Preparing for baptism

5/23  This week was fabulous! We had a few really good lessons with Sandra and her three daughters Gloria, Ana, and Wendy. Ana has been taking notes while we teach and then reviews them with us after the lesson. Wendy is only 7 and has so much energy, but she's been getting better at sitting still and listening. We had a great visit with them on Sunday with our ward mission leader. We taught them the law of chastity, the word of wisdom and the law of tithing. During the lesson, Ana made a comment about how her mom sometimes mixes wine with Fanta. Sandra then told her to bring the bottle of what she was referring to. When Ana walked back in the room she was holding a bottle of Horchata de Chufa. Everyone was laughing so hard! Sandra assured us that she has never smoked in her life, then her 7 year old daughter supported her by saying "me neither!" Haha. We really have come a long way in our relationship with this family and are really excited to see their baptism this weekend!

We are also working closely with Alexia and her mom. Alexia said that she is 100% certain that she wants to get baptized either this weekend or the next. Now all we need is the green light from her mom, and she can get baptized the next day. Our ward mission leader Hermano Bufoni said he was going to take care of things, so I guess we'll see what happens.

This week I was studying a lot in chapter 38 of Alma. I really love the advice he gives to his son Shiblon. Verses 3 and 4 really relate to what we do as missionaries and bring me a lot of comfort: "3 I say unto you, my son, that I have had great joy in thee already, because of thy faithfulness and thy diligence, and thy patience and thy long-suffering among the people of the Zoramites.

4 For I know that thou wast in bonds; yea, and I also know that thou wast stoned for the word’s sake; and thou didst bear all these things with patience because the Lord was with thee; and now thou knowest that the Lord did deliver thee." The Lord really is with us through our challenges, and He always helps us overcome them. As missionaries we face a lot of trials, but if we are patient and diligent, we will receive blessings. I'm so blessed to be seeing some of those blessings now.