Sister Riley Dorrance's California Arcadia Mission: Week 21 - Transfers and a BAPTISM 😄😄😄😄

Pasadena sign because we're in Pasadena.

HOLLA. This week was great.

STEVEN. GOT. BAPTIZED. It was my best day thus far I think. He finally did it and he's worked so so hard for it. But there's more to the story. We had quite an adventure this week. On Thursday, he had his interview with our district leader and he was so ready to be baptized that it wasn't even a worry, and then they came out and told us that he was going to have to move his baptism and I about died on the floor like, "what the heck did you not tell us Steven???" But they were joking so it was all good.

Then the STL's (Sister Training Leader) came over for lunch and that was swell, but after they left sister Allen locked Sister Mecham and I out of the apartment so I had to climb the balcony to get back in. Nothing else to the story, I just thought you all would like to know that I climbed onto a balcony in a skirt and didn't even get it dirty.

Alrighty, now on Friday, we cleaned the office, but on Saturday is where it really gets crazy. We had made programs and everything, we had cut little cards so everyone could write him a little note while he was getting dressed, we had done everything, but we were stressed out. So we were at our dinner appointment that we already were rushing because we had to get to the church and we knew that transfer calls would come that night but we weren't even thinking about that because we were hyper focused on getting Steven baptized. But then. It happened. We got a call from President Wells in the middle of dinner and we said "well shoot, he never calls unless it's important so we had better answer this" and went into this strangers bedroom to take this call. That's where he dropped the bomb on us, Sister Allen was getting transferred to be a Sister Training Leader in LaVerne, and I wad going to train a sister straight from the MTC. No tears were shed, but we both had to sit down for a little bit after that phone call. Yes, you read it right, little old newbie me is going to be training so pray really hard for me. And sister Allen because she's nervous too.

But then we went to the baptism. And we were running around like chickens with out heads cut off and our pianist didn't show up and Steven forgot extra underclothes, but Brother Whalen (the one who baptized him) came in clutch and went to his house for him and brought his non-member mom back too! Blessings! She was so proud of his decision and so were we! Plus I'm positive that Heavenly Father was super happy about it as well. Even though we started super late, we had to use sister Mecham as a pianist, and brother Whalen had to baptize him twice because he did it the wrong the first time, he was BAPTIZED! I'd never been to a baptism for an adult and it was the most peaceful feeling ever. Then that same spirit came back into the room when he was confirmed a member the next day. I can't even express how amazing this work is and how happy I am to be here!

Anyway, I won't make this super duper long, but this week was definitely one for the books.

Don't forget to read your scriptures!

Love, Sister Dorrance