Baptisms, Repairs, and Ping Pong

Saturday, Aug 11

Because we were up  late and so involved with computer issues, I totally forgot I volunteered to bring some cookies to the baptism today.  I got up early and searched for a recipe online that I had the right ingredients for (I guess it would be more correct if I said “for which I had the right ingredients).  I settled on a lemon drop sugar cookie. 

The mixer that was in the drawer had a note with it:  “This mixer works well.  The speed control is difficult to keep on a particular speed.  One beater does not click into place.  If you have heavy dough, it will get a loud noise.”  All was true, but we got the dough mixed.  Then we played with the oven again.  When the timer goes off, the oven turns off; so you have to figure out the steps of turning it on to cook the next pan of cookies.  We have so much fun here.  

The cookies were still warm in the container when we picked up the sisters to go to Faro for the first of two baptisms. 

The Faro Elders had the first baptism:  Pedro Antonio Souza Queiroz was baptized by Guillerme Silva, son of District President Silva.  Both boys are teenagers and good friends.  The Sisters’ Quartet sang “Paz em Cristo” and were accompanied by Guillerme.  We shared some of the cookies with the Faro Branch.  

(Foto on left:  Pedro Queiroz, his parents, Sisters Restrepo and Enders)

(Foto on right:  Elder Rogers, Guillerme Silva, Pedro Queiroz (his parents), District President Silva, Elder Vigne) 

(Foto below right:  Sister Kelson, Sister Madsen, Sister Egbert, Sister Enders, Sister Restrepo)

There was a break between the two baptisms, so Elder Egbert and I accompanied the Faro Sisters (Enders and Restrepo) to their apartment to assess what was needed to fix a bed.  The slats under the mattress would slip out of place, and the mattress would fall on the floor.  Screws are the answer and will be used after the next baptism.  

While there, the sisters made lunch of rice and beans with pasta with a white sauce.  Sister Enders is vegan, and she was doing the cooking while Sister Restrepo made a limão mousse cake.  Their fan started making a terrible sound, so it was dismantled and put back together.  Elder Egbert can fix almost anything.

We returned to the church and found that the  Loulél baptism was delayed.  When the missionaries stopped to pick up Florinda Laura, she had forgotten and was shopping.  Her daughter said she would bring her to the church as soon as she got home, and they live 1/2 hour away.  We decided to go back to the apartment and fix the bed.

Florinda Laura arrived and was getting dressed when we returned.  I played some prelude while preparations were made.  Florinda is an elderly woman who constantly wears a gray hat.  She wore her hat into the font, but Irmão Silva was able to convince her to remove it so it wouldn’t get wet.

(Foto: Mario Silva, Elder Alder, Daughter of Florinda,                                                  (Florinda and daughter, Elder Heiner     Florinda Laura, Elder Heiner, Elder Buarque)

When the Sisters’ quartet sang “Mais Perto Quero Estár” (Nearer My God to Thee), Florinda joined in with a beautiful, strong voice – and she knew all the words.  Everyone enjoyed her as she enjoyed singing.  Her non-member daughter requested to speak after the baptism and thanked the Elders for teaching her mother (my summary of a lengthy discourse).  Everyone joined in refreshments (lemon cookies and lemon mousse cake).

As I thought of the events of the day, it was confirmed to me that the gospel of Jesus Christ and the worth of every soul is important.  The message is for all people of all ages; all need to come unto Christ.  The first baptism was performed for and by youth; the second was  performed for and by the elderly.

After a drive home and shopping for a new skirt at a store next to the church, we stopped at home for a little bit before heading back to the church for the Branch ping-pong activity.  

There were not a lot of people who came to play games; but those who did had a good time and plenty of hot dogs and pizza.   

And the hot dogs come in a jar!  

Some of our days are full, and the bed looks really good to us as we come back home.