It's a holiday so the libraries are closed. And the Family History Center is closed for carpet cleaning. So here we are. Again.
I forgot my planner in the car so.....let's see what happened this week.
The Ramirez family had their baptismal interviews! They're all set to get baptized on Sunday! Their dad also received the Aaronic Priesthood so he can baptize them! It was really cool to watch his ordination with all of his kids. His wife had to work, but she'll be there for the baptism! And they've requested Sundays off of work so they'll be there EVERY week!
Another really cool story about Sister Ramirez - they all went to a baptismal service on Saturday as a family and it was an awesome experience. We found her records but she still couldn't remember her baptism and she's been praying and praying to remember it. During the baptism, she remembered her baptism! She felt the Spirit so strong and she was crying. It was so amazing. She has such a strong testimony, and understands the doctrine so well. We taught them a lot this week, like always, and they're just so great. So great.
We also started teaching one of their family members! His name is Luis, and he's the son of Sister Ramirez' sister Irma who originally referred us to them! We've been knocking on Irma's door to invite her to the baptism, but she's never been home. But Luis answered the door once and said he just randomly started going to Catholic church because he felt like he needed God in his life. We've taught him about Joseph Smith and the Word of Wisdom - he's going to live the Word of Wisdom and already has a baptism date for February 16th! We met a few more of their family members too, but all of Sister Ramirez' sisters are really Christian so they didn't quite listen, but their kids all did. Most of them won't let their kids learn right now, but they should all be coming to the baptism and they'll change their minds!
We didn't see the Sanchez family this week because they've had some things going on. A good friend's boyfriend passed away and Lizeth wanted us to visit her, but she lives in San Francisco so we can't. Hugo's also been sick so none of them came to church. But Hugo let us know that he actually is planning on proposing! We couldn't figure out why he wouldn't marry her, but sounds like everything's in the work. His biggest concern is just that he wants some of his family to be here, but they all live in Mexico. One of his brothers might be coming out after Valentine's Day, so they might be able to get married and baptized before the end of the transfer! It would be such a miracle to see that! I've been working with them since August and I love them so much. Hugo IS changing - he's reading the Book of Mormon and praying and everything! He's so great. I'll be able to see their wedding and baptism and then in a year, I'll be able to come back to see them get sealed in the temple!!!
VC miracles of the week: Two full-proselyting sisters in Oakland came with a member to the VC because they had an appointment with someone they met in the street. They had confirmed with her and she told them that she got a babysitter and everything so she could come to the VC. They waited for her for about 15 minutes and couldn't get a hold of her. They were about to leave when Elder Lavender, one of the senior missionaries at the VC, came to get them. Apparently, a group of 5 refugees from Sri Lanka had come in 30 minutes earlier. These same sisters had given these guys a Visitors' Center pass-along card and they had walked TWO HOURS to get there. The sisters went to the back with their member, and they were able to have a member-present lesson AND five new investigators. It was amazing. You can't ever tell where a little invitation might lead. These sisters got to see their quickly planted seeds grow and God put them in the right place TWO times, and the Spirit brought them all up there together. It was a miracle.
Sister Ayala and I got to be a part of the next miracle. Two Spanish people came in last night to the VC. They didn't say much but we showed them around a bit. They said they had never been there before, but they ended up telling us that they were less active members! The woman, Mari Cruz, worked on Sundays but just lost her job and her husband Apner doesn't work on Sundays. I'm not sure why they went less active, but they were led back to the Visitors' Center. They had gone out driving and Mari Cruz felt prompted to come up to the VC. Our conversation started off quiet and a little awkward, but we kept with them and they ended up opening up to us. What's more, we found out that they live in our ward boundaries. This sister just told us all of the bad things going on in her family - her son gets drunk and hits his girlfriend, her daughter is pregnant and very sick with two other kids and her husband is in jail....this whole family just needs the gospel SO bad. And she knew that. They all live in the same apartment complex and we're so grateful and humbled to help them.
The VC is so great. The area is so great. The ward is so great. The area is so great. The mission is so great.
Hermana Hunsaker
