November 18 2013
Hola familia!!!
Okay first of all I'd like to apologize for the
past few weeks emails being sent at totally different times... Last week it was
Veterans Day, so the library wasn't open, so we had to email from a member's
house, and she couldn't do it until later. And then the week before we were
told that our Zone was supposed to go do our emails at 2, not at 10, so that's
what we did. But now, since transfers were this past week, our little Spanish
district was moved to a different zone! So that's why I am emailing now instead
of later. I am honestly not really sure when exactly our zone is supposed to
email, so it might come at a different time next week, but we'll see:) And
thank you for your emails today (from Mom, Sammi and Dad... Alex and Nate.........
I'm still waiting:))
Mom! I loved hearing about the missionary
fireside. It sounded like it was beautiful. I am not going to lie, I REALLY
miss singing with my family. Sometimes when I hear songs that we always used to
sing together (ex. A Child's Prayer), I get a little bit teary. But I'm sure
all the songs were beautiful, and that a lot of people were touched by the
spirit! I'm so glad you and Mary Dyer sang The Olive Tre, and I am honored that
you used excerpts from my emails:)
It was a great week! The best part about it
was definitely MIGUEL'S BAPTISM!!! It was so beautiful. Something that is
hysterical about the hispanic culture (and something that is very evident in
our Spanish ward) is that nothing EVER starts on time. Not even sacrament
meeting most of the time. I think our family would fit right in here:) But
anyways, the baptism was supposed to start at 7:00, but of course it didn't
start until 7:15ish, 7:20ish, because we were waiting for most of the Garcia
family to get there haha, but once the baptism started, it was fantastic!
Miguel looked so happy. It was so awesome too, because Jesus ( one of the Garcia
daughters, Adriana's husband) was able to baptize him! It was so sweet. I just
love Miguel and his humility, and his willingness to do anything and everything
to follow Christ! A year from now he, Erika and their two kids, Jissel and
Miguelito, will be able to be SEALED in the temple for time and all eternity:)
and I'll be here for that! I love thinking about how the entire Garcia family
is making steps to all be sealed in the temple, because that really is the
goal. Baptism is the first step, and the goal is to get them to the temple!
Speaking of the temple, did I already tell you that they are planning to
dedicate the temple on March 1st, 2014??? We are so excited!!! We have this
awesome temple video that we are starting to show to members and we are
encouraging them to invite their friends over so we can show it to them and
invite them to the open house. The presentation is essentially a compilation of
a few different temple videos, and they are so powerful and bring the spirit of
the temple every time we watch them. We are hoping this helps both the members
and their friends to be excited about the Open House!!! And we as sister
missionaries get to participate in the open house. We get to do the tours! I will
be doing them in Spanish. am so excited.
The next thing I want to tell you about is Rene
and Concha. You're not going to believe it, but just last night we got them on
date for baptism for the 28th of December! A little preface to that- Rene
earlier yesterday was driving home from somewhere and past by the scene of
where his cousin had gotten in a serious car accident two months ago and passed
away. He stopped on the side of the road and prayed to be able to find
something of hers. They had looked around the area before and had never found
anything. So he prayed and got out of the car. Something (the Holy Ghost) told
him to hop over the barbed wire fence. He did and was guided directly to a
bush. There he found a cell phone, lying face down on the ground. He picked it
up, not knowing if it would work or not, but he plugged it into the phone
charger in his car, and it turned on. Sure enough, it was her cell phone with
all of her pictures and videos still on it. He said that through this
experience he knew that she was there, watching out for him. Hermana Chavarri
and I were able to bear our testimonies on the power of his experience, and I
was able to help him know that because of the plan of Salvation, he would see
her again. And because of the Plan of Salvation, he can accept the Gospel, and
make sure her work is done in the temple someday. He said that this was a sign
to him that he was on the right path. HOW AWESOME IS THAT??? So after that, we
presented the date of December 28th and they were both a little skeptical, but
we told them that it is a goal date, and if they do everything they can to
prepare to be baptized on that date, Heavenly Father will provide a way for it
to happen on that day, or he will guide and direct us to another date. Then
they both said they were willing to do everything they possibly can to be
baptized! It was amazing. I love them so much.
So those were the highlights of my week! I love
the fact that I am able to witness the love and mercy God has for all of his
children. He has a plan for each of us and is willing and waiting to help us
reach our divine potential if we are willing to do our part. We must always
strive to see ourselves as Heavenly Father sees us, His children, with divine
potential and purpose. This is what I'm out here to do, to help His children
discover God's plan for them through coming to know and understand the restored
Gospel. How great is my calling!:)
Our investigators' names: Rene, Concha, Naty
(their daughter), Patricia, Rigo and Connie. Thank you so much for praying for
them!!!
Okay, I hardly have any time left, but I love you
all so much! I promise to send pictures next monday and I am sending another
letter this week, so be expecting that:) Thank you for your prayers and for
your love. I pray for you every single night! YOU ARE THE BEST FAMILY IN THE
WORLD!
Con mucho MUCHO amor,
Hermana Lattin
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| Miquel's Baptism |
