Monday, October 14, 2013

Monday, October 14, 2013

OK...so sorry. Going to try and write everything super-fast so you can all get the stories of what has been going on this past week. By the way, thank you so much for your letters! Way, way too kind. I love the updates. Send some pics of Halloween. I am trying to get the Latin’s excited about Halloween and Thanksgiving. They just look at me and laugh. They all think I'm pretty funny.

Alejuela!

Me with a recent convert family...Modesta, Glenda, and Maria Fernanda. They are so awesome... and always willing to help us. 

The rain from the bus.

Me...in my new area - Alejuela!

 Me and new companion - Claudia Lopez.

 All About Halloween!!!

Cutting a pineapple like dad showed me. Ha ha!

So....new area. The city is called Alejuala! It is where one of the main airports is. My companion's name is Claudia Lopez. She is more quiet and keeps to herself. She is 29 and was studying something in engineering. She’s a convert of 13 years. Was Catholic. First her dad, then her, then mom and little bro born in covenant. Older brother is not a member of the church.

That’s all I know. I ask her other questions and she doesn't answer. It’s just like the movie "Errand of Angels". Pray. Ha-ha. Thankfully, no rocks...just origami. So learning. Crazy right? I just met the ward yesterday. IT IS HUGE! There’s like 180 people. It’s like the states. We have benches and everything! Not sure how to handle it. Ha-ha. And there are tons of gringos! It’s crazy! They all talk with me in English and its fun. But I'm like....let's practice Spanish. They’re fun. I love the ward. They are super nice and so many are willing to work with us. I was thinking...why did my old comp say that the members don't work with us. Oh well...I passed around a sign up sheet for members to come help us. Some really can't because they have little children but all say, invite your investigators over. Most of our investigators all live far away from each other. I'm trying to get a handle on the area and find my way around. I am waiting for a map that shows the details so I can see where the members live and then work in their areas with them. That's the plan. We are waiting for a list of less actives so we can get them coming back and have them working with us. Hopefully that will go well. We have a mother and daughter planning on getting baptized this weekend on Saturday. The daughter who is 14 is a little bit nervous. She feels like she hasn't received her answer yet. We had a really good lesson with her about how to receive and recognize your answer. It seemed to give her peace. I asked her a bunch of questions about what she does believe and she believes it's all true. I told her to work on that and to build her testimony on her belief and desire to know more. We also are teaching a man named Julio who is 25. He's awesome and preparing for baptism next Saturday. We have some other families who are super awesome and progressing! One that we are trying to get ready for November. We want to teach their whole family so all can be baptized and not just the parents. One of their daughters came to church with them which was big progress. They are awesome!

We live in front of a park with huge palm trees...so pretty and such pretty sunsets. I'll take pictures. Oh...we went to a baptism on Saturday of a little 8 year old boy in the ward. The mom invited us because she had invited many non members. The little boy also invited his teacher who teaches religion in school. Can you believe that? What a good little missionary!? So awesome! I couldn't believe it. A good example. I want to do that when I go home. Invite people to church activities, blessings, baptisms, and all. Do the best you can. Things are good. Oh...we had a crazy rain day. We were heading up the mountain to an area...don't worry...it was safe...but the rain was CRAZY! We were basically driving in a river.  I'll be sure to send better stories next week. Sorry this email is short. But hope you all have a great week. I love you so much. I'm happy and working hard. 

xoxoxxoxoxoxo Hermana Jones