Week 12 - September 5

Hi everyone!!

This week was a good one! Unfortunately we had to drop Daniel because
he wasn't reading.... We told him to call us when he started reading
and we could teach him again. However, the highlight of my week was
probably at Jennifer's house. We went over and started talking about
how she was doing, etc. Out of the blue she was like... "So when I was
walking home from school today I was thinking... I wanna get baptized"
We were surprised (She hadn't been reading or keeping commitments
before) so we talked to her a lot about it and she seemed to really
seemed to be serious about it. We told her it was a big step and that
she would need to do a lot of things to prepare before she can be
baptized. She told us she really wants to do it, and soon so both
Hermana Starling and I can be there. So we set a baptism date for
October 2nd (we are going to have to switch it to the week before or
the week after because of conference weekend) BUT nonetheless, she has
a baptism date!!! We told her we are going to have to teach her a lot
in order to help her prepare by the right day. She agreed to meeting
with us 3 times a week and to work on praying, reading scriptures,
repenting, and going to all 3 hours of church(her family always leaves
after Sacrament meeting). We agreed and promised her it would be a
great experience for her if she prepared. :) We also talked to her
parents about it, and they were very supportive-we just hope they will
continue to be supportive after she is baptized. Jennifer came with us
to watch the baptism of a girl named Ashanti on Saturday and we
explained everything to her and showed her what clothes she will get
to wear, and how she will be baptized. She seemed to think it was
cool, but is a bit nervous. And then on Sunday came the real test-
would she go to all 3 hours of church? We wouldn't be able to tell,
because her family goes to the Spanish branch and we go to an English
ward. But we asked some missionaries in the Branch she will be
attending to help out with fellowshipping her and helping her feel
welcome. They also said they will try and get lots of people from the
Spanish Branch out to help teach before and after she is baptized. At
the end of Sunday we asked the missionaries if the Santos family had
gone to church- and they had gone to all 3 hours!!!!!!! Which is SUCH
a good thing for them. They haven't gone to all of church for a long
time. And it showed us that Jennifer was willing to help her family
get there and that she was willing to keep her commitments. We are
hoping that through Jennifer's baptism we can help her family remember
how they felt when they were baptized, and that they will also be able
to return to church.

Also, we had the chance to teach an investigator named Amado. He is
the one we met on the street and taught a full lesson to, right then
and there. We friended him on Facebook and had been asking him
throughout the week how his reading had been going. He said it was
going well and that he felt really good while he was reading.  On
Saturday, we were able to have a lesson with him over Skype. We taught
him about the gospel of Jesus Christ-faith, repentance, baptism,
receiving the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. He was really
receptive and had many good questions. As we were teaching the spirit
was strong, and we really just felt that Amado is such a good person
and ready to hear this message. We emphasized the importance of
baptism and also explained about how the Atonement helps us repent. We
invited him to be baptized at the end.... He was a bit hesitant, but
in the end he said that he will be baptized if he one day feels it is
necessary-which, he will feel, if he does everything we ask him to do
to strengthen his relationship with God. It was such a great lesson
and we are so hopeful for his baptism in the coming months.

We also had another lesson over Facebook messenger. It was really good
to do it for a second time, now that we kind of had an idea of how to
do it. We talked about the Book of Mormon applies to our lives now,
and what different prophecies mean. And also, we talked about the
Godhead, and how it is made up of 3 separate personages. I know that
the Book of Mormon blesses lives. It has been so great to see the
things I have learned as I have started reading it again.

We also were able to find a new investigator named Magali. She is 18
years old and has a little baby boy named Jesus. He is THE. CUTEST.
BABY. EVER. (Sorry to any of you I offend with that statement). But
literally. Hermana Starling and I wanted to hold him so bad, but we
can't as missionaries. He is literally so tiny, but has a ton of hair
and huge dark brown eyes. I should have taken a picture so you would
all believe me about how cute he was. We talked to her about the Plan
of Salvation and about how we don't believe in infant baptism. We gave
her the reasons and she says she wants her son to be able to choose to
be baptized, rather that having it done for him when he is a baby. So
that was a good breakthrough. She seemed pretty receptive to our
message and is at a time in her life when she is starting to teach her
son, so we know what we share will bless her life.

Hmm... it doesn't seem like much else happened this week besides the
usual things. We found a really good street to talk to people outside
so we were there like 3 days this week. A member lives there and he
saw us all 3 days, so he probably thinks all we do is hang out on his
street :) But it was cool because he's nice.

Transfers is this week, but I am still in training, so Hermana
Starling and I are staying here together. One of the English speaking
sisters in our ward is leaving though, so we are super sad about that.
MOM..... I am 2/13 of the way done with my mission.....

Have a great week ya'll!!! I love you :)