3 Weeks ago yesterday, a man named Pavlo walked into our sacrament meeting. We assumed he was a visiting member. The Branch President assumed the same. After the meeting however, the Branch President told us the he was not a member, and that he would like to meet with us. We, of course, were excited. We took his name, address, and number, planning to call him the next day to make out an appointment.
The next day, he didn't answer. We looked into his address, but it was a 45 minute bus drive away--too far to really make the trip. And actually, there seemed to be only 2 buses to the tiny dorf each day--really not possible.We called him again and again, trying to set up appointments, no answer.
The next week was stake conference in Hannover, so we did not have church. However, the following Sunday, 2 weeks after the first encounter, he was there again. We quickly resolved to meet with him, and set an appointment for an hour, which we would have right after church.
The first thing we did of course was get better aquainted. Pavlo comes from Ukraine, has known the church for about 7 years. He is also right now a medical student, getting ready to do his residency in a hospital about halfway between Hildesheim and Hannover. He would actually be entering the hospital in about 2 and a half weeks.
The next thing we learned, was that a friend from Ukraine had called him several weeks earlier, and told him that he should become a member of the church. So what did Pavlo do? He decided to get baptized.
Problem? No time to get baptized during residency. It has to be NOW, or afterwards. More then 2 months down the road. So we did it now.
We called our Zone Leaders, and District leader, to make sure that was possible. We were called by the APs cause they heard something cool was going on, and wanted to know what. Finally, we set a baptismal date for Saturday, the 22nd of November.
Problem--the Branch President, both councilors, Ward mission leader, and Elders Quorum President all can't be there on Saturday. Oops.
So, we decide to do it Sunday. We agree to meet with Pavlo Monday night, and say good bye. We talk to our WML, he says that we can do it the 2nd hour of church, during Sunday School, and then confirm him the 3rd hour, during Sacrament meeting.
The next day, our appointment falls out. Shoot. We set up an appointment for the next day, Tuesday, but we don't have much time--it isn't an easy thing to set up a baptism is 1 week, if everything goes perfectly.
Tuesday it goes through, we go through all the lessons and the questions, he is ready for Baptism. But there is still a lot to do. We set up an appointment with him for Friday, for his Baptismal Interview with our district leader.
On Friday, we are on our way to the church with our DL, excited, and we receive a call from Pavlo. Bad news, he will be 45 minutes late--fallen out bus. Shoot.
But he makes the interview, barely, and we get the DL and his companion on a train home--the last train that could have gotten them home on time actually.
We go home, and I quickly make calls, find speakers, and set everything up. Everything looks good at this point--but we forgot something. The Ward Baptismal Font, in our 50 year old building, has not been used in 5 years. It is filthy. Filthy. We quickly schedule time to go clean in on Saturday.
Saturday: it takes 2 hours to clean out the font. We scrub the floor and sides, run water through, scrub again, run water through again, scrub again, run water through again...finally it looks clean! But the water...
It comes out not clear. Rusty colored. CRAP.
We run the water--softly--for a while, and it finally looks like it is clearing up. Sorta.
SUNDAY: Big day. Start praying. We gotta go to the church early to fill the font--AND ITS COLD outside. On the way however--one of the members speaking calls. He is sick. Cant make it. Shoot dang son of a buck. But we start filling the font. We call our Mission Leader, he offers to give the talk instead. Cool. Great guy. At this point Elder Burton's hair is starting to fall out.
About 9:00, Pavlo calls. His bus fell out. He lives an hour away. He might not be able to be there till 11:00. Problem? Baptismal Service starts at 10:30. OH NO. Elder Burton at this point is sobbing quietly into the font--not really, but on the inside, yes. We call the GML, he can't do anything, he has to try to get his own family to church. Just when we start to panic, Pavlo calls and says that he will make it by 10:10. Hmm....it works.
10:15. Still no Pavlo. Church has been going for an hour already, the baptismal font is full--a little cold, a little yellowish in color, but ready..and no Pavlo. The members are staring to doubt he is coming, Elder Burton has already paced a hole through all 3 stories of the building, and the only successful thing is little Frieda not pooping her pants.
10:25--Pavlo walks in. YESSSSS. We basically stuff him into baptismal clothing, and are ready to go at 10:30. Problem? the 2nd member speaker never showed up. Oh darn. We quickly call on a relatively recent RM in the ward, he is more then happy to get up and say something. Saweet. God bless Florian the Kassel University Student.
Baptismal goes well, with Elder Burton Baptizing Pavlo. Elder Warby then confirms him in Sacrament meeting, and Pavlo meets Julia--the other Ukrainian student in our ward--and hits it off well. Everything achieved.
Except the one member who yells at Elder Burton for setting up the Chairs in her classroom incorrectly after the service--even though a different member told him to do it that way!!!
Nah, so für eine Taufe.
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