Longest week of my life.

Hello family!

 

This week was very strange for me. With getting a new companion, taking over the area, and planning a baptisms, it felt a little stressful and crazy. Especially since I wasn't in my area for almost 3 days. But turns out I made it through everything that came my way this last week, thank goodness. I don't think I have prayed so hard for charity and comfort as I have had to this last week.

 

Crystal Ann Marin was baptized this last Saturday and confirmed the following day at church!! Her baptism was the most tender one I have witnessed. She is so incredible, I can't help but feel that she was someone I was meant to teach. I feel so blessed to have been a part of that special time in her life! Her boyfriend, Harold, baptized her which was sweet. He cried, which made me cry. And then I cried the rest of the day every time I thought of Crystal. She really is so special, one day she'll visit me in Arizona and y'all can see how amazing she is! Harold was so much help with the whole baptism process, he made the program and set up all the assignments. All I had to do was get her interview in line, set up chairs, and fill up the font! And somehow all of those were stressful enough, I can't imagine having to do the rest during this week. Heavenly Father was definitely taking care of me!

 

We have been teaching the Vasquez family lately, I think I've talked about them before. But yesterday Rodrigo and Myra came to church!! We've been trying to get them to come for a month, longer really, since conference. They came for conference and yesterday was the primary program so they still haven't been a part of a normal church service. They think we're weird, but everyone just loves them so they like to come!  Today, we're going over to see them and re-extend dates to the family. The mom, Eva, is still good for her date on the 23rd of this month! But she has a hard time wanting to come because she wants her whole family to do it at once. We're trying to help her see that she could be a great example for her kids by being baptized first, so we'll be having that lesson with her today and talk about repentance.

 

We're been focusing a lot on repentance lately. It's been really good for me because I have been able to repent better daily and ask for help. Every time I am able to teach about repentance I am able to bear testimony about it more strongly, because I apply repentance in my life personally. I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to get on my knees everyday and ask for forgiveness of my faults and petition for His grace, so I may become better. What a blessing.

 

Well my sweet family I sure love y'all VERY much! Thank you for all of the love and support. I hope everyone has a wonderful week and stays safe! Happy Veterans day!

 

Love,

Hermana Florence

The Cricket

Hello Family!

I had a very interesting week. It was Hermana Greenwood's last week here. I just dropped her off at the mission home. There have been a lot of tears these past couple days, obviously. She has really become like one of my sisters, it felt like saying goodbye to family again. Definitely not easy. I'll be out of my area for a few days but will return to it with a new companion on Wednesday. Yep, I'm taking over my area, pretty scary. But I know I have a lot of support from the ward and the Lord. It'll be tough but that means I will grow. We have the baptism for Crystal Marin coming up this weekend! There is a lot to do to plan a baptism...I feel a little scared without Hna. Greenwood helping me, but the Lord will too. But I am very excited, Crystal is just amazing! I have never had an investigator as prepared as her. I feel like it's a huge blessing for me. President Ashton said that when we find prepared people, we are doing our job. That means the Lord trusts a to teach well and to the needs of the person. I hope that by finding Crystal that means I am an adequate missionary. Sometimes I feel like I'm just not quite there with somethings, maybe with the language or my teaching skills in general, but there is a definite desire to do what is best for these people, so I feel that I have the trust of the Lord. I'm giving my best, and that's all He asks.

I was so happy to see a picture of little Z! She looks like a darling little girl! I wish I could hug her tight! It was cute to see Charley's cute Halloween outfit, it fit her personality very well!

We had a Noche Mormona(kind of like a family home evening, but a more teaching setting) Last night with the Rodriguez and Garcia families. Hno. Garcia was baptized recently so we are going through the new member lessons with him. We taught about Temples and eternal families. I got emotional during the lesson, as I mostly do when we talk about families. It's not entirely because I miss y'all, it's because I have a strong testimony of it. Families are so special, they are literal gifts from God. And I feel so blessed to have such a loving family who lives and loves the teachings of Christ. After we shared our message we had dinner...pizza, pasta, pan dulce, and CRICKETS. Once upon a time I promised myself that I would try everything I was asked to eat(unless it would kill me). So far I have stuck tot he promise. Yep. I ate a cricket. It was dead of course and roasted with chili and lime. The flavor was pretty good...but then I remembered I ate a bug and that's when I had the hard time chewing. I eventually swallowed it with juice! They eat crickets like chips...I think I'll stick to chips. After I did it Hna. Greenwood did it as well. She has a video of it so look for it on Facebook maybe!

Well my sweet family, I love y'all. I am so grateful to be able to serve the Lord in such a great cause, to help families return to live with God. I am grateful for all of your love and support! Les quiero mucho mucho mucho como la cola del chucho! Hna. Santillan always says that to me. :) Have a wonderful and blessed week!

Love,

Hna. Erica Florence