This week has been crazy. We have been covering a lot of ground, and working really hard. My heart hurts for so many people with so many struggles. Anyways, we have been dealing with a lot.
Last P-Day we went around Harrisonburg a little bit to see the sights. There are a lot of things on the civil war trail here, most of them are kinda lame... but hey, it's history. I attached a pic of Stonewall Jackson's headquarters, and the Blue Ridge Mountains (which are beautiful!), and Sister Wride, Friden and I at the abandoned train station.
The highlight of the week was Saturday. Elena got baptized! I attached a bunch of pictures of that, just so you could see. There's one of me and sister Wride with her, one of the elders and her - just so you can see who I'm serving with. The two on either side of her are the ones we tag-team taught her with - Elder Hazledine and Elder Burke. Brother Herrick from the ward did the baptism. He teaches at JMU (James Madison University) and she was actually one of his students there. She is from Bulgaria, and she doesn't have family here, and for some reason, he felt like he should invite her to dinner with the family... and the missionaries. The rest is history! It's so neat. She has such a light about her, it's amazing, I think you can see it in her pictures! I've never been to a better baptism. She just had this huge smile when she came out of the water, and she clasped her hands together and shook them above her shoulders - it was so cute! She was so happy and excited, and I was too!
I ended up being the piano player, cause nobody else could. We also put the elders in charge of the "halftime show", and Elder Hazeldine asked be if I would just play the piano. PERFECT. Anyways, it was really cool cause we started the meeting with Nearer My God to Thee as per Elena's request, and I'm telling you, I kept wanting to look back from the piano to see if there were really angels singing along in the room. It was literally the most beautiful thing I've ever heard. People afterwards kept talking about it too and said the SAME thing. It also came up in ward council just how amazing that was and how perfect it sounded, and everyone else said there were angels in the room too. The spirit was so strong it just blew me away.
I was really nervous to play for the intermission or whatever while Elena was getting dressed. But I prayed really hard to know what to play, that I could bring the spirit to the room and have it testify to people as they listened. It was an incredible witness to me, because I just started to play. I just played and played and my fingers knew where to go and what songs to play, even songs I haven't ever played before or practiced. It was great, and I wasn't nervous, and I just cleared my mind and let my fingers run over the keys. I never quite know how things go until someone tells me, I'm just hard on myself I guess or something, but I had about a dozen people tell me that the music I played put them in tears and that they were actually crying. People mentioned that I played their favorite songs, songs that they needed to hear, etc etc. It made me feel so good, and so thankful that I could be a tool in the hands of the Lord to bless people's lives. I was reading over my patriarchal blessing yesterday and it specifically says: "You have been blessed with the talent of music. Develop that talent more. Heavenly Father wants you to use that talent in blessing other people." I know Heavenly Father works through us if we let him. We just have to be prepared and willing! I know that it is no coincidence that someone was getting rid of a piano 3 days after I moved here. I am so blessed to have it, and I am truly grateful for experiences I have to share my music with others. Sometimes I feel like a show off or something and I don't like being the center of attention... but I'm trying to have a different perspective and I want to bless other people through this gift that I have been given. It's not me... it's Him!!! I'm just an instrument.
We had dinner with Lindsay Waters (Aunt Sarah's friend) and her family this week! It was great to talk with them. They are solid! Lindsay is a good cook too, she made us home-made lasagna and bread... it was amazing. I really like their family a lot! They are heading out to utah for FOUR WEEKS on July 10th, I know she will get to meet up with Sarah while she is there too. That will be so cool!
Well, Joshy's birthday is wednesday this week, I miss him! I hope you all sent him something good! :) Glad Costa Rica was fun... did you all get the letter and other STUFF I sent you this week? Hope so. Love you lots. Tell Jake and Siera to write me! And Aunt Dona and Amanda or someone for the extended family, it would be great to hear from them... although I know things are hectic with the wedding coming up! How exciting! Tell Uncle Scott I am praying for him and for a speedy recovery. He is so tough, and just an amazing example of goodness. I hope things are going well.
Love you all! Thanks to everyone who wrote me letters this week... you have no idea what a difference it makes!
Love,
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