Nicolas' baptism

Dearest family and friends!

Yet another week passes by in the history of time and the Kingdom of God is truly on the earth.

Some pretty amazing things happened this week in Nice.  First of all, there was a baptism!  A man named Nicolas, made his first covenant with his Heavenly Father.  To be 100% honest with you, these are the most joyful experiences of the mission... even if you are on crutches and have 5 stitches on your foot.  So it was the sister missionaries that found and taught Nicolas.  The way he was found was pretty miraculous.  One of the sisters had the impression in her morning prayer about 3 or 4 months ago that she needed to help a "Nicolas" that day, even though she had no idea who that would be.  So they were surprised when they contacted him and at the end of the contact asked if by chance his name was Nicolas.  He freaked out a bit and said it was!  I had the opportunity to do the baptismal interview with him and got to feel of his meek and humble spirit.  He had read the entire gospel principles manual and a good portion of the Book of Mormon.  He had even gone to the local library and researched more about the prophet Joseph Smith.  He had a strong testimony that he was a prophet of God.  I felt very honored when Nicolas asked if I would perform the ordinance.  I arrived in Nice at about the time that he first started getting taught, so we've been able to get to know each other a bit since I've been here.  It was a wonderful service and when we were in the changing room after just having gotten out of the warm waters, I got to talk to him a bit and he told me that he felt like he was starting a new life.  He really is.

Kisky is on fire.  It's ironic that I say that because one of the issues that he is having is that he believes that he has already been baptized by fire.  He thinks that he already has the gift of the Holy Ghost.  He knows the Bible like the back of his hand and he believes that, like Cornelius (who actually only had a manifestation of the Spirit)  some people are baptized by fire before being baptized by water.  But he is on fire nonetheless.  He is ready the Book of Mormon between all of our visits and is truly "feasting on the words of Christ" like Nephi invites us to.  It's funny because he just read that chapter and loved it.  He progresses very well and has promised us that he will be coming to church this sunday since he does not work.  Yes!  This week he accepted to live the Word of Wisdom without asking any questions whatsoever.  This is a really sign of conversion because before he used to question many of the teachings, but now he is having much more confidence in them.  The only real problem is coffee, which he drinks to keep himself awake because he works in security and it is always the night shift.  But he has agreed to live this commandment!  Joy!

A pretty cool miracle happened actually right after our last appointment with Kisky, I was crutching my way over to the tram stop with Elder Behling when we began talking with a big man with a Detroit hat and a salt and pepper (mostly salty) beard.  He looked like an American truck driver.  We came to find out that he knows the church very well.  We did a little more investigating and came to find out that he was actually the person who introduced someone who was baptized into the ward a few years ago to the missionaries!  He told us that there was one thing that he had never done and that he would like to do and that was to be baptized by water for a remission of his sins.  Wowee!  We told him that he had met the right people, that we had the authority of God to do so.  He knew that there was a disciplined preparation for baptism and we told him that we would love to start helping him to get prepared right away.  We are planning on seeing him this week and pray that he is truly ready to make this covenant with God!  It was a pretty cool experience.

Dearests, the mission is the greatest!  The sun is shining here in Nice and there are people who are waiting to come to a knowledge of the truth!  I will be off crutches this week, I get the stitches out on Tuesday and I'll be walking and running like normal in no time.  Thank you for all the prayers and support.  Apparently the photo of my foot has become the internet phenomenon of the mission.  I've heard that is you google "France Lyon Mission",  on Google Images, a picture of my foot is the first thing that comes up.  Yes.  I will always have a beautiful scar that will remind me of Christ, my master, for whom I suffered!  May we all remind him, keep his commandments and truly take his name upon us as his disciples!  I love you much!

Avec amour, Elder Kunzler

"It was.... SOAP POISONING!"