Don's Baptism!!! 🙏 🏻 🌊 🙌 🏻

Hey everyone!!!

Don got baptized this week!! It was so amazing!!! When we were all taking pictures before the baptism, Connie was taking them and she told Don, "this is so unlike you!" and I looked at Don and he had tears in his eyes! And he said "Its finally happening!" It hit me in that moment that I didn't really comprehend how much this meant to him, how much he has fought to learn and get to this point, and how happy he was to finally be receiving this ordinance! He has been waiting a long time for this. It was one of the most beautiful Baptisms I have ever been a part of. Connie's daughters came from out of town to give the talks on Baptism and the Holy Ghost and when they were speaking and I was watching Don's reaction was when I finally understood what why this gospel means so much to Don. It's the same reason that this gospel means so much to so many people. LOVE AND ETERNAL FAMILIES. That's what it comes down to every time. Don and Connie got married on Thursday, and a year from now they will be sealed in the temple. Don has never had children of his own, and I think the Spirit that he felt around Connie and her family is what made him first interested in the gospel. The love and the spirit within their family welcomes him in and one day he will be sealed to them for eternity.

Don is an amazing example, he has so much integrity and is a silent strong example of doing what is right. I'm so grateful for the opportunity I had to teach him (he said I was the missionary he had the longest! 👊🏻)  and the chance I had to meet him and Connie. She is a wonderful example of righteousness and they are so perfect for each other!

One exchanges this week I was with one of my old companions and it was really nice to be with her again, we got to reminisce about our missions and the time we spent together and how much we have grown and changed since then. She made me realize I only have 8 weeks left. Scary. Nothing has made me happier than being out here serving the people I meet in Utah. The picture in this email of the family are Xander, Colten, and Jennifer, and Jen's nephew. Xander is getting baptized this coming week! And Jen is working on going to the temple! From he first moment I met this family I felt like I already knew them. The other pictures are us Contacting a referral in an apartment, and our ward mission leader's kid's after we taught the Plan of Salvation with Legos!

This week was amazing and filled with meeting so many beautiful people. That has been the best part of my whole mission, getting to meet so many of God's beautiful children! It's so amazing to me that we are all one big family, God's family. Don and Connie are part of my family and I will miss them so much. Don is going to be moving in with Connie and she does not live in our area so we will not get to teach him the after baptism lessons. I will miss them so much but I know that I will be able to see them again when I come back, so it will be okay. Haha! I'm so grateful for this gospel because without it I never would have met Don or Connie. I know it's true and I know that through it we can all return to God and live with Him and our families forever.

I love you all so so much and I hope you have an amazing week!!!

Love,

Sister Abby Martinez

Sister Hicksten, Sister Martinez, Connie & Don

Sisters Hicksten & Martinez

Sister Hicksten & Company