But first of all...how's everyone doing? I love you all.
Yep so back to me...
I
don't even know how to start this email...I guess...I drowned in grapes
this week. We are teaching this lady named Esperanza, she's this pretty
ancient Mexican lady who seriously CRACKS ME UP. She is exactly what I
would imagine an abuelita mexicana is. She's super sassy, and just says
what she wants. She sits and talks, talks, talks about her medications
and how all the doctors are stupid and how her sons are stupid and her
husband is stupid...she can talk for hours and hours, I swear. And it's
really hard to teach anything because she just rolls over you. But a TON
of her family is LDS and she loves when we come over. I don't
know...it's and interesting situation.
Anyway, the other night Hermana Johnson and I were
wrapping up a lesson quick because we had a 25 minute bike ride back to
our apartment to do exchanges with the Sister Training Leaders. She was
like, "do you want grapes?" and we were like, "no, thanks, we're okay,"
but she just stands up and starts washing grapes. (And Hermana Johnson
and I were also completely stuffed from our last visit we'd had.) So she
brings over two bowls and a huge thing of grapes and is like, "eat." So
we each grab a few grapes and Esperanza just keeps talking about her
kids, I'm literally inhaling these grapes because we have to go, and
when we're both done we say, "oh, thank you so much, we have to go," and
she's like, "do you want more grapes?" and we're like, "no thanks," and
she's like, "did you like my grapes?" and we're like "yes they were
really good" and she's like "THEN WHY WON'T YOU EAT MORE?!" so we just
start shoving armfuls of grapes into our mouths and you don't even
understand there were SO MANY GRAPES IN THAT BOWL. AND SOME OF THEM WERE
MUSHY. Oh that just sicks me out. Mushy grapes. Anyway, we finally
finished, and we stand up to go without even saying a prayer (I know,
shame on us, but we were not going to escape) and finally started on our
way home...15 minutes later.
Even so...Mexican grandmas are the best.
We also had a member from our ward randomly send us pictures of her baby Shi-tzu. Cute...but...what? Why? We still don't know.
Also...drum-roll, please................BRENDA GOT
BAPTIZED!! Ya'll remember Brenda? Brenda and Gustavo? Well, Brenda was
baptized and confirmed this weekend. It was so awesome! I seriously love
her so much. Hermana Arellano and Hermana Raynor have been the ones
teaching her these last two transfers, but I really felt like it was my
baptism, too! I love her so bad.
On that note...a miracle happened. We had sent out a
text to our teaching pool reminding them to come to the baptism...turns
out, no one got it...but Hermano Alex (you know, Alex is less active
and his wife, Blanca, is an investigator) just happened to come to the
chapel that day to play soccer with some other members. He saw the
baptism and came inside to watch. He sat next to us, and he was really
attentive. Then as a closing hymn we sang "Families Can Be Together
Forever," and we could tell that he was a little emotional during the
song.
Afterward, he came up to me and Hermana Johnson and
told us a lot of things that had been going through his head recently.
He told us that he'd never wanted to be married or have kids...but that
changed when he and Blanca had their first son. Now they have two boys,
but they still aren't married...anyway, he was pretty tearful as he told
us that he finally has realized that he has been holding Blanca back
all these years, and that now he feels like he has to be the example for
her and his kids by reactivating himself in the church, getting
married, and helping her progress to baptism! And he said that he wants
to get married soon...like...within two months or less!
Hermana Johnson and I were in shock shock SHOCK. We
were so excited, we were kind of (I was kind of) jumping up and
down...but he was really sweet about it, and he told us that millions of
missionaries have come by their house, but that she and I were the
first ones that seemed to have opened their hearts to the gospel.
We have seen so many changes in them in the last few
weeks...especially Hermano Alex. The first time he came to church, he
was in a T-shirt and jeans. The next week, jeans and a polo. Next week,
jeans and a button up shirt. Then with a tie. Then dress pants. For
crying out loud, he gelled his hair this week!! WE LOVE THEM SO MUCH.
They are just absolutely progressing. It is such a miracle.
This last week I've begun to see even more
profoundly why I was assigned to La Florida B last August with Hermana
Pineda as my first area. Here I am, in Tempe Arizona, shaking the hand
of some less active member from Honduras, and I think I played a role in
changing his life. In building an eternal family. I'd brave
Tuberculosis for that. Again.
THE CHURCH IS SO TRUE. IT IS SO TOTALLY TRUE.
So..........now for the hard part.................
We are getting white-washed. :(
Hermana Johnson and I are pretty down about it. They are taking us
both out of our area and throwing two new missionaries in (we are
guessing that they will be elders.)
Do you
know what is harder than white-washing in? White-washing out. Especially
after a miracle like that with Alex and Blanca. They are going to be
pretty sad. Ugh, it kind of stinks, I LOVE THIS AREA SO MUCH. This is
the first time I've felt this strongly about an area before. I think
it's because my greenie and I have super duper built it up from pretty
much scratch, and we love our people SO MUCH.
But...I have faith that President Toone is inspired of God, and that the best thing for our area will be done. Still. Bummer.
That also means that Hermana Johnson and I are getting split up...SAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh, yeah, and...........................
I am super excited about this new calling (although I super wanted
to train again...) This means I could be companions again with Sister
Homer! That would be the bomb.com. But...we'll see!
Pray for our investigators please! Especially Blanca and Alex, so that they can continue to progress with new missionaries!
And just...pray in general!
I LOVE YOU SO BAD YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW.
Con Amooooooooor, Hermana Thomas
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