Ocean Baptism

I have never had the opportunity to attend an ocean Baptism, and that certainly wasn’t on my list of expectations but it has become my reality. 

Last January when we arrived in Sicily my first visiting teaching assignment was handed to me.  Brianne Kelsey was on the list; no one in the Sigonella Branch knew her, or really anything about her.  There was an email address, a local address in Trecastagni, and a California area code on the phone number.  I sent an email introducing myself and she promptly replied, so I asked if I could drive to her home and meet her.  She was especially cordial and invited me to her home. 

Tristan, Brianne, Haydren, Bruce and Avelyn Kelsey

Craig and I drove out and found her home in the little suburb on Trecastagni.  It was a little bit of heaven, the yard looked like southern California, palm trees and hydrangea bushed five feet tall and at least that big around.  Brianne explained that they wanted their family to enjoy the whole Italian experience, living on the economy, trying to learn the language and the two oldest boys were enrolled in the local Italian school.  They had not attended church in the three years they had lived there and really didn’t plan to start any time soon. Interestingly enough we found that Trecastagni was on our way to lots of places, we stopped by on our way to the church in Catania a couple of times, it ended up being about 20 kilometers out of the way but it seemed to work for both of us.  WE stopped by just to chat regularly, Bryce is an independent contractor on Sigonella NAS.  He works shifts and Sunday is always a workday for him.  Things seemed to click and we loved spending time with the Kelsey family.

In May Brianne told us things were shaking up at Bryce’s work and they were possibly looking at a move because the housing contract as well as the job contract was being re-evaluated. Bryce had a shift change and he now would enjoy the weekend as his time off. We were all very excited about that reality.

 Haydren’s eighth birthday was coming up in August and Brianne expressed interest in Haydren being baptized  and it might be nice if Avelyn, the two year old was blessed as well.  Wow, we were suddenly going in a different direction that we expected, our prayers had been answered!  Brianne didn’t want to attend the Sigonella Branch but wanted her family to attend the Catania Ward where he kids could continue to learn and use their Italian. We immediately sent their records from Sigonella to the Catania Ward and introduced the missionaries to the Kelsey family.  The rest is history, Brianne’s parents flew to Italy on Thursday for Haydren’s baptism in the ocean on September 1, 2018, in addition Avelyn will be blessed at home after the baptism and bonus- Tristan the thirteen year old son will receive the Aaronic priesthood and be ordained a Deacon on Sunday , September 2. Their father, Bryce, will preform all these ordinances.  We have spent time with this family and watched their lives change as they were taught the Gospel, 0-100 in just a few months. It is hard to find words to explain what that feels like.

The sun rising on Lungomare Ciclopi in Aci Castello, Italy, 7:00AM 1 September 2018

Finding a spot suited for this occasion!

Best baptism water ever!