Nov 25 Braden and Esther

Dear Family,

 

How are you all? I got some dearelders in the mail this week and I think I was supposed to get them as emails last week, but I didn't get all of them. I think that might have happened a couple times so I'm not sure if maybe you should just send them as emails? So sorry Emma for not replying to your note!! I was so happy you wrote me :) I can't believe you got a froggy! And 92 ELEPHANTS? Holy smokes. Unfortunately I don't think there are any stores around here with Elephants that I can send you, but I'll look for one to bring home at the end of my mission :) How's that? Love you Emma!

And Rachel, don't be mad at me! I write emails every week :) That counts, right? I can't believe you're going to New York!! Lucky duck!! Who's the friend that you're going with? How's Young Womens? Say hi to Auntie ML for me! And someone call Monica and say hi to her for me too!

 

And mom, you were right about the socks and pens for christmas! The pens are BIC four-colored, that are RED on the trunk of the pen, because those ones are thinner. You can look on Amazon and order them to me if you want. I'm sure they'll have them on there. If not, no worries. I'll be happy with anything I get! We're so excited for Christmas although it does not feel like christmas time here! We just put up a tree in our apartment :)

 

So, I told you when I first got back that the Rivera family were getting baptized on the 30th, but then they moved their date up. So, they were baptized this Sunday after church!!! Oh it was so wonderful. We were able to teach them all of the lessons with plenty of time to plan the baptism and make sure everything was planned really well. On Friday night we brought them to the church to try on their baptismal clothing and we watched a video clip from The District about a family and their conversion process from being taught to baptism, to getting sealed in the Temple a year later. As we watched it the spirit was there and we were all crying (well not the boys). Afterwards we told them how much we loved them and how happy we were for them. This is going to bless their lives so much. Their plan is to be sealed as a family in the San Diego temple in 1 year, and so they wanted the San Diego temple on their baptismal program! I am just so happy for them.

The baptism was beautiful. We were so happy and I am just filled with the spirit as i write about it right now. Cynthia and Rafael are from Mexico and their 2 boys were born here. Miguel (8) was baptized first, and then Reyes (11), Cynthia, and Rafael. Cynthia can't swim so she was a bit nervous, but she did so great. Hermana Chavez (who was Hermana Tracy's companion) was able to drive up for it and give the talk on Baptism and it made them so happy. Hermana Tracy and I sang "El Bautismo" (Baptism from the Children's songbook in Spanish), and then Sister Livingston gave a beautiful talk on the Holy Ghost (Brother and Sister Livingston came to lessons with us) and they were welcomed to the ward with their own sets of scriptures which they LOVED. A lot of people from the ward came and they felt so loved. We think we overheard a couple invite them over for dinner this week too. It was just perfect and we are confident that they will stay active and be such wonderful members of the church. Thank you so much for your prayers! They will be confirmed in church next sunday so we're excited for that too.

 

This week we also got to go to the Temple and it was wonderful as always. I can't believe 3 months has gone by so quickly since I last went, but boy does it make you appreciate it more. Hermana Lawrence and Hermana Underwood were both there too and so it was so great to be with them :)

Gran, thank you SO much for the name I was able to take and sorry that I made you send it in 2 different ways. I barely got it (I went and printed it off at the Temple Family History Center a few minutes before) but I'm so happy I did!
I also translated in Sacrament Meeting for the first time and it was scary but went fairly well :) We had an investigator come to church, Maria, who had never been so that was wonderful! I just love it here. Our ward is so great. And don't worry, we'll be taken care of for Thanksgiving. This ward hasn't had sisters in the past and so the members all fight over us for dinners. Poor elders. We're excited because President Alba said that he specifically would like us to visit families and do service on Thanksgiving. So we get to go visit some of the ward members who are active but need some love :) I'm so excited.

 

So I keep forgetting to tell you who to pray for and I'm sorry. But, we have the Rivera Family (Rafael, Cynthia, Reyes and Miguel), Rafael Jr. (his son), Fidel, Leslie, Maria, and Rafael Ayala (and yes, we teach 3 Rafaels, sorry haha). Thank you so much for praying for them!! I know it makes a difference.

 

If I hadn't heard about Braden and Esther getting married 2 weeks ago (a guy named Tyler Hamilton is in our stake and he just got back from Braden's mission, and he told me!!!) I would be jumping up and down right now. Next time you see them, give them both big hugs for me and tell them congratulations!! I am SO happy for them!! :)

 

And congratulations to Zach on his baptism and confirmation. I'm so proud of you Zach! I know this is what Heavenly Father wants you to do :)

 

Mom, I'm glad you're feeling a bit better this week. I will continue to pray for you. I love you so much and I took you for granted too. We visit this lady Tamara and she always makes us cry because she tells us how proud our mothers are of us. I miss you but I am so grateful for you every day. You are the most amazing woman in the whole world, and I am so glad I am your daughter. How lucky am I? I love you too dad. Oh and I got a dear elder from you this week dad - it was so sweet. I'm hoping to reply to it next P-day.

 

I love you too, Tyler and Madeline!! Sorry I haven't written you two in a while but know that I do still love you ;) Enjoy Thanksgiving everyone and be safe!

 

Lots of love,

 

Hermana Vance

 

Ps. What is Tyler and Madeline's address, and mom, can you send me your lds account username and password so that I can get on the ward directory and grab people's addresses instead of having to ask you guys? :) That would be so great.