Querida familia<3
Paola has a date!!!!!!! The 23 of May:D. So this was what happened. We were over in her area on Tuesday and we had already set a time to see her on Wednesday. We knew before hand that a baptismal invitation was due but we didn't know how to go about doing it. So we go see her neighbor on Tuesday and we see her outside with her niños, so we stop to say hello and she talked to us and she shows me a picture of her sister who looks a lot like me... Anyways we leave our little visit feeling motivated for the next day. As we are walking and talked about what we should do Hna Gamble suggests we should fast. So we did. It was around 7 and we thought we might as well fast until we saw her on Wednesday at 3. We pulled over to the side and offered a prayer to start. We prayed for her and thought about her the whole time. The next morning as we were staying we thought of some scriptures for her and finally before finishing our studies I ask Hna Gamble about a date. Should we just have her pick a date or have us suggest one? We didn't know but all of a sudden Hna Gamble goes, "I feel good about the 23" and as soon as she said that I felt so happy I wanted to cry!! So we go on with our day and we get to Paola's. We talked about the Book of Mormon and finally I ask Pao, " Paola, do you want to be a dry Mormon?" And she goes on about how she had thought about how she never wanted to be a member of this church and about how recently she had thought about baptism and as soon as she had thought about it all these bad things had started happening that had gotten her questioning. This whole time my faith was fighting to stay strong. We gave her some scriptures and then she asks us how she would know if she was ready so we give her more scriptures and finally I just say, "Paola, I know that you are ready" and she goes, "okay, so let's make a deal, I will get baptized on the 23, but you guys can't say anything until I it gets close to the date".... At that point I'm freaking out because we had never even mentioned a date to her! She didn't even know the 23 was a Saturday! She just randomly chose a date and it was the same date we had chosen! Eventually though she couldn't keep her own deal and now her husband and whole entire family knows, hence why I am able to tell y'all now:D
That single moment at her house when she finally agreed to be baptized has got to be one of the most amazing moments of my life. Just when hope was almost lost and faith had been fighting to stay strong, a miracle!! Paola has gone though such an unbelievable change since I got here. I love her so much! She is amazing! She is so smart and loving and an amazing mother! She motivates me to do better, she gives me hope and makes my heart feel likes it's going to explode with so much love. I am so thankful for this amazing opportunity to be a part of her life right now.
My week consisted of trying to keep her decision on the DL until Sunday day:) Also though, this week was sister Schenk's birthday:D we had so much fun getting her funny birthday card and blowing up balloons and going to Chilli's for lunch! We also had Zone conference on Friday and I got to be reunited with some of my old friends:) Hermana Eastwood, sister Richerson, Sister Bybee, E Harris, E Peterson, E Hernandes, and E Paey. Such fun, such fun!!:D
I hope y'all were there for my brothers farewell! I hope y'all gave him hugs in my behalf:,) I just wanted to say that I am so proud of him. He is my biggest hero and my bestest friend. Go Elder Orellana!! Hurray to the best future missionary!:) I promise to cheer you on every single day where ever I am at until we can be together again... And then I will keep cheering you on in person;). I love you more than life.
Love,
Hermana Orellana
Hna Daysi, Natalie, & Hno Rene.... Waiting for our investigator
Our Zone, the APs and President and Sister Anderson
Hna Daysi and Natalie it was also poring rain..
"Shelfie" -Hno Lux
My baby Daniel<3
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