Estephens

These are photos of the wedding. Me with Alexandra and her little boy Christian.

Also, A burrito at the taqueria norenita where the members get us free food. I don't think that picture captures the size. It is bigger than my face. Also, did I mention I know how to make flour tortillas. Next goal: tamales. That one is going to require a p-day.

The joke continues:

This week we were having a family home evening with one of the most amazing women I have met on my mission. She reactivated herself and actually just finally married her husband this week so that they are living the law of chastity and maybe soon he will be baptized. We are actually really excited about how much his desires are changing and how the gospel is becoming significant to him as he watches how his wife's decisions are blessing his life. Anyways, she is very strict about doing FHE exactly as it should be done: lesson AND games. So we were playing "Basta" Which is basically scattegories and we had to come up with a name that started with "E". They both speak English and Spanish so we just do it in whichever language we like. The name the wife chose for 'E' was "Stephen". We all were like "Stephen? Are you kidding?" And she was like, "No! Like that Disney channel show  Even Estephens!" hahahahahahaha.

Our area is still just doing awesome. Here are the updates: (I am not sure if I have even told you about all these people because time is so short each week, but they have pretty much been my life since October)

One husband & wife are both scheduled to be baptized on the 22nd of February, but both are a little hesitant about it: "Yeah let's set that as the goal but if I'm not ready then we can push it back!" And something ALWAYS prevents him  from coming to church. But we are trying really hard to help them both recognize the spirit, know what to expect as confirmations from the Spirit, make sure they keep progressing with their commitments, and make sure members are present at every possible lesson. Members are the way the Lord is hastening His work. It is incredible. The investigators progress so solidly and we have no worries about their true conversion when the members are there to share, testify, and be their friends. This ward is amazing because missionary work is their focus. Each member is so willing to go out with us and they are all getting real excited about inviting their friends to learn more.

Another investigator has received all the lessons, kept all the commitments, says she feels the Spirit the most in her life at church, and is fasting and praying to receive "her answer" from the Spirit. But I really hate that phrase because these people have all received their answer! The fact that she feels the Spirit the most at church is her answer! The fact that it all makes sense is her answer! Yet it seems like people need "something more" before they can commit and take a step in the dark. The biggest problem is that I don't think they can even define that "something more" for us. They just "aren't ready yet", they "Need to know more". So we spend a lot of time talking to people about faith, how the purpose of life is to learn so we will never know everything, how baptism is the DOOR to learning and how the gift of the spirit will accelerate their spiritual progress, and promising them all sorts of blessings for faith that I am so glad I know will truly come to pass.

My companion and I were also discussing this morning how people believe in God, they believe they trust in Him, and they always say "Primeramente Dios" (God first), yet they can't make the bridge between their belief in Him and acting according to their belief. They think that their belief in His existence is faith. But faith is acting on that belief. Faith is coming to church even when you have lots of work to do. It is reading in the Book of Mormon and asking if it is true even if you think you are satisfied. But life is demanding, and Satan has filled every nook and cranny with all sorts of ways to lose time. Time is one of the most precious resources Heavenly Father has given us, and a crucial factor of this probation we are living. I decided this morning that my greatest fear in returning from my mission is going back into the world of the Internet, and movies, and good hobbies, that can all be fun and good uses of time, but not the ESSENTIAL things I can do that will bring me and mine joy and eternal life. The two questions that are going to govern everything I do are "Is it bringing me closer to the Lord? Is it bringing me closer to my family?". If not, why am I doing it? All I want to do is love you guys and serve others for the rest of my life. I am so excited for a full life of love and service. Too excited. Sometimes-I-can't-sleep excited.

I love all of you so much. It still is hard to be away from you. But I know that any sorrow I feel now is going to be eternally compounded into joy that I cannot comprehend in the eternities with you!

Have a great week,

Hermana Carter