Loved ones-
HAPPY THANKSGIVING! I’m grateful for you!
Today we went to Moses Lake so that Hermana Porter could buy a coat. The exciting news is they had a Staples so I was able to get my G2 Pilot pens in all the fun colors. There we had the highlight of my Pday we met a Mormon about to go on a mission to Mexico and he took 2 dollars off my pen purchase. It was just so darn nice. 🙂
Â
So remember Lucy? the one I told you about last week? well I’m serious her life should be a Novella. Everyday it’s something. She had to go down to Kennewick because her mom is having a ton of health issues. Luiz decided that he was going to be the hero and go down to help her. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? men! She is still reading a lot though, and eventually she will get baptized. It would just make it a lot easier if Luiz would decide if he is going to be in or out of the picture.
Elder Kent Richards of the 70 came this last week, hence I had meetings out the wazoo. I’m not kidding about that wazoo. One of those meetings lasted FIVE hrs without a single break. Now, I don’t think I can really focus on anyone for five hrs, with the exception of Jesus. Even though it was a lot, he made a lot of really good points, and I felt the spirit super strong. He talked a lot about the four pillar principles and then how we just need to teach clearly, simply, and directly. Of course everyone knows that, but sometimes it doesn’t really click until Elder Richards calls you out on it and then does his little “he he he” laugh. So we are trying to be more clear and simple and loose a bit of the fluff.
Yesterday we got a Christmas tree from the Hardman family. It’s mini and it reminds me of Charlie Brown, so obviously I’m a huge fan of that. They told me that I would never fill Hna Porter’s shoes. (Yay for having child sized feet).
I went on exchanges with Hermana Ray on Saturday and we were searching all of Royal for somebody to teach. We went to go look for a man named Juan Fragga (ya I laughed at his name too). We knocked on his door, and a young guy came to the door. Instantly his face was familiar. Hna Ray and him had some exchange, as I stared at him. Then I had him wait and I asked if he had any family in Washington. He said he had a brother. And I said JOSE?? he said “si, Jose Gamino.” then I got super excited and told him that I had taught Jose in Basin City and that he joined the church. He is just a special guy, and you can see it in his brother too. I hope the missionaries there get in contact with him again. (I’ll probably bug them about it).
Now the most exciting news! We had another lesson with our angel, Rosi. We prayed about a date to put for her to be baptized. It seemed logical to put Dec 25th seeing as that is the day we celebrate the Birth of Christ, and a more likely day for her sister in Washington DC to make it to. I was so nervous to ask her, and I think I did a terrible job. Fortunately, things happen despite my challenges, and she accepted that date to work towards. 🙂 As the Elders say “it’s going to be a white Christmas.” She came to church with her two younger boys, and they all loved it. She keeps saying it all just feels right. I’m so excited about her.
The only sad thing is that we have transfers the week before Christmas, and I’ve been here since July. Chances are that I won’t be still here. Hopefully I’m close so I can witness it. If not, hey, Rosi will still be getting baptized. 🙂
I love you all so much,
Hermana Holladay
Photos:
1. Me, Brother Whitaker, Hna Porter at our Halloween Party
2. The Whitaker boys as the Duck Dynasty guys.
3. Me today. That’s what I look like. I still squint one eye more than the other when I smile.