I am so happy to hear that you are doing well. That is crazy that you have snow! It is so hot and humid here in Madison and it is only going to get worse but no worries I will buckle down and take it :) Well this week has been amazing. It has been a week of Battle. We as a zone are working for 10 Baptism this week and we have been working really hard and putting our faith in the lord. He has really been blessing us and we have been seeing the miracles take place.
Last Sunday (16 of May) we found out that we were going for this goal of 10 baptism and that we have to reach it... so we started the battle we went through our area book and looked for everyone that had a baptism date before or that has been to church enough times that they could get baptized. We made the list and started visiting and checking people off. On Tuesday we got a call from the English Elders in Galliton (30min from us, but still our area) they said hey we have some referrals for you, great we love referrals! Elder Anderson (the elder giving us the referrals) said ok I didn't want to give you this family because, I love them but I know we are holding them back and you can help them progress. Their names are Juan and Esmerald he speaks perfect English but she does not speak any. However they have been teaching them for about 4 months, they have had someone translating for the wife when they teach. He told us they have been to church 3 times or more to the English ward. They love it... they have been taught pretty much all the lessons but you just have to review things. They have two children Venessa (8 years old) and Angel (5 years old). We said, wow Elder this is an answer to a prayer. He told us again well I didn't want to give them up but I know they need Spanish and you need to help them. This Elder goes home in two weeks so we told him Elder we will get them baptized before you go home so you can be there. He said ok. We hung up the phone and made some plans and prayed and went to bed.
Wednesday we set up an appointment with them and went to visit this miracle family. We talked to them had a beautiful lesson and asked them to be baptized they said they wanted to but were not married. So we said well we can help you with that and get you a discount :) So we SET A DATE for the 29th of this month. Really we set 3 dates one for each of them and their daughter. We also found out that they had some problems with the word of wisdom, so we explained that and took all the coffee from their house and his last cigarette. We told them that they could do it and it was going to be hard but that they would make it through. Sunday they came to church everything was in Spanish for them and they loved it. They got a blessing before they left to help them with this last week before their baptism and to give them extra strength. They are doing great. They are getting baptized and we are excited for them...so excited this is a miracle :) We are getting them married on Tuesday or Wednesday and then they are getting baptized on Saturday. I know satan is going to work on them so hard this week so we are praying extra hard. They are going to make it they already know it is true and their prayers are always so amazing. They feel the joy of the gospel. It is such a joy to know that you are helping someone change for the better.
This is not the only miracle this week. We also set 3 other baptism dates this week for a total of 6 for this week:
Paulina- she is a single mother of 3 children ages 10, 9, and 5 and we have taught her a little she lives in Lebanon (40 min from us but still our area) she really likes it we taught her the plan of salvation and she loved it she was asking questions and you could see the joy just coming into her eyes. We extended her a date and she said yes I want to be baptized. She then told us Hermanas "thank you I feel so much better now that I have talked with you. I just feel good." We told her it was the spirit and that this was going to change her life. Her date is for the 12 of June and we are going to get her daughters baptized with her they just don't have a date yet. They also came to church and they loved it. Paulina was just so happy.
Sandra and her daughter Dayana also we given a date this week for the 12 of June they are a great family and we are working hard with them. They want it but are having some strong opposition right now so we are working on that. They didn't make it to church this week so we might have to move their baptism date but they are still preparing.
Jesus and Magdalene- Jesus had a baptism date for the 29th of May but we could never get him to church well he finally came with his wife and little daughter and they loved it. He works with a friend who is a member and his friend told him "Jesus you have to go to church if you want to learn...so go" and He CAME. It was great
A member also was doing missionary work and brought her friend with her to church who is not a member what a miracle. But in all Yesterday at church we had 8 INVESTIGATORS there. It was amazing we were running around trying to get everyone to classes and children to go where they needed to go and the adults to their classes and it was just amazing. The Lord really does love us, and is giving us miracles all the time.
Hermana Bound and I are so very grateful for this wonderful week that we have had with all of the miracles that the lord has given us. We still have a long way to go and so much to do this week. It is going to be another crazy but amazing week and we are excited for what it holds for us. The church is so true put your faith in the Lord and great things will take place, I know they will!
Please keep me in your prayers this week and our area. I will need them more now than ever. I thank you all so much for you support and love. Have a great week. Enjoy the snow and I will talk to you next week. Thanks for your prayers keep them coming.
Love
