Sisters on Bikes?

 

Hello familia! How is everyone? From what I hear, you all sound like you're doing great! Things are great here too!

Well last week we set a couple of baptismal dates. One was with a woman that some elders in the Spanish ward up here found. I'm not sure if I mentioned Priscilla last week. Well she was baptized RLDS years ago and remembers some stuff, so that sort of helps. And she's excited and knows this is all true and we set a date for July 26. She kept saying "Wow, wow, wow" and how this is all just an answer to her prayers; she used to see missionaries and wonder why they didn't knock on her door. She wasn't able to come to church on Sunday because of some family stuff. So that's Priscilla Diaz.

Also, on the 4 of July we were contacting out on the streets and talked to a family and went over to teach their daughter last week and taught her and her other 9 year old friend. They are two Hispanic families that live together. The girls want to get baptized. So we set a date. But we have to teach the families and they would need to get baptized in order for the girls to get baptized. Our bishop won't allow us to baptize children (without their parents) in our ward. I can understand that. So that is Maria and Destiny.



David Martinez (Vanessa's brother) is still doing really well. He still isn't ready to be baptized yet, but he's progressing. Just last week in school he started talking a little to this girl who someone mentioned she was Mormon, but inactive; he told her that he was "preparing to be a Mormon" and in the end, she said that he had motivated/inspired her to go back to church. Wow! He's really doing amazing.

Yes, Vanessa Delgado is Hispanic but grew up here. Everything did seem really quick with Vanessa. It only took two weeks for her to be baptized. The sisters met her the day before I came back from Yorba Linda for that one week. So I was in on the whole thing. Basically she works at this care facility and there are members there that have fellowshipped her and she went a couple of times to their ward. Then the elders (Spanish ward) showed up at her work place to do some service and the lady, who is the manager there and a member, she said "Elders, I have a referral for you." But because she would go to an English ward, we were the ones who taught her. Vanessa is 27 and has three kids. Andrew is 9 and the oldest. He got baptized. Ruby is 5 and Carina is 3.

Friday Sister Fatkin went to the temple (the departing missionaries all go right before leaving) and Sister Brown's companion was also at the temple, so she was on exchanges with Sister Patten and me for the day. Sister Brown is still in the Samoan ward and I guess the President asked her and her companion who they thought would do well in that program and they both said my name. And he said that's what he had been thinking too. But he wasn't sure because I only just got up here. So until transfer calls came in, I wondered if I'd be ending my mission with Sister Brown in Samoan. But no! Sister Patten and I are staying here and Sister Lewis is now coming up to join us. Crazy! I'm a little nervous about that, just because we had some interesting transfers together. But it will work out; it will be great. Sister Patten and I get along really well together, so I think it will all be fine.
My Sister Fatkin leaves today! Ah! I can't believe it. She had only been out a couple of months when I first got here! I'm not sure where time is going!

This morning I got a call from our vehicle coordinator, and he asked if we were going to be on bikes. Because apparently the President told them I wanted to be on bikes; he said that's fine and we just need to be careful. It was random. As much as I'd like to ride bikes, it doesn't make sense for me and Sister Patten to buy bikes at this point of our missions, and I'm not going to do it just for fun. If I was told to, then fine. But weird. I guess I could've done bikes if I had really wanted to! Maybe he heard about our bike ride!
Well, that's about all I guess! Mom, I did get the package. It was wonderful. Perfect! I shared the beef jerky and some of the other stuff. The elders all say thank you (especially Elder Lee from Korea) as do my companions! I've got an amazing family!

Love you all family! I hope you all have a wonderful, fantastic week! Thank you for everything!

Love,
Emily