Week 41 Hearing Elder Cook Speak

As September moves on, our Zone continues to focus on the goal we have set of 30 baptisms! This week, we have now reached 13 people with a baptismal date! 3 of those will be getting baptized on the 19th, this Saturday. The Lord is definitely hastening the work!

One of those is Victor Soriano. Over my time here in Columbia, I have seen a drastic change in Victor and the entire Soriano family. At the beginning, they wouldn't answer the door, calls, accept missionaries into their house. They had been less active for a few years. And now, coming to church for the 5th straight time yesterday, they have made so many friends, they call US to set up the appointments, they love everything about the Church and are having an amazing time. Leylani, Victor's 13 year old sister absolutely loves Young Womens. The parents are enjoying their classes and being with their family at church. And this Saturday, 9 year old Victor will now be baptized into the church!

Package from home! Cookies, Cookies and more Cookies....

This week I also got the chance to see quite a few of my good friends from the Frederick Branch. We had a testimony meeting in Baltimore, and many people came from Frederick. Alex and Christina came with their family, and a few other families came, and I got to see them for the first time in a few months. I can not even explain seeing these wondeful people out here, these people that I have become so close with and have become such good friends with! They are all doing so well and staying strong in the church.

Elder Quentin & Mary Cook

Last Saturday we had the amazing opportunity of going to Annapolis to have Elder Quentin L Cook talk with us! It was so amazing! He talked about how important missionary work is, and his wife was an amazing speaker as well. We all got the opportunity to shake his hand, to get to talk to one of the 12 apostles of the Lord. What an incredible privilege! 

Later that same day we had the opporunity to attend the baptism of a new member in the Baltimore Spanish branch. The baptism took place in a river! It was the first baptism I've ever watched in a river, and it was such a cool experience. It was just like watching Jesus Christ and John the Baptist in the Jordan River, the symbolism was even more apparent!

Another miracle that happened this week was that we finally got our car back! After more than a month of walking, biking, and sharing a car, we finally have our car back and that has helped us out so much! It definitely taught us a lot about what it would be like here in Columbia without that car!

Things have been going super well here! This next sunday we will be getting transfer calls! I feel like this could be my last week here in Columbia, but we will see what the Lord desires of me! I'm so excited and so grateful for everything that has happened on my mission. I learned a lot this last week about myself and about standing up for what you believe! Never back down! I love you all, thank you for the support!

 - Elder Leavitt