4/8/2018 Baptism, Red Bird, Artesion Springs

Always wonder how people think of these things - pretty clever (if you know the Hokey Pokey)

    The highlight of this week definitely was the baptism of Dorche', a young lady the sisters met on campus.  After her baptism she told of not being completely satisfied with the church she was attending and had prayed to find something else.  She had looked, found nothing, and had about decided to just stay where she was when she met the sisters on campus.  "There was something about them."  She said she wanted to talk to them, but was hesitant.  Then Sister Studdert (standing next to her in the picture) smiled and said, "I like your hair."  That broke the ice - they talked and set up another appointment.  When they gave her the Book of Mormon she said she knew it was a book she needed to read.  She felt the truthfulness of it but still was a bit dragging her feet on being baptized until general conference.  She didn't miss a session.  "I knew President Nelson was a true prophet."  

The sisters that taught her - Sisters Newman and Studdert
The Elder who baptized her - Elder Altamirano.  

Elder Waite confirmed her the next day in sacrament meeting.

Mike keeps trying to get good pictures of this bird so we can find out what it is -- you can see that it is predominantly red (not a cardinal by the way)

 

When we can we take a few hours on Saturdays to visit places close.  This time it was the Boulware Springs Historic Water Works.  The spring was the source of city water until 1913, 308,000 gallons a day.  University of Florida moved from Lake City to Gainesville in 1905 because the city promised the university free water for life from the Boulware Springs.  The springs still produce 194,000 gallons of water a day, but it now flows into Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park and is no longer used in the Gainesville water system, however, University of Florida still does not have to pay for their water.  

 The trail is narrow in some places and you have to move to let the bicycles pass.  There is the short hike we took, a little over 2 miles round trip, but you can actually go up to 20 miles so there are a lot of bikers. 

 We walked down to the bridge - a little better than a mile - 

 one area had Florida trees on one side and pine trees on the other

 There is a unique bike rack at the beginning of the trail that is painted on one end the Scarlet Kingsnake and the other end, the Easter Coral Snake.  The rhyme again:

Red touches black - friend of Jack. 

Red touches yellow - kill a fellow.

Hugh B. Brown shared this story about his mother's encouraging words as he left on his mission when he was about 20.  "Hugh, you remember when you were a little boy and you would have a bad dream or wake up in the night frightened?  You would call from  your room, 'Mother, are you there?' and I would answer and try to comfort you and remove your fears.  Now as you go on a mission and out into the world, there will be times when you will be frightened, when you feel weak, inadequate, alone, and have problems.  I want you to know that you can call to your Heavenly Father as you used to call to me and say, 'Father, are you there? I need your help.'  Do this with the knowledge that He is there and that He will be  ready to help if you will do your part and live worthy of your blessings.  I want to reassure you that He is there and will answer your prayers and needs for your best good." 

      We add our testimony to the truth of that and the importance of prayer in our lives.

D&C 19:23 - Learn of me, and listen to my words, walk in the meekness of my spirit

and you shall have peace in me.