BIG NEWS!!! Just had my first baptism January 24, 2010. Her name is Daphne. We have been teaching her and her mother for about 2 months I've taught only two lessons and they went great. Daphne is English speaking and her mother Marie is French speaking. Daphne and Marie were suppose to be baptised together but she doesnt want to worship Joseph Smith... Looks like we need to talk a little bit more about who Joseph Smith is and what a Prophet is... But dont fret all things are done on the Lord's time.
French is going alot better now im understanding alot more then I was my first couple of weeks. I hope everything goes well with the family they are in our prayers. Tell Chelsea the doctor told me I tested negative too and then the good doctor poked my appendix and said does that hurt well I think you have appendicitis lets do an MRI of you abdomin. Good thing he finally asked me what hurt and took a look rather than just stupid blood tests.
I have attached pictures of the baptism the group picture from left to right is Sister Woofinden, Elder Hirschi(like the chocolate), Elder Bradford, Daphne, Marie, Myself, and Elder Mezerai. Elder Hirschi and Elder Bradford are the other French speaking Elders who are in the DC North area and I havent met the other 2 French speaking Elders yet. The next picture is of Daphne and I and the next picture is Our roommates and us at the bowling alley for Zone Activity today. From left to right me, Elder Bishop, Elder Mezerai, and Elder Chandler. Elder Bishop and Chandler are English speaking Elders. The last picture is of the whole Zone(Don't even ask me for their names I can barely get half of them)
Anyways I am having alot of fun in the field. Especially all the sirens and people swearing at us. The only thing that keeps me going is knowing that when this is all over I know that I was fighting for the "good guys" Anyways I love you all and will send you another letter next week and dont be scared to write me a letter It gets really boring not having mail to read on P-day.
Love Elder Van Dyke
Also really cool story I forgot to include in my last email. So Yesterday we went and taught a less active member his name is Raymond and the reason he is inactive is his wife passed away 3-4 years ago from cancer. Well I knew he understood English so I broke the French barrier and stopped Elder Mezerai and read him one of my seminary inserts it was a quote from Elder Boyd K. Packer and it was about how we think that we need instant gratification and one of Raymond's problems which he told us was a lot about his wife and how she died but also that when they found out she had cancer that everyone said we will pray for her and keep her in our prayers and then she died so he became inactive and He doesn't believe miracles exist anymore and its mainly because of his Mom who lives with him. She isn't "Mormon" I don't know exactly what she is only that she believes in God and Jesus Christ but she wouldn't shut up about how she doesn't pray for anyone except herself because God wont change his mind and that she also doesn't believe miracles happen anymore well finally I rebuked her and told her that If she isn't praying for anyone but herself she is being selfish and that by only praying for herself those that needed her prayers wont be able to receive those blessings because she is no longer praying for them and finally she was quiet and then I told Raymond about how mom and chelsea both had tumors and that we prayed and fasted for them and the tumors were not positive for cancer and then I told him the story of Uncle Bill and how much he meant to me and that he was suppose to die from cancer before I was even born but that through faith, fasting, and prayer he was able to live a lot longer then he should of and I told him that Uncle Bill taught me a lot of stuff and that because he was able to live longer that I was able to learn those things that I needed to learn from him and that even though I didn't want him to die that I finally realized that for me to not want his to die is selfish of me because one he was suffering and two that even though I love him he is doing 1,000 times greater things on the other side and that I know that he was teaching people on the other side about the Gospel and doing missionary work there. I explained to him that there is no such thing as an accident to God everything happens for a reason I then told him that its sad that his wife is dead now but that she is doing what the Lord needs her to do that She is doing missionary work on the other side we talked some more in French and then we prayed and as we walked out the door I was prompted to ask him I said "Raymond have you been reading your scriptures and saying your prayers every night?" He answered "Yes I have" I then responded "Raymond If you keep reading your scriptures and saying your prayers every night that there is a miracle that is about to happen to you" He then looked me straight in the eye and said "I know what you just said is true... Thank You" Then we left.
It was one of the best lessons I've had the spirit was so strong so long as his mother kept her mouth closed. Anyways send this to everyone and Remember that we all have a strong testimony in the Book of Mormon but have you been reading it? Have you not only been praying for your friends, family and your needs but have you been praying to know that the Book of Mormon is true? Just because God gave you the answer once doesn't mean he wont give it to you again. Its like brushing our teeth if you brush your teeth once and don't do it again will your teeth stay white?(If you answered yes. Email Uncle Larrell and ask his opinion) Ask your Father in Heaven every night every time you read and ask if the Book of Mormon is true.
