La Famille Lafolé

Yesterday the Lafolé (pronounced la-foe-lay) Family was baptized. The father Alex and the mother Mylene (mee-len) and two of the children Elodie and Sebastien were happy and excited for the day. We fasted for the health of the mother on Friday and Saturday and felt like the blessings of heaven attended the family. I baptized the mother, who although weak, was able to walk down into the font and up out again afterwards. She forgot to pinch her nose (with the predicatable result) but was very happy with the experience.
The father told me before the baptism that he had a dream the night before. In his dream, his wife asked him to teach her how to pray and he told his wife that he did not know all of the basic steps to pray. In the dream, Linda stepped forward and told Brother Lafolé that she would teach him in English and that I would translate how to pray into French. He was very happy in his dream that Linda would teach and that I would translate for him. It was remarkable that the day before, Linda and I had decided that she could teach in English and that I could translate for her into French as needed. It seemed to reaffirm that the approach to Linda's teaching was a step in the right direction.
I gave a talk on the gift of the Holy Ghost during the service. I read from 3 Nephi 19 where the 12 disciples of Jesus taught the multitude the day after Jesus appeared. They prayed for that which they desired most - that the Holy Ghost be given to them. After having prayed and taught the people the same words which Jesus had taught the day before, they were baptized and the Holy Ghost came as a fire from heaven and fell upon them. Jesus then came and prayed with them and asked the Father to give the Holy Ghost to them who would later believe on their words and be baptized. My french rose to the occasion and I felt able to express myself without the usual difficulty. I promised them that they would also be given the gift of the Holy Ghost, because as Jesus prayed, they too had faith, had been baptized, and believed in the words of those who had been sent to teach them. I explained that the process of being born again (John 3) involved the baptism of water and baptism of the spirit - sometimes called the baptism by fire - and that the Holy Ghost can change our hearts and will heal us spiritually and sometimes even physically - according to our faith and our Father's will. The Spirit will purge even the desire to sin from us and will purify us as we continue to faithfully live the gospel. I also told them that I had indeed felt the feelings associated with the Spirit - feelings of peace, happiness, patience, kindness, and love as I had taught them in their home. It went well.
Today the family came to Church and were confirmed. They were all very happy. I was asked to confirm Sebastian. The branch mission leader confirmed the father and the Branch President confirmed the mother. Elder Shepherd, who initially contacted the family via the daughter, confirmed her. District Conference (with Elder Martinez of the 70 presiding) will be next Saturday and Sunday. The father Alex has agreed to share his testimony with the congregation during the Sunday morning session.
Today I was sustained as 2nd counselor in the District Presidency. I will continue to serve also as a counselor in the Branch Presidency until another is called. We love being full time missionaries. It is nice to have nothing else to do other than try to be of help. As they say in the MTC: "Blessed are those who are flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape." It really is nice to be of service - wherever, whenever, whatever.