It Was Really Cool She Was Able to Recognize That Feeling

Recent Baptism

My dearest family,

Thanks for the emails and happy birthdays! There is no better way to spend a birthday then being out here on the mission. It is such a blessing to be out here. This week was so great, and we have seen so many miracles happening in our area. 

_______ got baptized after church yesterday and the spirit was so strong. He has been asking us to sing for his baptism, and so my companions and I sang how great thou art for the musical number. It has been amazing seeing the changes in his life. He is one of the most humble people I have ever met, and has such a desire to share the gospel with his friends. We are teaching his friend _______ now, and during the first vision he teared up and told us that he felt a big warmth in his chest. Hermana Budge extended the baptism invite and he accepted a baptism date for the 15th of December! He didn't come to church or ______'s baptism like he said he was going to and we haven't been able to talk with him yet to see why.

I am excited to be teaching him. He also said that his brother might be interested in learning too so we are going to follow up on that the next time with visit with him. 

Also _______'s mom is planning on getting baptized December 2nd. She hasn't had any coffee for an entire week, so she is doing so well and has been coming to church every Sunday too! I'm glad the other sisters are taking care of her.

My Thanksgiving was great! We went to President Tuckers house and had turkey, potatoes, and lots of other good food. It was really nice.

This week we went on exchanges. Sister Poulson went to Garden Grove, and an English speaking sister came here with sister Budge and I. It was a great exchange! 

We had a dinner appointment with a lady in our ward and she had family members over. Her family members started asking us about the church and turned off the TV so that we could teach them. They asked us all kinds of questions and it went on for about 10 or 15 min, and then the lady in our ward walked in and got mad at them. They were already members and thought that they were being so funny acting like they weren't. I will admit, they did a really good job and it was pretty funny. They said we passed the test so I guess that's a good thing. Then they gave us a referral of a friend from work so it was all worth it. 

A couple of them were actually from Guatemala, so they fed us Guatemalan food. I was thinking about Eric the whole time. They thought that it was really cool that my brother was there. 

District During a Recent P Day

Also at the beginning of the week we were walking on the street after an appointment and started talking to a family. We made an appointment with them and they seemed like they really wanted us to come back. Well we had the appointment with them yesterday, but the dad couldn't come so we scheduled another time that would be good for all of them. We taught the mom still, and it was a really cool experience. We were explaining the spirit and that it testifies of truth and talking about how it feels, and how she would receive answers. When we were explaining it to her she said, "Oh, I know how that feels, I felt that way the first time you talked to us on the street." It was really cool that she was able to recognize that feeling. It is really hard to find a whole family here to teach so I am really looking forward to working with them. 

It has been amazing watching the miracles happening in this area and seeing the hand of the Lord in this work. I am a different person for being here and am so grateful for this opportunity. 

Well, the rest of my birthday will be great! I am pretty sure we are planning on going to the duck pond and having turtle races later today with the zone, and also playing soccer which is always the best! Usually we would be teaching or tracting on Monday nights but tonight President and Sister Bowen invited the three of us over to help them decorate their Christmas tree. It should be fun. :) 

Also, thank you Kara for the package! You really did not need to do that. I loved it! :
) Miss you so much! We haven't gotten mail since last week, so mom I haven't gotten your package yet but we are getting mail later today, so thank you! :) Also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUNT KAREN! I love you tons! :) Hope it's a great one! Have a great week!

Eric, I loved the pictures!! Keep up the good work. I am so proud of you!! :)

Test the Book of Mormon

Sister Layton loves the kids!

Hola! This week has been great! Our new companion Sister Budge is so sweet and a great missionary. She is doing so well with the Spanish even though she doesn't feel like she is. It has been so fun to have her here with us. She is not afraid to talk to people at all so it's great!

Last Monday we talked to [Brother X] about changing his baptism date to give him a little bit more time to make sure that he was ready. He told us that he knows he is going to get baptized and knows that this is the true church but he wanted more time so that he could learn more. So, he wouldn't commit to a date, but was talking about doing it in the future. Then my companion said, "Guess what! It's Sister Layton's birthday on the 26th." Then he said okay then, I will prepare for the 25th!  

We made him a calendar and wrote out what he needed to do each day to prepare for his baptism. So far he has been doing everything. His baptismal interview is Wednesday night. He came to church on Sunday and also the ward activity on Friday. I am very excited for him. What a great birthday present! 

