Filling Up on Sin Tacos

My dearest family,

Last week we played soccer for the zone activity which was a ton of fun!! My companion ended up hurting her knee though and hasn't been able to walk a lot this week. She is doing a lot better now. We went on an exchange and had a sister from another trio come stay with Sister Budge while sister Poulson and I went out to our lessons. 

I don't know if I have mentioned this, but Sister Poulson is the new coordinating sister, so we go on a lot of exchanges again like I did when I first got here. This week I had one of the craziest exchanges of my mission. Sister Poulson left, and two sisters came with Sister Budge and I, so there were four of us. All three of them are being trained, which made it a very interesting day. They were all at different parts in the training program so it was kind of crazy. 

Eric, Sister Longoria was one of the sisters that came with us. (She was in the MTC with Eric) She told me to tell you hi. Anyway, setting up the Christmas tree last week at the Bowens was a lot of fun. They fed us dinner and shared a message for family home evening. It was a nice relaxing evening. Brother ______ got confirmed on Sunday. He is doing so well!

We are still teaching his friend but he didn't come to church again like he said he was going to. He had us send missionaries to his family in Mexico which was awesome. ______ has also been inviting his other friends to listen to us. He is the best missionary! 

We had a couple of lessons with him this week and every time we go over there he tries to feed us. Well we had just eaten before we went over there and we kept telling him that, but he made us food anyway. He asked us what we ate before, and a accidentally said tacos de pecado (sin), when I meant to say tacos de pescado (fish)... He thought that was so funny. Oops. I was sooo full after his meal though! We have decided that we shouldn't eat too much before we go over to his house now, because he always feeds us more.

We went to the Christmas devotional last night which was good. I'm grateful to be out here and love it! Thanks Aunt Angie and Uncle Byron for the package. You didn't need to do that! I love and miss you all so much!

Mom, I don't really have a pic. Sorry. Plus it's super rainy here right now and doesn't really look like California.I could try to get one though but you probably need it this week..? I don't know.

Mom, that cute little jacket is perfect and it fits really well! If it was any bigger it would be too big, You did a really good job! I love it so much! Thank youuu!!! :) You didn't have to get me that. Thanks so much!!!!! :) I will have to send you a picture soon with it. :) Love you!!!

Ok, so there has been something on my mind a lot lately. I keep thinking about how I need to do something with Spanish after my mission. I was wondering if I could major in child development and minor in Spanish and still get my associates. I don't really know how that all works or it could even do that, but I keep having the thought like I need to do something in school with Spanish. Well let me know what you think or if you know how that could even work. It's just something that I keep thinking about.

Love you all so much. Thanks for the Birthday letters and package.

Talk to you in 22 days! :D

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.