This week was great! We saw so many miracles! We went to the Açores for our divisions, so we were only in our area for P-day, Tuesday, Saturday, and Sunday (including taking time out for district meeting, weekly planning, church, and calling YOU!), but we still had one of the best weeks since we arrived. Jorge got baptized!! It was one of the most touching baptisms I have ever attended. Jorge is from Capo Verde, and has kidney failure and diabetes. As a result, one of his legs had to be amputated below the knee, as well as the toes on his other foot. He has a prothsetic leg and walks with a crutch. For his baptism, however, he had to remove the prosthetic, and do the baptism on his knees (with the other foot wrapped in plastic wrap because it can´t get wet!). We also have a weird font. You have to climb some metal ladder-stair-thing, then clim back down another into the font. First he climbed up, sat on a chair to take off his leg, then kind of slid into the font with the help of three priesthood holders. Two stayed in for the baptism. They kneeled, supporting Jorge, said the prayer, and carefully lowered him into the water. We were all praying SO HARD that he would go all the way under, because I don´t know if he could handle a second time. It took about ten seconds, but they got him all the way under, and then he came back up looking more peaceful than I have ever seen. They hoisted him out of the font, his energy completely spent with the effort. Afterwards, he told us, "I am so grateful for Heavenly Father! Thank you for helping me understand the atonement".
We had our divisions in the Açores. It´s weird that we did a division in a different time zone. To get there, we had to come to Benfica the night before, stay with the sisters there, then leave at 5 a.m. to catch our flight. When we got to Angra, one of the sisters was in the clinic and so Sister Derrick and I just worked in their area together almost all day.... Eventually they came back and I went out to work with Sister Hayes while SIster Derrick stayed in with the ill sister. Sister Hayes is wonderful. Even though we only spent a few hours together, I saw how great of a missionary she is.
In Ponta Delgada, I worked with Sister Brand. Yep, the same Sister Brand from my MTC district! It was really fun to see how much she has changed. And to catch up with what has been happening! It was really fun. We also got a delicious hotdog from a stand by the ocean. We left to catch our 9 p.m. flight, only to arrive and find out it had been delayed 20 minutes. 20 minutes turned to 30, then 40, then an hour. We ended up arriving in the airport in LIsbon around 1:30 a.m. and getting home around 2:30. Still had to get up at 7 the next day. I am going to take a nap after I write this.
ALSO I got news that Natália (from Braga, Marta´s niece) is getting baptized!!!! Yesss. I am sooo happy for her. Also it is so fun when someone that you found and started teaching gets baptized, even if it´s after you leave.
It was so fun to talk to you all yesterday! Your voices sound the same mostly, just that Jeremy´s is deeper. Always. It was normal but also completely weird at the same time, but I enjoyed it. I can´t wait to talk to you in person! (four more months!)
I hope you had a fabulous mother´s day and that school and dance and everything keeps going well. Stay happy and healthy--I love you all tons!!
Com um coração cheio de amor,
Sister Gidney
P.s. Jorge´s baptism, Me with Sister Hayes and Sister Brand
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