Hello family!
So I know it's Saturday and I'm writing, but it's because this Monday we have something called Mundial. It's when the whole misión gets together and we play soccer. Mostly it's just an excuse to get to see everyone. But due to this, we have to write today. We didn't know until after last P day so don't stress about me not receiving a letter this week.
Anyway, it's been a big week here in Independencia! First off, right after we finish writing we are going to S's baptism. Yes she is getting baptized! We spent a lot of time with her this week and we ended up talking to one of her sisters. Her sister has given her permission to be baptized. Her mom also found out. Her mom doesn't support her, but she is letting her get baptized. S has some great friends in the Ward and I know that is going to help her stay involved after her baptism. If it weren't for this, we would probably have decided to wait a bit longer for her baptism. But anyway, yeah, she is getting baptized today and she is so excited! Our District Leader, Elder Nelson is going to baptize her and don't worry I will send pictures next week :)
This week I have been fighting a terrible cold. Luckily now I am feeling better. That has made it hard to stay super motivated this week because I have had like zero energy. But I found some cold medicine that has really helped. Everyone is getting sick right now because the weather is changing. Some days it's super hot, and other days it's cold. Hna Guzmán has been like my mom making sure I am taking my medicine and keeping warm so my cold doesn't get worse. So don't stress mom. I've got a mom from Bolivia watching over me right now :)
So this week was a hard week, but a good week. All of my leaders here (district leaders, sister trainer leaders, and hna Guzman) have been pushing me every week to contact more people. haha I don't really like contacting, but we have to contact 100 people per week. Hna Guzmán and I have been a little short of the goal the past few weeks. Due to this, my leaders have been giving me goals each day. When Hna Guzmán and I had our companionship invetory this week we talked about ways that I could overcome my fear. We decided that she isn't going to contact at all, and I have to contact our 100 people for my last week of training. We also have been searching for more opportunities to do splits so that I can have more opportunities to teach without her. I will admit this week has been super hard, but it has also been such a good learning experience. I am learning to rely less on Hna Guzmán and feel like I can really contribute. She has also been having me answer all the calls from the district leader. So overall I have been doing a lot more. We are trying to prepare me so when we have transfers, I can really feel like I know what I am doing.
So we are working with a less active in our área to try to help her get married. She was super active in the church all growing up and then ended up having a child with a man that isn't a member. They have two kids now and she still comes to church quite often. But her husband doesn't want to listen and wont allow for her kids to be baptized. However, she knows that she is breaking one of the commandments not being married to her spouse. She is scared to talk to him about marriage because she knows it's something he doesn't want to do. We have tried to talked to him, but he doesn't listen. So we decided to bring the elders with us this week for a little more priesthood power :) Elder Nelson taught a really good lesson on chastity and we could tell her husband is starting to understand that marriage is something his wife really wants to do. It was really cool to see the spirit work through Elder Nelson and through us to know how to talk to her husband.
I don't have a ton of time to write today due to the baptism. but all is well. I love you guys! Thanks for the quick emails. Hopefully next week my emailing time will be a Little more nomal :)
Hna Vernon
