Sept. 20, 2010

Hello mom and everyone! How's life? In answer to your last email, mom, I would love to write Grandma Reid, but I unfortunately don't have her address. Please, if you could, give it to me next week... or, in case you forget, you could respond with just the address right now, and write you letter later, and then I'll be sure to have it by next week.

Well, it sounds like the family is in full swing. And I'm glad. It'll keep you all too busy to miss me too much. lol. Tell everyone I love them, and I miss them.

This week for me was awesome! Remember last week how we got one Batismal Date, and two other tentatives? Well this week we now have two Baptismal Dates, and only one tentative. **big grin** But I digress. I'll start from the beginning.

On Tuesday, we had an appointment with Pupe and her family. We brought our Ward Mission Leader with us, so Pupe can start meeting members of the ward, and so he could come to a real lesson, and see what it's like. We taught about the first part of the life of Christ, leading up to his baptism, since Pupe has no background with Christianity, it seemed like a good thing to do. We started talking about his baptism, and it just seemed natural to recommit her. We told her how all of our leadership said that it was okay that she could be baptized and still practice Buddhism as a part of her culture. She just has to understand the distinction between paying respect to Buddhism, and worshipping as a Buddhist, which I believe that she does. She was very excited. But also very hestitant. She really wants to be baptized, and she understands what a big step it is, but she didn't want to set a date. When we pushed her a little bit about it, she suggested next spring... and we were like... why so far? She wants to have her mother there, which I think is really cool, but her mother lives in Germany, and she wouldn't be able to come until then. We tried to help Pupe understand how important Baptism is, and how, once you know that it's right, you really shouldn't wait. She promised to pray about the date, and that we'll be able to set one this coming week for Oct. 23rd. The best part is that her husband, who was ordained as a deacon, but hasn't been active until the last year or so, is talking about doing what it takes to get ready to perform her baptism. We're super excited about it. I can just imagine her wearing white, and I get so excited! And plus, I'm imagining what the whole McArthur family looks like in White, being sealed in the temple. I promised myself already that, when that happens, I'm totally going to be there. And I hope that it happens within the year! The even besterest part is that the whole family came to church yesterday. and it was the best! They were so happy. The two little kids, ages 6 and 3, were so happy that their mom was there, and Bro McArthur was so proud to show his wife around. It was great!!

Wednesday was crazy busy for us. We taught Jean, a neighbor of some of the members in our ward. They call her "grandma" jean, and she loves them. We tracted into her, and have begun teaching her about the gospel, and answering her questions about mormons. We taught her the plan of salvation because her brother just passed away unexpectedly last week. It went really well, and she was very receptive. Although, she is a very active Catholic, so it will take some time to teach her, and for the spirit to work with her. I'm confident that, if it doesn't happen while I'm here, at least I'm sure that she will get baptized sometime. She's so great, and practically adopted by her neighbors already. In fact, Sis. Bourgess, one of the neighbors, invited Jean to church this sunday because she was speaking, and Jean came! By the way, if anyone's counting... that's two investigators so far in sacrament meeting...

Then we had an appointment after Jean to teach San. We started with the Restoration, but we got stalled on what a prophet is, and why we need one, because there's a pretty intense language barrier. We had the lesson at the Bishop's home, and it went really well. San still has a desire to be baptized, even though she doesn't understand why, which i think is incredible. The crazy thing is, Pupe, when we were talking to about San, offered to come to our next lesson with San and help interpret the things we teach so San can understand! Isn't that crazy! Our investigators are teaching and fellowshipping each other! I love it! Oh... and also... San came to church too... so that's THREE!

On Thursday, we went to Seminary, and taught the Junior class about Missionary Work, and how Seminary helped prepare us for our missions. It was really cool. We also met with Joe, our nine year old investigator. His mom was not super thrilled last week about talking to her Ex so Joe could come to church. But while we were there, she called him and asked if she could drop him off later on Sunday, for at least the next several weeks, so Joe could come to church. And the ex was like, sure, no problem. It was really cool. And Joe is really learning the things we're teaching him. He's remembering the stuff we've talked about before, and keeping his commitments, like reading from the scriptures with his mom. He was even able to tell us about the story we asked him to read (Ammon and the Arms), and he really liked it. So we set the date for Oct 30th, and it's awesome! And, oh, yeah... he was at church too.. so that's FOUR!!! Four investigators at sacrament meeting this week! That's amazing, considering we didn't have any for a long time!!!

On Saturday, we were on exchanges with some other sisters in the area. I was with Sis. Wallentine. Who's really cool. I think that if we ever served together, it would be a lot of fun. We met some fantastic Potential Investigators, and even one that I really liked, whose name is Jasmine. She's 19 and pretty religious. We talked for probably 30 minutes, and Sis. Wallentine commited her to be baptized and she said yes!!! It was pretty cool. We'll start teaching her this week, and who knows... maybe even have another baptism in October!

That's pretty much all the exciting stuff for the week. I just loved church this sunday. It felt so much better since we had investigators there, than it has other sundays when we haven't it. The difference is amazing. And the ward sees that we're working hard and getting results, so they want to help to. It's changing everything around in the ward and I'm so excited.

I love you all so much, and I hope you're having great weeks. Give each other hugs and pretend that they're from me. lol.

Love, Sister Reid