3/27/23: Weddings and Bautismos

 Saturday was easily one of the best days of my mission. It was just straight baptisms from the start of the day to the end. 

Our first baptism the day was Amaiza Ovale. She was a reference from Isela the mom of the Coimbra family. Isela had taught her to pray and read her the Book of Mormon. She had been begging Isela to introduce her to the missionaries and take her to church. We went to visit her and she was so excited to meet with us, go to church and be baptized. She was one of the most positive people I had met, despite her difficult life in the past. She comes from a village North of Trinidad called Santa Ana de Yacuma which is pretty infamous for drug trafficking and witchcraft practice, not and ideal place to grow up. At 16, she was forced into a marriage and taken to La Paz against her will. Finally, she made it away from the bad relationships and moved to Santa Cruz. She suffered a stroke that left her paralyzed on her left side and found her way to Trinidad with her current partner Denny Humaza. Despite a large age difference, they help each other a lot. Denny stop drinking heavily because of her good influence and Amaiza slowly learned to walk again with Denny's constant support. Hearing her story made it clear she had been seeking the happiness and peace provided by the gospel but didn't know where to find it. For that reason she accepted so easily every teaching of Christ.

We found out Denny had already been baptized a long time ago in Guayaramerin. He was fully supportive of Amaiza and wanted to return to the church himself. To be baptized they needed to be married legally first, which is unreasonably expensive here in Bolivia, around 500 Bs. But the branch rallied and organized an activity to sell Lorcro, a soup dish, to raise money for their wedding. Denny and Amaiza worked hard for three weeks parking motorcycle and cutting grass to earn the remaining 70 Bs ( about $10). Finally when they had enough money, we went to the notary for the wedding. They were both beaming. Our elders quorum president Gilfredo, gave Denny a white shirt and tie and the relief society president gave her a white dress and they felt all too happy. Later that night we celebrated alongside anouther branch activity, kind of combining the branch fathers's day activity with their wedding celebration. 

The following Saturday we had her baptism, which was a very happy and spiritual day. She said the I was her "padrino",  or godfather, of her wedding and my companion Elder Pratt was the padrino of her baptism. As she born her testimony after, she spoke of how she was a new creature in Christ and how from then on she was a new person because of this conevent. She danced a little and sang a song mid testimony to everyone's surprise but the spirit was very strong none the less.

After we helped the sister missionaries with anouther baptism, anouther recently married couple. That as well was special. And then in the night we had the "Noche Blanca de Primaria" where all the kids in the stake that were primary aged were baptized. We baptized three 9 year old cousins Matias, Sariah and Yulieth alongside others from other wards in the stake. That was special because one of our converts Victor Coimbra baptized after only being a member for 6 weeks. He dutifully memorized the baptismal words and the ordinance with dillegence and though he was nervous, completed the priesthood duty. 

It was a really happy day. And there was lots of miracles leading up to it. It's a beautiful thing to be a part of God's work. I've come to know the Saviou better than ever here in Trinidad. I know he is in this work alongside me and all other missionaries. I feel his love for the chosen and elect children of pur Heavenly Father. I marvel to think he has trusted me to help them make sacred covenants and there's not a better feeling in the world. 

Love you all

Elder Allen