October 21, 2013

Dear Family,
    This Saturday was a day that will effect generations to come! I baptised, as Elder Poulino witnessed, Linda, her son Stephan, and little Elianna. This is the miracle of conversion! I would have hardly believed this would happen when I called up one rainy Friday in August, but God prepares people.
    When the service began that evening there were a good number in attendance, but we did not have our speaker! So Elder Poulino was called up to bear his testimony of sacrifice and the journey we had all taken together. With a little time still to go before the main speaker would come with an investigator of ours, I was invited up and stumbled a few words that hadn't already been spoken. Fortunately, our investigator and her driver, "Auntie Emma", arrived while I was concluding my remarks. She proceeded to give her talk on the ordinance of baptism in relation to the Gospel of Christ. 
    After the talk we went on to the actual baptism. I went into the water to perform my first baptism ever, raised my arm to the square, stated the authority by which I did the baptism and immersed Linda completely. Her smile afterwards was one I won't forget! She then went up the staircase and watched as her son, then her daughter, followed in the way of Christ. 
    Our investigator present there afterwards told us that she will be baptised as well. It was powerful.
    The next day we confirmed all three into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and conferred upon them the Gift of the Holy Ghost. It's as if they have always belonged! I hope that I can always be there for them especially as they start their journey as a family. 
    We are teaching some new faces as well, helping out some old ones, and continually looking for those who've been lost!
    Sean is settling in well in the Church! Most recently we've been teaching him the Old Testament background on the Aaronic Priesthood and we'll be going into the background of temples next. He keeps on joking with me that  I don't have to be pulled back to America now because the financial crisis has been settled. Some of the British people have taken a spot fun with that, saying that the Queen now formally declares the Declaration of Independence null and void and claims the United States as part of the British commonwealth once more. He also jokes and says I'll be a future prophet or something. That feeds my pride! It's been great to teach him and see how quickly he's been blessed. Honestly, miracles happen to him and many of the investigators we teach.
     So things are going well! Keep an eye out for the letter I've sent you mum and and also the comic that I've sent Heather (in a separate letter of course). You're gonna like the way this looks Heather! I guarantee it. haha! Love you!
   Elder Cooper