L: Einsiedeln; M: Diana, E.Evans, Naeide, Charlotte, E. Jensen; R: Charlotte & Elder Evans.



MARCH 15, 2009 SUNDAY

First, since Roxsan asked, we’ll describe the object lesson with the tea bag. We wondered how long it would take for someone to get curious enough to ask. We kind of wanted to keep it a secret so we could do it when we get home, but by then we’d probably forget about it. Brother Martin caught me at Church today and said he had to give the lesson on hope and faith next week in High Priest Group. He asked if I would demonstrate the object lesson for part of his lesson. Okay, here it is. You need to find a tea bag that will work; not all tea bags are created the same. It also has to be the kind that when you unstaple the ends, it forms a long tube and not the kind that is a square or rectangle. So, you unstaple the ends, dump out the tea and form the tube. Next, you balance it on the palm of your hand and then light the end on fire with a match. It burns down rather quickly and as it nears the palm, it gets rather warm. Just when it almost becomes unbearable, the whole thing takes off into the air because of the updraft caused by the burning. When it works, it’s impressive. Before you do the demo, you need to give the lesson on faith. We used the following scriptures: Hebrews 11:1, Alma 32:21, 2 Cor. 5:7, D&C 8:10 and lastly D&C 64:20 which states that we won’t be tempted beyond what we can endure. The last scripture was written about Isaac Morley, but we are taught to liken the scriptures unto ourselves so insert your’s or someone else’s name in there. So if you have the faith and know that you won’t be tempted beyond what you can endure, then comes the lighting the tea bag and enduring to the end. Hopefully it all works out. Good luck!

We attended the mission correlation meeting and the other meetings this morning. We had been trying to visit a less-active member almost ever since we first got here and never have found him home. We’ve left notes and on his birthday, a present/card. His mother told us this morning he doesn’t want us to bother him anymore. Evidently he’s been home when we’ve tried to visit him, but he won’t answer the door. However, there were some members in Sacrament meeting today who don’t come very often and at least one investigator. We tried to get around to say hello to all of them and then we hurried home to fix lunch for the four missionaries, Naeide and Charlotte. Charlotte is getting baptized this evening at 6:00. We fixed Roxsan’s scalloped/ham potatoes along with a salad, buttered corn, bread and tapioca for dessert. We had already pre-cooked the potatoes and tapioca pudding, so it all went rather quickly. We had a great time and it was all delicious, but the real dessert was coming at 6:00. While everything was going on, Diana enlisted the help of Naeide to mix up some brownies for the baptism tonight. Soon everyone had to leave and we were left to finish tidying things up and get the brownies ready for tonight. We beat up a envelop of chocolate powder pudding/icing and spread it on the brownies which makes them very good.

The primary room was packed for the baptism, filled to the brim with members, missionaries, investigators and quite a few of Charlotte’s non-member friends. She has great friends who support her even though they think it’s odd not to be able to drink coffee, tea or alcohol. The baptismal service was very spiritual as is the case when participating in a sacred ordinance where one makes a covenant with the Lord. At the end Charlotte expressed her thanks to everyone and shared her conversion story. The family home evening group sang a hymn as a surprise for Charlotte and I was asked to be a witness for the baptism. When the service was over there were refreshments that were really good.