Coming into this week, I felt so hopeful and excited to finally see a family that I loved enter the waters of baptism. But as the week developed, I became as the father that approached the Savior saying, “Help Thou my unbelief.” The adversary did not want us to baptize this week, and he caused a lot of chaos. The father of this family had a horrible relapse, throwing his wedding and baptism in severe jeopardy. Between us and the Zone Leaders so many hours were spent in that home, praying, trying to be there for moral support. We were so terrified that relapsing would send him even farther away.

I did not understand, how in the moments when I was trying my hardest to be obedient and have the spirit that so many things would happen, just when things were turning for the better. My heart broke in two when I realized that he had relapsed, I felt betrayed and completely crushed. I was haunted by something that Elder Alonso had said when he came, that if we were not seeing baptisms in our area, that it was our own fault and that we were not using the divine power of the atonement. I don’t think I have ever learned more about the atonement of our Savior, or about the divine grace of our Heavenly Father.

No matter what we studied in our companionship this week, it always lead back to that, grace. The more that I learn, the more I realize that I don’t know anything. But I know that as I try to understand more, and try to help others understand that I am filled with so much peace and love and hope that things will all work out in the end.

And when I thought that the week could not get any darker, the Lord send bright rays of sunshine through the darkness. President Spjut came to the wedding on Saturday the Familia Aguilar got married, they have a set goal for baptism and are determined to fight until they enter the font. Naun, a young man we have been teaching came to us and said that he was ready for baptism, he set the date also for this Saturday and passed his interview with flying colors. This Saturday, there will be three baptisms! We also got a ward mission leader finally! I am just so happy. I cannot contain my joy. It has been such a crazy rollercoaster of emotions but at the end of it all, all is well.

I love this work, I love my companion, I love this area, and I love it all.

Hoorah for Israel!

Love, Hermana Hipol