Hi family!
Well it was an... interesting week. Not one of the best, nor the worst. Just intesting. And full of moments that I will not likely forget. And I guess a few miracles too.
First, VERONICA WAS BAPTIZED!! It was a beautiful day. Seriously, lindo. To remind you of her story, we found Veronica through her teenage son that doesn´t even live with her but was just visiting. He told us that he already knew a little bit about our church but maybe his mom would like to hear a message. (I found out after that her son, Victor, even LIVED in the USA in Gilbert for a year and a half and took a tour of the gilbert temple) We tried to visit her about 5 times and I started to think that she was simply avoiding us because Victor said that she was always home. But finally, she let us in!! Turns out, she had been praying to find a church and didn´t even realize it, but she lived about 5 doors down from the chapel! We invited to church and since the first week, she has gotten up and ready bringing her little baby alone. She as as strong as they come and truly a miracle.
Her baptism was so beautiful. She was thrilled because her two children came and loved it. So much so that they said they would come back for church!! The whole relief society came and even presented the rainbow baptism song. We surprised her with a little party after and she was so so happy!
In other news, I had to do some serious referee-ing. We finally marked their wedding at the Cartório!! BUT, not without a lot of fighting on our part... and I gues litterally their´s as well. Because one night we went to visit them and they were fighing. bad. H warned us as we entered their apartment complex, telling us that they had decided to separate. uhh nooo. Courageously, we went up and tried to help out. And separating.. yep, he was actually packing his bags. We talked, prayed, made goals, the whole time Diego was folding and unfolding his things.. The very next day we made it to the cartório but the word awkward doesn´t even begin to explain it. Long story short, we will do everything in our power to help this couple. Heaven knows that they need our help. But in the end it will be up to them. Let´s just saw, that I am a little bit terrified about this whole marriage thing.
Also, our lunch fell through basically every day this week. It is interesting to note that our lunch basically never falls through in poor areas, but rather they feed us with such love. Even the most simple lunches, rice beans and a fried egg, taste good when made with love) But many of the more wealthy members seem to forget very easily. SO we made a lot of salad. The good kind with fruit, spinach, and even a different dresing. We were loving it. Oh so happy,UNTIL I we found a living, crawling insect. The little guy had skill too because we even washed the lettuce super well. The other morning, we were with President and he asked us where we would be lunching. We explained that actually we didn´t quite know, he got super excited. Presi loves to cook, and he whipped up an excellent fish. I LOVE the Del Guersos.
Oh, another miracle, this week as we were trying to talk to people who simply did not want to talk to us, another woman, Regina noticed our efforts from her window, and called to us. She explained that she was needing a prayer and asked us to come in. She introduced us to her husband and her daughter Livia. Livia is 23 and at the end of the month she will be moving to Portugal to start a new life there. Regina is super religious, but has yet to find a church that she thinks is completely correct. She has already been baptized two times, but does not view either as a baptism totally complete. As a result, she always read the bible with her children and taught them correct principles, but she never baptized them. And as Livia is getting ready to leave home and test out her own wings, she wants, more than anything to be baptized because she knows that their is uncomparable power waiting fore her in the waters. She has been praying for an opportunity, and we showed up at her doorstep. Regina, also agreed to be baptized as well. She too wants to follow and agrees that our church has something that all the others lack. She just needs to wait a few weeks for her husband to recuperate from a surgery. But, Livia went to church yesterday and absolutely loved it. She laughed and cried. It was incredible.
Well, all is well. Have a wonderful week!
Sister Lauren
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