What a Week: Bernadette is going to be Baptized, I Turned 20 Years Old, and Passed the Theory Sectio

Hello everyone! The time keeps flying by. I can't believe I turned 20 this past week. I got the best birthday present I could wish for... A miracle! The week in general was a great week. We had a ward fireworks night, I passed my theory test on Wednesday, birthday on Friday, and the miracle on Saturday.

"Remember, remember, the 5th of November". November 5th is called Guy Fox night, or the time when Guy Fox tried to blow up Parliament, and failed. In honour of that, everyone lets off fireworks for the weeks leading up to the 5th of November. We had a ward fireworks night on Tuesday, November 3rd, which included lots of fireworks. The fireworks continued through out the week and to the weekend.

Wednesday was the day that we went to Chelmsford so I could take my theory test, and I passed it! I can now schedule when I will take my driving test to get my full British driving license. My California license is valid for one year here, but I am almost six months into that as well. I cannot believe how fast the time has gone.

Now for the miracle. A few months ago (July 25 to be exact), Elder Seely and I met Bernadette, who was visiting from Ireland. We found her right outside our meetinghouse, and we invited her in for a tour.

Once we were inside, we taught about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. Sadly, we only got to see her one more time before she left to go back to Ireland. We went entered her information online to get the missionaries in Ireland to her, but after months of no contact we decided here that the matter was more urgent, and that the referral should go through the mission office. So on Saturday, we decided we should stop by a place in town centre that has free wifi, to get an email from the mission office that was sent out. I felt I should check Facebook really quick, and what I found was a message and a picture from Bernadette, with all her pamphlets and her Book of Mormon on a table, saying that she has been learning so much from the missionaries there, and she is going to be baptised. When I read this, the joy I felt, and still feel, is indescribable. Immediately a scripture came to mind that I used in my farewell talk. In Alma 36:24 Alma is talking with his son, Helaman, about his experience as a missionary:

"Yea, and from that time even until now, I have labored without ceasing, that I might bring souls unto repentance; that I might bring them to taste of the exceeding joy of which I did taste; that they might also be born of God, and be filled with the Holy Ghost"

I really feel this joy, and I know Bernadette does as well. I had no idea that our simple invitation to come take a look in our meetinghouse would lead to this, and I am so thankful to be able to see how it had changed Bernadette's life for the better.

Upcoming this week we have a Zone Conference with President and Sister Stevens tomorrow, lessons with some new families, and the Clarke's baptismal interviews on Saturday. Should be a busy week!

Cheers!

Elder Ammermon

P.S. The picture is from Flitch Green