A STALKER?!?

I don’t think I mentioned the fact that we had transfer calls this week, last night to be exact. I can’t even tell you the amount of butterflies that make their way into my stomach for transfer calls. We had it bad last night. We were pacing the apartment waiting for the calls. We actually decided to make tortillas and ate them with jam and played Go Fish while we waited. It was quite fun. We are staying together. They white washed the elders right out of here. We are getting two newbies. We´re nervous about that. One will be a greenie, so we´ll see what he’s about. We got really close with the elders, (as close as we can be as missionaries). They were cool. They came over to the house last night to check on us because yes... we have a stalker. More about that later...

This week went well. It’s weird how this happens… I feel the hard days, but when I go to write you all, only the good can be remembered. I guess that’s how the mish works. Good times. I’m glad it’s that way, otherwise no one would ever come on a mission for REAL! This who-bizzle is hard.

The elders had two baptisms this week. It was so awesome to watch. One lady who quit smoking, they didn’t think she would be able to get baptized but I guess she called one hour before the baptism was going to start and said she was ready. It was awesome. Then the little son of the old bishop was baptized. He got to do the honors. It was so cool. We sang Child’s Prayer in Spanish. It’s hard! The spirit was so strong. It’s even cooler on Sunday to see them receive the Holy Ghost and get their blessing. The lady (Laura) started crying. Man it’s the only person I have seen cry when she received the Holy Ghost. So that was cool. I like to look at their faces when they receive it. You can see their countenance change. I cry every time. What’s new, eh?

Our investigators are... somewhat progressing... we are having a hard time with them. We have been fasting like crazy nuts and praying for them but... man Satan is working hard. We heard another set of sisters in the mish had 19 investigators with baptismal dates but not one of them got there. Really makes you wonder what the purpose behind it all is, huh? Obviously it’s not their time and we are to be learning something from the hardships here, but MAN! Some of the elders here have about 40 baptisms, but I don’t even know how that’s possible. Of course the number doesn’t matter... but we want to find those who are ready too. We´re working so hard and doing everything we can. I guess that’s all that can be done...we just gotta keep pressing forward and having the faith.

Luis... dear sweet Luis…. Poor man, went way out of his way this week to make us and the elders lunch. It was so fun. We made apple cinnamon muffins for dessert and he was in SHOCK! It was so funny. We are such good friends with him. We talk so frankly with him these days and we find him everywhere in the city and he always stops to talk with us. He’s so much more than an investigator to me. He is my brother, someone I’m trying really hard to save (for himself and for our Heavenly Father). He told us when the storms hit this week, when Bin Laden was killed this morning, called us last night to find out if I was staying or going and all sorts of other things. He’s the best. I just hope he can rise above his challenges and step in the waters of baptism for a better life. He deserves it and so much more.

As for our stalker… apparently he has been doing it to all the hermanas here for 3 years. But it got really bad last night when he came to our house at almost 10 at night... we freaked out! We called the elders and they rushed over. Our district leader says now we have to call the police... no worries. It’s all good! I’m honestly not that worried about it. We had a dance party with the elders... ha that sounds bad. Actually, we mostly just watched the elders dance to this CD a member gave us. She’s a singer and she taught them the funniest dance moves. So they showed us what it was about, from outside our door of course, [they can’t come in the house]...so funny. I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time. One elder is finishing his mish and the other was almost going to go home because of back problems, but now he gets to work in the office doing finances, so he gets to stay. It was a bitter sweet moment with them leaving. I thought to myself, this is one of those memories I’ll remember when I get home and feel sick remembering my mish and wanting to come back. It was a good feeling. Life here is good.

Love you, love ash

P.S. Regarding hardships… I read this scripture the other morning and it struck me really hard. It’s so cool. Ether 6:5 The Lord CAUSED the wind to blow hard… now why on earth would he do that? The same reason he gives us trials. It says right in that scripture... he causes the winds to blow to get us to the promised land. He tries us to make us the people he needs us to be, to become what he knows we can become and to have us learn what we need to. So cool!