Hey everyone.
Well this week has maybe been the busiest and most eventful on my mission? It's hard to compare them all. But a lot of things have happened. Also we don't have a real preparation day this week because we were in the visitors' center from 9-3 this morning, and we have the mission tour tomorrow. So we are just trying to take the hours as they come. And we are running late today because a VERY prepared man came into the visitors' center just as we were leaving and we couldn't just leave him... so we were like 40 minutes late from that... so, hopefully, I can write about everything that has happened!
Well for the most exciting news; I don't remember what exactly I said last week because plans were still tentative and we weren't sure if people were going to be able to pass their interviews. But we had five investigators pass their interviews! So on Saturday night we had a baptismal service for Maribel, Evelin, Paola, Blanca and Victoria. Two women with their daughters. It was extremely hectic and stressful putting everything together, because I am my mother's daughter (love you mom :] ) and I just want everything to be nice, and I want everything planned.... but that is not the culture of the people I am working with and I am still learning to adjust to that! When we got to the church and were fitting them in the jumpsuits when Paola told us that she was on her period (she's 12) and wasn't comfortable getting baptized right now. We talked to her for a while and promised her that all would be okay if she trusted in God, but in the end she didn't want to. Which is totally understandable; We want it to be a good experience for her. So we had a baptismal service that started 20 minutes late (oops!) and it was incredible. Practically the entire branch was there and you could feel the love in the room so strong. I was on the side of the font with the moms while the daughters were baptized and it was a really sweet experience. Hermana Falcon and I sang "Where Love Is" in the children's hymnbook right before the baptisms (in Spanish of course haha). Afterwards the relief society had refreshments and the branch was able to get to know them a little better.
What else happened this week? H. Falcon had a zone leader conference, so I went on exchanges with Sister Dashjav from Mongolia for a day. She is such a sweet missionary. We had lunch at their apartment where she cooked me Mongolian food that was actually really delicious! (not that that's really surprising or anything!) Last preparation day we had a zone activity that was so fun. We split into two teams (junior companions versus senior companions) and played "minute it to win it" games that were completely random, but ended up being really fun. We had a zone training meeting on Thursday. The mission has switched from having zone conferences once a transfer to having zone training meetings once a month. President Ellsworth isn't present; It's just a meeting where the zone leaders give the training that the assistants gave them earlier that week. One of the trainings this week was about how to take control of lessons where the investigators are asking a lot of off topic questions and talking too much. Because we have an investigator that we have been teaching for about two months that does exactly this... the zone leaders asked if we would be the investigators for the practice. We tried to remember some of the hilarious questions that Lupe has asked us before... but when we got into the practice I couldn't stop myself from laughing and Sister Falcon had to take over. haha. The zone got a good laugh out of it and that's what matters, right?
Speaking of Lupe... he and his daughter Kandy are getting baptized this Saturday and I am so excited for them. I have grown to love them so much. It's been difficult to teach them because he loves to talk so much. But what was frustrating in the beginning I'm starting to love. He has changed so much from when we first started teaching them. And I know they are ready for this Saturday. He's been telling everyone about it!
On Saturday at the visitors' center a little bit of drama went down. To be honest I really don't know all that happened. There is a three some of Spanish sisters. One came out with me, one is in her last transfer, and one is in her first transfer. So they are training. I know that Hermana Aquino (the one who is in her first transfer) has been having a hard time. But the extent of it all I really don't know. But President came to the VC and did some interviews, and there was an emergency transfer. So now I am in a three some with Hermana Falcon and Hermana Aquino. I'm liking it though. Our bedroom is really small for three people so most of the time I feel like I'm in a tent (all nice and cozy :] ) but at the end of this transfer we are moving. Transfers are next week so I have no idea what is going to end up happening! But Hermana Aquino is really sweet and I enjoy having her a part of our companionship. She is from Mexico City as well... although she didn't know Hermana Falcon before the mission.
Hmm last things... our ward mission leader backed into our car while we were eating dinner with another family... so we had to fill out all of this paperwork even though we weren't even present! haha. On Friday there was a big event at the Mesa Temple that was on Good Morning America. A family had five children get married the same day. I think three daughters and two sons. It was really fun to hear about it all day. They rented an airplane hanger for the reception. What a hoot.
