Baptisms and birthdays...aah

Cars have been repaired, bank accounts are working again, apartment painted and ready to be vacated, new apartment rented, and the work continues. We celebrated missionary birthdays and then 3 baptisms capped the month.

We celebrated Sister Mautz's birthday as well as Sister Paepaetaata's birthday with cake with all of the missionaries during Monday P-day. Earlier in the month we celebrated Elder Seiko and Elder Style's birthdays. Warm summer weather makes being outside quite fun.

Friday, September 25 was the Oceane Taumau's birthday. This birthday was important as she could be baptised. the family celebrated at a Japanese restaurant and invited us to attend. Pictures below show us enjoying dinner together as well as with her birthday cake.

She and her brother were baptised the following day. We have been working with their family for several months. Soane and Vaea as they prepared for marriage and baptism. The necessary paper trail for the marriage to occur has been tedious. This process has been so long because the government agency that grants marriage licenses ask such questions as to why a passport shows Soane's nationality as French while his birth certificate shows Melanesian. But the children were anxious for their baptisms even as this last round of questions appeared.

An unexpected blessing through all of this has been the time it has given them to become a family that enjoys daily scripture reading and prayer as well as family home evening. And presided over by a worthy father. We taught a series of lessons based on the Proclamation on the Family and family relations. The transformation, which they recognize, has been wonderful as they adopted the culture of a family based on the eternal principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Having become surrogate grandparents, we were grateful to be able to participate in the baptisms.

Earlier that Saturday, the District Relief Society sponsored a clean the attic day making used clothing available to those needing it. They quickly adopted the Oakton Stake's name 'Gifts of the Heart' for this activity when they heard it. As is so often the case in the U.S., people were amazed at what they had that they no longer needed. And the lives of many others were blessed from the many contributions of used clothing and toys.

Saturday was wonderfully busy as Adam Tasso was also baptized, in Tontouta. His grandfather baptized him with both parents present. His mother is a returned missionary from Vanuatu. He is eleven years old and was grateful to be baptized. As is the usual custom here, the newly baptized members shared their testimonies. All three of these children were articulate, spoke clearly sharing their testimony including meaningful scriptures.

We are grateful for the good that is done as we serve others because the Savior has so asked us.