Well my dears, it’s been a pretty fun day but unfortunately that’s left me without much time to write. I’m afraid I’m not going to get around to letters again. Which makes me feel really bad. I really do want to write people back when they write me but there’s never enough time. Today for Zone Activity we went to the science museum in Phoenix. It was lots of fun. I was kind of bummed that we didn’t get to go to the art museum… someone may or may not have prayed for the zone leaders to change their minds… but in the end I think the Elders would have been too annoying for life in an art museum. Anyways, I attached some photos from the different exhibits. I’ll probably send some more next week when I have time to get photos from other peoples cameras. I think my favorite exhibit was on weather where you stood on a platform surrounded by screens with flashing lights, air, and things that sprayed water to represent different kinds of storms and natural disasters. It even shook to feel like an earthquake. I also really liked one where piles of metal shavings danced to music.
The other fun thing this week was a ward activity we had where all the different auxiliary groups put on skits. The young men did synchronized swimming. The Elders quorum did an old school boxing thing where our ward mission leader was the ridiculous underdog who wins by dumb luck. The bishop and his first counselor dressed up as a father son duo and acted out some rap song where the chorus was “Vamos ya por Mexico! I don’t wanta leave LA!” We did some skit on the ‘ugliest man in the world’ where Elder Neely hid under a towel and the other missionaries (ward and full time) peeked under and then ran away screaming, until Hno Melchor called the bishop up and asked him to look. Then Elder Neely ran away screaming, and Hno Melchor announced that we had found the new ugliest man in the world. It was all pretty silly. The only ones who did something religious were the young women. They did a remake of an 80’s song to go with the mutual theme for the year, and it turned out really cute.
We were only there for one hour of the ward activity because we were on shift at the VC. We had to get permission to leave early to be able to do the skit. Dulce and Pascual came which was really exciting. Unfortunately none of our other investigators came 🙁
Bekah asked how my converts are doing and I’m very happy to announce they’re all doing really well, and I even have a tiny bit of news about Ana (the first one). Hna Fors ran into Ana’s best friend outside of the temple! She said that Ana has been going to church in Venezuela and is trying to come back. Hna Fors got Ana’s number and her mom is going to call Ana to see if she can get her address so we can write her. The other Ana is doing awesome and goes out with the sisters in her ward all the time. Edwin and his family recently went to the temple 🙂 No one let me know ahead of time so I wasn’t able to go but I am still pretty stoked for them. Luis spoke at the mission fireside this Sunday! He and Carmen both have callings, and everyone in Valencia is praying for a miracle so that Jason and Paulo can get baptized. When they do Luis is going to baptized Jason! I also saw Santiago on Sunday at the fireside with his wife who is investigating 🙂 The only one who I’m really not sure about is Julio who apparently hasn’t been to church for a while now and is still not living the commandments.
Things were a little bit slower this week, but I feel like we’re finally figuring out who is really interested in learning. Dulce and Pascual are doing super well. They came to sacrament meeting this week even though neither one of them was feeling very well. We also talked to president Smith and he said Dulce should be fine to get married even though she’s only 17 because her parents are outside of the country so, she’s considered an emancipated minor. We’re seeing miracles and hopefully we’ll be able to see some baptisms soon. I haven’t been putting the effort that I should be into working with the members and I’m going to start trying harder. It was just a hard adjustment for me after being in Valencia where the members are super missionary minded. I just need to find how to help the members here get to that point. I really like this area, and Hna Noble. I really feel like I’m learning a lot, and I’m kind of hoping I’ll be able to stay for next transfer as well.
Alright love you all. Pray that Hna Noble hurries up with emailing so I have time to buy food for the week.
Love you all,
Rachel