Elder Williams

 

THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 2010

Elder Williams

It's 3:18 in the morning; I cannot sleep, so I will try and blog. The blessings that come to a family when they have a son serving on a mission are incredible. In some ways, I feel like he has been blessed even more than we have. He has learned to rely on the Lord for his comfort and strength. Blake has always been a loving and compassionate son. However, he did not want to go on a mission. It took him a few years to decide to serve a mission. I am impressed at his commitment and reliance on Heavenly Father. My cancer diagnosis came 6 weeks before he left. Blake wanted to stay home and be with me. We had a long talk, and I explained to him that the Lord would take better care of him than I would be able to. We were both emotional talking about this, and I could see he had a heavy burden on his shoulders. As his mother, I was heartbroken; I couldn't tell him for sure that I would be here when he got home, but Blake promised me he would dedicate himself to the Lord's work, and I promised him that I would not send him any pictures of my bald head. Blake teared up and said something I will never forget. He said, "Mom, I feel so guilty; if I had left on my mission two years ago like I should have, I would be here for you." I told him the timing of leaving for his mission was perfect because it was his choice, and I didn't think he could handle seeing me go through the surgeries and treatments.

The night before he left on his mission President Greer came to our home and gave Blake a special blessing. He told Blake that if he was obedient on his mission, his mom would be here when he finished his service to the Lord. I believe everything has a time and a season; things in our lives happen for a reason. Blake's friends were coming home from their missions when he was leaving, I could understand why he felt the way he did, but I could clearly see that the Lord was preparing him for this moment. I miss him so much, but I know from his emails and letters he is becoming a man with his own personal testimony of Christ, and he loves sharing it with people. He's no longer my little boy, but he will always be a mama's boy.

He had a baptism last Saturday. His companion baptized Wellington, a 17-year-old boy; Blake loves him. It's incredible how close he gets to all the people he works with. The Lord is truly blessing him and watching over him. Elder Smith was transferred yesterday; Blake is now the senior companion and will be speaking only Spanish for at least the next 6 weeks since his companion speaks no English. These are a few of the pictures he sent yesterday:

Elder Smith and Elder Blake

Elder Williams with some local children (I think)

Elder Smith, Wellington, and Elder Williams

On the day of Wellington's baptism: Ernesto and Nuirka are on the left (he is teaching them right now). Some ward members showed up, and the Branch President, Elder Smith, and Elder Williams.

Blake being Blake with that creepy look he used to give his sisters to freak them out.

The Baptismal Font notice it is outside.

This is Olga's Family (she cooks all their food)

The Church Building in Constanza

Delfi, Elder Williams, and Wellington