Elder Black : May 11th Email "Mother's Day and Baptism :)"

First off, I hope all you mommys out there had a fantastic Mothers Day! It was so amazing being able to FaceTime home with my gorgeous family. It is crazy how much everyone has grown!

I got a new companion this week, Elder Williams. He is from Utah. We should have a good time together.

Mark got baptized on Saturday. he has been so excited all week for that day to come. One night he stayed up until 2am reading the Book of Mormon. He read Jacob 5 and applied it to himself and the things that are going on in his life. Who does that?? He is amazing. We met with him every day this week and have had some really great talks with him. During the whole baptism service he was just glowing with the spirit. He has changed his life around and is so excited for the journey he is now on.

John was also supposed to be baptized on Saturday. About an hour before the service he texted us saying he didn'

t want to do it. We convinced him to still come and support Mark. We knew that the spirit would be hitting him the whole time, and boy were we right. The spirit was hitting him like a semi truck. Especially when the speakers would look straight at him and call him out. He said this Saturday will be the day. We are just praying he actually follows through with it.

We went on a temple trip with Minh and Sydney earlier this week. We are able to go with converts for their first time going up for baptisms for the dead. It was amazing sitting there watching these people that we have taught sitting in the temple. I felt such a strong spirit as i saw how i was able to act as an instrument in the hands of our father in heaven. This is God's work. He is the one that got them to where they are now. I was just the one that got to be part of the process!

The YSA people of Elk Grove are amazing. The ward members are so much fun, the investigators are fantastic, and the love is always felt.

Love you all.

Elder Gage Black