Hermana Hilton 2015-2016: Week 28: Exchanges, The ER, and BAPTISM!!!

As you may or may not be able to tell, this week has been yet another fun and crazy adventure. Every day in the mission is such an adventure and you really never have any idea what to expect. I think that is what makes it more fun and NEVER boring! So here are three stories that sum up this week.

1. Exchanges
We had exchanges this week, which is when you switch companions with your leaders for a day. It is so much fun! I was with Hna Belteton in my area this time. We had dinner with a member who had just moved into the ward. She lives in El Reno and I have never been to El Reno before. So off we went to try and find this lady's house. We drove... and drove.... and drove... and drove and there was nothing..... Then I looked down and the dashboard and the gas light was on!!! and we were in the middle of nowhere. And when I mean the middle of nowhere, I mean the middle of nowhere. So not knowing what else to do, we quickly said a prayer that we would be able to make it to a gas station where we could get gas and get directions. And no joke, 2 seconds after we said the prayer we drove over this hill and there was a random gas station out in the middle of nowhere. A direct and imidiate answer to our prayer! It was so cool! We eventually made it to the lady's house and had an awesome time there. It was a lot of fun. We also were able to teach Roberto at a members house on exchanges!!! it was so so so so amazing! there is nothing better than having a lesson with an investigator at a members house! Super awesome lesson! I always love exchanges and I love how it gives me the opportunity to reflect on how far I have come and make goals to improve.

2. The ER
So to start off, yalls need to know that Hna Ryan gets really bad migraines and they last a long time. She finally gave in and decided to go see a doctor on Friday. We went to an urgent care center and this old doctor with an accent (my guess is that he is from Ukraine but really we have no idea) started asking her questions. As he was asking her symptoms something stood out to him... That sometimes her hands will go numb. He said that could be pretty bad... so he had her move her face a bit and then said, "Do you know the left side of your face droops a little?" And then very calmly said, "I think you need to go to the ER right now." We started freaking out!!!!! So we go to the ER and they ask why we were sent there and we tell them what the Doctor at the urgent care told us. The girl behind the desk then starts freaking out and calling people with 'code something' (I don't remember). They were freaking out a little. We are pretty alarmed at this point and ask what's going on and the woman behind the desk says, "They think you're having a stroke." (Spoiler! She was not having a stroke.) So they got her prepped and sent her to a room very quickly. they hooked her up with an IV and a doctor rushed in with a nurse to start asking me questions. This whole time I know that Hna Ryan is freaking out and pooping her pants because she could be dying, so I did the only thing that I know how to do in a situation like that and I tried to make her laugh and keep her hopes up. We took a whole bunch of crazy pictures. Fun fun. The doctor came back and said they needed to do some tests just in case but if she were actually having a stroke he would 'eat his boot'. Pretty funny! The bad news, he said, was that she might have a brain tumor. GAH! Then they sent her up for an MRI. When she came back we waited for results and good news!!! She just had a migraine. This whole adventure started because a crazy urgent care doctor thought that Hna Ryan was having a stroke! Ugh, so crazy. So... That was our adventure for this week, haha! woohooo!!! I am so happy that everything is good and there are no strokes happening or brain tumors , just good old missionary work!!

3. Baptism
I saved the best story for last! ROBERTO GOT BAPTIZED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and it was glorious. Man I don't even know where to start... It was so amazing. The spirit was so strong and he was literally glowing. I don't know how else to explain it. We got to the church about an hour early and there was another baptism going on, so we couldn't really prep the room or anything, so we just hung out for a little bit and the whole time I was going over the list of things to do in my head. over and over and over. A baptism is so amazing, but it is super stressful at the same time. Once we got started everything went so smoothly! Roberto was so excited! In the font Elder Hernandez (Elder Hernandez baptized him) had to literally push his body under the water. It was really funny. But the most important part is that Roberto is baptized and is completely clean of all his sins and can start living his life the way he wants to! So cool. Then on Sunday he received the gift of the Holy Ghost. Man I don't think I realized before how cool it is that we can have this gift and that in reality it is the most precious gift that our father in heaven can give us. As Roberto was walking down from the stand after receiving this gift. He was wiping the tears off of his face. To see a man like Roberto cry is a testimony in itself. We were able to meet with him Sunday night and talk to him. Holy cow. He is on FIRE! He loves it and he is a whole different person. I don't know how to explain it. He is still Roberto, but he is 10 times more happy and he glows and he is always always smiling!!! He is on top of the world right now, and in his words, "nothing can bring me down!!" I am so grateful that I have been able to see this man's journey to baptism and I can't wait to see all the amazing things that he does in the church. I can't wait to come back in a year and get to witness him going through the temple!!!