The blessing of Water.


Five year old Laura asked her Mother: "Mae, why are you going to get baptised?"  Keilla shared  this: "Because when I am baptized I will be part of the family of Jesus!  It made Laura very happy.  Yesterday was such a special day for their family.  We were able to meet Keilla's husband over zoom since he is in Belgium. Laura shares with her daddy everything she is learning from the missionaries.  One day over zoom, she told him that he must quit smoking because it is not a good thing to do.     

I have been thinking alot about the blessing of earthlife and especially about my gratitude for water this week.  As many friends gathered at the church to witness Keilla's baptism, I thought about the symbolism of rebirth that Jesus taught. What a miracle! Coming out of the water with a new and clean heart.  I saw the eyes of Keilla and Laura right after the baptism and felt joy for them. 





I thought about the Sacrament water and what it represents as Renata sat by me during the Sacrament on her first visit to our Church.  I tried to think of it through her eyes as we sang the hymns together.  She took this photo after the meeting and she texted me to say that she will come again next Sunday.
The blessing on the Bread says that we are willing, but the blessing on the water says that we will. 
I love that we each learn step by step.


This week the Ponta Delgada Branch had a fun activity with water.
Is there anyone who doesn't not like a balloon fight? What a great group of young people!


Rebeca and Inez hosted a wonderful afternoon with living water as well.  They will both be leaving on their missions soon and the branch will miss them alot.  They have been so good to us!










Water sustains, maintains, symbolizes, cleans, and can even sanctify as we understand this great gift!  

We are in an ocean 800 miles from Portugal, totally surounded by water.  However, if we do not buy bottled water or boil or filter the water, we could become deathly ill. Just because something may look quenching and appealing...doesn't mean it is.  So we must choose our water carefully.

You know that I love to make soap.  And you've heard me say that "Soap Bubbles are always white!" (only because they are! And "Miracles can only Happen when they can't!" And "you can push through the squish!").  No matter the kind or color or smell or texture or size of the soap, when you add water and scrub, the bubbles are always white.  The thought teaches me about adding repentance to anything we need to change in order to become clean.  Water... Really!  What a Miracle!  Plus, I love the Rain...

PLUS, We Love and Miss ALL of YOU!!!  Make a Great Week!
Love, Grandpa and Grandma



John 4:10-14         John 7:37-38        Jeremiah 2:13        Jeremiah 17:13       Isaiah 12:3       Isaiah 44:3

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