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!! :)

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!

I Feel Him Helping Me Each Day of My Mission

Hermanas Layton y Breitenstein

Hola familia!

Today was transfers and has been a crazy day. Sorry if I don't have as much time to write. Hermana Vilches went back to English speaking and I am with Hermana Breitenstein again. I am so excited!
This week we had exchanges. For the first one I stayed in our area and another Spanish speaking sister came with me. I spent another day in Newport Beach in an English speaking area and was able to go to a baptism with her. I love the feeling of watching someone get baptized, it always reminds me of when I was baptized, and makes me want to be so much better. It was at the chapel right by the temple, so afterwards we were able to walk around the temple with one of her investigators. It has been fun to be able to see different areas in the mission, but I am glad that I won't need to do exchanges every week now. They are fun, but can be stressful.

Did you know that missionaries in Cali all drive Mercedes?

Last week our investigator was able to get baptized on Tuesday and confirmed on Sunday. She was the same one that just got married. She is so amazing and such a great example to her family and friends! Her husband still doesn't want anything to do with the missionaries but he likes to come to the ward activities. Their family always helps us out and always bring different friends to the ward activities. They are great!

I am happy to be staying in this area. I just love the people here. I know that this is where I am supposed to be. I know that Heavenly Father knows each person that we are working with individually and He knows me individually as well. I feel Him helping me each day of my mission, and I know that I would not be getting very far without Him. I love the Gospel and love being a missionary! :)

When you're from Oregon, pumping gas is a new experience

That's so cool that Ariel got her mission call. She will do great! That is also awesome that she will be in the MTC with her brother. OK, I am not saying this to take your guess, but I was just telling my companion in the car ride over here that I was going to change my guess to Germany before I read that that is what you were thinking. That's where I think Eric will go. Haha... and for the states... Kentucky?

And to answer Grandma's question, we get letters on Mondays after we email, during our zone activity. And actually anytime we see our zone leaders they can give us our mail. They are in our district so we see them quite a bit. Wednesdays are district meetings so we get mail those days for sure too.
Mom and dad, thank you so much for the package. I got home from an exchange after a long week and when I saw it, it just made my day. Mom I love the outfit of course. :) Curtis always has the best letters. Love him so much. I pray for you always. Eric, the mission is the best thing that has ever happened to me and you are going to love it! :)

The Mission is Changing My Life

That is awesome that Eric's papers are going to be in. I am going to guess Brazil. Even though I kinda have a feeling he might go to some weird crazy place. I know he doesnt want to learn Spanish as much, but I'm kinda hoping he goes Spanish speaking. :) 

Newport Beach Temple

We have a new rule in the mission that temple days are no longer on P days! Wahoo! That means that I probably shouldn't ever have a problem emailing home on P days. At least I hope anyway. Transfers get crazy, but I will try to make sure that email is at the top of the list. :)
The Hallmans and the Adams sent me a package. I loved it, and the letters from the kids made me want to cry. They were so sweet! I miss them!

It's been a crazy week, but so good. We changed the dates for our investigators baptisms. One of them just got married this weekend and is getting baptized tomorrow night! We are so excited for her. Her husband and boys are going to come. The husband hasn't wanted anything to do with the missionaries, but has opened up a lot lately. He has been talking to us now and even coming to some of the ward activities.

Our other investigator still hasn't been able to come to church and is not keeping all of her commitments so we need to move her date back. We are meeting with her today, and hopefully she will be able to come to the baptism tomorrow. We had another temple tour this last week.

Our recent convert came with us and he loved it! We haven't had a lesson with him yet about temples so it was good for him to go on the tour.

Next Monday is the end of transfers so there is a chance that I will have a different companion then, and like I said before, I have heard rumors that Hna. Breitenstein is coming back! :)
Grandma and Grandpa Layton asked a question about our lessons... When we are teaching men, we have to have a member come with us unless there is a woman at home. We can teach women with just the two of us though. That's what was nice when I had two companions, we were able to teach anyone. It's always good to have members with us though because they can be friends with those we are teaching and it helps a lot and makes them feel more comfortable at church.

Well time is up, but I know that the church is true. The mission is changing my life. I love this gospel! :)

Baptism This Saturday

It's been another great week here in Cali! The members in our ward are the best. A few weeks ago we had dinner with one of the memebrs and left her with a message about missionary work. We asked her to think about a few people and pray about someone that would be willing to listen to the missionaries. We went over again this week for dinner and followed up to see if she had thought of anyone. She pulled out a long list of people she wanted the missionaries to visit. It was awesome!

After dinner we asked her if there was anything that we could do to help her. She said yes and asked if we could go to her neighbors house right then to see if they will be willing to listen. She is such a great missionary! We went over and taught the first lesson. The man we taught seemed really interested and his wife said that he usually doesn't let people from another religion into his house. It was a great experience. They don't live in our area though so we passed them to the Elders. It's sad to teach a great family and them have to pass them but we get families passed to us as well.

This week we got a name passed to us and we went over that day to meet him. He already had a couple of the lessons with the missionaries in the other area. We have met with him a few times since, and he is awesome. He wants to get baptized! We asked him if he would be baptized on the 12th of May but he wanted to do it the week before instead so it's this Saturday.

Just before this happened we were having a hard time getting people to keep commitments and most of the people we were working with were not progressing. We decided to make a goal that we would work for at least one baptism this transfer and we would do everything we could to reach that goal. We talked about how we need to have faith that we can find the right person though Heavenly Fathers help and then act and do all we can to reach that goal. Then if we have done our part Heavenly Father will help us. I know that it is not possible without the Lords help, so we have been praying to be able to find the right person who is ready for this message. It's amazing how our Heavenly Father listens to our prayers and was just waiting for us to have a little more faith. I love this gospel, I love this work, and I absolutely love being a missionary!

The missionary in our ward had a cousin that got called to Anaheim? Was it spanish speaking? He is going to love this mission! And the president is amazing! That is so cool! Talk to you in a couple of weeks for mothers day!

WOOO!!! :D Adios