Hola Familia,
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| Hno Gerardo Herrera , Pascual, H Torales , Lia, & Hna Harper |
Pascual's baptism was glorious. And a miracle. We had our
interview the day before the baptism and the elders told us we’d have to cancel
the baptism because of some problems.
President wasn't available for an interview. So we started
walking back from the stake center wondering why God was making it all happen
that way-- because Pascual’s wife was going into the hospital the next week and
he was going to Samal to take care of her and wouldn't be able to be baptized
for at least another month. I thought: “Well, we don’t have control over it so
I’ll just trust Heavenly Father. He knows
what he's doing.” But THEN the Elders called us and said “Hermanas! Come quick!
The President can interview him right now!” So we hustle it back to the stake
center and then Pascual has an interview for like an hour while we wait in the
offices.
And when he comes out, ne can not only get baptized, but
President paid for him to go get his wife and sons to come to the baptism (that
had been the plan, but Pascual hadn’t found work all week so he couldn’t afford
the trip.) AND THEN President gave us
special permission to travel to Samal (it’s a city a hour and a half away) to
teach his family, who want to be baptized! It’s crazy! I can totally see
Pascual being a super potente priesthood holder at the head of a happy eternal
family. It makes me so happy.
The day of the baptism, nobody showed up on time, including
Pascual. His wife couldn’t come because it turned out her operation was a week
earlier than they expected, and he was pretty depressed and probably wouldn’t
have come if we hadn't had called him. (“I don't have white pants,” he told
us.) We also walked in the chapel to discover the entire building was flooded
with a good 2-3 inches of water. Hno Alvarado had forgotten to turn off the
font. But after everyone else showed up, it only took us an hour to clean the
chapel, and once Pascual started working, he was fine and we had the service. It
turned out that because the baptism was late all the people who showed up for
the ward activity just came in for his baptism, so we had a full house. Hna Torales got to come because Pascual loves her! And Hno
Herrera who baptized him owns a bakery and brought empanadas filled with some
kind of mashed green potato that Sister Harper didn’t like, but I thought were
pretty good.
And he's so happy right now. I can’t believe how much he
feels different. He just looks different. I wish I could explain it. His
countenance is just cleaner, or more simple, or more alert or something.
At our English class, we had SEVEN students! They ALL
showed up a half-hour late, pretty much within 5 minutes of each other. :)
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| Our English Class |
Anyway, it's been a great week. Next week I'll tell you
about our investigator, Jesus. To answer Livi's questions:
1. Do you read the
Book of Mormon in order every day, or just bits and pieces?
That is a really good question. The rule here is that you
have to read through the BoM for a half hour of your hour of personal study and
we have a little marking system. There is a LOT of value
in reading it straight through (I really missed doing that in the CCM) because
you notice lots of examples or applicable things you never would have thought
to look up. Then for the other half hour I go searching for things that will
help my investigators. Studying for investigators is a very inspired process.
Psh! studying is an inspired process. I’ve realized one of the biggest ways the
Spirit instructs me is by priorities: “Studying this would be a better use of
time than that.” “This is a better/more efficient way to do that” or “This is
more important” and things like that. Or sometimes it’s just good ideas. Sis
Harper and I came up with a great analogy about making cakes today.
2. Do you want a companion that speaks English like you?
Well, when you need to communicate really clearly and
efficiently, like during planning, it’s a dream come true. Most of the time we
try to talk in Spanish though (even though that really wears you out.) You guys,
it’s so great. I can pretty much understand what people are saying to me.
Sometimes I even forget Spanish is a problem.
3. What has been your favorite thing so far about Mexico?
Sister Harper and I have developed a very bad habit of
buying pan from the panaderos that ride their bikes in the street (the bike has
a huge cart in front of it that is full of 'pan' which is not bread as we think
of it, but all sorts of pastry danish-y
conch-y things.) They have these obnoxious squeaky horns that they honk
incessantly so you always know when they’re coming. The kind that I always get
is called “budín.” It's like a really dense, bready-like custard that comes in
bars. Sister Harper thinks it’s gross.
You guys, I eat so much. Ava, you would be proud of me. I
ate a hamburger for a bedtime snack the other day.
4. If you could go
anywhere in Mexico
where would it be?
Well, everyone says that the Cenotes (caves) are their
favorite, so I want to see those. I also want to go to Cancún at night to see
the phosphorescence in the crystal-clear water under the moon. If I come back
though, I’m not crazy about doing the touristy things. I kind of just want to
visit my people.
Thanks, Livi. I’ll answer your questions next week Mom.
Much love,
Hermana Lia
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