Wow. It's already July. The weather warmed up a little this week for a few days but it's nowhere near as hot here as in other parts of the mission. I feel very lucky to be in Oakland for most of the summer instead of in Antioch or Concord (where it's been over 100 degrees all week).
The only complaint that I have about Oakland is the simple fact that there is not a single library open on Mondays. And with the Family History Center closed yesterday for carpet cleaning, we weren't able to email. Which means I have approximately 5 minutes to email right now. Five minutes can't even begin to sum up all the miracles of the week, but I'll try.
Visitors' Center - we met people from Finland, Russia, Romania and Italy this week. I love being in a city with so many different cultures! Real quick story: the people from Italia came to visit their son for the first time who is a member and lives here with his wife. They didn't speak any English but we spoke to them in Spanish and we were able to understand each other pretty well!!! Amazing. I told their son that my dad served in Italy and he said "Tell him that Italians DO get baptized in Italy!" Most of the people my dad baptized in his mission were all from different countries. But his story is super cool - he read 7 Habits of Highly Successful People (or whatever that book is - I forgot the exact name). Anyways, this book was written by a member (I don't remember his name right now either, I just know he passed away recently). But anyways, he read this book and thought to himself, "there's something that this guy isn't telling me." Then he met a member of the church and they talked about it and he got baptized! It's just further evidence to me as to how true this church is and just how many ways that God speaks to His children!
Oakland Spanish - our ward had a crazy party for the 30th anniversary of the ward. There were so many people that we weren't able to do much, but it was good to support the ward leaders and recognize how far this ward has come throughout the years. Also, Sister Ivey and I have a teaching pool again! We're teaching nine people, of which half of them are progressing. They're all so different and it's taking all our work to arrange them all in our limited schedule. I fall into bed exhausted every night but it feels so good to be working so hard and doing it for someone and something that mean so much to me personally - the Lord and His gospel. Also, we taught English class this week!!! It was so much fun and I'm excited for more opportunities to do it. And there are so many non-members there! It's great.
Lesson of the week - you never know who is ready to hear and accept the gospel. We were teaching Guadelupe and Martin (who are doing AWESOME by the way) and their niece Ilene kept walking through. She didn't look interested AT ALL, but finally we just invited her to sit with us and learn! She ended up opening up to us and telling us that she had always wanted to pray but just didn't know how. She said she'd read the Book of Mormon and pray to know if it's true! Even growing up in the church, I don't think I really understood it when I was 16 but the Lord prepares people in His own time and in His own way. We really are only instruments but as we take that responsibility upon ourselves to share the gospel, we really are doing what we've promised to do: "take upon ourselves the name of Christ."
Challenge - bear your testimony to a friend this week!
Happy 4th of July! Enjoy the fireworks for me!!! I'll be asleep :)
Hermana Hunsaker
