Into the Waters of Baptism, and Beyond

C--- is getting dunked!!! :D

Hey ya'll!

This week was CRAZY! But, it was truly amazing. We have been working with C--- for a while now, and this past Saturday, he was baptized!

Me and Elder H--- had to do ALL of the preparations for the baptism because our ward mission leader is out of town, so, we're pretty well tuckerd out. But, it all worked out beautifully, and it was an AMAZING baptism! The Spirit was truly there, and everyone present could feel it. After he was baptized, he shared his testimony of the truthfulness of this Gospel, and of his conversion story. I swear, there wasn't a dry eye in the room. Except mine. I'm to manly to cry. Yeah. *cough*

The work is EXPLODING here in St. Maries, and we now have the highest Baptism rate in the Zone. We are working hard to find more people to teach, because all of our investigators are getting baptized! One of our big focuses now however, is helping to expand our Youth program, so we're trying to put special emphases on the teens here in St. Maries. We're also working a lot with C---, and we are doing our best to answer all of his awesome questions.

Actually, for P-Day, we're heading up to his "Survival Camp", and he's going to teach us how to do Blacksmith-work, Leather-working, and a lot of really awesome stuff like that!

A new game: "DESOLATION: Wars and Rumors of Wars"

Anyway, we also had a lot of fun last week! I got permission to make board games on P-Day, as long as I get the idea for the game approved by the Zone Leaders first, I can make them! I've made two thus far, and even the AP's LOVE the games! P-day is pretty darn cool when you have four missionaries gathered around playing "Mission of Zion" or the new "Desolation: Wars and Rumors of Wars", and they are both quite popular throughout the Washington Spokane mission.

Even the mission President likes my Mission of Zion Game, and there are rumors that it may be used in Zone training sessions in the future... But hey, if my talent can be used to help the missionary work, than I couldn't ask for anything better. :D

For Easter Sunday, we had an awesome church service! We usually have about 60 people in church on Sunday, but yesterday, we had 110 (we have the exact amount because we talked to the ward clerk... ;) )!
After Church, we went over the the O---'s home for dinner. The O---'s are an AWESOME old couple, and they call us missionaries their "sons". Also, there is a part member family living with them, who we have been teaching a lot recently. Sister W--- is the mom. She hasn't been to church since she was a teenager and she just divorced her husband. 

It was a big mess, and we missionaries did the best that we could to help out. She has a 15 year old daughter, C---, who has not been baptized, and has never been inside an LDS church.

So, at the O---'s home, we had quite the party! In addition to the O---'s, us missionaries, and the W---'s, C---'s friend L--- was there too. We had a HUGE feast with a full turkey and everything else you could think of, and then we played piano, laughed, joked, and sang together for hours! After that, we missionaries taught a lesson about Jesus Christ and his teachings, said goodnight, and headed home.

A St. Marie's sunset

I can't tell you all how much I love this work. I'm a missionary, a representative of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and I am so happy to be a part of this wonderful work. 

I KNOW that the Lord lives. I know that Jesus Christ took upon himself all of the pains and sins of the world. I know that this Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, is God's Kingdom here upon the Earth.

I love my Savior, and I love all of you.

Smell ya later,
-Elder Keppner