More about Juan

(From a letter Sept. 25)
I am going to tell you all about our recent convert Juan because he is amazing and the most miraculous convert I have. it all started at the beginning of the transfer. The elders in our stake were walking around their area, trying to contact people, and find new investigators. So they saw Juan playing on the church lawn with his grandson, and they talked to him. (Well tried, they don't speak any Spanish). So they called one of our zone leaders (from Mexico) and he came to talk to Juan. He told them that he had been trying to find missionaries, his sister is a member, and he wanted the peace she had. So we showed up and started teaching him. I have never taught anyone who was so receptive and prepared. He came to church 3 weeks in a row, he had a date for baptism on the second lesson, and he was baptized and confirmed exactly 1 month after we met him.

His baptism was the most spiritual/beautiful service I have ever seen. That whole week leading up to it was rough...Satan was working hard...But it all went away when Juan came up out of the water, and hugged his dear friend who had been there along the way, and wept from pure joy and gratitude...The spirit was so strong and sweet. It will always be one of my most cherished memories. Oh, and another miracle of it is that he only came here for 6 months on a visa, to visit his daughter, and he was baptized in that time! God prepares His people, and puts them in the right place at the right time.

(Note from Lori)
Emily will be finishing her mission on Nov. 5. We will be driving to Utah to pick her up and will be there for about a week.

No Tracting?

 I got to go to Oswaldo's baptism on Saturday (Sept. 6) in Kaysville, I was there to teach him everything, we just had to wait until the day his family chose for the actual ordinance. But it was really nice, and Juan came, he's getting baptized on Saturday! I'm so excited, he is amazing :). On a sad note, hermana Graham got her visa :'( so she heads to Spain on the 15th. Ima miss her a lot. But Hna Estrada and I will keep working hard and seeing miracles, and having fun! I'm sorry I'm such a terrible daughter and haven't written that letter yet! I have been so busy, it's the best! We work hard, have fun, and help so many people! I love my mission!!!!!!!!!!!!

We went to the temple today. I've been learning a lot, our district is amazing, and the ward is great. But I got trunky for Kaysville when I went back for the baptism, i love that place, and everyone was saying "no te vayas, quedate aqui" (don't go, just stay here). I almost cried when I left again... It's like home to me jaja. I'll be back for sure. I'd like to live there actually. 

I am the happiest I have ever been, super busy, helping tons of people, and seeing miracles everyday with the best chicas in the whole world. The work is going great, Juan is getting baptized on Saturday, and we are teaching a lot of people, and several of them are progressing! We are teaching Alejandro, Juan, Jaime, Elizabeth & Javier, Margarita, and several less active families. It's the best :D. The weather is beautiful, warm and sunny pretty much all of the time.

 I have found a lot of peace here on my mission, it has been so calming and comforting, I know that I am a better person than that girl who left 16 months ago.

The work is going great, Juan was baptized on Saturday (Sept. 13), it was the most beautiful baptism I have ever seen. As he came up out of the water, he embraced his dear friend that has helped him to understand the gospel, and held on for 2 minutes, weeping from pure joy. All of us could feel that joy. And the elders who work in our stake came as well, (one set of them actually found Juan and gave us the referral, and the others helped a lot with the program) and they all agreed that it was the most powerful experience they had ever had at a baptism. It was just wonderful. And we (my companions and I and two of the elders) sang "A child's prayer", the spirit was really strong, and Juan cried again. H

So we actually aren't allowed to tract in this mission, no door knocking. We have to work 100% through member or missionary referrals and street contacting. But we are working hard, and having lots of success. And so much fun! Missionary work is the best! jaja :D.

 I am sad, because Hermana Graham left me today for Spain :'( I'm going to miss her a lot, she has been one of my favorite companions. We are busy, so busy that we don't know where to start sometimes! It's a good problem to have jaja. I'm nervous because this is Hna Estrada's last week, and I still don't know the area that well. But I guess it'll all work out, right?

I do feel so blessed to be able to go to the temple, it makes me so happy, and it's like a spiritual recharge! And I learn something new every time I go there. it's great :D

Working Hard!

This week was awesome, we had a meeting with Elder Arnold of the Seventy, a fun p-day, and Juan is on date to be baptized on the 13th of this month! He is so humble and prepared, God literally just placed him in front of us. I'm so happy, we are working really hard, I'm always tired, but we're always laughing and having an amazing time as missionaries. Life is wonderful!

 My life has been amazing these last few weeks. We are having so much fun, getting to know tons of new people, and watching lives change. I just don't have time to write all of the amazing experiences I have! I write them in my journal... Like I said, Juan is on date, we have 3 new investigators, they are all progressing and changing, we find, teach and will baptize all the time! It's the most I've worked on my mission, that's why I'm so happy! There are so many people here, and they are humble, and I'm HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!