This Baptism was NOT Ise!!!

Oh my goodness.  This week was seriously one of the most difficult of my entire mission.  I have NEVER worked so dang hard for a baptism in my whole life!  

Ok.  Time for the story of Ise.  So we taught her every single day this week to get her ready for baptism on Sunday.  Perfect, she was super prepared and feeling good and happy and everything was going well.  Until Friday, that is.  We go over to talk to her, and she tells us that her mom told her she doesn´t need to be baptized again and that her mom is SUPER against it.  Thus...we should put the baptism off for a little while.  But you know what happens when we re-mark baptisms? NOTHING.  They don´t happen!  Our hearts just kind of stopped when she said this, so we calmly explained to her how she needs to talk to Heavenly Father about this and get His opinion on the whole situation.  She said that she still wanted the elders to come do the baptismal interview though on Saturday, so that was a good sign. 

On Saturday, the Elders came early in the afternoon and we showed them around Gravatá, because they live in Caruarú, which is about an hour away.  We took them on top of this huge mountain where you can see all of the town and it is soooo pretty!  They almost died on the way up, but that´s ok.  Sweat builds character.  Anyway, as we headed over to Marilza´s house for Ise´s interview, we called Marilza, who told us that Ise was no where to be found!  NOOO!!!  False alarm though, she arrived about half an hour after we did.  Hooray!  Andddd she passed the interview!  So everything was all set and ready for the baptism on Sundaynight.  She came to church with her brother, who we are also teaching, and loved every bit of it. The baptism was marked for 6pm, and after choir practice (which was prettyyy painful), at about 5:50, we get a call.  She said that her mom locked her in the house and wouldn´t let her come to the church at all.  I am not even kidding, I almost cried.  The font was full, the cake was made, and everyone in the ward was there. My heart just broke, but then it mended itself again when she told us that she wanted to get baptized in the morning!  This girl has a desire that is SO STRONG!  She knows that the church is true, she feels it, and she is just an amazing example to me.

After the interview with Ise!  Isn´t she so pretty??

So, about 1 hour ago, we put a baptism together and I had my first baptism on a Pday!  It was beautiful.  Tarciso bore his testimony and made me cry.  He talked about how he knows that the church is true and that there is no way he would ever leave it, especially after going to the temple to do baptisms.  Ise came out of the water so happy!  Oh man, that is just the best feeling in the world, you know?  

I never had to work so hard...EVER. For anything!  The prayers, the fasting, the studying....everything is worth it.  Heavenly Father listens to our prayers and is just waiting to help us!  And He will always be there with us, fighting by our side.

Us with Ise!

With Felipe, who baptized her

With Jo, who introduced her to us

Perfect.... <3

Perfect.... <3

Perfect.... <3

Pure and Perfect!

Pure and Perfect!

I am trying to think of other things that happened, but like...nothing even comes to mind!  We were pretty involved in this novella all week, you know?  Sorry.  

Good luck on the trek to you guys!  I know you will have a great time...man, wish I could go!  Please take a lot of pictures to send to me!  Also, I am so sad that Brother Shumway died.  He was such a great home teacher!  Give a hug to their family from me, ok?  Obrigada!

I´ll send pics of the baptism.  Love you guys so much, have an awesome week and stay safe!

Love, 

Sister Dana

Me and Sister Bedke made couscous masks....this does NOT go on Facebook.