Baptism!

Sisters Patten, Fatkin and Sanders
Mission President's house
July 2009

Buenos dias familia!

We had a great start to a new transfer this last week! We have some new people to teach and we’re pretty excited! The family ward has finally made contact with some of the people that ward council has been talking about having us teach them.. Sometimes it takes a while to get the process going. We didn’t teach any of the people yet, but it’s great that the work is moving forward, and we have some appointments set for this week. Mom, that’s crazy that Minnesota was one of the last states to learn about this process and get it going. I suppose we didn’t start it until around the new year, but I remember learning what it was all about, this time last year. It really is an inspired idea, and really helps missionaries have more people to teach. I hope that your missionaries find more opportunities to teach. If you’re not teaching as a missionary, it’s easy to feel like you’re not really making a difference or doing what you were called to do. But they’ll be okay, as long as they’re obedient and working.

MTC District

We knocked quite a bit last week: early in the day, in the afternoon, at dinnertime, and later on at night. Nobody let us in to teach. But we met a couple of people that said we could come back. So we’re going back! The first week of last transfer we knocked into this woman who was very nice, and had just had a baby like 2 days before, so it wasn’t a good time. And we kept thinking we needed to check on her again. So last week we did, and ended up meeting her brother-in-law (all the family live together). She told us we could come back the next day at the same time, but when we came back she wasn’t there, and he was. We didn’t think he was going to be available at that time, so we hadn’t planned ahead to have another girl with us. But the next day we came back with someone and taught him the Restoration. It went really well. He was a little hesitant to accept all of these things that seemed new and different, but he accepted a baptismal date. His name is Jose, and he’d be in the singles branch. Unfortunately he didn’t make it to church-because it’s football season. We’ll keep working with him.

Hermanas Chriswell, Sanders and Brown

We also have another potential young single adult investigator. The other sisters in our district are teaching this girl who was introduced to the church by a coworker. And because this girl is the young single adult age, the sisters are going to pass her to us, and she has a baptismal date too. Wow!

The best news though is about the Lopez family;. I don’t remember if I’ve mentioned them. They moved into this ward in the spring and were sort of inactive then. The Mom is member, the Dad is a recent convert, and together they have 5 kids, 4 age eight and up. And only one has been baptized. So they are a family that is part of this process where they were invited by the ward to be taught by the missionaries. It’s been really frustrating to even have appointments with them. They want the kids baptized, and they’re really really good kids and they’re excited to be baptized. But the mom just hasn’t seemed to be putting it as a priority. But finally on Friday we had an appointment with the whole family together and we set a date! So on November 7 (as long as the dad’s work schedule will let him have the day off) the three kids-Michael (8), Kiara (9), and Cathey (10) will all be baptized! We’re really excited for them! And hey, if I can’t be there to see Ashleigh baptized, I can see some other kids get baptized! Hopefully that won’t be all.

There are still some other part member families that we’re trying to work with and we’re still looking for new investigators. So who knows what else will happen!

It’s getting a little cooler here in California, and it’s very nice, especially to be walking outside! Yesterday we ate with our ward mission leader and I thought of you Erin.because his wife put out lots of fancy cheeses that she had gotten from work. Stinky cheeses not so good, but also brie and gouda. You’d like that, right? Thought so.

Good to hear that everyone is doing well! That the Sanders are reunited in Philadelphia, and everyone is enjoying their fall (winter?) weather! Life here in Anaheim, California is wonderful! S. Cooprider and I continue to get along really well and are improving our teaching together. Life is happy! As always, thank you for your love and prayers and support! I love you all!

Love,
Emily

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

Hallelujah!!

