Hi
Family and Friends!!! (11-24-14 Email)
Can I just say we had
the most amazing week ever??? Seriously, the very best. It was packed full of
miracles and amazing lessons. Basically all of our investigators are
progressing right now. And we were just running from lesson to lesson every
day! We were so busy teaching. And teaching amazing people. So many blessings.
I am so grateful for what Heavenly Father has given me.
We taught the Quinterras every day this week I believe. They are seriously amazing people. So prepared
and willing to learn. They love what they are learning and they feel of its
goodness. They are reading and praying and teaching their children to pray. We
are just working our way right through the lessons and they are understanding
and accepting everything. The Spirit works so powerfully with them. We were
praying and pondering about whether or not we should keep going for the date of
the 29th with them, even though they couldn't go to church last week, so we
talked to them about it, and they were like, Why not?? So we were so excited.
But then... on Saturday we found out they weren't married! Such a bummer. (We
had asked how long ago they got married when we first met them, and she
answered, but apparently she was just saying how long they had been together).
We have Ellen's wedding all set and ready to go, so we were wondering maybe
there is a reason God is helping them to learn so quickly. There happens to
be a wedding all set up, so we were planning on inviting them to be married
then too. We took them to the Visitors Center last night and showed them God's Plan, but
afterwards, the spirit just told us not to invite them. They will be ready
soon, very soon. But a little more time will probably do them good - so they
can be so strong and truly understanding everything when they make that
commitment to be baptized.
Their little kids are so cute, just love them and
they love us. It was Valentino's birthday this week and we made cupcakes and had
a little party with them. It was so fun. The kids loved it. Then, after the
church and the lesson at the Visitors Center, they came to the charla fogonera at Liahona
3rd! They do those every month, where President Jenkins speaks, a few recent
converts & the bishop/branch president & stake president all speaks.
And the missionaries do musical numbers. So that was a great experience for
them. And I was so happy that it was at L3. I got to see a bunch of my old
people and take pictures with them and say goodbye. I really do love that
little branch! It is growing though! So many new people I don't know!
Ellen is doing great
as well. She is staying strong against the coffee! And we were able to meet
with her basically everyday as well. One of the amazing members in our ward,
Hna Gonzalez (the one that invites us over for every holiday) has put herself in
charge of planning the wedding, (so grateful for that!) She had her interview
this week, and passed! (thank goodness!) And her husband almost got his
passport to be able to get the marriage licence. Crazy story with that... We
were in the middle of a lesson with her when she gets this phone call and she
gets so upset... We were so nervous. Apparently someone robbed Jose while he was on his
way to the Mexican consolado (I don't know how to say that in english sorry.
Consolate?) So she runs over to Phoenix with money, but the office closed by
the time she got there. So so crazy. And the only reason why he needs a
passport is because someone stole his ID a few years earlier. Are you serious!
The devil does not want this baptism to happen. He is sending all things their
way. But they recognize that and are staying strong. Elen opened up to us
more about her past this week, and it is just amazing the person she is now and
the ways she has been able to change. I can't even believe some of the things
she has been through. The Atonement is real. So baptism and wedding coming up
on Friday!
Tuesday was Hna Brons's
birthday and we had a lot of fun celebrating that. But I think the greatest
gift she received was our lesson with Marcos. He invited some of his member
friends and his priest quorum adviser and some of his american family to the
lesson (we were only expecting one friend haha). But we had planned to teach
him the gospel of Jesus Christ. (Can I just say it is the strangest thing to
teach in English). Anyways, the lesson was just beautiful. Everyone was
contributing and sharing their experiences and their testimony. The Spirit was
so strong. At the end, we invited him to be baptized, and he stayed quiet for a
few seconds, but then told us he wasn't sure - it all depended on the answer he
received. At the end of the lesson though, once everyone had left, he pulled us
to the side and told us that he felt like that session was the answer to his
prayers and that he did feel like he should be baptized. He was so nervous to tell
us, but you could just see the sincerity on his face. It was such a
miracle.
We also had other great
lessons with Marta and with Linda. Oh and the Viera family! We had three
lessons with them this week! They are great and are progressing well. Their
little 10 year old daughter is golden - brings in the spirit so strong and
feels the spirit so strongly. She really motivates her parents. We are also
working a lot still with the recent converts - especially the Gomez and the
Morales. Seriously just so many amazing people.
Oh we had our mission 5k
race today! It was fun. I have been really trying to train for it haha. My goal
was to do it in 30 mins, but I did it in 30.24. Pretty close! It was really fun
to have everyone out there running and cheering. Well, I am so excited for this
week to come. We have great plans! And Thanksgiving! And a wedding! And a
baptism! And then Christmas lights start on Friday! And I will be working
outside for them again! So many great things coming up. And so many great
people! And great experiences!
I am so grateful for all
that God has given me. He truly has given me so much. I am so happy. Serving
others is truly the best. I have the best companion ever. We are truly best
friends and sisters. I just love her. And the best area the best everything. I
just feel so undeserving of all these blessings, but I am so grateful for them.
We truly do have so many blessings when we take the time to count them! I know
this gospel is the gospel of Jesus Christ and that this is His true church on
the earth today. He is the head of it and is leading and guiding it. We are so
blessed to have this in our lives! Love you so much! Have a great week!
Con amor,
Hermana Haynes
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| Christmas Lights starts Friday! |
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