Letter dated February 23, 2015 Week #17

HOLA MUCHACHOS!!

YAYYY!!  This week we had another Baptism!  Her name is Elena Velasquez.  I know I haven’t mentioned her before.  Sorry about that.  She was one of the 10 investigators that we visit every day.  When we got into the area she was already an investigator of the other sisters.  Her husband William Velasquez was baptized like 1or 2 months before we got here.  Elena had wanted to wait to have her baby before she got baptized.  She had her baby within two weeks of us getting here.   We were so lucky except that they have a tradition here in El Salvador that for 40 days after giving birth the mom can’t leave the house and she can only eat tortillas and cheese.  It’s like an ancient tradition or something.  Elena’s mom said it was important for her to follow the tradition.   She was really weak and she couldn’t even read because it hurt her eyes and she slept all of the time.  It just wasn’t good.  But of course they weren’t going to listen to two young girls from the States who aren’t even married little own have babies!  How could we even begin to tell them how to raise their baby?  Ha ha ha  We bring members to their home and they helped to explain.  Elena also wanted to wait for the baby to reach 2 months before it could leave the house.  It was just a struggle.  We did finally get her to eat real food and what not so she got her strength back.  We had so many baptism dates set with her and at the last minute she would back out and give us excuses.  So finally we just realized that when she is ready she is ready, we can’t and shouldn’t rush her. But we did continue to visit her everyday to make sure she was ok and to just love her.   I know that really helped her to feel ready to get baptized.   Knowing that we have love for her and weren’t just there to have her get baptized.  I know she could feel our genuine love for her AND this past Saturday she got baptized!!  

BUT!

THE!

BEST!

PART!!!

Her husband received the Aaronic priesthood and he had the authority to baptize her!  SOOO AWESOME!!  We went over with the Elders and they taught him how.  I wrote down the prayer for him and told him to practice.  He memorized the whole thing!!  He baptized her and wow.. it was sooo beautiful!!!  Last week they had the baby blessing!  Sooo awesome!!!  I am soo excited for this beautiful family. WOW!!!  They really are awesome.  They have such a special place in my heart. 

Wow!  I never knew how stressful baptisms are for missionaries.  I wont give details... but lets just say Sis Patterson and I were in tears.  But it’s okay because in the end everything worked out.  After the baptism we had the movie night and we watched Meet the Mormons in Spanish.   There are only 3 DVDs of Meet the Mormons in El Salvador!  The mission President for each mission here has one.  So we got very lucky that we could use it.  That was stressful too.  But again, everything worked out.  It was beautiful and everyone cried. It’s an awesome movie.  The Bishop’s wife, Hermana Gutierrez, and the Relief Society President, Hermana Flores, are literally the best!  They popped the popcorn and made the juice.  They almost missed the whole movie!  We kept telling them we could do it but they wanted to help us.  They remind me of you mommy.  They are just such mothers!   They are both ex missionaries too.  I love them. They have been like mother figures for me out here.  They can’t replace you mama but its nice to have a women hug us and feel their love for us.

Oh yeah, and to add to the stress, the Bishop asked us to speak in church, in Spanish may I remind you!  Ha ha ha yup.  I was a nervous wreck.  I am not usually nervous to talk but I was really nervous because it was in Spanish.  Yikes!  But it was good.  Ha ha ha  All went well…now I just have like 100 grey hairs.  Kidding.

This week has flown by.  I really do feel like time flies and I hate it.  I don’t want to even think about going home but it’s hard cuz Sister Patterson only has 3 more weeks!  Wow!  Crazy.  But it’s okay cuz all is good in the neighborhood!

The Calderons are doing good.  Jose loves seminary.  I know that Carlos will be a strong member forever.  His testimony is growing every day.

I am healthy and happy.  Eating a lot.  Walking a lot.  Singing a lot. Talking a lot.  We had awesome numbers this week.  Working hard. Hoping for another baptism this month.  Pray for Valeria Henrique.  I’ll tell you about her next week. 

Now for you guys...

Wow.... I literally cried when I read what dad wrote to me. Why?? WHY?? WHY??  Why would someone do that?  I just don’t understand.  Who can just break into someone else’s property and take what’s not theirs?  I hate that!  That equipment is what you use to take care of your family and so many other people too!  My tita side started to come out and I wanted to just punch someone and then the missionary side came out and then I just cried and am sad.  For some reason though I have a weird, calm feeling.  It’s like my soul knows that everything is going to be okay.  I will pray with all my heart.  I am so so sorry daddy.  I know how much that meant to you…to all of us!

I am sorry that I am not there to help you look for it. 

Mom, please add Morgan’s mission email to the list please and send me hers!

BUT LUKE!!! YOU HANDSOME BUGGER!!!  I want him to send me a photo when he gets them!!

I love you all!!

Josh you are so handsome in your suit!!

Sweetie I am sooo happy you had an awesome week!

Mom... I didn’t get to read your whole email.  I’ll print it and reply next week.

I got one letter from you mom and one from Cathy Wong and Vela, and even some from other people I dont know.  Thank you so much for thinking of me! 

THANK YOU ALL!! I LOVE YOU ALL!!

HAVE AN AWESOME WEEK!!  Until next week!!

KEEP SMILING!!

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--Hermana Kava--