Well we have had a fantastic week! We taught a LOT of recent convert/less active lessons in the La Habra ward like always. Honestly, our whole area is about 3.5, maaaybe 4 miles long (we measured the other day) and about 2 miles the other way. And 3/4 of that is the La Habra ward and the other 1/4 is the North Hills ward. So naturally, and unfortunately, most of our work is in the La Habra ward. Anyway.
We continued to teach Vanessa and Andrew almost every day, especially because they still were to be confirmed (which happened yesterday). And, Vanessa's brother David was there for all of the lessons. He came to the baptism and then seriously seems to have a lot of interest. He's “golden,” like his sister but in a different way though. We extended the baptismal invitation to him twice, and he said no both times. But, he just is afraid to put that date on it. But he's reading and praying. The second time we taught him, he started trying to justify the sins he likes to commit: basically drinking, smoking, etc. He was like "Well, we're all children of God, and I think, that really, in the end God's going to be like, “It's okay. Because really, it's, it's…” (and then he put down his head and then said) “No, no, it's still a sin!" It was so funny to hear him not be able to rationalize it, and he had to be honest with himself. And then a couple of days later he told us that he hadn't smoked or drank anything. That he was already changing. And he is. A lot.
And then on day Vanessa's other brother was there for the end of the lesson. And two of the times her best friend was there (who wouldn't even come to her baptism) and she seems interested too. Both of the brothers came to church on Sunday. Yeah! It's a miracle.
Seriously. Vanessa bore her testimony yesterday too. She was the first one to get up. She's on fire! David will be baptized. We taught about fasting and tithing one day, and the next day he asked us if that's something he should do, so he can get his answer. Wow! I'm not sure if he did, but the fact that he recognized he could do that now, not being a member, is amazing. So that made the week great!



And this Brazilian family fed us Brazilian food one night that was delicioso.
For the fourth of July we didn't do much different. Our stake 4th activity was in the morning and we weren't allowed to go. We walked a lot all day trying to talk to everyone while they were all out barbecuing and getting ready to watch fireworks. Then we ate a Mexican meal (carne asada) for our patriotic meal with some recent converts that we love: the Reyes family.
That night when we got home we actually got to see some fireworks from our balcony. Hooray!
Yesterday we were able to finally see this family that we've been trying to get in contact with all transfer long. He's been a very inactive member; his wife is not a member. They are the Inman family. He was raised in the church, but by the time he was 18 he says he was just “burned out.” His testimony must not have been strong enough, but he says there was just so much pressure to do things right and go on a mission, and have a calling, etc. He came back to church for a little while, but now hasn't been back for 20 years....the time he's been married. So she's never been to church and thinks our church is a really great one. They're such good people and great parents.
And it's interesting: with his business, he visits welfare square in Salt Lake like once a month. So he talked to Sister Patten a little about that. Anyway, we just hope we can keep visiting them and help him be able to come to church. Because when he does, she'll be baptized. What I think is interesting is that on my mission I've heard multiple inactives say that they are inactive is because they were just overwhelmed and the church just expects too much of people. It makes me realize how much you really do have to have a strong testimony, truly founded in Jesus Christ, because if not, you let all kinds of things be your excuses. The church does expect a lot, but because we have been blessed with a lot. And we're all required to help one another. It's not a church you just show up at and listen to a nice sermon and hear the band play with its guitars and everything, and maybe you give $10 to the collection plate, and go home. And I'm glad!



Yesterday this black man got up and bore his testimony and apparently he used to be a Baptist minister. He sure knew how to project his voice! Hallelujah, hallelujah, I KNOW the church is true. Hallelujah, hallelujah! The spirit SPEAKS to me and I am so blessed to have a beautiful woman, and strong black sons. Hallelujah, hallelujah. Glory to God, there is a black president. My mother told me it would happen, but I thought only my children would live to see it. Hallelujah. And he's a HANDSOME black man. And intelligent. Hallelujah, hallelujah. And he has a beautiful strong woman. Hallelujah!
I got a little taste of what it might have been if I had served my mission in the south! It was great. I love how people are so different, and I love being somewhere that you interact with a lot of different people. It makes it so fun and interesting. I love it! I love the crazy perspective on the world that comes through being a missionary! It's wonderful being a missionary! I'm pretty blessed! I hope everyone had a WONDERFUL week! I love you all!

