Discover How Much Your Heart Can Hold

My Dearly Beloved Family, Today the internet was (and is) down in Nasca for the whole day. 

3rd world problems.... 

I take so much for granted, and sometimes God just has to remind me. This email is going to be super fast and super scattered, but my heart is full and I feel incredibly blessed this week and today. God is good, and patience and faith are the formula to lasting happiness and joy. It is just carry on, carry on, carry on! And it is a joyous

journey.if we make it that way through gratitude and using the atonement:) Anyway. On Monday, we went to this ruins place called Cahuachi and it was sooo windy but was really cool because according to like history it could have totally been Zarahemla.... very cool. Also that night we had planned a Family Home Evening with some less actives and a ton of members came and it was a huge success! We are really working on strengthening the branch and the members. 

On Tuesday, we had a lot of member support again! Three members came with us

to visit a family of inactive sisters who just really need a lot of support. It was awesome to see the branch working and the blessings flowing. Wednesday, I had exchanges with Hermana Sintay and it was really good! She is an

amazing missionary, and I continue learning more than anyone else on the exchanges

through their examples. 

Thursday was the best day of the week. We started proselyting in the afternoon and I just felt weird and down.... I don't know what it was, but we were both feeling it. Then, we decided to go and visit a recent convert who is about 80 named Fabiana. She can't read, so we read the Book of Mormon to her and try to help her understand. She is really smart, just never had the opportunity to get an education because she lived in a little pueblo and then worked her whole life. But it frustrates her to not be able to understand the scriptures and things very well.... Her faith is amazing and she literally wants it more than anything. But it is hard for her. Well we read in 1 Nephi 11 when he asks Nephi if he understands the nature of God and he says I don't understand everything, but I know God loves us. After that, she prayed to close the lesson and it was the most sincere prayer begging for light and understanding I have ever heard in my whole life. She has so much faith in God, and she was just pleading with him to understand, and she just said, "I am your daughter!" and i just started bawling. I felt it so strong, what she by faith understands. That she is a daughter of god! and that He WILL care for us. 3 Nephi 13-26-33, Doctrine and Covenants 50:40-41, Moses 1:13 After that lesson, we prayed as a companionship and went to our next appointment and were able to set a baptismal date! Susana, who lost her husband, is preparing to be baptized the 18th of April. Then we found a new investigator, and the spirit of our day just completely changed. Thanks to the faith of Fabiana :)

 I was reading this week in the bible dictionary about temples,  and it says the temple and the home are the holiest places

 in the world. Doctrine and Covenants 136:31, we are tried in all things to be fit for the kingdom. The Spirit is so important and so delicate,.... it comes in the still and quiet moments, and we need to learn to live and thrive in those moments to be able to feel and live by the spirit. I am so thankful for this gospel, for this day, and for the blessings that God has given me. I am so thankful for my family, and for the Holy Ghost. God lives and He loves us, and we are His children. The temple is a holy house where we can feel the love of our Father and taste our potential. 

Christ lives, and He died for every single one of our sins, sorrows, and sufferings. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the Kingdom of God on this earth, and only by and through the teachings of the  Book of Mormon can we make it back to Him who created us. I am so filled with love for my Savior and for my family and for the people of Peru. 

Thank you for everything, I love you all!!! -- 

*Hermana Bailey*

Perfect Imperfection

Hermanas Bott and Bailey

Buenos Dias my incredibly beloved familia whom I cherish and adore!!

How the heck are you? Sounds like there is a lot of crazy close calls going on.... I am so grateful for the blessing of the holy ghost and the blessings that come when we follow the promptings of it. I am grateful for covenants and the protection God offers his faithful servants. And I am thankful for a family that are faithful examples to me, and are worthy of the protection of the Lord. Also, side note, guardian angels are totally real. It is a promise of the family history that when we do vicarious ordinances or work in our family history, those people convert into guardian angels. They are there :) and the Lord protects those who are true.

Anyway. 

I love you all dearly.

Anyway.

