Surprise Baptism!
Date
October 16, 2017
Area
Nibaje
Companion
Hermana Levy
Surprise Baptism!
Hey everyone!
This week was a hectic one, but it was really good! As you can read, we had a surprise baptism this week. Cristina and her daughters got baptized! She told us on Tuesday so we had to get everything ready throughout the week and that was fun. She had to pass through a lot to get where she was. Her dog even died the day of her baptism and she has been having family problems. She really had what I call a broken heart and contrite spirit.
This week the ward asked me to direct the music, give a talk in sacrament meeting, and give the class in Relief Society. That was kind of interesting but I was very glad that I was able to serve my ward here in Nibaje.
I don't have very many experiences to tell from this week, but I have some things that I have learned that are from Alma 32 versus 30-43. As I read these verses it stuck out to me that this seed is the seed that we give to other people by teaching them the gospel and as they gain more knowledge, they begin to grow in the gospel. Each person can be a seed as well. As they take the time to investigate the gospel and do everything they can to know if it is right, they will grow into a tree and the tree will bring forth fruit. This fruit will be their knowledge and the fruit of baptism. We can´t loose faith in them and we have to help them. It´s our responsibility. Love the promise at the end if we are diligent we will see the most pure fruit and that is seeing people come unto Christ.
30 But behold, as the seed swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, then you must needs say that the seed is good; for behold it swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow. And now, behold, will not this strengthen your faith? Yea, it will strengthen your faith: for ye will say I know that this is a good seed; for behold it sprouteth and beginneth to grow.
31 And now, behold, are ye sure that this is a good seed? I say unto you, Yea; for every seed bringeth forth unto its own likeness.
32 Therefore, if a seed groweth it is good, but if it groweth not, behold it is not good, therefore it is cast away.
33 And now, behold, because ye have tried the experiment, and planted the seed, and it swelleth and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, ye must needs know that the seed is good.
34 And now, behold, is your knowledge perfect? Yea, your knowledge is perfect in that thing, and your faith is dormant; and this because you know, for ye know that the word hath swelled your souls, and ye also know that it hath sprouted up, that your understanding doth begin to be enlightened, and your mind doth begin to expand.
35 O then, is not this real? I say unto you, Yea, because it is light; and whatsoever is light, is good, because it is discernible, therefore ye must know that it is good; and now behold, after ye have tasted this light is your knowledge perfect?
36 Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither must ye lay aside your faith, for ye have only exercised your faith to plant the seed that ye might try the experiment to know if the seed was good.
37 And behold, as the tree beginneth to grow, ye will say: Let us nourish it with great care, that it may get root, that it may grow up, and bring forth fruit unto us. And now behold, if ye nourish it with much care it will get root, and grow up, and bring forth fruit.
38 But if ye neglect the tree, and take no thought for its nourishment, behold it will not get any root; and when the heat of the sun cometh and scorcheth it, because it hath no root it withers away, and ye pluck it up and cast it out.
39 Now, this is not because the seed was not good, neither is it because the fruit thereof would not be desirable; but it is because your ground is barren, and ye will not nourish the tree, therefore ye cannot have the fruit thereof.
40 And thus, if ye will not nourish the word, looking forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof, ye can never pluck of the fruit of the tree of life.
41 But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence,and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life.
42 And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white,yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.
43 Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you.
As I served my ward this week I found this quote for my talk on service that President Hinckley said. He said, "Do you want to be happy? Forget yourself and get lost in this great cause. Lend your efforts to helping people. Cultivate a spirit of forgiveness in your heart against any who might have offended you. Look to the Lord and live and work to lift and serve His sons and daughters. You will come to know a happiness that you have never known before if you will do that. I do not care how old you are, how young you are, whatever. You can lift people and help them. Heaven knows there are so very, very, very many people in this world who need help. Oh, so very, very many. Let’s get the cankering, selfish attitude out of our lives, my brothers and sisters, and stand a little taller and reach a little higher in the service of others. … Stand taller, stand higher, lift those with feeble knees, hold up the arms of those that hang down. Live the gospel of Jesus Christ. Forget yourself."
As we forget ourselves and serve others we become more like our Savior Jesus Christ and we begin to feel love for others. We truly become happy.
Hope you all have a great week!
Love,
Hermana Maikoski
There are pictures at the bottom of Cristina, Hailie, Amy, and Emely. Also Hermana Levy and I with our matching dresses and us in front of a halloween door.
