10/13/14

09.08.2014 - Sweet Sixteen

I’m sorry to hear that all of you were sick on your super nice vacation…but at least you are feeling better now. :) You talk about your wonderful weather of the high seventies…today and last night we had a HUGE thunder storm and it has been raining like crazy. And it was 75 degrees and cold! Funny how you adjust. 

But I was telling Sister Linford how wonderful it felt. The clouds and the rain and the cold reminded me of home and it just felt like Christmas!!! Maybe that’s weird, but it was the most Christmas time feeling I’ve had on my mission, weather-wise. I can’t believe that Adelyn is starting Kindergarten! That makes me feel so old. Send me a picture of her from her first day of school. :)
                
Things have been good here! We had transfer meeting this past week. It was weird to think that it was my last one. It was a good meeting and I’m excited for this transfer. Great miracles are going to happen. I just know it. :) The other companionship of sisters that was in our zone is no longer there so we absorbed their area…so my area is now exactly how it was when I first got here. Funny how things come back full circle!
                 
One cool thing that happened was that we picked up a new investigator and she was actually someone I started teaching a year ago, but didn’t last very long because she didn’t have much desire to change. But this time will be different. :)
                 
The Andrades are doing really good and Rene said this week that they think they will be able to get baptized right before I leave!! What matters most is that they get baptized, but I would be so happy and feel so blessed if it happened while I was still here. So I’m praying for that. :) And we fasted with them yesterday for it too. We had a lesson with them and Miguelito came hahaha cutest kid, but he got a bloody nose mid-lesson and Concha had to run him to the bathroom. Small hiccup in the lesson, but it all worked out in the end. Plus I got the best picture out of it because the member who came with us rolled up a tissue and stuck it in his nose and he just smiled for a picture. :) Priceless.
                 
Yesterday we went to try this name someone told us to go visit. She’s Hispanic but goes to an English ward. She and her youngest daughter were home and they were stellar!!! They gave us like 5 referrals and were so kind and just wanted to help us in whatever way they good. She even called one of the referrals to get her address and she just handed me the phone to ask for it…so I talked to him and he was way nice! We set up an appointment for Tuesday. :) Miracle.
                 
Things are going good with me and Sister Linford. She is so sweet and Christlike. We are working on helping her develop more self-confidence and she is doing great! Seriously has made such progress just in the time we’ve been companions. She sang a solo in Relief Society yesterday! My goal is still to make her my best friend and to help her be confident. It’s funny because I never would have expected it in the beginning, but she and I actually have a lot in common. How did you notice that I was able to overcome being so shy?? Because from 4th grade to like 9th grade I was really shy and really didn’t have too many friends. I’m still not like a social butterfly, but I definitely have more self-confidence. What changes did you notice? Any comments would be appreciated. :) Reflect on my growth hahaha.
                
I’m so happy. I really am. I told Sister Linford the other day that I was doing good because I am on a mission and I have no reason not to be happy. Happiness is a choice. I believe that. Bad things happen. Hard things happen. We go through challenges that can sometimes be more than we can handle, but we have to remain happy people. We have to make it a part of our character…and when we do that it isn’t that we will never have sad moments or times, but we will still always remain happy people. Does that make sense? It makes sense to me. :) It may be raining now, but it’s always beautiful about the clouds. :)
                
I love you and hope that all is well! Have a great week! Moroni 8:3 always. :)

Con amor,
Hermana Baria

P.S. Today is my 16th birthday in the mission! hence the subject line. :)