A Week of Anniversaries!

A year ago today was my first day in Albuquerque, and also the day Carson entered the MTC . This week was such a great week!

I went on exchanges but went to the other sisters’ area. The best lesson of the day was with Cristina, their new investigator. The Spirit was so very strong in the lesson, and we tied baptism in so perfectly that it made perfect sense for her to say yes when we invited her. We even set a date with her! We are so happy! The cigarette smoke smell about killed me in her apartment. It gives me major headaches, and sometimes I am surprised that I am not more used to it because we are around it a ton.

Anyway, also that morning we had such a fun morning singing hymns with a couple men who aren’t quite there. They sang beautifully but didn’t always know the words.  Apparently once a month, the sisters sing with them. They start from the beginning and sing every hymn they know. They know the tunes really well, but have a hard time with the words and end up saying stuff like "come, come ye saints...the church is true today..Latter-days...church is true." hahaha you would die. I just kept trying to follow what they were saying. it made me so happy.There was a lot of, “The church is true today….latter day saints…today..today…today.” It was so fun!  

A lady came to do a language proficiency test this week. This is the first time I have had it done on my mission. She told me that she didn’t have anything for me to work on! That was quite a compliment coming from a native. It isn’t true, but felt good to hear! J I still lots of fine-tuning to do with my Spanish and Hermana Monsalvo is helping me a ton with that.

Saturday was such a great day! We talked to more people today than Hermana Monsalvo and I have talked to together in one day. It felt so good. We were also able to set six baptismal dates! We have been working so hard all month and finally some things are moving and changing.

Our neighbors cat Garfield...I love putting out a little bowl of milk for him!

The first baptismal date is for the Bidana Family. We were a little nervous that Miguel was losing interest, because he didn’t text us back this week. But when we were able to have a lesson with him, his three girls, and his niece and nephew we taught them the Plan of Salvation and they loved it! They were asking questions, answering questions, and just loving it. Those girls are literally the sweetest. We finally took a picture of them so you can see how they are.

Then right after that we taught the Family Sanchez and they loved it as well! They can’t come to church yet, but we were able to set a date with those that were at baptismal age. The littlest guy (Israel) was being so cute and repeating everything we were saying. He is about two years old. They are a really special family as well.

We even had dinner with Ana and Jorge. It is the biggest blessing to be able to be here with them…holy cow! I am so lucky. Ana’s testimony is so strong. She is such a strong woman and I look up to her a ton. I was kind of sad, because Isaac was taking a nap so I didn’t get to see him. He is my favorite!

We also were able to get Isabel Castillo to come out with us, and we taught some new investigators. We just had the best day ever. I have the strongest testimony of the Lord letting us get to very low and hard points, so we can learn and then surprising us and blessing us in that moment!

Sunday was the day of tender mercies and miracles! FOR REAL! It was quite incredible how the Lord tested us this week. I had this fear all morning that Miguel wasn’t going to come to church with his girls. He wasn’t texting us back, and I was worrying about it the entire time during ward council. We were waiting for them in the lobby and then just decided to sit down in the chapel. When we started singing the sacrament hymn, I had totally lost hope that they were coming.  Then JUST before they blessed the sacrament, they all walked in. Miguel, Angela, Ashley, Jiselle (his niece), and little Jocelyn.

It was such a happy moment! I honestly didn’t know what to do. It sounds like I am overreacting in being so excited that they came to church, but believe me, our lives as missionaries revolve around these people, and when they don’t come to church, it is so sad for us. Anyway, they came, they loved it, and they finally stayed for all three hours. Angela is going to mutual on Thursday. The ward is really reaching out to her (she is 12). We are also going to sing a song for the Father’s Day party this Friday. They want to put together a surprise for their dad. I think that is the sweetest especially because he is a single father and takes care of all the girls. We want to find out more about the mom this week, because the girls would need her permission for when they get baptized.

Sunday night a huge miracle happened. Deiri finally broke down her walls and accepted a baptismal date, along with her son Brandon! That is eight for the week! We are so thrilled.

As you can see in the picture below with the older fella, one of our other investigators (Miguel) has a beautiful cherry tree and let us take cherries. I was soooo happy. It reminds me of home, all the fresh fruit.

I love what I am doing and know it is absolutely true! Share the gospel…and do it joyfully and boldly!