January 21, 2012

Salut,
It was a week full of Romanian madness, and Romanian awesomeness, of course. P was baptized on Tuesday and was confirmed Sunday. The baptism was basically a nightmare, except he got baptized, so that can't be considered a nightmare. When we got to the church, the baptismal font, who always has had hot water, would only spit out cold water. So, we went to work trying to fix the problem. P, who is the ultimate handyman, was determined to find the solution. He went around the entire church looking in every little room for some pipes and valves. We had the main water room, but everything in there was functioning correctly, so the problem was elsewhere. Eventually, P hoisted himself up into the ceiling and started walking around up there and checking the pipes above the font. So, rather than the baptism smoothly starting on time, at 7 o'clock, at that time, the baptismal candidate was walking around in the ceiling banging on pipes with a piece of metal trying to find the hot water pipe. Eventually, we gave up the cause and decided we better just do the baptism in cold water (and it was REALLY cold). So, the baptism started finally after 730. There were only about 10 members there, if that, because it was a weeknight, and the Bishop couldn't come. Sister Wilkey gave a great talk though and so did the 2nd counselor Alban (he's an RM and is 23). Then Elder Buss and I did a musical number where I played a medly of the primary songs 'baptism' and 'when I am baptized' and Elder Buss sang. It was really cool and simple. Then we followed P into the baptismal room. As soon as Elder Buss entered the font, you could see on his face how cold it was. But P just strolled right down into that font and took it like a man haha. While Elder Buss was explaining to P how he was going to baptize him, I had to stop C who was in the middle of filming the baptism on his phone. Then P was baptized and we all went back into the relief society room. There we got to hear P's testimony. I've never heard, and I probably never will hear a crazier/funnier/more awesome testimony. He started off by saying how 16 years ago in Romania he wanted to be baptized, so he went to the Pentacostal pastor and asked to be baptized. The pastor told him his hair was too long (he always has a long braided pony tail) and he couldn't baptize him, and P argued that Jesus had long hair, but the Pastor didn't agree. He also told him he couldn't be vegetarian. So P abandoned that idea. Then a couple months ago he was in the house here in Bordeaux and his mother in law asked him if he went to church. He said no, but that he would look for one. A couple days later, he was at G and V's house, when Elder Buss and Elder Bollero showed up ( we were on exchange that day) and he spoke with them and was interested. Then he explained how we came and taught etc. Then he believes that the Book of Mormon is true even though he hasn't finished it because it has already answered questions for him that can't be answered with the Bible. He said that originally, all the answers must have been in the Bible, but the Catholic church took them out so they could control people. Then he went on for a few minutes about how the Catholic church keeps the rest of the Bible in the Vatican and it is the only reason they have the Vatican, just so they can control people haha. I've never been on the verge of laughing so hard during a testimony, but he was saying all this with a straight face and his hilarious romanian accent, and it was hard not to laugh. I love that guy. Then at the end he said that he believes Joseph Smith is a prophet as well, even though he hasn't read all that he taught. He said it's like the atmosphere, I know it's there and that it's real, but I don't understand everything about it. He said it's the same thing with his testimony. He has so much faith. and at the end of his testimony he didn't close in the name of Jesus Christ, he just stood there silent, and then he said, "you don't have any questions?" My favorite baptism ever. L said near the end, "Tuesday must be an unlucky day. No hot water, no books (we were supposed to have a triple combo in Romanian), and no bishop. But! P was baptized, so it's not totally bad luck!" L will be bapized soon we hope. They're so amazing. L was afraid that P was going to have to bear testimony in Sacrament meeting after his confirmation haha.
Sunday was the craziest Sunday of my mission. P and L came of course, as well as T H. The rest of the chinese investigators didn't come because it was the chinese new year and they all called their parents. But, we've been teaching one of P's friends, D, and he showed up with 3 other Romanians and 2 random hardcore looking dudes. I bet it looked so funny when we were filing them all into the church haha. Then Elder Buss and I had an interview with some journalists who are doing a report about the church and missionaries because Mitt Romney was a missionary in Bordeaux. We were originally supposed to do a filmed interview for a 4 minute news run this week, but they decided to do that part in Paris and not in Bordeaux. It was pretty cool though! After church, one of the Talence Elders' investigators from India made us some super good curry.
Dang, I'm almost out of time already! Well, R will be baptized this week, but we're not sure if that will be in the ocean because the bishop doesn't agree. He's totally ready. I'm loving it out here and I learn so much every day about the Gospel, about God and our Savior, about people, about myself. I wouldn't give anything for this experience. I know the church is true. I know that people can and do change their lives to be freed from the chains of sin that keep us from our Heavenly Father's presence, and that it is only possible because of Christ's atonement and the principles and ordinances of the Gospel. I love you all! Have a great week.
Love,
Elder Tudor