Miracle story, quite an obvious one this week:

"I am very excited to tell you about our miracle for the week--the baptism of Keisy!!! Her older sister is a member of the church and Keisy arrived here with another sister from Honduras the same day that Hermana Fuentes and I arrived in San Sebastián. Her sister invited us over the next day to meet them and we started teaching them. She is fifteen years old and always laughing or smiling. It was difficult to teach her in the beginning because she would get shy and just laugh. It took over a month for her to be able to pray out loud with us without laughing. The youth of the ward did a great job inviting her, especially to seminary. She changed her baptismal date more than once because of little things that got in the way until she was ready to make the decision for herself. She had not been reading in the Book of Mormon or keeping her commitments for a few weeks in March when we went over to teach her sister. She came in in the middle of the lesson and interrupted me while we were teaching to say ¨Quiero bautizarme.¨ She had done this before so I ignored her. (In hindsight, maybe not the best reaction...haha) But she persisted and we found out that she was serious this time! So to test if she was sincere, I may or may not have grilled her with the baptismal questions with our ward mission leader...ha...ha...She went to Mini-EFY the week before her baptism and I think this had a huge impact in her conversion. Satan really attacked her family this same week and this has been very difficult for them, but she told us that she knew it was Satan trying to stop her from being baptized.

She is going to Madrid with the youth this week to participate in baptisms for the dead!!! I think this is the best thing she could be doing right now and will solidify her testimony and help her other sister who has not decided to be baptized yet. We have helped her read the Book of Mormon and pray every day the week before her baptism and also this week after. She told us yesterday that she has felt a difference because school has been hard for her and she hates it, but she prayed yesterday in the morning for it to be better and then read her scriptures and her day was better! I could see a difference in her Sunday at church after her confirmation and told her so. It is so incredible to see the changes happening in someone else´s life as they come unto Christ. I will never forget these feelings and this time that I have been so blessed to be a part of. It doesn´t quite seem real yet."

Wow! What a week. To quote a Cartel song "the highest highs and lowest lows." First things first, the baptism was amazing. We were preparing all week to help things go smoothly and, of course, everything and their ugly step-sister went wrong...but it all came together!haha I wrote down all the miracles that happened so no worries. I won´t forget. We spent a good chunk of time assembling the ¨pila¨ or baptismal font that is like a kiddie pool on steroids. (See pics) I won´t take a real font for granted anymore, goodnight nurse! But we had some fun with it (See pics...but don´t tell the Bishop...) One of the speakers didn´t show up so Keisy asked Hna Maxwell to take her place...the tension and redness in her face waiting for her turn were rivaled only by the extreme relief as the speaker arrived just in time. Oh, priceless.

What a gift we as missionaries have--to see other´s change their lives. I have never felt joy like that before. No quote or saying does it justice. Indescribable.

But there is always the other side, right? With the most amazing, spiritual experiences come the hardest challenges, usually during/right after. So true. I don´t think I will EVER understand some things that happen in families. Having to see people you have come to love suffer is truly one of the hardest things that happens in this life, especially when you are helpless to help, physically. But these experiences drive you to your knees and that is where I found myself this week more than once. And the tiniest bit of understanding that I have gained into the Atonement of my Savior is a priceless gift that I would do well to not forget. One of the greatest lessons I think I am learning is one entwined with that of patience, hope and faith--learning to accept when you have done everything you possibly can, knowing that it is not nearly enough and then trusting in the Lord.

I love being a missionary. I love being here in Spain on a mission. I love learning and growing and changing. I love seeing others grow in the gospel. I love you all and knowing we will be together forever. And most of all, I love my Savior and Redeemer, The Only Begotten of the Father, Jesus Christ.

Love always,

Hermana Clarissa Dalton

Alma 7