Thoughts from Elder LeBaron

Krystin Ulassin (18) was baptized a member on 1 Dec, 2013.  She had taken the discussions a year ago and has been coming to church ever since.  Her Catholic mother wanted Kristin to wait until she was 18 to join the church.  She has been coming every week just waiting for the day she could be baptized.   She spoke today in church and it was amazing.  Another girl, Zarena, was baptized in Madisonville yesterday.  We had specialized training last Saturday in Huntsville (11 Dec 2013).  We drove the three Spanish speaking Sisters over from Huntsville so they could save on their allotted mileage.  One of the sisters said that having us here was like having parents in Huntsville which made us feel good because she could have said, “Grandparents.”   We bought a Christmas tree stand at Goodwill that we gave to the sisters who needed it for a real tree they purchased.  They were more grateful than we deserved.

Sister LeBaron made rice bags (in orange SHSU colors) for every student, missionary and some of the mission couples.  She cooks virtually every day.  When the timer on the oven goes off, I think that the sound is broadcast on campus.  “If you bake it, they will come.”

In the MTC, we were told that the prophet said that we (the senior mission couples) were the best the church had – and then they added that the prophet also said, “Actually, you’re all we have.”

We sent our Christmas cards this week.  If you didn't get one, send me your address - neillebaron@comcast.net, and I will mail one to you.  We actually have 450 of them.  When Ruth Ann went to have them printed at Walmart, she had some problems and went to the customer service area.  The clerk kept telling her they were just downloading and then he would check his printer and there would be no pictures so he would push print again.  He did that three times before he decided to check the printer in the customer area.  He sheepishly came back with 450 cards and didn't charge her anything . . . of course, she was there for 3 hours  We tend to send a lot of Christmas greetings because we have lived in five stakes and have scattered friends and family in other states and countries, but short of grabbing people by the lapels and begging them to take a card, we do have quite a few left.

The work is challenging and we feel inadequate but, at the same time, richly blessed and we do "have desires to serve God."  Mosiah 2:41  "And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God.  For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual, ..."

Thanks for your updates to blogs, Instagram, facetime calls, etc.  We love you and pray for you all.