Last Monday I spent the day traveling to Lima with Hermana Bott but it was by far the best travel day ever. I love her dearly, it was way cool to be able to REALLY talk for the first time in a whole YEAR and see everything that has changed and all that will change and how amazing the mission and the gospel and the atonement of Christ really is. We are so different, but still so the same. I am so grateful for true friends, and so thankful for this mission and the atonement. The plan of our Heavenly Father is perfect imperfection. His plan was always that we break.... the fall of adam and broken commandments. The atonement of Christ and broken bands of death and sin. The fall of us and our broken hearts, broken lives, and broken worthiness. We had to break to become whole, to be fixed and to grow. We had to break to come unto Christ. We had to break to learn and to grow. Satan wanted to change the plan, he wanted perfection. But that was never the plan. There is something very profound in a plan of perfect imperfection.... God loves broken things. The important part is that we apply the atonement and repentance to repair what breaks. 

Tuesday was concilio and as always the spirit was very strong. President and Sister Douglas just bring it with them... they remind me a lot of my mom and dad. And I just respect and love them a TON. One of the big themes I understood from concilio was consecration and becoming a new creature in Christ... building consecration and faith and really leaving it all behind to walk the path of discipleship. Because THAT is where the miracles come. And we so desperately need miracles every day. In the mission and in our lives. And we so desperately need to RECOGNIZE the miracles that there are. There are so very many. We are so very blessed, especially when we live a consecrated life and work to increase our faith. Which is hard sometimes.... but so very possible. Especially when we are doing the will of the Lord.  

 

Fun facts... me, Hermana Bott, Hermana Bond, and Hermana Rush were all in concilio. Reunited after one year!! It was awesome.

Funner fact.... I found out ( from Hermana Rush who is serving in my first ward) that Manuel Arcaya (a convert in San Juan) is now the Sunday School President and working towards getting sealed in the temple. I shed tears of joy :)

Wednesday... we finally (FINALLY) got back to our area in Nasca and it ended up being kind of a rough day.... we walked alllll day and we were sooooo tired and a tad bus sick and no one was home and everything was falling through... so we took a pause, stood under a tree, and said a prayer. Then, we went to teach a recent rescue who is about 80 years old and can't read, so we are helping her read and understand the Book of Mormon. We read chapter 8 of First Nephi and she understood all of it! We drew a picture of Lehi's dream while we were reading and she totally explained the literal and symbolic meaning of all of it and it was amazing. Truly :) Tender mercies of the lord. 

On Thursday we had Concilio de Zona.... which is when we come back and relay everything from concilio. It usually stresses me out to an extreme because I am still just really learning how to be in front of people... not one of my favorite things, ahahah, but having to teach this every month has really, really helped me. And this time the Spirit was so strong that it was easy. Hermana Douglas taught all about condensation and the dew point.... that humidity is our integrity and temperature is our faith, and when they are equal, the dew point happens. And the dew point is what brings the dews of heaven. It was super powerful, because we ae really needing a faith and miracle boost in the mission right now. But I know we are headed for it. Everyone is being humbled right now, and that is usually about when the miracles come haha. 

ON Friday, at the very end of the day, we saw a miracle :) We found a new investigator and she is great! Her name is Marina and we are way excited to start teaching her. We had been talking to EVERYONE all day and the grace came :) 

On Saturday, we had interviews with President in Ica. It was amazing :) He is seriously awesome. We talked a lot about the atonement in my interview, and I am so grateful for what I have learned and felt about the atonement in my mission. We also had a short training on goals and I FINALLY really understood what it is to put a goal of faith, as a missionary and also in real life. The faith is desire, work, and trust. Trust in God and the trust He has in us based on worthiness. It was a great day :)

Moroni 7:40-41

On Sunday, we had 5 less actives in church and almost all the recent converts and rescues! It was really a tender mercy. We weren't able to have any investigators, we are working really hard for that this week. Pray for us! Pray for the branch to explode with the spirit of missionary work.

A year ago, I remember walking around and teaching and wondering how I was ever going to do this for a year and a half. And now I just wonder how am I ever not going to do this? I love the mission so much. I love this work, I love this gospel. I love the Savior and I love the atonement. I finished the Book of Mormon again this morning. I know without a doubt in my heart that is true, and that it has power to change us. 

Should we not go forth in so great a cause?

OH remember how much I love you all :)

Thank you!

For absolutely everything.

Hermana Bailey

The Spirit of God and the Nasca Sun... Both Burn.

Hola my dearly beloved family whom I love!!! How is everything going? Wow I just love you all so much. Maybe a little too much :) Hahaha, well actually that probably isn't even possible.

