"If you push the wrong button, it will explode and you will die......i'm not joking."

first things first..... BILL AND ELEANOR GOT BAPTISED!!!! it was such an incredible experience.  I loved being able to be a part of it.  It was such a spiritual service.  everything went smoothly.  loads of people came to support, and you could see the joy on their faces.  

Bill and his wife Caren and our ward mission leader, Brother D... (he is amazing) 

Eleanor is the cutest dang thing in the world

but BEFORE it all went so great, Sister Jacobsmeyer and I were there filling up the font a few hours before, and the hot water was not working. so we called the guy in charge, and he starts to give us instructions for the boiler, and then says the subject line quote, "If you push the wrong button, it will explode and you will die......I'm not joking."  ..... and the scary part. he wasn't joking.  Kinda freaking out we go in and push the button he told us, all of a sudden it starts to make this whrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr sound (kinda like a wookie) we both jumped so high! but since I am emailing you obviously.... it did not explode. but it was pretty dang scary.  

Eleanor is the cutest dang thing in the world. honestly if you met her you just want to pick her up and give her a squeeze.  she has more faith than the world put together.  she just wants to follow Jesus Christ and do what is right.  She was beaming on her baptism day. 

Bill is one of my favourite people I have met here on the mission.  He acts all big and tough and grumpy, but he has a heart of gold.  he is so genuinely kind and such a big teddy bear.  

With the baptisms, both of them are not so great with their motor skills.  It was very touching to see their complete faith and trust in the person that was baptising them to be able to lower them into the water and then help them to straighten back up.  I was a bit nervous for both of them, but they went off without a hitch! They are such great examples that no one is every too old to change.  We hear the excuse a lot that I am too old and set in my ways and can't change.  Not true.  you can never be too old to follow our Saviour.  so many times in the scriptures he beckons the old and the young to come unto Him. 

 and lately I have been thinking about this in relation to other things outside of the gospel as well!  people think that if you have not been doing something since you were young, that there is no use starting later in life. why the heck not? that is why we are here to learn and to grow. so if you want to start a hobby or skill just go for it! if you want to learn to play the piano, do it! if you want to start painting or sewing, or a new sport, why not! just because you won't be an expert in it, and there may be people younger and better than you, does not mean anything. swallow your pride and have some fun. so i have a long list of things i want to learn and and do when I get home! :) dust off the banjo dad because that is on the list.   

there were fireworks going off last night! not quite sure why, but we figured obviously it was in celebration for Barry and Eliza's baptism and confirmation.  

I got to go to norwich this week, and it is so beautiful there. so much posh shopping and such old buildings.  the history and culture here in England amazes me everyday.  

because of the sensitiveness of the situation i won't go into detail, but this week I realised a big lesson that I have learned on my mission is to let things go.  Pride really is a root of all evil.  It says such great things about someone's character if they are able to just let things go.  Even if they are not wrong, to just say I am sorry, what can we do to resolve this and move forward.  It does nothing arguing back and forth, trying to get the last word in.  Not worth it. 

Miracle that happened this week.  On thursday, it poured. i mean the sky opened and buckets of water came down on us, and all of our appointments canceled or postponed, and our backup plans also fell through so we were unsure what to do.  just a bit after everything fell through, we get a phone call from a lady named Patty.  She called and said that she used to see the missionaries about 4 years ago, and she used to help them out with lifts and stuff, and she was just calling to see if there was anything she could do to help us..............  miracle from heaven just fell into our lap!  we went over to her house that night and met with her and her 14 year old daughter Lisa.  we had a great lesson, and they came to the baptism and to church on Sunday!  She loves the church and the standards it has and the programs it has for the youth and members. it is brilliant how Heavenly Father knows our lives and He knows when the timing is right for each one of us.  4 years later with different experiences and situations, and now she and her daughter are ready to accept and live the gospel.  

i wish i could send a video of the raining pic. made us quite the little jingle to the beat of the thunder. and of course the bus was 30 mins late. i was over hiding under a little bush thing trying to stay dry. didn't work. 

This week was another brilliant beyond brilliant week.  I can't believe next week is transfers. we have no idea what is going on. there are about a million and one ways he could move us, because we can't both stay together because we are both leaving next transfer..... but we would love to stay together.  we keep asking President Jordan what is going on, but he is not giving us anything! 

oh well whatever happens is going to be great! because missionary work is the best gig in the world. we get to go around meeting new people from all over the world with different experiences and situations, and we get to share the gospel with them.  The thing that brings me the most joy and perspective, and I get to tell people about it all day everyday.  AND I happen to be serving in the most incredible place. London. lets be real. I never want to leave!         but i do miss and love you! have a great week! :)  Rachel