Last Week in El Carmen

Tough week but it ended on a really good note, kind of:

Today I would like to address an issue many missionaries experience when they have regular baptisms: people stop coming. Seriously it's like the ward, the bishop, his counselors --they get scared of more baptisms. Luckily they don't have authority to fire us because if they did, I think they would do it. NOBODY showed up, except two families that are recent converts and Sister Bartola and her daughter. Our ward mission leaders showed up an hour and half late, and then we didn't have the two witnesses so I had to call the stake president so that the missionaries would come. Poor elders had to leave their visit to help us with the baptism. Whew. But here's the cool part --two minutes in I felt WONDERFUL. This family that we're teaching is incredible, and Paola was so excited and ready that you could feel a peace that is NOT normal in that kind of situation. I couldn't stop smiling. And her little sister sang the Baptism song from the primary for her. So CUTE! The point is this: members, please attend the ward baptisms. So you can meet the new members, congratulate the adorable little 8-year-olds that have been waiting for this day their whole life. I know this gospel is true because too many times God has worked miracles in my life. For example, miracle that baptism happened --an hour and a half late, but it happened. When we don't have food, someone graciously and ignorantly offers us food, when we're thirsty, someone gives us free water from their store because they know what we're doing, and when we're disappointed and feeling down, he sends a companion or a friend or a spiritual hug and wipes away our tears. GOD LIVES! This is my testimony. And as weird as it feels in an email, I share this in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, amen.

P.S. Happy Mexican Independence day! (16th)

Paola got baptized on Saturday!

Future missionaries (the kid in front is getting baptized in 2 weeks)

Leadership conference on Wednesday (something distracted the elders on the left...)  

I'm a Happy Mom

Sister Castaneda and Sister Wilson

July 11, 2016

First week training a new missionary. Hermana Castaneda (from El Salvador) is the best daughter a mission mom could have. Takes the initiative, makes me food, we laugh at ourselves, she wants to learn English, she teaches me Spanish, she has a strong testimony, sensitive to the Spirit . . . The list goes on. So life is really good right now. Also, training has given me a lot more motivation to teach and work hard and find the people God has prepared for us. And it´s been fun introducing her to all the members. We´re gonna work this ward to death in the process of baptizing this city.

Met so many wonderful people this week! One of them is the new president of the mission and his wife, President and Sister Haws. They are incredible. You can feel the Spirit so strong when he talks, it makes me want to be a Sister Training Leader forever so I can go listen to him talk every month in the conference. What a blast! And I got to see Hermana Scholes again, my sister from Palenque :)

What I learned this week: Men are that they might have joy. So grateful to be here and to enjoy this learning process with adopted family and friends.Thanks always for your thoughts and prayers. They´re working ;)

Love you all!

The streets of El Carmen :)

Sister Sump