Week # 44

Happy Thanksgiving week!!! That is so weird to me to think that Thanksgiving is already here. It still hasn't really hit me yet... I think it will when the Christmas lights start at the Visitors' Center! The lights will start on Thursday... but Sister Sanchez and I are still "full-field" until Friday... and then once Friday hits we are there everyday. I'm pretty excited to go back... but I also feel really weird. Like I've been out of the VC for so long that I don't know what to do. and feel like I don't belong there anymore! But I'm sure that it will come back pretty quickly!

Well. I have had my first FLAT TIRES experiences on my bike! I think that I must have run over some type of branch with super sharp thorns on it... because BOTH my tires got super flat. And I barely made it to our baptism on Saturday! It was a miracle we made it to the stake center! The baptism was so incredible. It was the least stressful one I have ever been involved in :] Lupita's son, Jesus was baptized about two months ago.... and he's awesome. He has been through a lot in his life. He's only 22 but he's had a rough past. He's been in prison. But he has changed his life COMPLETELY. He is planning to put his papers in next summer and working hard now to save the money. He's just really solid. And it was such a tender moment to see him in the baptismal font with his mother. His arms were bare with the white baptismal jumpsuit, so you could see all of his tattoos... and I could just feel how much the both of them have changed. I couldn't help but think about where there were a year ago... and where they are today. It was awesome. I'm so grateful that I have been able to be a part of their conversion and just see how the spirit can soften the hardest hearts.

On Sunday there was a mission president's fireside in Spanish and Lupita and Jesus were both asked to speak. It's usually months after people are baptized that they are asked to speak. But she spoke the same day she was confirmed! It so special to be able to listen to them tell their stories and bear their testimonies of the  things they have learned. It's also funny to hear them talk about how bothered and annoyed they were by us when we first started to come by :] 

After the baptism we went to our investigators' Juanita and Alberto to celebrate Alberto's birthday! It was a fun night (too much cake... haha). 

Friday night we had a Branch Thanksgiving dinner! And one of our investigator's Jorge came! I've been teaching him since June and this was the first time that he ever set foot in the church. So it was huge. And I think he had a good time. 

Shout out to my girl LAURA! That received her mission call this week!!! She'll be going to the West Indies mission!! Speaking English! And leaves February 27th! I am so happy for her. Can't believe we will go SO long without seeing each other. But happy that she has accepted the call to serve the Lord.

I am so excited for the holiday season to begin. I feel like it may be hard for me to be away from all the family during the holidays... but I'm also excited to be in the VC so much and spend all this time on Temple Grounds. I feel like I will really have the opportunity to learn the true meaning of Christmas. And see miracles everyday.

I love you all so much!

Love
Hermana Larson