Surprise Birthday and Learning from Investigators

Ian's surprise birthday cake! (Thanks to MissionaryMom's!)

"I love you!" We love you too Elder Nessen!!!

Well, there have been many things going on in the last couple of weeks. Some of them more interesting than others. Since the last time I wrote I've recieved a wonderful birthday gift (my mom can tell you about that one) and had the opportunity to baptize another investigator! And I've learned some things from past investigators.

Last Saturday I was able to baptise a young girl by the name of Jennifer, she was taught by a few missionaries in the past, including me. It was a rocky road to the finish but by the time she was ready to enter the waters of baptism she was beaming and radiated with the testimony of her Lord Jesus Christ. It was beautiful to see and I enjoyed being able to see her and the family in a loving embrace. It was wonderful to be able to see this young girl from such humble circumstances raised up in the spirit of the Lord!

While I was in Lake Wales I was able to meet the Elders there and some of the members, and I was shocked to hear that one of the boys I baptized, Cameron (one of the brothers), had actually been in a fight and shot someone. Unfortunately I did not have the means to be able to visit him, so I hope he is doing well.

Another investigator that I baptized actually sent me a letter for my birthday (Elizabeth), she says that she is very strong and well in the church and she loves the ward she is in. She said she took a trip to the Salt Lake Temple and looks forward to being able to seeing others as well. She by far has made some of the greatest improvement I have ever seen in any person so far in my mission, and I hope that her testimony of the truth of the Savior and the prophet Joseph Smith profit her greatly!

uh oh, I'm running out of time, but I'd like to make a quick shoutout to those people with birthdays again!

Happy Birthday to:

Diego Rodriguez

Zak Knowles

Shawna Salamanopoulus

Troy

Bishop Blackham

Jasmine Thompson

Collin Yoshinaga

Jacob Greenland

Mike Montandon

and Grey Montandon (congrats on the mission!)

~Elder Nessen