3 bautismos!

Well another fantastic week has come and gone here in Luja"s! It was such a joy to see three people be baptized and take their first step in the right path back to the presence of God. Luis and Cristina are married and have one son that is four. Andrea is 14 and is the sister of Luis. They were so happy at their baptisms. After Luis was baptized he bore his testimony at the baptisimal service about the things he had been experiencing. He first started off by saying he never thought two and a half weeks ago he would end up at church being baptized. He talked about the first time we entered into his house he felt something different, and in the half an hour that we were there everything changed. He said for the first time in his 30 years he really felt what real peace was. He said the Gospel brought to him a tranquility that he could not deny. He said that he loved his wife more, didn't get angry as often, and just hungered for more. Luis bore testimony of the change that ocurred in him always saying to ask his wife about it. He talked about his love for the Savior and his gratitude for those who helped him get there. It was a touching experience that I will never forget. It is just one of the million testimonies of the work that two americans with broken spanish could bring about such a drastic change in the lives of a family. Obviosuly it had nothing to do with us, but the fact that we had the Spirit with us and the Spirit testified to the truth of the things we were saying. (Moroni 10:3-5) The Spirit is what does the "convincing" or "converting" not us. We ask them to ask God alone and in private of the things that we teach. We ask them to ponder and search diligently and then do ask James directs, ask of God.(James 1:5) That peace and that surety of conviction only comes through Christ and the Holy Spirit. " Peace I leave with you, my bpeace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you." (John 14:27) The answers are usually quite but sure. We know what we need to do we just have to be humble enough to do it. I love this work!!

This week we had a little taste of america too. There is a family in the ward next to us that are from the states up in Spokane Washington. They have lived here for the last 11 years and are just great! We were able to eat with them and have the first american meal I have had in a long time:) She brought a crock pot down and we had biscuits and everything!!! Oh it was so good :) They are such great people too I love them a lot. Their names are Lynn and Linda Hunt. He works in the mining business down here.

Well we are very excited for another great week this week and 3 to 4 more baptisms. It is so amazing to see the Spirit work among God's children. I am so happy and grateful to be where I am and doing what I am doing. I could not be happier. This is true joy :) I love you all and thanks for the prayers and support! Keep it up!

Sincerely,
Elder Brian Passantino