November 18, 2013

We have two baptisms on the 23rd, this Saturday.  The moms of Benita and Zaida are getting baptized.  The other 3 people who had set baptism dates - Lourdes, Mike and Rosie - aren't going to make their dates and didn't make their dates, but sister Webb and I are confident they'll still get baptized.  We havrn't been able to see Mike and Lourdes because they had all their family come down and told us not to come by until December, but that they are still reading and will come to church.  They didn't show up at church, so we stopped by and talked to Mike in the doorway.  He can notice a difference sense we haven't been there, so that's good.  They're still very interested, though, just stubborn right now.  We'll see them soon.  Rosie is super solid, she just needs more time to come to church.  She came to church once, loved it and also came to the halloween activity.  We went to night church with her last night and guess who I saw?  TOMAS!  He just got a new calling, but wasn't allowed to tell me yet, but I guessed it on accident.  I asked him how hno potts was doing (ward mission leader) and he told me he's now the elders Q president, and so when I asked who the new ward mission leader is, his face got super red.  Yep.  that's all I'm saying.  Haha.  He said he'd tell me for sure though in a letter.  It was really cool to see him, he even blessed the sacrament.  He's baptizing someone on Saturday, too.  OH!  And he's already done baptisms for the dead TWICE, showed me his temple recommend and everything.  And he's going to get the Melkezidic (sp?) priesthood very soon (even though I thought you had to wait a year..?)  He's so solid.  He told me his patriarchal blessing suggests he will have many callings in his lifetime, including bishopric... he's so solid and I love him so much.  He insisted on taking a picture, which I would send to you, but I look suuuuuper white.  Haha.  Bad lighting.  He said to another one of the hermanos that was there, "this is my missionary!"  And the hermano was like, "oh, she baptized you?"  And he was like, "yep, her and sister Franco, mis angeles!"  

I'M SO PROUD OF HIM!  He's talking next week and I can't be there, but it's okay.  I'll live.  

Yes, we are teaching lots of people, one named Jorge just got out of prison and is an alcoholic, but really wants to change and is a good guy.  He said for sure he'd be at church this past sunday, though, and when our member went by to give him and our other investigator, Isidro, a ride, they were apparently either having a fiesta or partied too hard last night...yep, we need to work with them a little bit, but lots of potential.  We had one of our new investigators, Stefania, come to church yesterday.  She's a sweet little woman from Guatemala.  Everything is doing well with the work.  We had interviews with president recently and he trusts us, everyone is apparently super impressed with what we're doing here in Desert Bloom, even though really it's all the Lord's doing.  I also mentioned the Hno Retis situation to president and he told us to have Retis call him and he will give him the info to contact the Tampa Stake president, because it's all through the stake.  We'll see.  I'm pretty sure he's for sure moving no matter what, though, because he's not one to ignore a prompting.  

So you never answered my question about the night in Zarahemla.  From the Book of Mormon?  And could you send me stamps?  

This week was a really good one.  For some reason I was feeling very self critical and depressed in the middle of the week and I could not get out of it.  Friday morning I just prayed like crazy to have the strength to get Satan out of my head, read my scriptures EXTRA hard, and that day was AMAZING and the whole weekend, too.  It didn't come for free, though.  The first thing I did was make my companion's bed.  I know, it sounds stupid, but just showing Heavenly Father that I WANTED to serve others, in even small ways, started to make me feel better.  I know He answered my prayers.  This weekend turned out to be one of the busiest ones in a while, too.  I have a testimony that when we work hard and lose ourselves, we're the happiest.  

I love you all very much!  Words can not express!  I'll see you soon (via Skype!)