Anyway,

I am rambling.

This week for P-day we played with water balloons and stuff and it was a really fun activity. I think it really helped us get closer as a zone too. It was hysterical and greatly appreciated because it was soooo dang hot. Seriously. It is always hot...but the sun and mountains are gorgeous, so I am OK with it :) That night we went to visit one of our investigators named Gustavo and we were talking to him about how his experience was in church the day before.  He was like "Hermanas, remember when you promised me that if I sacrificed and came to church, God would bless me to find work?" And we were like "uh..... yes?" And he said, I found work! I walked out of the church and was walking home and a man stopped me in the street and asked me if I wanted to work for him. The promise worked!" He just looked so happy and almost like shocked as he was telling us. It was awesome :) A huge testament of the blessings of church attendance and a big testimony builder to me because I am still like nervous sometimes to tell people if they come to church it will all somehow work out because they are all poor and need to work... but it is true. The blessings are real, and they always come.

On Wednesday I came up to Ica to do an exchange with Hermana Villena, Hermana Bott's companion. When I was in Ica we lived together for a transfer so I know her really well and it was a really successful exchange. Also, I love Ica and I got to see a ton of people I worked with when I was here and the Galindo family, so it is always awesome to come up to Ica :) I'm here right now actually... hahaha. Also with Hermana Villena we were able to talk a lot about teaching and teaching in the way the Savior teaches and it was really cool. We had a couple really cool experiences and made some really good goals. I learn more in exchanges than anywhere else... I just love seeing how everyone teaches. 

On Thursday we had a lesson with Basilia, one of our investigators, and her prayer was amazing. One of her road blocks is that she doesn't want to do anything without her husband, and he is always busy. But her prayer was so sincere and so powerful that I really think we are going to be able to see progress with him this week. Then after the lesson with her, we found a new investigator who is catholic but has a ton of questions and a deep testimony. Although there are like 80 little santitos like the Virgin Mary and the other ones and such, and they freak me out when we are teaching her. Yay catholic nations! Hahaha and after that we had a lesson with a less active and his mom and two of the young men and the District President came with us, and it was awesome. But the two young men I found out after aren't even members because they don't have parent permission.... and they are amazing. They are 14 and 15, they remind me of Judd and come faithfully every week. It breaks my heart, seriously. Also, I liked having them because there were a few drunks out and they were acting all tough and "protecting" us and it was hilarious. Hahaha and I made them contact  a lady to practice for their missions and they were so excited. I love the youth.

On Friday we went to Marcona to do family history! Marcona is an area about 1 more hour south of Nasca. It is right on the beach and it is super pretty. The saints down there are really faithful, and it is always worth the 1 hour van ride with the miners and mamitas to get to Marcona and teach family history :)

Holy crud. Saturday was the most difficult fast I have ever done. It was the hottest day of the week and every single house offered us Inca cola. TEMPTATION. But it was actually one of the most meaningful fasts I have ever had. That night, I was reading in preach my gospel and it says something like the central purpose of this life is to put our life in harmony with the will of the Father through repentance. And that just hit me really hard.... that is literally the purpose of our life. To just get it all in line with the Father. 

Then, on Sunday morning... we walked around all morning to pick up everyone who was going to go to church and NOBODY COULD. It was just like,  "Noooo not again!!!!!" It was a little discouraging, but the bright spot was this group of 3 less active sisters came and the whole branch was soooo excited to see them. We have been working a ton with them. The older sister is pregnant and is ashamed to come to church. She still wasn't ready Sunday, but we are working really hard with them. They are amazing :)

We had actually a lot of eternal investigators yesterday, and it just made me sad. People who can't progress due to someone else. I am so grateful for the atonement and the knowledge that someday all will be right. 

The gospel is true.

A mission is the best thing anyone could do.

Christ lives, and He loves us :)

And I love you! Have a great week!!!

Hermana Bailey

Did You Think to Pray?

In Front of the Church in Nazca

HOLA FAMILIA!!!!!!!!!!!! I loveth you all :)

Well every week is packed with so much stuff and yet flies by sooo fast.

