Baptisms!!!

Hello everyone! It's been an incredible week! We had our first two baptisms yesterday! Oh I love L&G so much. I wish I could describe them, but words don't do justice. They are just such a blessing to be around and I can't wait to be buddies with them for eternity! They were soooo excited to be baptized. And we had an amazing turn out from the ward for their baptism, which is always such a blessing. I really hope that that will encourage the members to be more involved in the work. Member involvement is so necessary for the work. That was such a cool experience though. It's interesting because L&G had been taught by missionaries before us, so they did a lot of the hard work. We were simply blessed by the Lord to be able to be a part of them moving towards baptism. And that gets me to my first lesson for this week:

1. Baptism is SO important! I always knew that. I've learned that since I was a little girl. But I never understood HOW important it is. My goodness, making that covenant and participating in the ordinance of baptism literally starts us on the path toward living with God and our families forever. If baptism by proper authority never occurs (whether in this life or the next), then it is impossible to earn that blessing! What a big humongous step that we get to be a part of people taking. When you help someone move towards baptism, you are doing them a HUGE favor. You don't have to see actually see them get baptized.... maybe it won't happen until 10 years after you meet them. But if you help them out, you played a role in their eternity. Wow. 

2. Okay I actually learned this when I first got to Jersey, but did you know that it is illegal in New Jersey to pump your own gas? They have workers at every gas station that have to pump your gas for you. So weird. It was even more weird when we went to Delaware a few weeks ago for a meeting and we had to pump our own gas again haha.

3. My companion has taught me by example what it really is to talk to God when I pray. She honestly talks to Him. Like, the tone of her voice is as though she's talking to us or to her best friend. And she tells Him exactly what she's feeling. That's really cool. I've also learned that my whole life, and I've taught it to many people. I think that I did a decent job, but it hasn't been until now that I realize that I really can just talk. Really.

4. I've been so bad about sharing "purple book" things with you. Here's one: we were at a meal with some members and the husband called on "Sister G" to give the blessing. He was calling Sister Jensen... 

Also, when people need to ask you a question: "I need to aks you a question." And the famous way of saying "water": "Do you want a cup of wooder?" 

Sister Seely has already started saying "aks" on accident.....I really hope I come home with proper grammar!

5. I love teaching teenagers!!! We gave a youth fireside last night with the youth in our ward. Oh man, I felt like I was right at home again. 

Things are going really well. We're still working with a lot of investigators and less active members and we're kept busy all the time. I love being out here. The Church is True!

Love, Sister Ricks

We got to play with horses at a members' house

An awesome member that we're working with, Sister B

Anybody heard of Flat Stanley? My nephew asked me to take Flat Stanley on adventures and take pictures with him. He's helping fill the baptismal font for our first baptism!

L & G got baptized yesterday!!

Fall in the east!

Me and Sister Seely loving the fall!