2 More

Another week of baptisms. This week we were able to baptize Dante, a young man from a part member family. The baptism was very quiet, reverent, and supportive. Many of the youth in the ward came. He was found two weeks ago and had been to church many times in the past. He really wanted to be baptized and become involved in the Youth Groups. Since I've been here we have added 5 young men to the youth program. The ward LOVES having all young men pass the sacrament again. It's really enjoyable seeing the ward grow and the fruits of our labors becoming more and more apparent. I have learned that in order to become successful in an area you have to continue to practice humility and rely on the Lord.

The next baptism was Anthony Vanhorn, who I taught 15 months ago in the Jovita Creek ward. He couldn't get baptized until he was 18 and I was able to be here when he made that turning point. His baptism was the most powerful and emotional service I have ever been too. The room was PACKED with 60+ people and everyone was so anxious and excited to finally see Anthony be baptized. He has been waiting so long and often said, "I can't wait to be baptized!.. 48 more days, 22 more days, 76 hours, 4 1/2 hours!!" My favorite line was, "I can't wait to wear that badge on my chest." As he stepped into the font with his best friend Jordan Grisham, you could see the realization in his face that he was actually here, making this step he has waited so long for. Everyone in the room was silently sobbing and you could feel the strongest presence in the room. Bishop Bennion from the Jovita Creek Ward is going to be a huge blessing to Anthony. This ward is going to be blessed because of this one person. He has already been asked to speak at Stake Conference and was ordained to the priesthood. Next week he will have the privilege of blessing the sacrament. I love seeing the conversion in people's eyes and the sacrifices others make to become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He had no family support at his baptism.

I often reflect back on my opportunities and the childhood I had. I am so excited I made this decision to come on a mission. I understand so clearly why we areencouraged so strongly to serve. This is a life changing circumstance and my entire perspective of what matters most has changed dramatically. You begin to see things for what they really are, and treasure the important things in life. Thank you everyone for being supportive on my decision to serve a full-time mission.

Love,

Elder Bottema

Miracle

First off, God must have put Elder Bunton and I together for a very specific reason in order to serve as the Assistants for 3 transfers together. As of 30 min ago we changed our transfer scenario to keep Elder Bunton and I together to continue serving as the Assistants in the Federal Way Ward in the Seattle Washington Mission. This hasn't happened since this mission split in 2001. 25% of our mission will be serving together. One transfer in Seattle North and three in Federal Way. We are learning so much about decision making, church administration, and ministering. It is so stressful, hard, and complicated and there's no way to understand the calling we have unless you have experienced it yourself; but it is all worth it!

I have the greatest spiritual revelation come to me, many times in the night and I have begun to experience dreams. I am now keeping a sleep pad (Dream journal) by my bed. I feel so worthy right now and the cleanest I've felt. I have overcome temptations that burdened me in the past, I have developed a true and sincere desire to bring others into God's family. I love it all. It's hard... but completely worth it.

Here is our miracle of the week:

We had two people on-date for baptism this weekend, Katy and Nene, both Mashallese individuals. On Wednesday they fell off date and couldn't meet their goal. We were devastated and talked it over in our companionship studies and our long drives to Bellevue trying to figure out who we could baptize this weekend. We then went and visited another family who are pleasant to the missionaries but have little desire to change or become members. However, they had a child who could be baptized this weekend and they admire the church primary program.

So on Thursday, April 14, 2011 we started planning for this baptism on Saturday at 4:00pm. Everything was going as planned, the members were supportive, on board, and we taught the remainder of the lessons so he could pass his baptismal interview. So we come to find out 10 min before the baptism that our child is not 8, he is 7. He turns 8 in June! The service is set to go, the font filled, our district there with all their investigators... and no baptism. We were devastated, felt embarrassed, and didn't know what to do.

After cleaning up the service and looking at our plans for the rest of the evening we went to Tine and Tiah's home, our recent converts who were baptized in March. After teaching one of their family members Kalani, who will be baptized on April 30th, Tine asked us a question. "How soon can you plan baptismal services?" We explained to her that we could plan them immediately. She went on to explain that a mother and son just moved from the capital of the Marshall islands. The son has taken all the missionary lessons and wants to be baptized. We met the son who was 15 (but looks like he's 12) and asked him, "Would you like to be baptized tomorrow at 7:00pm? He said yes and that he was really excited. He speaks very limited English but loves the church and the gospel. What a miracle. We found him at 7:46pm and baptized him at 7:00pm the next day. A 22 hour find, teach, and baptize opportunity. I love this work!
My companion had prayed for a humbling experience that day and boy did we have one, but it lead us to do as Nephi did in 1 Nephi 3. He knew not what he was supposed to do to acquire the plates of brass and after his plan fell through, he followed the direction of the spirit and was able to obtain that which was required of him. We had the same experience. Nikko was our miracle and he expressed the same message to us that we were his miracle.

This work is so rewarding, challenging, and progressive. I feel ready and in charge to do something more and something better. I am so grateful for my companion, my Mission President, his wife, Sister Larkin, and the Lord. We have countless blessings in our lives and if we are struggling to see them, look around and evaluate what you do have and the experiences that have led you to progress. I love this being a missionary! "Wake up and do something more!"

Love,

Elder Bottema

Short Entry

Due to the tragedies in Japan I have the wonderful opportunity to make an Emergency Action Plan. woo. This is very time consuming and needs to be send to Elder Clayton A.S.A.P so I will be doing that for the next two hours. I need to also print off maps for each missionary apartment to a safe haven location (Church building). Thank you Google Maps.

As a recap for this week we put 7 more people on-date for baptism, all in April! =) We had two miracles fall out of heaven and we will be teaching another Marshallese family. I love the Marshallese culture. Everyone we are teaching is Marshallese except for one who is African American. I've determined that Americans are spoiled and have fallen into the celebrity lifestyle of selfishness. These other cultures have two things most Americans often lack - charity & time.

I love you all and thank you for the support. I greatly enjoyed General Conference this week. I guess I'll be getting married sooner than I thought. HAHA - BYU here I come! I am using it for exactly what the stereotype is.

Elder Bottema