Week 4 in Florida

Hola mi gente!

Well, this week was kinda long! We did a lot of stuff.

We had a less active contact us! We visited her a couple weeks ago, but she didn't seem like she really wanted us to be there. But then she texted us to tell us she had her baby, and that she wanted him to have a blessing! Then we went  to go see her, and she told us she wanted her son to go back to church. She doesn't really want to go back to church, but at least this is a start! And if she wants her baby to be baptized, she'll have to come to church, and maybe that'll spark something in her. We went to her house later in the week to help her organize some things, because they just remodeled their kitchen. It was fun, and I think just our presence might help her realize she needs to come back to church.

We challenge an investigating couple to be baptized in October, but they said they're going out of town and aren't sure when, but that's they'll leave in October. But they said that if they're ready to be baptized they will be! So that's good. We see them again to tonight, so we'll try to get them to commit better. 

We met with our less- active, who came back to church for the first time 3 weeks ago! He's name's Jorge. We showed him Hastening the Work, and let him know he could help us by just talking to his co-workers and friends, and asking if we could come visit us. He kept saying things like "Oh, I'm too busy" or "I'll try, but no promises." The next day, we got a call from him. He'd already found a person that said we could come over! Then he called us again that evening and had another person! And another person that hadn't given the "green light" for us to come over! And then he came to Sacrament again! I'm telling you guys, if you can just keep missionary work in the back of your mind, and in your prayers, you will have opportunities to be missionaries!!!! IT'S SO GREAT!!!!!! 

There's a family in the ward that's actually less-active right now, because the mom just got done with a hard pregnancy. They're hoping to be back to church by the end of the month, and they really have to be, because they want to be sealed in the temple in November. We went to visit them, and the mom told us about her getting baptized about 18 months ago, and how excited she is to be sealed in the temple. I'm so glad that she has that goal in mind, and that they're whole family does. I love when we can tell people about that restored power, the power to seal families together. I am SO grateful that I have a family who is sealed together, and that I'm living my life so that my future family will be sealed as well. That is one of the blessings we get specifically from the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. Don't ever forget what a blessing and privilege that is, to be sealed as a family.
 

We've been teaching this family, who doesn't actually seem interested in the church, but like learning and talking about God. The mom and dad actually believe a lot of the same things, they just don't like organized church, or something like that. We usually teach them on Fridays, but this week we had to move it to Saturday. It was just the mom and kids at home, and it was perfect! She told us that she's been searching for something her whole life to fill the hole she's always felt. She loves her life, her family, and everything, but she still feels that something's missing. I knew there was a reason we were still teaching this family! She says she doesn't like to read, but we told her that if she would read the Book of Mormon, she'd be able to figure out how to fill that hole. I hope she reads!!! There are many people in the world like her, that know that something is missing, and want to find it. Those are our friends, neighbors, co-workers, and random people on the street, and it's our job to find them!

Here's the funny part of the week. Since there are 11 missionaries in my ward, we don't actually get fed by the ward. Whenever we're talking about going to someone's house I always joke that we should go at dinner time so that they feed us. But we never have done that, because it's weird. So! Last Saturday evening, all our plans and backup plans were used up, and we were thinking of somewhere else to go. I thought of  the Moreno Family. They've been investigating for a little over a month, and they really just need the blessings of the Gospel! They're already so wonderful, cute, and so loving, and the Gospel can give them so much more! Anyway, Hna. Russell agreed and we went over there. Right after we pulled up, the mom pulled up with all the kids. We helped bring in the groceries, and found the dad, uncle, and a friend with 5 pizzas and chicken wings. It was perfect! They asked us if we wanted to eat, and so we did! I had already had dinner, so we didn't eat much. But it was just great to visit with them, ask them about their reading, and remind them that we were coming back the next day for a real lesson. We taught their friend about the Book of Mormon, and the daughter, Joslynn (11), asked us questions about what she read about. She asked for a real BofM, because all she had was the children's book. When we came back the next day, she told us she had already started reading it! Not much, but she was going to read more. And she was going to bring it to school to read! She's SO amazing! She's better at reading than her parents and uncle!

Well, that's pretty much my week. Esta obra es tan maravillosa! Veo milagros cada dia. Se que con Dios, todo es possible. Esta es Su obra, soy Su trabajadora. El promete que si estoy diligente, humildad, y paciente, voy tener bendiciones. Ya he visto esta bendiciones. Y puedo ver como este tiempo puede bendicir el resto de mi vida. 

Gracias por todo!

 Les quiero muchisimo!

Con amor siempre,

Hermana Despain

We had a donut party last week! It was Sis. Kenagy's 9 month mark, so we all got together and ate donuts! (probably not the greatest idea...)

These are the English elders in our area, Elders Crowley and Miller. We always see them on bikes while we're driving passed them. They're such troopers!

This is us with Elder Ator, one of our ZL's. He's going home tomorrow! He learned Spanish for his last two transfers, 10 weeks! Just in the field! And he's really good! The Power of God, guys. It's good stuff!