March 24, 1996 (Sunday)
Wow, we had quite the experience in Patchogue today. Not, one of the girls got baptized, they both did. One was at church and then the other changed her mind that morning not to. So, Jepson and Harr went and picked her up and she came reluctantly. Still not wanting to get baptized. So, her mom told her if she didn’t she would be grounded for a month. So she got baptized. It was bad she was out of control. All the members started saying she was possessed by the spirit of the devil (diablo). After she was baptized, she was jumping in and out of the font, making a lot of noise. It was bad.
Gisela and Guiliana and Marella were all so surprised to see us. It was so cool and it made me feel so good. I guess the fruits of the labor. My soul was filled with joy. (We baptized Gisela and Guiliana when I was in the area)… Our work with the Cruz family has been difficult. It did give me hope I’m on fire again. Things are feeling so good. The long island railroad was pretty cool too. The walk to the church would have been long if a member hadn’t seen us and given us a ride. I knew someone would…
March 25, 1996
Zone Conference was way cool. President Bailey got up and just read about spiritual experiences that people have had. He read mine. I got kind of embarrassed. I kind of didn’t want him to. It was all right though. Thank goodness. Nobody said anything to me about it. I like it that way.
Elder Erickson came with us on a split today. I was impressed with him. He reminded me of being in Bushwick. I felt like I had lost the fire I had when I was there… I want it back… We’re going to rip it up. Things feel as though they’re going to change. Erickson talked to the branch president tonight and it was very successful. Everything is straightened out.
One thing really weird about yesterday was that when President Bailey was talking, I fell into a trance (that is how I described it, it was probably more like zoning out) and when I realized it, my consciousness came back. He was surrounded by an aura of light as though his spirit was bursting through the seams of his body. It was truly amazing. I had only seen that on a few people before. Kim and one of my institute teachers, Scott Anderson.
He was talking about pride (and the grapevine)… It will break the mission… (I’m going to leave that conversation there)
I’ve felt myself weak as to these things and my tongue and thoughts speaking about others. I’ve made an effort to fight it. And not tolerate it. I want our mission to succeed. And it will if we do our best in all areas. We’ll take off like a rocket.
My thoughts:
Honestly, I look back on the mission experiences. I realize I could have made better choices at times. I’m only 1/3 through my mission journals. There is more where this came from. I spoke about resisting the temptations of pride and gossip. I’m honestly sure I failed more than once. I hope I have not hurt anyone, and if I have I am sorry.
Whether in the mission or not, pride and gossip can be horribly destructive tools.
Maybe focusing on something greater. I am convinced that our spirits have light. I have seen that light radiating from people when they have been filled with the Holy Ghost. I’m not sure what my lot in life is. But no matter what it is, I want to be worthy to radiate the light of Christ. Worthy of the Holy Ghost. Worthy of being moved upon by the Holy Ghost. Worthy of radiating the light of Christ.
That would be awesome.