Well this week has maybe been the busiest and most eventful on my mission? It's hard to compare them all. But a lot of things have happened. Also we don't have a real preparation day this week because we were in the visitors' center from 9-3 this morning, and we have the mission tour tomorrow. So we are just trying to take the hours as they come. And we are running late today because a VERY prepared man came into the visitors' center just as we were leaving and we couldn't just leave him... so we were like 40 minutes late from that... so, hopefully, I can write about everything that has happened!
Well for the most exciting news; I don't remember what exactly I said last week because plans were still tentative and we weren't sure if people were going to be able to pass their interviews. But we had five investigators pass their interviews! So on Saturday night we had a baptismal service for Maribel, Evelin, Paola, Blanca and Victoria. Two women with their daughters. It was extremely hectic and stressful putting everything together, because I am my mother's daughter (love you mom :] ) and I just want everything to be nice, and I want everything planned.... but that is not the culture of the people I am working with and I am still learning to adjust to that! When we got to the church and were fitting them in the jumpsuits when Paola told us that she was on her period (she's 12) and wasn't comfortable getting baptized right now. We talked to her for a while and promised her that all would be okay if she trusted in God, but in the end she didn't want to. Which is totally understandable; We want it to be a good experience for her. So we had a baptismal service that started 20 minutes late (oops!) and it was incredible. Practically the entire branch was there and you could feel the love in the room so strong. I was on the side of the font with the moms while the daughters were baptized and it was a really sweet experience. Hermana Falcon and I sang "Where Love Is" in the children's hymnbook right before the baptisms (in Spanish of course haha). Afterwards the relief society had refreshments and the branch was able to get to know them a little better.
What else happened this week? H. Falcon had a zone leader conference, so I went on exchanges with Sister Dashjav from Mongolia for a day. She is such a sweet missionary. We had lunch at their apartment where she cooked me Mongolian food that was actually really delicious! (not that that's really surprising or anything!) Last preparation day we had a zone activity that was so fun. We split into two teams (junior companions versus senior companions) and played "minute it to win it" games that were completely random, but ended up being really fun. We had a zone training meeting on Thursday. The mission has switched from having zone conferences once a transfer to having zone training meetings once a month. President Ellsworth isn't present; It's just a meeting where the zone leaders give the training that the assistants gave them earlier that week. One of the trainings this week was about how to take control of lessons where the investigators are asking a lot of off topic questions and talking too much. Because we have an investigator that we have been teaching for about two months that does exactly this... the zone leaders asked if we would be the investigators for the practice. We tried to remember some of the hilarious questions that Lupe has asked us before... but when we got into the practice I couldn't stop myself from laughing and Sister Falcon had to take over. haha. The zone got a good laugh out of it and that's what matters, right?
Speaking of Lupe... he and his daughter Kandy are getting baptized this Saturday and I am so excited for them. I have grown to love them so much. It's been difficult to teach them because he loves to talk so much. But what was frustrating in the beginning I'm starting to love. He has changed so much from when we first started teaching them. And I know they are ready for this Saturday. He's been telling everyone about it!
On Saturday at the visitors' center a little bit of drama went down. To be honest I really don't know all that happened. There is a three some of Spanish sisters. One came out with me, one is in her last transfer, and one is in her first transfer. So they are training. I know that Hermana Aquino (the one who is in her first transfer) has been having a hard time. But the extent of it all I really don't know. But President came to the VC and did some interviews, and there was an emergency transfer. So now I am in a three some with Hermana Falcon and Hermana Aquino. I'm liking it though. Our bedroom is really small for three people so most of the time I feel like I'm in a tent (all nice and cozy :] ) but at the end of this transfer we are moving. Transfers are next week so I have no idea what is going to end up happening! But Hermana Aquino is really sweet and I enjoy having her a part of our companionship. She is from Mexico City as well... although she didn't know Hermana Falcon before the mission.
Hmm last things... our ward mission leader backed into our car while we were eating dinner with another family... so we had to fill out all of this paperwork even though we weren't even present! haha. On Friday there was a big event at the Mesa Temple that was on Good Morning America. A family had five children get married the same day. I think three daughters and two sons. It was really fun to hear about it all day. They rented an airplane hanger for the reception. What a hoot.
Bekka Fogle (one of my roommates from when I was living in Florida) moved out here to Mesa to do her student teaching and I ran into her while on a shift at the VC! It was fun to see a familiar face and to hear that she is doing well!
Well I had better get going! Love you all and hope that all is well!
Love,
Hermana Larson
Well I had better get going! Love you all and hope that all is well!
Love,
Hermana Larson
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