This week we had a ward activity and [Brother X] brought his friend, and it turns out that we have talked to his friend before on the street but his number didn't work so we weren't able to find him again and he was never home when we went over. Both of them love to sing, and I guess [Brother X] made friends with the Stake President because he ended up singing for the talent show while the Stake President played his guitar. It was awesome! We had to leave early to be home on time so we didn't get to watch it, but I had someone videotape it for me. Sister Poulson and I did the rubix cube together so that was fun. We finished it at the exact same time, so it was perfect. I am teaching Sister Budge how to do it too.

We had a temple tour this week for investigators which was really nice. One of President Bowen's counselors (President Tucker) was there and he invited my companionship over for thanksgiving dinner! 

Yes!

Turkey! I guess most of the missionaries last year had tacos or beans and rice for thanksgiving.

Lets see what else.. Dad, you letter at the beginning of the week was so perfect. Last week I was feeling like we have been working so hard and not having a lot of success. We had so many appointments set up and almost all of them fell through. We found so many people but had the hardest time finding them again. They wouldn't be home for appointments or would give us the wrong address or number. 

District during a recent P day

Part of your letter really helped me. I love the part when you said, "Next time you feel discouraged and perhaps a bit of failure, remember that success is not necessarily defined as many feel that it is. Success is achieved when we invite. Remember where that feeling of discouragement comes from and then boot it out!" I have to remind myself sometimes that people have their agency and that it's not our fault if they don't accept. I also have to remind myself that I am doing my part when I invite. I just love these people so much and want them to have the Gospel in their lives because I know how it can bless them. Anyway, thanks dad - that letter came at the perfect time. 

I am so grateful for all that I am learning here and the chance to share this life changing message with everyone. I have learned that ANYONE who actually tries the experiment to read the Book of Mormon, ponder, have a true desire to know if it is true, and prays to God with a sincere heart, WILL receive an answer. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. It has changed my life and I have seen it change the lives of others as well.  I feel so blessed to know what I do. I love this gospel and this opportunity to serve my Heavenly Father.

Staying in Orange!

Sister Layton with a young man who clearly has exceptional taste

Hello my dearest family,

Sorry to hear that Obama won. That is too bad. Eric, your letters make me laugh!! 

Well, ready to hear where I am going for transfers?! I am staying here in the City of Orange again!! Wahoo! :) That will make it at least 9 months here. 

Sister Poulson and I are training the new sister together. Her name is sister Budge and she comes in tomorrow. We will be picking her up at Four. I am really excited! 

We went to the training meeting this week at Presidents house and learned a lot about how we can be good trainers. We will be starting the 12 week program with her which means two hours of companionship study instead of one. I think she is from Utah somewhere near Salt Lake City. I am looking forward to getting to know her this week. 

Well, funny thing that happened this week. Remember how I told you guys I'm never going to get pulled over? Well, I didn't know you could get pulled over on foot. Haha! We were on a street where the crosswalk was far down and so we waited until there weren't any cars and ran across. Then I looked over and this motorcycle cop comes around the corner and put his lights on, he said, "Stop right there girls!" Then he said you girls don't speak Spanish so you don't have an excuse for not reading the signs. I should have started speaking Spanish and acted like I didn't understand him, but I didn't think of that until after. Oh well. I guess we wont be J-walking anymore. 

Well this week we had zone conference and Elder Kopischke from the Seventy spoke. It was about 6 hours long but it was so great! President and Sister Bowen spoke as well. :) 

As for [Brother X], he told us that he was going to come to church no matter what again this week and didn't show up. :( We even called him before and he said that he coming. We still haven't talked to him about why he didn't come but it was so sad! 

The District on P Day

Last night we knocked into a former investigator and he told us to come in and talk to both him and his daughter. We made a return appointment and he said that he was going to have his wife and son come as well. He has been to church before and said he liked it.

It is always hard to find a whole family to teach here so I am excited to come back and teach them. 

Well, not much more happened this week. I love you all! Have a great week! :) Oh one more thing, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MOM AND DAD! :) Oh yeah, and I taught my companion how to do the rubix cube and so we are probably doing it in the talent show for the ward party this week.

Curtis that is awesome that you got to go shooting! You look different and older. :'( Remember I said not to change.

(We no sooner received Briana's letter than we got another quick note from Eric, who is leaving the Guatemalan MTC tomorrow morning. He said this:

Hmmmm well good job getting pulled over Briana. That´s pretty great. Did you get a ticket or anything or just a warning? Apparently all the cops here are corrupt and they don´t ever pay attention to stuff like that so I should be safe. I probably jay walk all I want! Pretty cool. Well I don´t even know if they have crosswalks here. Well it´s great here with or without crosswalks. Oh yeah apparently pedestrians here have no rights like in the states so You just have to hope you aren´t hit by a truck or something. That wouldn´t be very fun at all.) 

