Of Baptisms and Costume Parties

Guten Tag!

I've now resorted to using German in my introduction. The price one

pays for originality...

Anywho, this week was AWESOME! Last Monday we had Zone activity, which

was a Thanksgiving feast/costume party/games and socializing thing.

For my costume, I ripped holes in some trash bags, put a baseball cap

on backwards, and told everyone that I was "white trash" (picture

coming in separate email). Everyone thought it was pretty hilarious!

On Tuesday, we had the opportunity to go to the temple and perform

baptisms/confirmations/initiatories for the dead. It was awesome

because it meant that we were given time to find our own family names

and take them to the temple. Which is super awesome!

Friday night, the Laurel Ward had a Halloween party so my roommates

and I, in order to be in costume but not change out of proselyting

clothes, got some face paint and messed around with that. I made

myself look super old, Elder Hill was the Joker, Elder Bentley made it

look like he was from the band Kiss, and Elder Archibald with this

weird doll thing. (Again, picture in separate email). The party was

quite fun!

Saturday (which was Halloween proper), we had to be in our apartment

by 5 and couldn't leave. So we basically spent the day talking,

playing card games, and vegging. Also we moved our clocks back an hour

for Daylight Savings Time (which for someone born and raised in

Arizona is a foreign and rather silly concept... Oh well, it meant

that we got an extra hour of sleep, so that was nice).

However, the reason this week was so wonderful is that on Sunday,

LUCIE WAS BAPTIZED!!! It was such an amazing experience! The Spirit

was so powerful, as in, it was impossible for someone who was there to

NOT feel it! It was nothing short of wonderful! Her son, Ismael REALLY

wants to be baptized as well, and he is already pretty much a member

in all but having been baptized and confirmed (he's even planning on

serving a mission when he turns 18). Unfortunately, his dad doesn't

want him to be baptized at the present time... We are hoping that his

heart will be softened though and he'll let Ismael be baptized.

(Baptism picture also forthcoming).

Later that evening, we went to the mission home for an English Family

Home Evening for missionaries and their investigators/recent converts.

So we had a family take Lucie and Ismael up to it, and it was super

good and gave a great message about enjoying, rather than enduring, to

the end. Also, while there, Sister Cooke asked me to sing at

November's "Why I Believe" fireside at the Visitor's Center on

November 15th, which I'm SUPER excited to be able to do! I love being

able to share my testimony of the Gospel through music!

Well that's all from me for this week! I love you all! Have a great week!

Sincerely,

Elder Sam Williams

Washington DC North Mission

11700 Falls Road

Potomac, Maryland 20854-2823