BAPTISM BY IMMERSION

Elder Muhlestein, Carol Proctor, Elder Caldwell

Elder Muhlestein, Ann Smith, Elder Caldwell

Cliett Family Darrell, Ethaniel, Bobbie with Elders Oliver & Caldwell
They were baptized in December
The Cliett family spent New Years Eve with us at our apartment. All missionaries were required to be in their apartments by 6pm. The Cliett's have six children and three grandchildren. All were present except two. The toddlers called me Grandma. Last week at church one of the toddlers saw me and ran over and and said hi grandma.

We have many baptisms in Augusta but this Saturday the baptism was very special. An older lady, Carol Proctor, with many health problems was baptized along with a twenty one year old girl, Ann Smith. The Elders taught Carol Proctor the gospel and she wanted to be baptized but the problem was getting her to church. She rides a motorized chair and can't walk without crutches. She has a car but can't drive it because of her eye sight. The Elders invited Elder Berry and me to go with them as they visited Carol. We all fell in love with each other. We started going with the Elders every time they visited Carol. Finally when Elder Berry didn't drive the van to church on Sunday and before anyone called us for a ride we made arrangements to pick Carol up in our car and drive her to church but she would have to walk from the car to the church with the aid of her crutches. During the week we checked all the thrift stores in Augusta for a push wheel chair. We found one in North August which is across the Savanna River in south Carolina. The price was right but the size wasn't. She made it to church with us, the walk from the car on crutches was difficult and she stayed for all the meetings. She was one tired lady when we finally returned her home. The following week Carol's nephew was staying with her so he drove her to church. That was her third time to attend church so now she could be baptized on Saturday. The problem was she was very heavy, had health problems and getting down the font steps to be baptized would be very difficult. Elder Berry and the Elders started making plans on just exactly how to baptize her without causing injury or embarrassment. They decided to put both Elders in the font and a chair for Carol to sit on and she was to sit on it sideways. After the baptismal prayer they would simply lean her back and immerse her. It all went well but when they immersed her she started floating. From above Elder Berry was a witness and an instructor. The Elders listened and followed his instructions well without any complications. Everyone was happy. The scary part was that the next day Carol drove herself to church because her nephew went back home. The other person baptized was Ann Smith. When we first arrived in Augusta the Elders were teaching Ann and she wanted to be baptized but she had to be interviewed by the mission president so he made a special trip to Augusta. The Elders arranged for us to pick her up and drive her to the interview but when we arrived to pick her up no Ann. She just disappeared for a week or so then she showed up again and arrangements were made for another interview. The mission president was in Augusta and agreed to work Ann in his schedule. Again arrangements were made for us to pick her up and when we got to where she lives she came to the car, we drove her to the interview and returned her home. The mission president gave his permission for her to be baptized. So a baptismal date was set and arrangements were made for us to pick her up. When we got to her apartment she wasn't home. We learned later she was across the street visiting and saw us drive away and tried to get our attention but we didn't see her. Then she disappeared for a week or so and then she shows back up and wanted to get baptized. Before her baptism Elder Berry and I had an opportunity to get to know her a little better. When we first picked her up we weren't very impressed with her. Once we got to know her and learned more about her we learned she has goals, is working hard to achieve them but she is at a disadvantage. She told us she lived with her grandmother until she was eleven years old and her grandmother always took her to church. Since her grandmother's death she has come to her in dreams tell her to go to church. We explained to her about genealogy and temple ordinances and told her she better not mess up because her grandmother was depending on her. Saturday we drove to Ann's apartment and drove her to her baptism. Sunday she rode the van to church and was confirmed. We sat together during Gospel Essentials and Relief Society and she would answer most of the questions under her breath. She is reading the Book of Mormon and is now reading from Alma. Sunday after church she showed me where she was reading and asked me to explain it to her because she couldn't understand it. We have great hopes for Ann and are looking for her a math tutor.

We had a great week if you subtract the two days Elder Berry had the stomach flu and the water heater in the apartment above us busted and flooded our apartment. "After we scooped up the water we made lemonade" (Elder Berry)
Love,

Elder and Sister Berry