Elder Haroldsen Takes On Lisbon, Portugal!: #LightTheWorld #Batismo

WHAT UP HOMIES!!!

Well Thanksgiving came and went this week and we ended it hot with a stud baptism! Leandro Lamarosa. I had the privledge of baptizing him and it was such an incredible experience. We are so pumped for him!

Since he is only 17, he is still part of the young men´s program. Our Branch President is super excited to work with the youth because they are the future of the church so he wants to build them up. He has been helping Leandro feel involved and prepared him to be a leader here in Olhão! I was talking with him after the baptism and we made the goal of having Leandro attend the Madrid, Spain temple with the youth of the Algarve zone on the 22nd of December. Leandro is all pumped to go and we started working on some family names with him to take. #MIRACLE!

Saturday was his baptismal interview and he passed with flying colors. That night Elder Lemmon and I were super pumped and talking all about Leandro and how the Lord led us to him. I then was thinking about the temple and Leandro going here in 3 weeks and then this thought came, "What if my mom Flor has been teaching Leandro´s ancestors in the spirit world and she is helping his family prepare to receive their ordinances in the temple just as we were preparing Leandro for his baptism?" Lemmon said whoa.. can you imagine!?

Then during the baptism when I began saying the baptismal prayer I felt the spirit come over me really strong and I knew that his baptism was valid in God´s eyes. The program went really well and at the end Sister Stegeman sang the Portuguese version of "Come Thou Fount" for a special musical number and I felt the spirit SUPER strong. I felt as if my mom was right there excited with me as we sang her favorite song. I was trying to hide my face as I teared up a little bit. At that moment I truly felt that she has been working with Leandros family in the Spirit world. It was incredible! #MIRACLE!

I know that this church is true and it has changed my life. Jesus Christ lives and he can reach out and help each and every one of us if we let him. This week is another week of miracles in the books and I am super excited to find and help a lot more people for the rest of my mission! Thank you all for the support and prayers for us missionaries! Love you all!

Kia Kaha!

Elder Haroldsen