This week was so good! We had a baptism out in globe. We have been
teaching this man since the first transfer I got here. The program for
the baptism went very smoothly. Because of the fact that he has stage
4 prostate cancer and his age he couldn't walk or stand by himself. So
we needed 4 people to help walk him to the stairs (his wheelchair was
too big to go through the doors and bathroom) so we put our arms under
his armpit and carried him to the font entrance, because of how tight
the entrance to the font was and he couldn't go down sideways, we put
him in a metal chair and there was only enough room for two carrying
him to go down the two sets of stair with 4 steps. The ward mission
leader was one of the four and he carried his catheter bag the whole
time. So after 10 minutes we get him into the font move the chair out
of the way and all four of us needed to help get him submerged under
the water and lift him back up. Elder Jackson performed the ordinance,
we got him down and back up and all of his family and all the many
people who we didn't expect to show up waved at him and did I love you
In sign language to him as they were closing he font doors. Then we
carried him back out again. After he said he felt happy and good and
peaceful. Then because he isn't physically capable of going to church
we got permission to confirm him a member of the church directly
afterwards. This man who got baptized, part of his family told him he
didn't have to do it if he didn't want to, but he insisted. He really
wants to be able to be sealed to his wife and to live with here for
the rest of eternity. This baptism was very very touching to us and
all who came. The spirit was so strong there. Can you imagine being 83
years old, having stage 4 cancer and having all this pain through your
whole body and making the decision to be baptized? This man showed a
lot of faith. Imagine watching an 83 year old man with 3 missionaries
helping and one ward mission leader who is holding your dads,
husbands, friends catheter bag be baptized? Imagine the spirit that
was there. It was a huge testimony builder to me.
Thanks for all you all do. Have a great week
Love you all
Elder Stotts
Arizona Mesa Mission
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