HOLA!

Hola a todos...


Alvaro was baptized on Saturday and we now have a new member of the Pan de Azucar branch!!!  He almost gave us a heart attack when we called his house to see if he was ready to go with us in the bus to the neighboring city, Piriapolis, for his baptism (because we don`t have a chapel yet, we have to go in bus to a city 15 minutes away for our baptisms, here in Uruguay every chapel has a baptismal font) and his grandma told me that we have a small problem (the least invited words just hours before a baptism). He had been picked up by his boss to go work (luckily in Piriapolis where he was going to be baptized) just 5 hours before his baptism.  He finished work and waited for almost 3 hours in front of the church for us and the branch to arrive in a bus, and he was finally baptized.  It was great because as soon as we started the baptismal service it started pouring so we just barely escaped the downpour.  It was Elder Thompson`s first baptism and so he baptized Alvaro, and his grandma who isn`t a member came and also came to see him get confirmed and now we are trying to help her get baptized soon.  She just can`t bring herself to read and sincerely pray to know if the Book of Mormon is true.

Summer is officially over here and it`s starting to get a little chilly.  We are also very excited for the ground breaking of the chapel here this Saturday at 6:00, the last weekend before transfers so Elder Thompson and I are very grateful for the privelege that we have to be present for this very important moment in Pan de Azucar history. 

Please keep the following investigators in your prayers so that they can be baptized on the 26th of March.  We need a few miracles to reach our goal of 4 baptisms in Pan de Azucar: Angelita, Camilo, Diana, Victoria, Analìa, Beatriz, Jorge, and Emilio. We need at least 3 of them to come to church this next Sunday and prepare themselves to be baptized on the 26th.  We are getting a little nervous to see who will stay and who will go on the 22nd. 

Even though changes are on Tuesday, I will still be e-mailing you on Monday next week.  I`m glad you had a great week.  I really hope that I don`t have to leave this great branch here in Pan de Azucar and that the Lord can bless me with at least six more weeks here.

Yeah, we heard about what hit Japan and I`m glad that Elder Taylor is ok.  That makes for a very exciting beginning of his mission. That`s great that Elder Webster received his mission call as well.  He`s going to love the mission.  I love you all and hope that you all have as great of a week like I am going to have.

Love,
Elder Gardner