife Carrol and son Josh, and he said "I understand you have a message for us..." We then gave one of the most powerful first lessons I've been apart of. After we committed them for baptism on 12/26, holding the Book of Mormon he looked up at me and said "I'm really excited, this just might be what I've been looking for all my life." "Yes, George," I said, "It is." He then started to talk about a void in his life, he asked "have you ever done something and then came back feeling empty?" My companion made a joke about fishing, but despite that, the spirit stayed strong and he expressed his hope that this would fill the void he's felt all his life. I again testified that it would. But Satan is a little bugger and has stirred up their neighbor to contention and they are afraid to leave their house for fear of his damaging or stealing their property. They are a great family and I know they will be baptized! They are so excited to learn.

Life is good and the gates of heaven have truly been opened up upon Elder Manumaleuna and I.

Lots of Love.

Elder Andrew Harris