Here we go :)

On Monday after internet we went to the Fowler's house, who are the senior missionary couple. We ate mini pizzas, and they were soooo good. Then we played Uno and Pictionary and it was a really relaxing, fun Pday. (Today we are playing water games (it is like 95 degrees) and eating Chilean food) then, in the evening, we were looking for less actives to teach. I called President about an exchange for the week. While we were talking, he told me that we needed to have faith that we would find a new investigator in the next hour and it would happen. So we prayed and went and asked a member for a reference, and we found a new less active and her 13 year old daughter who isn't baptized! It was a big testimony builder and it really got us fired up for the week.

On Tuesday we had our district meeting.  Right after I had an exchange with Hermana Giler who is in training and it was way good. We taught a crazy less active who just kept screaming at us, but we were able to talk about sacrifice.... if God sacrificed his Son for you, can't you at least go to church to partake of the sacrament every week? And then she stopped screaming and agreed to come to church. That was a good spiritual experience for Hermana Giler, it was awesome :)

Then on Wedenesday we had a multi-zone up in Ica and we had to get on the bus to go at 6. But it was way worth it! We saw Hermana Bott and every one in Ica and the Galindo family. It was a super good multi-zone. We practiced a lot of teaching the apostasy (it is a hot button topic in a catholic nation) and I learned a lot! The goal of the multi-zone was to see our weaknesses as teachers and change them. I felt really good (humbled) afterward and just really excited to change and learn more about the way the Lord teaches and apply it in my teaching.

On Thursday I had an exchange with Hermana Wilkins and it was really fun to be able to proselyte with her and be able to talk in English in the street....I miss English, but I also don't know how to speak it anymore. Ahahahah, it is rather shameful. We talked a lot of deep doctrine too, and it was really fun conversation. We had a lesson with a convert who recently was endowed and talked about how important the law of chastity is (she got a new bf....). It was really powerful to realize that it is one of the only commandments mentioned in the temple... obviously it is really important. It was a really spiritual lesson :)

Then on Friday, the grace finally came :) (after all you can do).  We were walking to a lesson and a little boy came running out of a side street thing and asked us if we were Mormons. Then he told us his mom wanted to talk to us. It turns out they just moved here from Iquitos (jungle) and the mother- in-law isn't a member, so we started teaching her! It was awesome. This family is seriously so cute. They live in one of the most humble houses I have seen.  While we were waiting for them to get ready for church yesterday, it almost made me cry. Then they came out all dressed in the best they have and speed walked all the way to the church. Just so excited. They are really great :)

On Saturday we found another new investigator, the mom of a recent convert whose husband died 2 weeks ago. She is super prepared and super ready to learn about the Plan of Salvation. She already has a huge testimony. So we have a lot of plans to help her progress towards baptism. She is amazing, and is really sad, but is trying to find comfort in her faith. That night we had an activity with the Relief Society about family history and we also made chocolates... and it was way funny and I think we gained a lot of trust with the sisters, which we really need. I am super excited to work with them and know them better!

On Sunday, we had 3 investigators come to church and we were really happy. We have a lot of plans this week to set baptismal dates, find nuevos, and bring them all to church!

This week was a week of miracles, hope, and faith. I know that the miracles are there, we just have to be faithful enough to receive them. I know that this is the work of the Lord, and that His hand is here. I know that this church is true, and that it is the pathway to get to eternal life.... I know that love is a power more powerful than anything else, especially the love of our Savior for each one of us.

The church is true.

Christ lives :)

I love the mission.

I love my dear family :)

Have a great week!!

Hermana Bailey

The Goal is a Consecrated Life

Hola familia that I love dearly!

How are you? Before I begin the random, scatter-brained recount of this week, I had to tell you before I forget that my last weekend in Ica, my pension fed us manta ray (like the thing that stung Steve Irwin and killed him).  It was really weird and not very appetizing, and they wouldn't tell me what it was until I ate it. I just felt you needed to know that. 

Anyway. Moving on. 

On Tuesday for Pday, we bought a bunch of stuff we needed for our house and ate at a delicious cafe. The middle of Nasca is like super touristy so there is random yummy food.... hahaha and then we slept for like 2 hours and it was glorious. That night we had a lesson in family history with this crazy recent rescue. It was really spiritual and tender until she started telling us about how she had a theory that God lived in the ocean and we were all fish until God discovered that he could fly and we all became humans.... I almost died. I just love people so much.

