The Patricio Family Baptism

Dear Family,
It was Friday night, 8:00 p.m. My small umbrella was no match for the pounding rain, and I'd given up trying to find a way around the ankle deep puddles covering the road, even though I was wearing my leather dress shoes. My companion walked beside me in the dark, shoes and socks in hand, sloshing barefoot down the dark cement street. We had about 1 kilometer more to walk before we came to our last appointment, which was another 1 kilometer from our apartment. The distance didn't bother me, because our walk was already more than half-way over. It had been raining steadily for 5 hours and showed no sign of letting up. As we walked past the rice fields and mango groves, and the occasional, dimly lit residence, I couldn't help but think that this really is the best two years. It wasn't because of our comical circumstances. Earlier that day, we'd crossed fields and squeezed through barbed wire fences to get to our farthest appointment. We'd trudged through mud and water only to find that our usual route was flooded and impassable. We'd found a different way and ended up jumping over a stream a good 200 meters away from the path. My companion had found a long branch and had tried to pole-jump the water, only to have his umbrella and one shoe fall into the mud. We tried hard not to step on the green beans on the other side of the water as we picked our way back to the path. We'd laughed and enjoyed our once-in-a-lifetime experiences, but all that wasn't the highlight of the day. I was feeling so good that night because we'd just taught the Patricio family, and tomorrow was their baptism. The couple had listened intently as we answered their questions and taught a simple lesson about family prayer. They had asked us how to bear testimony after the baptism, and we'd had a very spiritual meeting. They told us that they were praying every night now, and that their daughter Jezobel had begun to repeat what her parents said as they helped her say her prayers. It was easy to see that they were ready, heart and mind, to enter the church of Jesus Christ and make their first, sacred covenant. I thought of Christ's invitation to the Nephites, that they come unto Him with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. We had to stop during the lesson twice in order to wait for the rain to slow a little, because we couldn't hear each other over the noise of the water on the tin roof. After the lesson, Brother Filip Patricio accompanied us a little ways from his home with a flashlight along a path that wasn't flooded. We thanked him warmly, and he thanked us. On Saturday, the baptism went just as smooth as I'd hoped, and we beamed as they took turns bearing their testimony. On Sunday they were confirmed, and I was honored to stand in the circle as the priesthood bearer said: "Receive the Holy Ghost". I was so eager for the Spirit to enter full-force and full-time into the lives of this family, because I know they are worthy of it and ready for it. Moments like this are the sweetest that I've ever experienced and I'm certain there are few moments that can compete, throughout life. I can't imagine a better feeling! I want this family's happiness and salvation as much as I long for my own. It wouldn't be heaven without them. That's the reason this is the best, and it breaks my heart thinking that the mission would end after just two years. There better be some pretty good things waiting after the mission -- some good opportunities and important things to do -- otherwise, it just doesn't make sense to go home. I'm loving the work.

The Bala family didn't make it to church, and I really worried about them all morning. At three o'clock, we went to visit them. This time, we were wearing boots, because the water is shin-deep going to their home. I was so relieved after the lesson -- they still have a strong desire to be baptized. They didn't have anybody to go to church with, and in the end they just didn't go. We had a great lesson with them and before the end they said: "Elders, we hope you won't get tired of coming and teaching us, even though we've been taught for so long! We're trying, just have patience with us!" They have a new goal date on the 28th and we made sure yesterday that they will have plenty of members stopping by their house to pick them up next Sunday. Brother's inability to read hasn't presented much of a problem yet. He's been keeping the Word of Wisdom for 3 weeks now, and every night his wife reads to the whole family out loud. I came away from our lesson yesterday feeling strongly that this family (the Bala family) will be baptized. . . soon.
Thanks for all the news, family! I wish I had more time, but the time is far spent!
Love ya'll!
Elder Peck