Hey everyone!
It has been another great week! We just got back from the
temple. I am so happy that we went before I came home, because some of the
zones aren't going until next transfer. I know I say this every time, but I
just love being there! It amazing how much you learn every time.
__________ got baptized on Sunday. He was so happy and it was
amazing to see his whole family there. It was kinda a stressful baptism for a
lot of reasons. It was combined with the elders baptisms and there were some
confusions with who was making the program. ____________ and his family showed up
almost 20 minutes late and everyone was waiting. Then [one of the recent converts] got scared
because she was supposed to give that talk and she told us that she couldn't do
it. Luckily we found a member that was willing to do it instead so we were
happy about that.
The elders asked us last minute to do the musical number and
lets just say it didn't sound too good... Haha! Then during the baptism they
said his name wrong and neither of the witnesses caught it so I jumped up there
to tell them (I don't know if I was supposed to do that or not...) but I just
wanted to make sure it was done right. And on top of all that, both the stake
president and mission president decided to come.
The stake president pulled
all of the missionaries aside after and wasn't too happy with how it went. We
definitely made some mistakes but it's just too bad that that was the one
baptism that he decided to come to. There were just a lot of miscommunications.
Anyways, other than all of that it was great, and the important part is that he
got baptized right? :) He has changed so much in the last couple of weeks, it
really has been a miracle.
As for [another investigator], he is still planning on getting baptized but
there were a few things that we are helping him work through. Hopefully it will
be this coming weekend but if not then the next. He just started school and has
been really busy with that and work. We didn't get to meet with him a lot this
last week but we are seeing him tonight so we should know more then.
I don't
know if I already told you about [another investigator], but we have been teaching him for a
while and he accepted a baptism date. His wife was not interested at all
at first but now she has opened up a ton! We couldn't get him to come to
church but his wife came with three of her kids. She is planning on coming again
and said it was really interesting.
Also, I don't know if I told you about la
familia _________, but she is a member and her husband is not. A few of
months ago he had an accident at work and was in a coma for almost two months.
They didn't know if he would live or ever be the same but they have seen a
miracle with him. He is back home and can talk again. He can even walk with a
walker. Anyways after all of this happened he has been way more open to
listening to us. He even came to church on Sunday and loved it! He wants to
come again next week.
Mom, to answer you question about the guy that we found a
while back who we felt prompted to visit... We actually met with his wife this
week and she seems amazing. We have another appointment to meet with both of
them together. He has been really busy with work so we haven't met with them as
much as we would like to, but I still have a very good feeling about them. :) I
know we were led there.
Lets see what else... We met a guy named [investigator] this
week and he actually stopped us while we were on our way to an appointment. He
said, "Why are your people always so happy? How can we be that
happy?" We made an appointment to come back and teach him. He seemed
really into learning more. We also are teaching [still another investigator] and [yet one more investigator]. [The gentleman] has cancer so the elders came to give him a
blessing. They both felt the spirit very strong and he even said that he
was feeling better after that. We invited them to get baptized and they both
accepted! It was a special experience. There are so many other amazing people
we have been blessed to meet and I am just so happy to be here and be a part of
this work. It is not going to be easy for me to leave but I'm not going to
worry about that yet. I still have some time to work! I love these people so
much and the mission has changed my life. :)
The 4th of July was fun! It was hard to find people that day
though. No one really wanted to listen, and there were parties everywhere. When
we came home to plan we kept getting distracted because there were about 10
firework shows going around our apartment. It was fun to watch even though we
get to see disneyland fireworks almost every night. Yesterday was also fun. The
members think its really funny to feed us chiles.
Dad you know chiles de arbol? (Yes, I know about the chiles de arbol. Pretty hot, but only about 10% of the habanero. Weak stuff that! :) ) Our members gave them to us. My companions reactions were soooo funny!!! It was
hot but I actually like chile so it wasn't too bad especially when I put it in
my food... This week for district lunch they are making me eat tacos de lengua
and cabeza (tongue tacos and brain tacos). Yeah gross. They are doing it with me though. Haha I have to have
the experience before I go home right? :)
Ok well nothing else exciting happened this week besides the
fight I watched outside of our apartment window this morning and the homeless
man that crawled out of the preschool... Haha! Ok, I have to go! Love you all!
See you next week! :)
Love you all so much and I can't wait to see you. :)
~Sister Layton