This week was a hectic one, but it was really good! As you can read, we had a surprise baptism this week. Cristina and her daughters got baptized! She told us on Tuesday so we had to get everything ready throughout the week and that was fun. She had to pass through a lot to get where she was. Her dog even died the day of her baptism and she has been having family problems. She really had what I call a broken heart and contrite spirit.
This week the ward asked me to direct the music, give a talk in sacrament meeting, and give the class in Relief Society. That was kind of interesting but I was very glad that I was able to serve my ward here in Nibaje.
I don't have very many experiences to tell from this week, but I have some things that I have learned that are from Alma 32 versus 30-43. As I read these verses it stuck out to me that this seed is the seed that we give to other people by teaching them the gospel and as they gain more knowledge, they begin to grow in the gospel. Each person can be a seed as well. As they take the time to investigate the gospel and do everything they can to know if it is right, they will grow into a tree and the tree will bring forth fruit. This fruit will be their knowledge and the fruit of baptism. We can´t loose faith in them and we have to help them. It´s our responsibility. Love the promise at the end if we are diligent we will see the most pure fruit and that is seeing people come unto Christ.
30 But behold, as the seed swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, then you must needs say that the seed is good; for behold it swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow. And now, behold, will not this strengthen your faith? Yea, it will strengthen your faith: for ye will say I know that this is a good seed; for behold it sprouteth and beginneth to grow.
31 And now, behold, are ye sure that this is a good seed? I say unto you, Yea; for every seed bringeth forth unto its own likeness.
32 Therefore, if a seed groweth it is good, but if it groweth not, behold it is not good, therefore it is cast away.
33 And now, behold, because ye have tried the experiment, and planted the seed, and it swelleth and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, ye must needs know that the seed is good.
34 And now, behold, is your knowledge perfect? Yea, your knowledge is perfect in that thing, and your faith is dormant; and this because you know, for ye know that the word hath swelled your souls, and ye also know that it hath sprouted up, that your understanding doth begin to be enlightened, and your mind doth begin to expand.
35 O then, is not this real? I say unto you, Yea, because it is light; and whatsoever is light, is good, because it is discernible, therefore ye must know that it is good; and now behold, after ye have tasted this light is your knowledge perfect?
36 Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither must ye lay aside your faith, for ye have only exercised your faith to plant the seed that ye might try the experiment to know if the seed was good.
37 And behold, as the tree beginneth to grow, ye will say: Let us nourish it with great care, that it may get root, that it may grow up, and bring forth fruit unto us. And now behold, if ye nourish it with much care it will get root, and grow up, and bring forth fruit.
38 But if ye neglect the tree, and take no thought for its nourishment, behold it will not get any root; and when the heat of the sun cometh and scorcheth it, because it hath no root it withers away, and ye pluck it up and cast it out.
39 Now, this is not because the seed was not good, neither is it because the fruit thereof would not be desirable; but it is because your ground is barren, and ye will not nourish the tree, therefore ye cannot have the fruit thereof.
40 And thus, if ye will not nourish the word, looking forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof, ye can never pluck of the fruit of the tree of life.
41 But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence,and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life.
42 And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white,yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.
43 Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you.
As I served my ward this week I found this quote for my talk on service that President Hinckley said. He said, "Do you want to be happy? Forget yourself and get lost in this great cause. Lend your efforts to helping people. Cultivate a spirit of forgiveness in your heart against any who might have offended you. Look to the Lord and live and work to lift and serve His sons and daughters. You will come to know a happiness that you have never known before if you will do that. I do not care how old you are, how young you are, whatever. You can lift people and help them. Heaven knows there are so very, very, very many people in this world who need help. Oh, so very, very many. Let’s get the cankering, selfish attitude out of our lives, my brothers and sisters, and stand a little taller and reach a little higher in the service of others. … Stand taller, stand higher, lift those with feeble knees, hold up the arms of those that hang down. Live the gospel of Jesus Christ. Forget yourself."
As we forget ourselves and serve others we become more like our Savior Jesus Christ and we begin to feel love for others. We truly become happy.
Hope you all have a great week!
Love,
Hermana Maikoski
There are pictures at the bottom of Cristina, Hailie, Amy, and Emely. Also Hermana Levy and I with our matching dresses and us in front of a halloween door.
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