December 17, 2018 Proving Murphy's Law

Hi all! 

Another good way to sum up this week would have been "Baptism from the Black Lagoon," or according to Hna Ciarlante, "By Heck or High-Water." 

It all started with us having just way too much too do. We had to push Hermano Ramos's baptism back a day to accomodate bishopric schedules, which meant we had to fill the font, teach Gospel Principles, set up the room for the baptism, and give talks all during church. Luckily for us we work in the branch with two Spanish elders, and the two elders from the Palm Springs ward also offered to help. Palm Springs would set up the Relief Society room, and the Agua Elders would watch the font and make sure it finished filling up to be ready right after sacrament. Right before sacrament, Elder Martinez, who'd been feeling unwell for days, took a turn for the worse, but they told one of the other elders to be sure to watch the font for us while they ran to the doctor. 

We left sacrament meeting to find that the room wasn't set up at all. We searched the church for the elders, and boy was Hna Ramos mad! I turned a corner and the first thing I saw was Elder Richardson, looking super apologetic, standing in a tiny lake and holding the biggest mop ever. 

There are several things you should never, never leave unattended; babies, campfires, or baptismal fonts. 

The font had overflowed...to the point that the water ran out of the bathrooms and we were walking through puddles!! Hermana Ramos was hopping mad, but we served the food first which kept everyone occupied while we cleaned up. Problem was, all the dirty water from the floor ran back into the font, meaning we had to drain nearly all of it and fill it up again. Hno Ramos was an absolute saint; he and Hna Ciarlante saw the whole thing as kind of funny. Hna Ciarlante said she hoped it overflowed right as she talked about the importance of baptizing EVERYONE in her talk. Hno just smiled and said something like, "Me gusta más con agua sucio!" 

The brother who was supposed to baptize him showed up late, and then we couldn't find Hermano because after putting on his baptismal suit he figured he'd just chill in the bathroom until it was time. Hermana was upset with us for giving them the "wrong suits," which was confusing because they were the same size? Hno just kept asking when we'd give him his black belt. 

Everyone had refreshments while we got everything cleaned up, and Hno was baptized. It took a couple tries, the water was a little low and his brother was so nervous he kept mispronouncing his name. Also, our witnesses, the Agua Elders, were stuck in the emergency room, so one witness didn't even speak Spanish. Oh-boy. 

It just went on and on! One of the speakers didn't show up, but a bigger problem was that the speakers didn't know they were speaking. Typically, for a convert baptism, we arrange everything, but Hna has been in the ward for years and sent us a list of everything and everyone she wanted involved. We figurded she'd talk to everyone because they were all close family friends. We didn't have a clue she hadn't talked to a single one. Definitely our bad, but man did we get chewed out, in front of everyone, in Spanish. 

Everyone who knows me knows that unfortunately you can read me like a book. I must have looked as stressed as I felt because all the sisters kept coming up to me and giving me these warm-snuggly hugs and telling me how loved I was. Oh dear. 

At the end of it all I turned to Hno Ramos and asked him how he felt. He started to tear up, which is rare for him, and choked out, "Very, very excited." At that moment, none of it mattered. The mess with the font, the program, the embarrassment and blame, and all I could think was how special it was that Hno Ramos is baptised. We spent the earlier part of the week helping him clear out years of beer cans from his shed. He says what he wants more than anything is to make up for lost time--take his grandson to the store, take Hermana to the temple someday (she already has her shoes picked out. They are amazing). 

It's so easy to get caught up in all the frill, but the important thing yesterday was not the tortas or the wet tile or even the impromptu talks, just Hermano and his promise to follow Christ for the rest of his life. He definitely understood that, and I'm grateful for his example. One of the most important things that ever happened was Christ's birth, and that definitely happened in a way no one expected. The Savior of the world was born in a stable, and slept his first night in a manger. Less than perfect, but definitely still special. 

I love you all so much, and if you think you're struggle-bussing a little this week, please remember this little missionary who still has no idea what she's doing, and have a good laugh! 

Love, 

Hermana Hawkes