On Wednesday we had our District meetings and so forth, and they were really powerful. We talked a lot about teaching in the Lord's way, and inviting people to make and keep commitments that will really help them progress. There are only 12 missionaries in Nasca, so it is a fun little group. That afternoon we taught a woman named Basilia who is progressing towards baptism. Her and her husband have come to church and she has a lot of desire. They are slowly making plans go get married so that they can get baptized :) It is really fun to teach her because she really lets the Spirit work on her and she understands how she needs to change to be able to follow the Savior. We just are trying to have more lessons with her husband and help them to come to church :) We also taught a recent rescue named Mama Rina, hahaha, and she was telling us about her experience doing the temple work for her mom. It was really tender and I felt once again how important the work of the temple is in our lives, the hope and peace that temple covenants bring to us :)  

On Thursday me and Hermana Torres were talking a lot about what we had learned on the mission and what we wanted to see happen here. We talked about wanting to be better followers of Christ and his counsel.  We made some really great goals for these next couple of months and we are really excited :) Then we went to visit a bunch of less actives and walked like 8 miles. But it was a gorgeous walk and we contacted a lot, so it was great :) Then that night at midnight we got on a bus with the members and headed to the temple. I just love members. They are hilarious. We got to the temple early in the morning and the senior missionary couple, the Fowlers, and us printed out all the name cards and got them distributed to all the members. They spent the whole day (7-7 ) in the temple doing multiple baptisms, sessions, and sealings for their family members. It was a really cool spirit as they filed out and told us about the work they were doing. We also got to do a session in the afternoon with some of them, and that was really, really fun. I love the temple :) I think about the faith of these members to sacrifice and go to the temple every time I sit in the visitors center in Lima and watch the sun rise on groups of sleeping saints from all over Peru, Chile, and other close countries. It is inspiring :) 

On Saturday (Happy Valentines Day!) we found new investigator named Gubin and it was a super  funny lesson. He has some weird theories about God and such...

Then on Sunday we had church! One of our investigators named Gustavo came and it was really cool to see him interact with the members. Our branch is teeny tiny, 68 people (and one persistent dog) attended yesterday. Our church is on the first floor of a house and it is so weird. Like a whole new kind of culture shock. But there are a few super duper faithful members here, and I am super excited to be able to work with them and see the spirit of missionary work transform this little branch into a strong ward of families and priesthood holders :) 

This week I was really struck by what it really means to live a consecrated life. It means to give everything to the gospel and trying to live a Christ centered life. It is the example of my parents :) It is what I want to have, and what I want the people I teach to have. It is the key to happiness :)

The gospel is true! The Savior lives. The purpose of life is to have joy :) I love missionary work. I love my family :)

I love you!

Hermana Lauren Bailey

Savior, Redeemer of My Soul

Holy cow my dearly beloved family time goes by so fast and I miss you so dang much!

Anyway.

It has been a crazy 8 days (only 8 days? 8 whole days? So much happened and yet it flew by soooo fast...) and mostly it has been full of conferences and changes :) But I love it! But not Lima and the bus. Hahaha, although that is also pretty entertaining at times....

Anyway.

On Tuesday, we had the Family History Conference in Lima with all of the sisters who are currently doing family history as well as all of the sisters in Lima.  So I actually got to see Bott AND Rush all day again. Tender mercies :) The meeting was actually really spiritual and really necessary. We talked a lot about standardizeing everything everyone is doing because we are the only mission in the whole world doing it.... and that in July the church is going to want to see a report of this year and what we have done, so we have to keep meticulous records and everything. It was really cool and really intimidating.... the work of salvation is going so fast. Like.... apresurando?  I have no clue how to say that in English. President also talked a lot about how the restoration also restored all of the priesthood powers, including for the temple and for the vicarious work. It was really cool to see how literally everything in the gospel is interconnected and dependant upon the restoration.

Then after the meeting, I went and proselytized and did exchanges with two sisters in Family History and San Juan. They live in my old area and it was soooooo weird. So weird. That was a year ago! It was like a lot of nostalgia and meditation. The next day I was supposed to meet Bott in front of the church to go to concilio together because she was in the other area in San Juan.  While I was waiting I SAW MIGUEL AND HIS SISTER MONICA. They all of a sudden just came running down the street, and I just started crying. It was like a movie, ahahah, but I love them soooo much. They are seriously one of my favorite families ever :) Then, concilio was amazing. President talked a lot about making ourselves fit for the kingdom through obedience and Hermana Douglas talked about consecration. It was a really spiritual and powerful meeting. 

