Life as a Threesome

For those of you who don't know what it's like to be on a mission as a threesome, hear is some info from someone who has served just about 6 ½ months out of their almost 8 month mission in a threesome. It is very easy to get distracted. Three girls together means more talking. It also means shorter shower time. But you also end up knowing how to teach some really good lessons and getting lots of new ideas because you have three heads instead of one. And more testifying. I'm afraid I'm not going to know how to be in a twosome again. This last week was really good. Sister Dutson is really fun. We all get along really well and are really enjoying what we're doing. We knocked A LOT of doors last week. Which is good because so far all of the best people we've found have been through our knocking. We also had the opportunity last week to go to a zone leader's training thing all day last Thursday with President Watrous. He's decided it's good to get a sister's opinion in these meetings, so every transfer a different sister companionship will get to go. Though it was long, it was soooo nice to be able to get direct counsel from our president. He's so down to earth and it's nice to hear information directly from him instead of from ZLs or DLs and hear it the way president really said it. I think this mission is really changing a lot from the way it used to be. I guess at first it seems like it's less “fun” but really, I think everyone's working harder and more obedient. Last year this mission had maybe, maybe 300 baptisms. But we're supposed to get 600 this year, so that's a big goal to reach and we all have to work really hard to get there. It's kind of a cool thing that I get to be here for pretty much the entire year, to really see the success happen.
A week and a half ago we knocked into the family. The Lopez. The said we could come in and said they'd come to church, but then they didn't come. This week we visited them and brought a member and then visited them again Saturday and they said they would come to church. They don't have a car (which is sometimes annoying, but also sometimes good because then we are in control of the situation more) so our ward mission leader went to pick them up. The mom and three kids all came but the dad didn't. Hermano Montiel, our ward mission leader, and our new bishop are really on top of things and are really amazing. Our bishop met with the mom, Nicandra, in his office with us, and we found out that the father is an alcoholic and that's why he didn't come this week or the week before. Both Obispo Santos and H. Montiel want to be very involved in our teaching this family and have volunteered to basically “adopt” this family so we can get them all baptized. We're really excited because after our lesson Saturday the three of us walked out and we all just said that we know that this is our family that will be baptized. Of course all missionaries think those things. But hey, you have to have faith, right? We're just excited that the ward is getting involved. That will make this so much more likely to happen. So we have high hopes there.
Araceli and Cibelly are still doing well. They're still coming to church and Araceli seems to feel very at home and just a part of the ward. She needs that ward support, because until her husband marries her, she'll be in the same situation, and probably as missionaries, we won't be able to continue to visit her forever. But they are progressing in the little ways they can. S. Dutson was actually one of the sisters who first found Araceli, and now being back she's been able to really notice the big changes. Araceli really had come a long, long way. She will be a strong member when she is baptized.
Yesenia and Abel and Eva, well, we don't know. He doesn't have much work, so they might have to move back to Mexico. So that sort of halts baptism progress. But we taught the WOW and committed him to cutting back on his smoking and he's doing that. There's still hope. They're not really showing up for all of their appointments or coming to church though, so we might not be teaching them very much longer. The Mendoza kids are good, still kids. We were going to see them tonight and try to talk to them about their baptism concerns, but apparently Stephanie is camping or something. But we're going to try to set a baptism date with her soon. Cleotilde. I don't know if you remember him from before when I was in this area, but he is a funny little man. And he's getting married to this woman who doesn't want him to join the church. So he told us that he has to stop the visits. It's interesting. Sometimes you hold onto some investigaros that really become sort of a burden. I think they pull down your productiveness and faith. And letting them go is such a release. I think some other investigators might have the same fate soon. We've got to find those people who are ready to be baptized and be blessed! This next week is also going to be filled with lots of knocking and handing out cards and finding new people to teach. Yeah! I can't believe its February already! Love you all and hope you all have a wonderful week!