Making some progress...

We were a little nervous to go to Olivia on Tuesday, just because sometimes people get excited and set baptismal dates and then the next time you see them, they totally change. Well good news! She was totally fine…thank goodness. The best part was that she is FINALLY recognizing God’s hand in all of this. It was quite the story of how we met. Olivia and Enrique (who she cares for) were visiting her mom in El Paso and they had gotten lost on their way to Juarez. Well they had to go back and when they were there, they met the hermanas in Rio Grande. They sent us the referral. It was just way neat to see her recognizing things that are happening.

On Wednesday we went by again but this time with Hermana Dominguez. We took my favorite funfetti cookies and pictures we printed from when we went to the temple. She loved it! We were able to watch some videos of the prophet and the apostles. On Thursday we went by and had another lesson with her and this time she had read the heck out of EVERYTHING we had given her. She had read the “Four Minutes” talk from the last General Conference, as well as some stuff in the Bible, the Book of Mormon and the Gospel Principles Book! She is going crazy about it all. We are thrilled. She always has lots of questions, but they are such good ones. She told us that she now takes her books with her to work, to the lavanderia and to anywhere else. It is so cute. On Thursday she also opened up to us a lot more about her family and her leg (she had polio). She hasn’t wanted her leg to be a burden or something that holds her back so she doesn’t let it; it reminded me of Grandpa and how he hasn’t let it hold him back. We decided she needs to do some motivational speaking or at least a good charla foganera.

Also on Thursday we had a GREAT lesson with Maria de la Luz. She still wants to get baptized so badly. She had read what we left her and she really understands everything so perfectly. We have really been blessed with some smart investigators! Carlitos also passed his baptismal interview on Thursday. He is adorable! We also ate with one of my favorite families, the Garcia family…one of them. There are a million in the branch! They both served missions and shared with us a lot of fun stories. Their daughters are a HANDFUL! But super cute and super fun. Their house is a Spanglish house, because he is Mexican and she is from the USA; it’s quite adorable.

We have been praying to not just take good members with us to certain people, but to actually take the BEST member possible for our investigator; someone who would help them make it to the temple. This week we prayed really hard to know who would be the best person for Maria de la Luz, and we both decided the Jurados. Then when Hermana Corral came out with us and met Maria she also commented that Hermana Jurado would be great for her. That just affirmed the answer we had received. Well we finally got it all worked out and Hermano and Hermana Jurado came out with us. They got along so well! And they shared some very personal stories. We wouldn’t originally have put them together, but then when we prayed really hard that was the answer. I am so glad we went with it. Maria de la Luz is SO READY to get baptized. She is the 43 year old who just had her first child, Carlitos who is definitely a miracle. We are just trying to get her a new job where she doesn’t work Sundays and also a divorce filed through. But then she will be totally ready. She is so excited to have her son Carlitos be raised in the church. I don’t remember if I told you but she has had a lot of preparation for this moment. She first found out about the church in the 80’s in Mexico and then not too long ago in Arizona. We are just working on her husband now.

We also had an awesome district meeting this week. Our district leader received a bunch of money from his grandma so he bought us all our favorite drinks and brought Papa Murphys pizza. That wasn’t why DM was so good. His district meetings are always so great, and right now we are focusing on building member trust through 15 minute visits. Basically we make little appointments with members and prepare something for them, complimenting them like crazy of course and making sure we leave in 15 minutes. As missionaries, I know that we do have a special spirit about us, and the more we can spread it around, the better.

Carlitos’ baptism went great! It was quite nuts before it though because the water was cold in the building. So that was round two for me on my mission with freezing cold water. We were boiling water on the stove and doing all other sorts of crazy things. Carlitos gave his cute little testimony at the end and it was to die for, and so did Mariana. Hemano Castillo did the confirmation for her daughter but Carlitos got his on Sunday. Baptisms are the most stressful thing in the world but also the greatest!

Carlitos came late to church with his mom, but they made it in time for the confirmation. Olivia came again and loved it! We actually spent most of our third hour at church with the mujeres jovenes, because we are having a volleyball activity this Thursday and we want them to invite their friends.

The Castillo family is doing great! Hermano just received a calling (executive secretary) and they will definitely be going to the temple this year. It has been so fun to work with less actives that have actually progressed, like a lot. I am so happy for them. Ana is still obviously doing fantastic in her calling. I love sitting by her in ward council. I just love her. Sometimes it is weird to think we are the same age and she has a five year old son, but then again it isn’t so weird. We get along so great, and I just love her.

President Miller shared this quote with us this week from Elder Scott:
“The scriptures record that throughout history, on occasions of exceptional importance, God the Father's voice has been heard. On repeated occasions Jesus Christ has personally appeared to select individuals. Yet there is only one supernal, singular instance of which we have knowledge that God the Father Himself appeared in person. This was done with His precious Holy Son, Jesus Christ, to an audience of one. That one was young Joseph Smith Jr., an extraordinary spirit prepared before the foundation of the earth. He would become the greatest prophet sent to earth. About to come forth was the return of priesthood authority, the complete Restoration of the Church established by the Savior, with additional scripture required for our time provided by continuing revelation from the Savior.”

I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR THIS! Especially, because of kind of a rough encounter on the streets yesterday. We have a living day prophet. We don’t have to wonder if we are on the right path.