My First Baptism!

How is everyone doing this fine week!? I hope all is well back on the Homefront! This week here has been pretty interesting. Not going to lie... there were some hard days. But we pulled through! So on Monday last week we had a sweet zone activity and played volleyball for basically the whole day I LOVED it. We got sunburnt really really bad though hahaha. We also played water ballon volleyball which was a fun time! That evening we were out in the country and we got yelled at by some farmer guy that we were trespassing... He was pretty darn mean. Threatened to call the cops haha. We found a new investigator out of it which was pretty nice and we taught him about the restoration it was super great! His name is Ali and he is out of town right now but we are hoping to teach him this upcoming week! On Tuesday everything we planned totally fell through so we spent most of the time checking in potential investigators and such with some tracting thrown into the mix. We also had a very fun Skype lesson with a recent convert named Tom he was super super cool and he has a great testimony of this gospel. On Wednesday we got yelled at by some guy and he was going to call the cops on us and he wrote down our license plate... He was pretty darn mean as well. We went over to check up on a part member struggling family and their air conditioner broke and it flooded the air basement so we stayed there till 10 p.m. Trying to help them dry the carpets and fix the air conditioner inside the house so that was quite the chore but we were happy to help with that! She also told us about her son and how he is inactive and wants us to meet with him so we are excited to meet with him! Thursday we went to go help out a recent move in to our ward move a bunch of rocks it took forever and it was so humid outside haha but we had a good time! The rocks were infested with black widows and I wasn't wearing any gloves... Things got real! Luckily I didn't get bit. But on the car ride home I propped my leg up on the dash and saw a HUGE tick sucking blood out of my leg.... Yep. So mom don't worry Sister Huntsman knows about it and we are watching for the lymes disease rash. It's all good though:) I'll live! On Friday we weekly planned and did a bunch of tracting.  People around here aren't really receptive but we still are trying our best at sharing the gospel with everyone! And Saturday was the perfect day for me. It was the greatest day of my mission because I got to see Jackie get baptized. We got pictures and then our ward mission leader asked Elder Adair and I to share our testimonies before the baptism. I was so nervous and I was tearing up the whole time because I was so proud of Jackie and the progress and testimony that she has of this gospel. I cannot express how grateful I am that Heavenly Father let be be a part of her conversion. Brother Blake, a member of the bishopric baptized her and I was so happy about that! I put Jackie on date at his house that's why it was so special! It was so amazing to see Jackie's  whole family there ( none of them are members) they were saying how amazing her service was and it made me super happy! Once Jackie came up out of the water I received the most powerful witness from the spirit that I have ever felt in my life. It will be a moment that I will never forget for the rest of my life... I'm grateful for Jackie and Josiah and the wonderful people that they are! They have taught me so much in such a short time that I have known them! So mom and dad we have to go visit them after the mission. I won't take no for an answer. Hahah. I was also very happy to see all the members of my old ward and to see elders Adair Stenquist and Haddon! They are great missionaries!! I love Kingstowne and I miss it very very much! Anyways that night we called up a less active member our our church,  he referred us to his roommate and now we are teaching him! His name is Kingsley and he loves the concept of our church and is very open to it! We gave him a Book of Mormon and invited him to church unfortunately he got called into work so he wasn't able to attend. We met with him again on Sunday and taught him the restoration! He is great and I can see him being baptized very soon!:) Saturday and Sunday were so great! This week I read out of the book of Alma chapter 26 and specifically verse 27 

"Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success."

This week reminds me of this scripture! We were not having the best of time and people were being pretty mean to us. But we were patient and worked our absolute hardest and the lord gave us the opportunity to see Jackies baptism and to find Kingsley who is a solid investigator. I am so grateful for for the Lord and the showing of his hand in my life and in our missionary work! The mission is not easy but I know that if we have patience and love all of the people that we come across no matter what they say to us the lord will show his hand in our life! I want to share one more scripture found in the Doctrine and Covenants section 123:17 

"Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed." 

I love this scripture!! If we do all that we can in our lives the lord will take care of the rest!!

Anyways I'll sign this one off! I love and miss you all! Hope you have a great week and don't have too much fun without me!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DALVIN!

Elder Routsong