I couldn't sleep last night. Elder West says it was probably anxiety for what was to come. I had pretty much convinced myself that I wasn't going home until I had passed certain checkpoints - there always seemed to be another checkpoint. Zach's baptism was the last one that was to come to pass on Sunday night. When that was done, I felt a strange emptiness. Time has seemed to mean nothing over my mission. I'm not sure anymore if it felt like 2 years or not. It's definitely been a while. But maybe it hasn't felt like 2 years.
Aaron's baptism went really well on Friday. It was so well attended that we thought it better to have the service in the chapel instead of the Relief Society Room. It was also so well attended that the service tended to be a bit noisy, there were young kids in attendance and I was nervous that Aaron's nonmember relatives that came wouldn't have a spiritual experience. I was so worried about that one fact that it probably blurred my vision of what was important, I was definitely not in the right mindset. But all that changed after the baptism happened. Because we were having stake conference that Sunday, our Bishop had suggested that we do the confirmation at the baptismal service. As all the Melchizedek Priesthood holders laid their hands on Aaron's head, his future father-in-law (the father of his fiancé Kelsey) gave one of the most powerful prayers I had ever heard uttered for a confirmation. You could literally feel the Spirit and the love that this family had for Aaron. I think he felt it too.
Zach's baptism couldn't have been anymore perfect. Although a smaller group had congregated for his service, the love was definitely there. He asked Elder West and I to give the baptism and holy ghost talks. I was surprised because I thought for sure he would have been sick of hearing from me by now. So after his baptism I spoke about the unspeakable gift of the Holy Ghost, how it is a foretaste of eternal joy and a promise of eternal life. I spoke of how he would need to continue to "receive the Holy Ghost" throughout his life. I spoke of how we are entitled to receive it as a constant companion but that it will come as he would humbly ask, seek and knock. The Holy Ghost will not always strive with us and sometimes it may be hard to recognize it when it does, but I told him that there was power in such striving, that the central purpose of this life is to seek for lasting joy, which the Holy Ghost helps us find. I reminded him of a comment he made in one of our appointments where he told us that Becky (his wife) was different than the others growing up and there was a light inside of her. I told him that as he would faithfully keep the covenants he had made and follow the Holy Ghost, that light would also be in him.
It's been such an amazing week filled with all kinds of spiritual highs. It's made it very difficult to leave this area because I am leaving so many people that have become like family to me. I know that there are great trials ahead but also great joys. But I know that as I apply my own advice to keep my covenants and strive to follow the Holy Ghost, God will always be there with me for he has promised, "there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up." (D&C 84:88) And He always keeps His promises.
See you all on Wednesday.
Love (for the last time),
Elder Low
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