Two Bs: Bike and Baptisms

Hello familia! Well, how was everyone's week?
We had a great week this last week! Vanessa Delgado and her son Andrew were baptized yesterday!!! She is super strong and amazing. She bore her testimony at the end and it was so good. The ward was really great at supporting her and being there, as well as her friends that she works with that are members. The support is always good and important. One guy sang a solo, and right after wards, Vanessa, her brother, and Andrew, started clapping. That was great. I love when people are new in the church! Vanessa also requested "Battle Hymn of the Republic" for the closing song. That's just great. End with a patrioticish feeling!
Now we just need to find some more people to set some baptismal dates with! This week we really have to focus on tracting and finding and talking to all of the part member families.
Last Thursday we had a district tract. All of the elders in our district came to our North Hills area (where not much is happening) and each took a different street and tracted for an hour. They each got us one name of someone we can check on, ironically some of them turned out to be very inactive members. That's okay. They all have non member friends! I know we'll be able to get the work going there; it just takes constant hard work!
Things are still going really well with S. Patten and S. Fatkin and I. S. Patten knows a lot of random church facts which comes from serving at Temple Square. So that's fun, because she brings a new viewpoint to the companionship. I'm sad though that S. Fatkin is leaving in two weeks. Super weird. She was my first companion when I came out, and now I'm her last companion as she leaves. I guess there was something we still needed to learn from each other. I've definitely learned a lot from her, she's amazing!

 

I finally feel like I'm getting to know the wards a little bit, it's just taking some time. That's okay.
I don't think we're doing anything special for the fourth of July. We're not allowed to go to really any ward activities or anything, besides our stake is doing the activity in the morning, and we can't move our study time. And fireworks are too late to watch. Well, maybe we'll go outside our apartment and try to see them from the high school. We'll think of something patriotic to do.
Today for p-day we and our district all went on a bike ride. It was sooo much fun. We borrowed these fancy bikes from these hard core bike riders in our ward and we went on a 7 mile ride. It was a pretty good one. Right in the beginning I tried to jump this curb thing, without really thinking that I might not be able to do it, and I did a good fall. I'm told I got some air, so at least I have that. And as long as the bike's good, I'm good. Though I got a bloody elbow and hand. Maybe I'll send a picture! It was just really fun and I'm sure we'll all feel it tomorrow. I have a really great district, all very nice elders.
Just so you get a little idea of our mission and how it's doing, this is a little from the e-mail our President sends us each week:

"It turns out that there were 10 baptisms this weekend. This gives the mission a total of 38 so far this transfer, with two more weekends to go. There is much work to do in order to achieve our standard of excellence of 57 for the transfer. For the same period in 2008 there were 27. As of the end of June, there have been 222 baptisms. Keep in mind that this total includes one weekend in March with 20 baptisms and two other weekends of 17 baptisms. The year-to-date total of 222 compares to 267 for the entire year of 2008. You are doing so well, yet there is so far to go. It is wonderful to stretch ourselves in the Lord’s service! Again I ask: If the Lord can bless our mission with 10 baptisms in one great weekend, why not 20? And if 20, why not 40? Is anything too hard for the Lord? Certainly not! All that is needed is worthy missionaries who have the faith to believe they can find the Lord’s lost sheep, and who are willing to work for the blessings that await. Our goal now is to reach 19 more baptisms (let’s just say at least 20 to make it a round number) over the next two weeks. The Lord could do that for us in just one week. He has done it for us before. Why not reach 20 each of the next two weeks? Our aim is to consistently meet or beat our standard of excellence each transfer. When we do so, the bar will be raised to greater heights. Thanks to each of you for your honest and humble efforts for the Lord and His children. Onward and upward."

So everything's wonderful and amazing and I'm happy doing this work and I appreciate all of the prayers and love and support from all of you! I hope that everything is going amazingly in all of your lives and that you're all happy too!

Love,

Emily