A baptism and a transfer

This week has by far been the most eventful week with the biggest ups and downs yet.

Monday after pday I'm not sure what happened all that much - I can't remember. Must not have been anything eventful. 

Tuesday we had an appointment with shellie where we just made sure she was extremely ready to be baptized and then we just answered some of her questions and concerns for a while after that. Its always a good time when we go over there. That night we also had English classes where we had the most attendance we've had so that was cool, plus we went on exchanges with the zone leaders and I stayed in this area again.

Wednesday I was with the zone leader so I was in charge again, I went door knocking in the morning but struck out on all of them. Then in the afternoon we went to see some people and got in at all of them plus we went to see a new member family that moved into the apartment complex a couple doors down from us.

Thursday we exchanged back for about an hour while we had a Spanish meeting with the Columbia Spanish missionaries and the new Spanish senior couple. Then we exchanged with the Columbia Spanish zls where I was finally moving areas. We went over to a family that was getting baptized Saturday and did some finding at a real Mexican restaurant but no one was there. We also made cookies to give to their neighbors in order to light the world.

Friday we finished making the cookies then exchanged back. Then in the evening we went to visit some members and made the baptismal program. This was also the day that I found out that I was getting transferred.

Saturday was by far the best day so far on the mission. We woke up early in the morning to set up a stand in the flea market where we would give out free hot chocolate, had a kids crafts table, and had cards for people to write a nice note to someone. Unfortunately it was 35 degrees out, and with the humidity it feels so much colder, so we were freezing the entire time, but we did give out 5 gallons of hot chocolate and had a lot of people write notes so it was a good time that was spent with all our district. Then after that we went home and chilled there for a while until we remembered that we forgot to fill up the baptismal font, so we had to rush to the church and start filling it, and we were super stressed because the water was freezing cold and not filling fast enough, but then we said a lot of prayers and decided to let it be for a while, then once we came back it was full and nice and warm, which was an absolute miracle, and we thanked and praised Jesus after that. After the people had shown up late (typical Hispanic culture) and I first laid my eyes on shellie I had felt more excited and at peace then I have in a long time. She looked so excited to be getting baptized and taking a step in the right direction. After we all sat down to start, we had the first prayer by Presidente Acosta, then we sang el bautismo, then we heard a talk by hermana eillien which was super good. Then we had the baptismal service where the spirit was felt so strongly, then I gave a talk on the holy ghost which I thought went okay. Then we heard a musical number by yesseni caretto a little primary girl who sang I like to look for rainbows. Which was really awesome. Then we heard some last words from presidente Acosta about how today was shellie's day and how everything from this point on will be feeling better as you strive to be more like christ. During this talk I felt the spirit more so then I ever have in my entire life ever. It was as if the air was thick because of how prominent the spirit was in that room. Then we had a closing prayer from Hermana lizhet who nearly fainted from saying it but did a really good job. Then that was all with the baptism. That night we went over to their house to have a bunch of tamales that they cooked for celebration. We were their with the hermanas (Daniels and Jones) and the Irmo elders (Smith and Michaelis) plus Pedro a recent convert where we had some of the best times that I have ever had in my entire life. We laughed all night super hard and played some games and we all were ourselves that night which felt super good, it was a great de-stresser since I had a lot of stress since I am being transferred this week. Out of anyone that I am going gracias to miss on my mission I am positive that I am going to miss shellie and lizhet more than anyone one else. Which is why I am so sad that I will be leaving so soon.

Sunday was not so good of a day. We went to church and waited for shellie to show up, but she never did. So she was unable to get confirmed, which made us feel terrible and everything because the baptism is now incomplete. So we have to wait until next Sunday to complete it when I won't be here. But it's all right, as long as it gets done is all I care about. Then after church we had a good lesson with someone that I found while I was on exchanges another time, then we went to a members home with the hermanas in our ward and had a blast there, which made me feel a lot better. Sunday night we found out where all the Spanish elders were going except for two, me and another. So now it's up in the air that I could be going to Charleston (most likely option) or up in Greenville in a zebra (a Spanish and an English missionary). So we'll see what happens. 

Today we finished our Christmas skit video with our district which was super fun and funny. Then we played basketball up until around now. 

That is all, my address will change so if you send me Christmas packages make sure you send them to the mission office. 

Love y all 

Elder Bertoch 

Here are a couple of pictures of Shellie:

Here's another photo he sent