Don't have a lot of time this week so I'll make this short.
Heellooo!!
So this week was pretty solid, but definitly had some ups and downs. We had a lot of appointments fall out at the beginning of the week, but so is life sometimes. But we also had some really good appointments with Adam again this week as we kept preparing him and organizing everything for his baptism.
Then the day finally came! It was also cool because one of our friends that we are teaching in Plauen came to the baptism to see how it works and he said he really enjoyed the service and also he noticed how happy and excited Adam was. Our member friend Danny was the one the one that Baptized him and it took a few tries because Danny isn't native german and was stumbling a bit on the words, but when he got it right it was a very happy moment.
What I thought was very special this week though, was the fact that Adam was able to receieve the Gift of the Holy Ghost on Sunday which just happened to be Penecost Sunday. It was a very special oppourtunity, because we were all able to reflect on the apostles when they received the holy ghost and were then able to give others that same gift. On sunday, one of the speakers talked about the story of Simon in Acts and I wanted to share a portion of it
Acts 8
13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,
19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
The speaker shared that after Simon was baptized thaat he knew something was missing and that after the baptism of many saints in Samaria, Peter and John (the apostles with the authority given them by Jesus Christ and also at the day of Penecost) came down into Samaria to give the Gift of the Holy Ghost through the laying on of hands to those that had been baptized.
Simon seeing this, also wanted the power and authority to do so and so he offered the apostles money. But Peters response is awesome and he said paraphrasing "Your money can do nothing, the gifts of God can not be bought with money". It just made me thtink how precious the holy ghost is and how lucky we are to have the proper authority on the earth again that allows us to, as Peter did, to give the Gift of the Holy Ghost to all those that are baptized in his name. I love the Holy Ghost and the guidance and direction it gives me -- especially as a missionary. There are many times where I have looked back at so called "coincidences" or small thoughts and feelings that moved me to act in a certain way. I know that these came from the Holy Ghost and that "coincidences" are really just God helping us in our path back to him.
I love you all!
- Elder Johnson
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