We also got to go to McDonald's while we were waiting for our bus, so that was really, really cool.....

On Thursday we had to teach concilio to the zone. Teaching in front of people actually really makes me nervous, but I feel like it is really stretching me. So that is good. I guess. Hahaha

Friday and Saturday were really slow in family history, but Saturday was transfer call day and it was like the most anxiety filled day of my life. Ahahaha, just like always, but also the more time I have in the mission - the more scared I am .... but I love it.  And I was super surprised and excited to find out I was coming to Nasca! I am so excited to work with Sister Torres and work hard. 

This email is so scattered. And really short.... I am working on writing letters ( I didn't get them sent with Hermana Bott's dad... I will send them in Serpost. I really promise this time, I hope.) and I will explain better my whole life and my thoughts and so forth.  I will write today :) 

To end, I have been pondering love these last two days because Valentines Day is coming up and I just love love. Love is so pure and powerful :) It is the catalyst to missionary work and to all that matters in this life. What is love?(baby don't hurt me.... oh man that is an old song) Love is putting yourself second. Love is listening. Love is accepting. Love is sharing the gospel. Love is my family. Love is supporting those we love.  Love is the temple. Love is the prophets of old and modern days, like Nephi who were able to see our day and to love us enough to keep records for us. Love is repentance.  Love is a triagnle.... it requires two people and Heavenly Father. Love is the atonement.  "I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me, and I tremble to know that for me he was crucified."

I love you all so much. I know the gospel is true. I love being a missionary! We are going to the temple this weekend with some converts from Nasca.... pray for them!

I love you.

John 3:16

Lauren

The Last Enemy That Shall Be Destroyed is Death.

Oh my family whom I love so dearly :)

How are you?!?! Well I have a ton to say and very little time to say it so here we go. 

On Monday I was on exchanges with Hermana Alonso and we contacted this lady and she let us into her house to teach her and everything. And then in the end when we invited her to read the Book of Mormon she was like, " Uh no, I actually don't want your book because I will never read it and I am too busy to be looking for answers like these."  And I was ...... dumbfounded. How can somebody turn down their salvation so quickly? How can someone understand at least a little how important this is and then say, well I actually don't even want to look for an answer.... And I think it is fear that does that. And then I started thinking.... am I too afraid to ask for and look for and listen to revelation sometimes? When we have enough faith in the Savior and the Atonement, we arent afraid to look for and act on the hard answers. 

 

Then, right after we went to another house and the lady had this crazy dog with a lime around its neck (because it is sick) (Peruvians do that... I don't know if I have ever mentioned it before ahahaha it is actually hilarious) and she has this 98 year old grandma that her son brings to church and (the lady isn't a member. or the grandma...) and it was a really cool lesson to be able to talk to her about the Plan of Salvation and why we don't need to fear death,... because she is really worried about her mom all the time. I love the eternal truths and comfort of this gospel and the plan of happiness.

On Tuesday we were actually busy all afternoon with medical things and doctor visits (not for me mom, don't worry just breathe). Then when we got back from the clinic we had a lesson with a recent convert named Renzo. He was so cool because he already had an account made and like information in it when he came for the lessson! He is so prepared and excited to go to the temple. He is planning on February.

Wednesday.... was my birthday! And it was a really, really great birthday. Thank you to my family for the packages and to family and friends for all the birthday wishes last Pday :) It was a relatively normal day but when we got to lunch the Galindo family and the Elders and Sisters had made like a huge sign with balloons where I sit. They gave me Inca Kola and a Chocoteja and then after lunch they brought out a cake and sang.  One of the traditions in Peru is that you have to bite your birthday cake and when I went to bite it, one of the young men in the ward that works at the restaurant squished my face into it (which is also a tradition that I thought I would get out of considering I had an interview with President in a half hour, but no.) and it was hilarious. And it totally reminded me of the boys.... it is as if they were there in spirit. All in all, it was a really great birthday!

