We are blessed! Blessed Blessed Blessed!

March 26, 2012

Complete with a fist-punch dance!

HELLO Wonderful family and friends!!!

It is such a wonderful day!!!

I don't even know where to start because this week was PACKED full of awesome-ness like never before.

"Thus we see that the Lord worketh in many ways to the salvation of his people."

Alma 24:27

Tuesday was Sister Sobkowicz half-birthday and her 6th months left mark (yes, she's going home on her birthday!). We celebrated by setting Diego with a baptismal date for Sunday!! Turns out he hasn't been talking to us because he thought he hadn't passed his interview and couldn't get baptized when really he could!

Wednesday we met a great couple that told us they needed to get married before they could get baptized before we even mentioned baptism! and we finally had a lesson with this great family that has 5 kids. We've been praying to find families so it was great to finally teach them!

Thursday, when the exciting stuff started. Instead of weekly planning, we had EXCHANGES! Sister Hawkes and SIster Pack are visiting all the sisters in the mission to teach/train/help. Sister Pack and I spent the whole day together. It was super different than it is with Sister Sobkowicz because sister Pack isn't as "go go go" as Sis Sob and I are. But I learned a lot from her, especially, that I can somewhat communicate with people without Sister Sobkowicz there! (I was really worried because I didn't think that was possible) In general it is just great to have exchanges because everyone goes out with so much faith and miracles follow. Plus, Diego had his baptismal interview and Elder Palacios said he was "beyond ready!"

Which brings us to Friday. We had a lesson with an unenthusiastic investigator which ended in us setting her with a baptismal date for the 8th! Then, we got a phone call from Inocente who was trying to cancel our appointment again (he did that last week and then didn't come to church!) So we drove straight to his house before he could leave and got the zone leaders to come join us. They interviewed him for baptism! He passed because he is ready for baptism, but wanted to pray about getting baptized this Sunday or the next. Then we dragged the Zone Leaders (only one of which speaks Spanish) to Cesar and Dora and Cesar's house. We read in the Book of Mormon with Cesar (hijo) and Dora while Cesar (padre) had his surprise interview with Elder Odar. Then they switched and we taught Cesar while Dora had her interview.Why did we give them their interviews a week before their set date? We had no idea. They were both ready but still wanted to wait until the 1st.

Saturday. The best day ever and I'm not joking. Seriously the best day of my life. Here's why:

We went to a random Asian Buffet with our recent convert Pedro because he wanted to. I ate sushi! Then we went to get gas in the car and saw Caravel (great Ice Cream place). We felt like we needed to take some ice cream to Luis because we didn't get to see him on Thursday. So we bought some and stopped by instead of visiting some new people. Then we dropped by Jesus and Victoria's house just in time to see him and set up an appointment. We had a lesson with her and she said she'd come to church! Then we visited Diego and finished the plan of Salvation with him. He bore his testimony to us and it was super sweet. We surprised Inocente with a visit and quick lesson which he liked but still wasn't sure about baptism the next day. Then we stopped by Cesar and Dora's and just checked in to see if they had changed their minds (they hadn't) and drove down to pick up our dinner at the church. On the way down we noticed a call from President Anderson, so we called him back. He said,

"I got a letter from President Monson. Cesar Canalas has permission to get baptized."

We literally screamed right there in the car, on the phone!!! This was the news we have been praying for!!!! And so ironic that it should come right after we visited them!

When we got to the church, a man pulled up next to us. He said his name was Dick Stapleton and he hadn't been to church in 15 years. He had been sitting in the parking lot for an hour and a half waiting, praying, for missionaries to come so he could find out when church was. We were literally prayed there! (mostly because the food wasn't even supposed to be there for an hour!) It was so awesome. He told us his whole story. Which is great but I don't have time to relate it.

We drove to an appointment which wasn't home and then we went straight to Cesar's house. He was the only one home and when we told him the news, he was in total shock. He said "I thought God had forgotten about me!"We went over the interview questions with him to help him feel more ready (except he is already a better member than most are) and he accepted to get baptized the next day!!

Then his dad came home and we invited him to get baptized the next day to. He said no, the 1st is fine.

Then Dora came home and we told her the news, bore testimony, had Cesar bare testimony and asked them if they wanted to get baptized.

Cesar -padre turned to Dora and said, "do you want to do it tomorrow?" And she said "Esta bien" and he turned to us and said "I guess we'll all 3 get baptized tomorrow!"

We screamed again!!! Best. Moment. Ever.!!

So, Sunday, Cesar, Cesar, Dora, and Diego got baptized!

There is so much more to tell, but I can't right now.

I love you all. I love this work. I love the Spirit. I love the Lord.

Love, Sister Sheffield