August 8th, 2011

Family,

This week was a great one. We had a successful baptism on Saturday, everything went as planned. We now of a new member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. His story is an interesting one, thus I will share it with you.

As a young kid, this brother was conscripted into the Columbian army (or resistance, I`m not sure what side he was on, and I don`t think he`s sure either.) All he knows, is that if he was to survive and protect his family, he had to fight. His father was a pastor back in Columbia, but unfortunately he found only doubt and confusion from his father. He`s searched for peace, for truth longer than I`ve been alive, and he`s visited more churches than I have years, looking for truth. His conversion to the Gospel of Christ was not an easy thing. His wife is a member who introduced him into the church and he has been deeply investigating for 3 years. In Elder`s quorum he bore his testimony.

"I am here. I`ve searched everywhere, all the churches. My father was a preacher back in my country, didn`t fit. I`ve known this church for 3 years and I`ve had over 20 missionaries at my house, and they have all tried to baptize me. I said no every time. Then I got here, (in mascouche) and the second I saw (the elders), it hit me. Before (elder Holm) said anything, before I said anything-I knew that I needed to be baptized. Thank you elders, you were the ones."

Now I must explain how we met. We wet at the ward Ball. Elder McRoberts and I had volunteered to help because we thought it would be a formal ball. Nah. There was lots of normal, american music and lots of lights flashing and very much like a high school dance. Elder McRoberts and I were taking pictures for the ward, and I snapped a picture of this man, then shook his hand. In the music, and with his accent, I thought that he was already a member, and that day he had told me "I want to be baptized now, I`m ready"
I misheard him and thought he said "I was baptized a while ago." So I said, "Oh, hey that`s cool!" and walked off. What a terribly funny situation.

Thank goodness for repentance and the fact that when we are living worthily, our very prescence can communicate the message to the people we need to touch in any situation. Missionaries have special callings, and people recognize this. I taught this man nothing, but in this situation I just needed to BE there, with Elder McRoberts. And that sufficed. God uses us in any way he can, and sometimes all he needs is our prescence. Remember, we sparkle.

Sorry I can`t write back to Chandler and Noah, I have no time. Someone tell Hayden to send his letter to me as well. And if you share this letter, please change the names and be careful with the information. Canadians have internet too.

Peace be the Journey,

Elder Holm

P.S.

The family of our newest member used to be the official cooks for the President of Honduras. We be eating good over here!