Then, right after all that I had my interview with President. It was great, amazing as always. We talked about faith and finding people to teach and relying on the Atonement. He also said he got an email from mom and dad and that you are awesome, he truly respects and admires you greatly.... that you are exceptional and he is so excited to meet you someday. It was a really great 10 minutes with President :) I look up to him so much.

Thursday was crazy psycho to get ready for the temple. I am going to give a short rundown on everyone who went!

2 went Friday in a ward caravan.

Juan Enciso, who we have been teaching forever, but before couldn't have a recommend. He called us out of the blue one night like 2 weeks ago and was like "What do I need to do to go to the temple right now? I have a recommend!!!", and it was awesome. He did 11 baptisms and confirmations for family members.

Girardo Ortiz, a recent convert of 17 years old. He showed up to the temple with a name to do and we helped him get it ready right then! He looked for 3 weeks to be able to do the baptism and confirmation for his uncle. 

On Saturday, 10 more came under the direction of our pension Edwin Galindo (who is also a recent convert)

Maria Cantoral who is a rescue after being inactive for around 5 years. She did the work for 4 people in the temple and came out saying that she felt happy and content for the first time in months.

Fabio Casalino, who was baptized two months ago, was able to do the work for 5 people and has a goal to get married in the temple and serve a mission (close to home because he has bad knees).

Carlos Astocaza, who was going to go back in December, but couldn't because his family opposes the church so much that they literally detained him. But he was able to go and do 3 names :)

Monica Gonzalez, who was baptized 3 weeks ago, was able to do 14 baptisms and confirmations. Her work has helped jump start her inactive family,  and her mom is now starting to come back to church :)

Odilia and Guillermo Andia, a mother and son duo, who are both rescues. They are really special to me. We have been working with them since I got here. In all they did 9 ordinances and Odilia stood up to bear her testimony in church yesterday about the power of the priesthood. She also received a calling :)

Edwin and Aurora Galindo, our lovely pension :) Aurora is a returned missionary and recent rescue, and edwin is a recent convert. They are one of the most amazing families I have ever met (I want you to meet them) and in all they did 9 baptisms and confirmations on Saturday and they brought their two little girls :) They still remember (well, the 3 year old) getting sealed last year :)

Lourdes Felipa, who was baptized last transfer, was able to (after a lot of looking and searching and praying) be baptized for her mom. She wore a dress (she borrowed from Hermana Alonso) and came out of the temple with a noticeable glow. She has a difficult life and it was truly a sacrifice for her to go, but she said it was worth every second. She also received a calling yesterday :)

Genaro Morales is a 17 year old recent convert who is prepping full force to go on a mission and he is amazing. He did the work for 2 people and smiled the whole way there and the whole way back :) 

It was an amazing weekend. On Friday we got to do a session (first one in 10 months) and it was great. 

The temple... reminds me of home. It just feels... like home. I think because it is a glimpse of our heavenly home :)

Also on Saturday I got to see Hermana Rush and Hermana Bott. Hermana Rush was a total surprise, she was there with a convert and it was awesome. It was really cool to talk to them for a minute. When one of the other sisters took the picture she said "one year later " and we were like in shock. I can't believe what has happened in that one year. But I am thankful to have had those two sisters with me in that year and on Saturday :)

I have been thinking a ton about covenants, vicarious work, and the atonement this week. These are my closing thoughts :)

  Peter 4:6

"For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that aredead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit."

 

D Todd Christofferson – Why do we baptize for the dead?

The Power of Christ’s Resurrection

As regards the Resurrection, Paul asked, “Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?” (1 Corinthians 15:29). We are baptized for the dead because we know that they will rise. “The soul shall be restored to the body, and the body to the soul; yea, and every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea, even a hair of the head shall not be lost; but all things shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame” (Alma 40:23). “For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living” (Romans 14:9).

It matters tremendously what we do in relation to those who have gone before, because they live today as spirits and shall live again as immortal souls, and that because of Jesus Christ. We believe His words when He said, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live” (John 11:25). By the baptisms we perform in behalf of the dead, we testify that “as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. …

“For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

“The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death” (1 Corinthians 15:22, 25–26)

Death is conquered, man is free. Christ has won the victory :) 57 baptisms and confirmations were done this week. Death is conquered, and man truly is free because he will rise again just as Christ did.

The church is true :)

I love you!

Hermana Bailey