"I did not pee in the font, but Elder Parry and I did shed a few tears"

This past week has been incredible! 

Jack and Yu were able to be Baptized and Confirmed this weekend!

At the Baptism on Saturday, Sister Preece and I sang (per Jack's request), but we were also able to be the witnesses for the baptismal ordinance! It was great to be up so close and to be able to see the joy that they both felt! When Yu came up out of the water he cried and hugged Elder Parry who baptized him. Jack was beaming the whole day Saturday. He was baptized by his friend Art in the ward! Jack also brought Sister Preece and I letters to say thank you for teaching him. It was the sweetest thing and we were both amazed to hear the impact we had on him!

Sunday after both he and Jack had been confirmed, Yu bore powerful testimony that we need to share this knowledge with others! He also cracked a joke (like he always does) during his testimony he said "Art told me not to urinate in the water! I did not pee in the font but Elder Parry and I did shed a few tears!" The whole room went from laughing hysterically to and awee sound. Yu knows how to work a crowd! He continued by talking about how he has only cried three other times in the past six months. The first two were because of tragedies that had happened in the world and the third was the day before he was baptized. He cried for all the people who do not have the knowledge that he now has from the gospel and the love he has gained from the members in our ward!

After receiving the Holy Ghost, I think Jack recognized the Spirit for the first time sitting in that meeting! As he listened to Yu and Elder Parry, who also spoke, he was filled with the Spirit. He said he truly felt the difference! He also talked to us about the love he has felt from the ward members and joy he feels from the knowledge he now has! 

Seeing their joy and the way the Spirit has helped them both has truly strengthened my own conversion! I am so grateful for both of them and their examples of faith and Christ-like love!

TRANSFERS

Jack told us yesterday that the first thing he did that morning before he even opened his eyes was to pray that both Sister Preece and I would stay! 

His prayers were answered and I am grateful for it! 

I am staying in the Santa Barbara YSA ward but I am whitewashing the other set of sisters in the ward. So Sister Preece is training a new missionary and I am getting a new companion, Sister Taupa'ū from samoa! BUT WE BOTH GET TO STAY IN THE WARD!