Yes, I had a good birthday! The dresses were good, I wore the red one yesterday. The other two just hit my knees, but the super pretty multicolored one would probably look better if it was one size up. I don't think it's meant to be a form fitting dress, but because I'm a little bit curvy, it fits that way and I'm a little uncomfortable in it. I'm going to try to figure out away to make them more modest, though. I loved everything though! Thank you so much! And yes, we took lots of pictures and the members we ate dinner with yesterday made me a cake and sang happy birthday to me. They made me take a bite out of the cake, too, before they cut into it, without using my hands... apparently it's a Latino tradition. I have a video of that, though, so look forward to it. No, I haven't gotten a package from anyone else. Just a card from Grandma. Sister Holland, Aunt Erin and Peggy and the only people I now know for sure are sending me something, but nada todavia.
This week we got to see Elder Andersen speak and give a training! Along with Elder Callister and their wives. It was pretty much life changing. I learned so much and my perspective has changed A LOT. They took the time to shake each and every one of our hands. Elder Andersen looked right at me and said, "hello sister smith." It was cool, but then later he told us all that he was looking into our souls when he touched our hands, so....that was a tad bit intimidating. Haha. Also, when he was giving the training, at one point he was talking about repentance and he shouted out a few names - basically calling us out to repentance - and he was like, "elder Shorter, Sister Smith" And I was like, Oh snap. Even though there's like a butt load of sister Smiths it was pretty intense. Haha. I felt like the things he said were very much what I needed to hear. He talked a lot about not comparing ourselves to anyone but ourselves. He said it's not as important who we are or where we're at 2 months from now as it is 20 years from now. He expressed that he was never a stand out missionary. His mission president payed little attention to him even. Yet now he is an apostle of the Lord. I don't know, it just brought me a lot of comfort to know that all I need to do is do MY best and don't get caught up in titles or any of that stuff, but focus on the big picture, why I personally am here, and realize that a mission is really the first step to a life time changing process. He also made a pretty cool announcement that we should be staying in our areas longer - like 6 to 8 months. We were talking to a member about that a couple days ago, actually, and he was talking about how 20 years ago, maybe it wasn't such a problem to move missionaries in and out frequently, but these days people are much more closed off and a tad more hard hearted... it makes sense for missionaries in these days to stay in areas longer in order get to know the members well and earn trust. So...I may or may not be here until almost the end of my mission.
I had a lot of baptisms in East this past week. Jaime, Michelle and Norma Martinez, and Jose Valadez. I've had a total of 6 baptisms so far in my mission. It's nice to know that I've helped those people in some way come closer to Christ. They are all so solid, too. The Martinez family we started teaching when I was with Sister Franco. They were so prepared. They were a referral from another set of missionaries, but when we went over to visit them, they told us they never talked to missionaries at all. Right away Norma knew we were send from God. She told us she has never felt anything for any other church before, but that every time we were there she felt something so strong. She told us after we taught the first lesson that Jose Smith's first vision really touched her and by our second visit, the Tree of Life - Lehi's dream - was her favorite scripture story. Her 12 year old daughter, Michelle was like right there with her. She went to girl's camp before she was baptized even. She actually reminds me a lot of Hope. The husband has very slowly been progressing, but he has no problems and he cried at the baptism of is wife daughter. He's just extremely shy and making a change from Catholic to Mormon just is something he's nervous about doing. The first time we committed them to baptism (with sister Holland), he wasn't ready, and Norma didn't want to do it without her husband, because she didn't want to split them up. The Valadez family helped them a lot. They were super good fellowshippers for them and could relate to their situation, because Hermano Valadez didn't always want anything to do with the gospel. So his wife and kids kind of had to walk in faith and trust that Heavenly Father would bless their family for their courage. And He did. Hermano Valadez has a solid testimony and just baptized his son on Saturday. He's changed a lot even since I've been there. But that helped Norma a lot, I think because the next time we commited them, she said yes without hesitation. She was so dedicated and so trusting in her Heavenly Father that He would not allow their family to be split up. I think he act of faith has been making the difference. He righteous desires to follow Christ are blessing their family and I'm pretty sure her husband is going to be baptized soon. We've already taken them to walk around the temple together with the whole family (they have 4 daughters, the youngest little baby's named Samantha!) and the Hermano has been coming to church and says he feels good there. There's actually a picture of them that you have. The one where we're with the Valadez fam with the stuff on our faces, they are there, too.
So you will get all of the baptism pictures when I send it. Be patient with me! It made my day at Jose's baptism, because his little brother, Nathan - who is the cutest little boy in this world- looks at me with this sassy pose and goes, "I missed you!" basically like a black woman would. It was soooo adorable. Sister Valadez cried when I left and they gave me gold earrings. :)
I didn't realized how much I loved the people in Ensign until I left. It's crazy. Oh, and now apparently Jaime and is previously less active wife are involved in like EVERYTHING! Rock. Solid. That brings so much peace to my soul. Especially since he was a tough one to crack. Haha. They want to go to the temple and be sealed together like YESTERDAY. Jaime's obsessed with being part of an eternal family and he giggled like a giddy little girl when we taught him the plan of salvation. He's changed soooo much.
It's been a good week. A lot of baptisms and meetings. Oh, and sister Webb and I gave a training at district meeting about finding because we found 8 new investigators last week. When I get back, giving a talk in sacrament meeting will be a piece of cake! I've already given 2 trainings - the other one at a zone training meeting with sister Veazey about comp unity - and given 2 talks in Spanish - one at sacrament meeting and the other at the Martinez baptism. Not to mention I have to talk in front of people on a daily basis. It's such an awesome growing experience.
I guess the Gladys Knight thing already passed. So no, I didn't go. OH! And we just set 2 investigators here for baptism on the 26th of Oct.!
I can't think of anything else to say. I love you all! Thank you for making my birthday great!
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