Two young men, two differentt stories

9 November, 2015, We just got home from our choir practice. We went out to Las Palmas, a Santo Domingo suburb, to a baptism earlier. 

Left to Right:  Peggy, Jhon Lopez Institute Director, Stephen Wallace, Oscar Amparo, Institute Director, Randy

It was difficult to find and we barely made it there on time. Stephen, the young man who was baptized, is a great  young man and he has many friends. This will make it easier for him as he settles into his ward. He sang with a choir made up of many of our institute students. He then sang a solo, I Know that My Redeemer Lives. He has a very nice voice. Both of our CES directors were there also. One of them is his Stake President. It was a very nice program.

After the baptism, we took two of the young men with us to the CCM (MTC) at the Temple property, where they joined us for our Christmas choir practice. The program that we are doing for four different branches is absolutely beautiful. Our director is the former director of the Utah State University Opera Co. It's all in Spanish, so not only do we have to read the new music, but also learn it in Spanish. I love it! Spanish is a very beautiful language. It's a whole different experience of the mission for us. It's nice to have the diversity.

Cassagnol asked us to come into the hall
so he could have a picture by the Savior

Last Saturday, 31 October, we attended another baptism . It was Cassagnol's.  He is a young man that the missionaries suggested that he take an institute class. He signed up for my Church History class. He is pretty quiet, but speaks English quite well. I talked to him each Thursday after class and as the baptism date approached, told him that we wanted to come. When we got there at shortly before 6:00, only the missionaries and one family of an eight year old candidate were there. We waited, and more people came, including Cassagnol. He grinned at us and came up to us to shake our hands. After he changed his clothes, we took some pictures and waited awhile. The six o'clock baptism began at 6:45-6:50. Elder Park and President Nukols (our Mission President) were the witnesses. There were two eight yr. olds baptized also.  Afterward, one of the families served cake, and then we took Cassagnol home. 

He is Haitian and has been in the DR for about five years going to college. He wants to be a doctor. He needs and is looking for work so we told him about Funval.  (the program that trains LDS young men to work in American Call Centers) He is now checking that out. He took their test and passed, but may not be able to get full-time work because he is on a student visa.  (I don't know how it all works)  
Anyway, on Sunday we went to his confirmation. It is a very small ward and he doesn't know anyone yet. We left after Sacrament meeting, and I'm sure he was fine but I couldn't help but think of the time I dropped off Dave alone at an Order of the Arrow camp. He looked so forlorn and alone. I felt awful for leaving him alone. I cried all the way home. That's how I felt last Sunday, but I knew he'd be okay, just as David was many years ago. On Monday, Randy emailed him the pictures we took at the baptism. Cassagnol wrote back:

 I'm really exited to see them again, it's like I'm living the moment again.Elder Park and sister Park, you are my new family. and thank you for your friendship. thanks a lot, Cassagnol

We love this young man, and are very happy to have him as our friend. I know that throu
gh obedience and prayer, he will  be a doctor one day and raise a family in the gospel. And.......he will have many new friends, Peggy