May 29, 2012

helloooooo familia!

Well, sounds like you're all doing good. Thanks for the emails! So...this week was a good one. i can't even remember all that happened. But two big pieces of news: BAPTISM and TRANSFERS. 

Baptism: soooo...claudia got baptized! I'll try to attach some photos. But it was really good! So, just fyi, baptism days are actually really stressful. So, we were stressing out the whole day, because there are so many little details to take care of, but in the end it all went really smoothly. also, one of our members got us in-n-out for dinner, so i was happy with that haha. I love that I get called to like one of only 3 other states that have In-n-out, what are the odds. Anyways, so...baptism! So, she had her interview a few days before, and it went really well. She came out of it crying, (which, we had never seen her cry!), and the elder who interviewed her said she had a really sincere testimony. she bought a skirt and everything for her baptism, and I actually gave her one of my skirts as well, because she needed more church clothes. so she came on Saturday, and showed up with her family and her really good friend, Heather. Heather isn't a member, but has been there for almost all of the lessons, and she reads the BOM and prays with Claudia..haha they're awesome. they prayed and read their scriptures before studyingfor their finals, and talked about how it helped. way good! anyways, so I played the piano and gave a talk on baptism. then hno laguna baptized her, and he had to dip her twice, por su puesto. Claudia's so funny, she talked before her baptism about how she felt like an astronaut in the big white suit. Then after her baptism, she was talking about how it felt after she got baptized, and she was like "well yah, then I REALLY felt like an astronaut, because the suit was all heavy and stuff, but I felt super light!" she's so cute. she was like "yeah it's true, you really DO feel clean!" she's awesome, I have loved teaching her and just see our relationship with her develop. Then, after her baptism, her mom bore her testimony and it was SO good. Jovita has such a solid testimony, she talked about how grateful she is that there are missionaries out there to help find those that need the truth in their lives, and how much she hopes that her whole family will come to feel its truth for themselves some day. It was a really sweet, heartfelt testimony. We had all the guests write little notes to her when she was getting changed, and afterwards just had simple refreshments. she gets along really well with one of the Young women, but it's still hard to try to get the members to take initiative in really welcoming her in. But, the next day, she got confirmed, and stayed for the whole 3 hours, and it was really good. I hope and pray her mom will start getting more sundays off, so they can really become a part of the ward. So there we go! Yay baptism!

So, that next day, Sunday, was actually a very up and down day. So, we had correlation that morning w/ the ward. And for the first time ever, like all the main leaders showed up. So we had a great correlation, and when we finished our reports, they all started praising us and the elders and Hno Laguna, saying how great of a job we've done! (because transfers are this week) The YW president talked about how she's seen a big difference in the YW since they've worked more with us, and everyone said that we all made a great team. It was great, I was just like "My work here is done!" felt so good. And THEN...we stand up to leave, and they're like "oh, one more thing...", and the primary president starts talking about Cesar (9 yr old convert), and this whole issue that's been going on with getting him rides to church. so, everyone starts chiming in, about how it's too big of a liability, and how this situation needs to be avoided in the future, and etc. etc. so they basically tell us that we're not supposed to worry about him now, that he's their responsibility, but as of now, there's no solution. So, it was a super great moment, and then a super disappointing moment right after. Of course, I completely understand their point of view on it, but it's heartbreaking when you have to see it happen. I just felt SO bad afterwards...because cesar's mom will text us on sunday mornings, saying "is anyone giving cesar a ride today?" and we have to tell her no, and he can't go to church because his parents aren't there to support him. It's so sad...so, I was really bummed out after that. It's hard when you just see a convert slipping away into inactivity, and there's nothing you can do about it...even if he is only 9 years old. I'm grateful, because i feel like my mission is definitely preparing me for lifetime service in the church, and helping me get used to the up's and downs.

Also, mother, I got your incredible package this past week! I was not expecting that haha! but thank you SO much, you went above and beyond, and I loved everything you sent. Thank you SO much, that was the best! Also, on that day, I got a letter from Chanz telling me she's putting in her papers! and i also got a really great letter from Zoe Kumagai, so it was a great day. It's funny how emotional I sometimes get over mail...absence makes the heart grow fonder, for reals. 

Ok...so, transfers. Lo and behold, we are staying the exact same. Except we're back in the VC, and we actually moved apartments. So, we got transfer news Sunday night, and they told us Sister Cottrell and I were staying together, and we were both like "What??" So, we're going to be together for a 3rd transfer. We were both a little unsure about how to feel about it. We get along really well, and we're actually supperr similar, so we're mostly just nervous that we're going to ruin the good thing we got going for us. The next morning, we were like "Alright. Let's do this." I think it's definitely preparing me for marriage, because in marriage, there aren't transfers every six weeks, eh? We're both a little nervous that the monotony will get to us too much, and I think we'll just have to learn to mix things up and learn to communicate and everything. It'll be good, I guess we'll just see what the lesson is that we have to learn from all of it. But i am excited to stay in Liahona 1st for another transfer! I love the members in this ward, and I love that I feel like myself around them. We also got moved to another member's home. So, we're living with these new members, The Pratts. (And yes...we are related to them. They want to know how I'm related to Parley haha..dad, that's your job.) So, it's this nice couple, and the husband's 96 yr old mom, whos from Argentina. She's already told us 900 stories of Argentina, and she's as Argentinean as they come. So, it'll be interesting to be in a member's home, w/o our own space. I'll see what it's like mom and dad! let me know your tips about what to do and what not to do. 


Oh...side note, remember my MTC comp, Sister lamb? I think I mentioned that she broke her arm back in january...well, she got sent home today! Because her arm wasn't healing well and she needs another surgery. So she had to go back to Panama, and hopefully she'll come back :( So sad!

What else...I can't even remember what all happened this week. I'm excited to be back in the VC, and we're getting a new art exhibit there in a few days which will be awesome. this new transfer will be good...I feel like i know exactly what to expect, yet I have no idea what to expect. anyways, I love you all, you're the best family ever, the gospel is true! Love, sister fors