Nov 18

Dear Family,

 

It was fun to get the emails today :) Especially the dear elder from Rachel - I can't wait to get that one in the mail and read it again. Hahaha I miss you Rachy!! How's your temporary school?

And Emma, have you been using your spanish words? I have a new one for you - this one is my favourite to say when we read the Book of Mormon outloud. it's "Iniquidades." It means iniquities. But it's fun to say - you say it like this: "ee-nick-ee-DAD-es"

I love you lots Emsteroodle and can't wait to talk to you next month! :)

 

Weeks like these I can't help but LOVE being a missionary!! This area is seeing so many miracles, and we're also seeing so many around the world on Facebook. This week we went on exchanges and Sister Clawson and I taught a friend of one of her friends online. These two girls were talking and the one had just been married in the temple - she started talking about the gospel naturally and it sparked the other girl's interest, and so the friend referred her to talk to Sister Clawson. We taught her a Skype lesson and she wants to be married in the Temple with her boyfriend. She asked us "what the process of converting into your church" would be!! We had a wonderful lesson and she is going to be meeting with the missionaries so that she can be baptized. All it takes is someone following the spirit and opening their mouth :) I am so grateful for the technology we have because we are reaching people who otherwise might not be comfortable with talking to missionaries right away.

 

Which reminds me, I'm going to be adding family members and other friends/aquantances from home who are members. Unfortunately we can't catch up or talk, but please share any posts you like, and if you have friends who might be interested or who are going through a hard time, please send me a message and we can start talking to them! :)

 

We are so excited because next sunday the Rivera family will be baptized!!! Mom and dad, they are amazing. Rafael, the dad, is such a wonderful guy, and usually a little bit stubborn, but the gospel has touched his heart :) We taught him the Word of Wisdom this week, and the only thing that didn't make sense to him was Tea. We invited him to pray about it, and the next time we went over there, we asked him if he had prayed and if he would live the word of wisdom. He smiled and said that he had, and that he would live it. They have their interview tomorrow and we went over the baptismal interview questions with them. They are so happy and prepared and I just feel so blessed that I get to teach them.

 

Another amazing blessing and miracle is that Rafael's son from a previous marriage was over at their house and we asked him if we could stop by and share a little bit about why his family chose to be baptized. He accepted and when we went back and taught him, everything made sense to him. We taught him about how the Spirit feels, works with us, and testifies of truth, and he said that he felt it when we met him the few days before. We taught him about the Restoration and then later in the week taught him about the Book of Mormon. He had so many amazing questions that were answered by the Book of Mormon, and we talked about how the Spirit would work through his mind and heart - it would make sense and also feel right. He said that it already did, and we invited him to be baptized on December 15th. He accepted! :) We are so excited. The Lord really is placing those who are elect and who are prepared in our paths and I just feel so grateful to be a part of this amazing work.

 

I got lots of letters this week too :) made me happy. Dad, did you mean to send those YW letters when I was in the MTC? I loved them anyways.

I love you all so much and I love telling people about  my wonderful family. I sat by a little girl in sacrament meeting and when she got figety I pulled out a photo of us. Even 8 year olds think you're my sister, Mom!!

 

I'm doing so great and I feel so blessed. I love you all lots!

 

Con mucho amor,

 

Hermana Vance