Hello all!
For starters, here is some fabulous news: (drum roll please) DAVID IS GETTING BAPTIZED!! How wonderful is that? He is so excited, and feels ready for this step. We were talking about the temples yesterday with him. Sister Garcia came with us, and bore a powerful testimony of temples. David is so excited that we can do ordinances for our family members who have passed on. He told his siblings that he is getting baptized, and they are all so happy for him. He is going to invite them to the baptism.
This week was just wonderful. There were so many miracles seen and lessons learned. Here are just a few:
1.)Members are amazing!
So our miles per month that we have been allotted have been reduced significantly. As a mission, we are trying to be more obedient in every way--including in keeping within our miles. At first this seemed IMPOSSIBLE, because David, our investigator who is getting baptized, lives in Gonzales, which is 32 miles away from Lockhart. There and back is 64 miles, which is a lot to go a couple times a week. So, we have asked help from our members, and they have been such a blessing! Last Tuesday, we arranged for one of our members to take us from Lockhart to Luling (a town in between) and another from Luling to Gonzales, and for in the evening, one to take us from Gonzales to Luling, and a fourth member to take us from Luling to Lockhart. Initially, we didn't think it would be possible, but our members answered our prayers. Sister Rogers and Sister Barnes helped us out with rides in the beginning of the day. We got to Gonzales, and were able to walk around and met so many awesome people! And, we were blessed to run into another member as she was picking up her kids from school, and she gave us a ride to the other side of Gonzales, that would have taken us a solid 30 minutes to walk. At the end of the day, Brother and Sister Cochran offered to take us the whole way home to Lockhart. I told you. They are so awesome.
2.) Allergies and colds are not so amazing.
On Thursday , Sister McBride got sick, we think it was a cold. I didn't feel to well myself, whether it was a cold or just allergies, I'm not sure. But we did part of our weekly planning, and when neither of us could think straight, we thought it a good idea to take a nap, in attempt to save our minds. We were both out cold. For like 3 hours. We got up long enough to get some food in our stomachs, but didn't have the energy to do much else. Back to bed we went, and were out. All night long. The next day, we were both so much better, and able to finish what we hadn't been able to the day before. Sleep does wonders to a sick/allergy afflicted body.
3.) Texas has the most random rainstorms
Yes, this I did know, but it was reaffirmed on Friday. We were headed to a lesson with Lori, and parked a bit down the street from her house. As soon as we got out of the car and walking to her house, the skies decided this would be the perfect time to open and pour out as much water as they could in 5 minutes. We got soaked! But hey. They lesson with Lori was amazing! She is so sincere and wants to learn more and teach her kids.
4.)driving in mud in a sedan is not a good idea.
We had great intentions. Really. We did. We were going to see Rhonda (one of our investigators), who lives out in the boonies. We should have kept in mind that it had down poured the day before...but I suppose that slipped our minds. We wanted to see Rhonda before church, so we headed out to her house. She has a big dirt driveway that you have to go on before you get to her trailer house. We thought our little car could make it. Well, she did for part of the way....and then she got stuck. So, we put on our thinking caps to try and figure out a solution. In the end, we decided to go and see if anyone was home. There was a pickup truck in front of the house, so maybe someone home could help us. We walked up the rest of the driveway, and knocked on the door. Jeff, Rhonda's husband answered, and told us she wasn't available. Then he asked if we got stuck. Yes, yes we had. He offered to help us out. I'm so thankful for pickup trucks and tow hitches. They are life savers. I don't know if we had that experience so that Jeff would have the opportunity to help us out, or so that we learned a lesson.... Perhaps both. Either way, it was a great experience.
5.) the Lord truly pours blessings upon us
This too, I have known for a while, but it has been reaffirmed so many times in my life, including this last week. We had so many lessons with so many wonderful families. I stand all amazed at the miracles that happen when we do our part and follow the commandments of the Lord!
I love you all! I hope you are doing well.
Have a most amazing week!
Hermana Dean
