Week 39 - May 4 - First baptismal interview, listening to the spirit

Well we had another bomb week here in Oviedo!  Not sure where to start. Sorry about last week, I had to make a fone call right in the middle of emails. Elder Maughn needed to chat.

I got the chance to do a baptismal interview! It was one of my favorite experiences thus far. She got baptized yesterday (so you already know the end of the story) and it was almost as cool as her interview. Not very spiritual for me, because I spent the whole time making sure no small children drowned in the font. And Elder Weiss performed a very clean dunk, so todo salio genial. But back to the interview. We sat down, this being the first time I had conducted an interview and the second time Claudia had been interviewed. So she knew more about it than I did, and the hermanas had prepped her well. I´ll be honest, I went in with doubts not about her worthiness but about her understanding of the need to come and partake of the sacrament. It´s been tough to get her to church. BUT! As we talked (and I did the interview Bishop Grimm style, finishing the questions in about 2m flat) I felt the spirit confirming what I had hoped to believe - that she was ready and worthy. It really reminded me of the experiences I´ve had with the LDM - Compare Alma 32:27 and Ether 4:11. I really wanted to believe she was ready, and I was looking for that answer . And the Spirit told me that yes.

We thought long and hard the other day about what is the best thing to do for Ada, the dominican woman who was recently baptized. And we decided that all the next lessons will be taught in member´s houses - great way for her to get friends and we don´t have to actually teach the lesson. Just sit down and relax and make sure no one goes apostate. And it has been an AMAZING decision in terms of her growth, the members growth, and our peace-of-mind when it comes to lesson planning. I´d really reccomend that folks who want to help the elders make their homes open for NDH AND offer to teach a short lesson on baptism or something. Really helps.

Funny story, we had a VERY apostate Gospel Principles class on Sunday, which meant I had to take over halfway to clarify comments like, "Before Adam and Eve fell, when they gave birth it didn´t hurt." Teaching helps the teacher, inasmuch as he knows his doctrine. 

Love,

Elder Maxfield