(Later in the day, we got a second email.)

You get two emails today, Happy anniversary!!!

Well, my companions computer wasn't working earlier and so she didn't get to email. So here we are again. I forgot to tell you about those pictures that I sent earlier. We went to a huge trampoline gym for our P day activity last week. They had a big foam pool that you could jump into from the trampolines and other random stuff. The last picture was the P day before when we carved pumpkins and played soccer. As you can see, I wasn't in the picture. It was because I was out playing soccer.

It was so fun! We always have the best zone activities. Today we went to the Book store because my companion needed something there. We had gift cards from a member for a restaurant right next to it. We thought that we would go use them since we were in the area. Well, before we got inside this guy ran out of the restaurant and said "Hey sisters!

My boss wants to buy you lunch." We went in there are they were having a big business meeting. It turns out that most of them were LDS except for a couple and then they were all trying to convince the others to listen to us. He bought us lunch and then they had to go. One of the guys there said that his brother is in Eric's mission but I forgot to ask his name. There was also a guy who's girlfriend lives in Bend but the name wasn't familiar. When I was in the Bookstore the girl working there said that she just got home from her mission in Arizona and it was the same mission as my friend. Well it turns out that she knew him and was in his same district for a transfer. Such a small world! Hmm..

I don't know what else happened this week. Have any of the cousins put in their mission papers yet? When will Michael and Dallin leave again?

LOVE YOU ALL. :)

Getting Past the Bottleneck

At the Recent Baptism

My dearest family,

I have so much to tell you this week. It has been amazing! [Sister X] got baptized on Thursday and it was one of the best baptisms I have been to. She shared her testimony at the end and it was so powerful. She is the 18 year old that Sister Schofield and I taught last transfer with her mom. Her mom is planning on getting baptized the 25th of this month! I am so happy for them. 

Also, more great news, [Brother X] CAME TO CHURCH! We were walking down his street last Monday and he chased us down to tell us how sorry he was that he couldn't make it. His nephew passed away that morning and he went to be with family. He loved church though and said that he is looking forward to coming again next week. Everyone in the ward was so welcoming. He was even participating in the classes. 

Last week we had a lesson with him and his friend walked in the house. [Brother X] stopped the lesson and said to his friend, "When can you meet with these missionaries?" His friend told him the day that he would be available and then [Brother X] said, "okay, and what time works best for you?" He set up a time to meet with us and then [Brother X] asked him for his phone number and his information so that we could teach him. It was awesome! He is already a great missionary. We had the lesson later in the week with his friend and he sat in. At the end of the lesson we invited his friend to be baptized. He seemed unsure and said he didn't know yet. Then [Brother X] jumped in and said, "Mira. Las hermanas no han ensenado la importancia  del bautiso en su salvacion" (Look. The Sisters haven't taught you about the importance of baptism in your salvation.) Haha! It was so awesome! Then his friend said okay but he needed more time. [Brother X] is planning on getting baptized on the 11th of this month, so in a week! Everything has happened so fast that we might move it back a week to make sure he is ready, but we are going to meet with him tonight and see how he feels about it. I love teaching him and seeing the changes in his life! 

We are also teaching a guy named [Brother X]. He is so funny! We had a really powerful lesson with him a few nights ago about the plan of salvation and he seemed to really understand it. He didn't come to church though but we are still going to work with him. He accepted the baptism invite but not a date. He said he wants to read and learn more first. Halloween was great.

President and his wife invited my companion and I to come to their house and pass out candy to all of the kids. It was so much fun! The kids were so cute. We had our ward halloween party this week which was also fun. I love the little kids in our ward! 

Sisters Layton and Poulson

This week we had another sisters meeting. President was telling us about how much the missionary work is growing now that the age is lowered. He said that they have had so many new people who have turned in their papers since the announcement that they would already be able to open 60 new missions. That is amazing! 

We are going to be getting a lot of new missionaries in our mission and president said that a lot of them would be sisters. Do you know if any of the cousins have turned in their papers? 

This week we have a member of the 70 coming for our zone conference which should be awesome! Also, this weekend is transfers so we will see if I say here or not. I hope so!!! Transfer week always makes me nervous because I love this area and ward. 

Anyway, I hope all is well for you guys! Eric, keep up the good work! I can't wait until you are out in the field! :) Love you all!