OH MY GOODNESS!! That call was the BEST ever!! I don't have a ton to write because I just told you everything in person which is the best feeling ever!! I love my family and talking to y'all was the best Christmas present anyone could ever ask for!! I wish I had words enough to describe how happy that made me and how much that meant to me. But I don't. So just thank y'all for being the best family everrr.
I'll write out Freddy's story from his baptism so that it can be uploaded to my blog. So here it is:
Freddy Fernandez is so strong. He is just over 50 years old and was so prepared for this gospel from the moment we found him- or he found us more like. It started back in October when Sister Melgaso and I were at a member's house for family home evening. All of a sudden, a stranger (to us, not the the members there) came up to the head of the family and saw us sitting inside. He said "I have been wanting to be a member of that Church, but I just do not know how." Well, lucky for him, we knew how(: So, we set up an appointment with him the following Sunday, after introducing ourselves to him. He works everyday, because he owns two different hardware stores, and is only in the one in Sipalay on Sundays. We showed up at his hardware store, and he immediately left his work to meet with us in his house. We taught Sunday after Sunday to him and he was so receptive. He believed everything we said and started reading the Book of Mormon as soon as he got his hands on one. He asked for one in English and one in Hiligaynon so that he could really understand every word in that book. We shortly after extended a baptismal date to him, and he said "OO EH", which is equivalent to "YEAH DUH" in english. We talked to him about the Law of Chastity, Law of Tithing, and Word of Wisdom, and he had no problems. He said he drank coffee only sometimes but said he would give that up no problem. He later told us that he showed up to that one member's house that one evening, because he had a strong feeling he needed to go there that night. So he followed that spiritual prompting and found us there. He has been being prepared by God for a long time now and it was an absolute joy to teach him. It was my favorite part of the week- Sunday evenings. I always felt so energized after teaching him. He was baptized on December 22, 2018 and received the Gift of the Holy Ghost yesterday on Dec 23, as well as the Aaronic Priesthood. We love Freddy.
As for the baptism yesterday, it did not go exactly as planned. JamJam (Freddy's 9 year old child) was also supposed to be baptized, but did not. We spent an hour and a half convincing her the water wasn't scary but she wouldn't take the bait. She would step in very slowly then at the last minute come out again and the convincing started all over again. At one point, she said she would go into the water if I did too, so what did I do? Yeah I got in the water with my dress. I didn't get all the way in but far enough in to hold her hand while she was in the water. The baptism prayer was said three times. The first time, her head didn't go all the way under, so she came out all excited that she did it, and then we had to break the news that she had to do it again. The second time was like 30 minutes later after convincing her again, and then she didn't want her head to go under so she kept her head above the surface. Then we switched missionaries baptizing to see if that would help, and he dunked himself under the water to make her feel more comfortable. So Elder Sombilla basically went swimming in the baptismal font for this girl. Hahaha and then the third time, Elder Sombilla said the prayer and then tried to dunk her head under the water himself, which looked like straight torture to this child. We all died laughing and decided that was about enough. So she will be getting baptized by her father who now holds the priesthood, at the beach where she said she would feel more comfortable. Its hard to describe all that went down in that house and a half but let's just say it was quite a mess. So she will be next time when we don't have to drown her or get in the water in our dress to get this child immersed.
But that did testify to me just how important be baptized in the right way is. People in other faiths get baptized but as long it is not in the right way, or with the right authority, or at the right age, it matters not to heaven. It does not count. Even in this church, there is re-baptizing for those who did not do it right, which is what happened with her. The only way baptism can get us into the celestial kingdom of God, is in the right way only. This is so important and exactly my message.
Well anyways, I am still over the moon after talking to y'all and feel happy this Christmas Season because of y'all. I wish you the merriest Christmas ever and will miss y'all very much tomorrow during Christmas! THANK YALL FOR EVERYTHING!! MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!
Sister Robertson
