What a week!

Letter from June 30th

 

Good Morning Family,

 

WELCOME TO JULY!!! Dad we hit fast Sunday number 13 yesterday!!! I hope you all had the best week. Well I read that you are going to the Stadium of Fire...Punks!!  I might just be a tad jealous, but next year I am partying it up!!! I can't really complain it should be pretty fun around here considering we have a branch activity in the morning, and then we are headed to the Adams for a BBQ. Other than that just soak in the fireworks for me because I don't know how much of those I will be getting to see. Also crazy to think that by the next time I have P-day Steven will be headed to Chile!!! That means you all get to talk to him really soon!!!

 

Well are you ready for a crazy update on my week. Like I mentioned last Monday Crystal and Misa got Married!!! We spent the day at the church helping get everything set up, and then spending time with them. It was so fun!! It was just something small, but it was exactly what she wanted. Its nice because really she is super easy going, and didn't really care which is good considering it was all done in a month. What a month it has been for the two of them!!! It has been absolutly amazing to be a part of the whole process, and I know that its a story that will be told the rest of my life. Lets be real here I will be telling a lot of stories for the rest of my life. Monday after we did all of our normal p-day stuff we headed to the church to help her finish putting the final details on everything. We had a lady in the Branch do her flowers, another lady offered to make the cake, and someone else was there helping her do her hair. They were married by the branch president, and after we had a little lunch. Which pretty much all of the food was provided by members in the branch as well. Which was such a blessing because Crystal just told everyone it was a pot luck, but not really anyone brought anything except one family brought rice.  It worked out perfect because they went and bought chicken at costco, someone else brought salads, and chips and salsa. They were so grateful for everything!!! Then on Sunday Crystal made a point to Hermana Peak and I that she wanted us to decorate her car. So of course we did, and she loved it!! It was such a good day, and she told us she felt like a princess all day long. I am so excited for them. You know they have been together for 8 years, and they just needed someone to tell them to get married. It was something that they had talked about for a long time, and they finally did it. Now it is Crystal and Misa Cardenas!!! Also the two newest members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!! What a process it has been as well. You know how last week I was telling you about that crazy intense lesson that we had? Well this week made everything worth it. Like I mentioned she was able to talk to President Campbell which I have gained such a greater respect for our branch president because of this experience. He was able to talk to them so he was well aware of her addiction. Honestly I have not met anyone like them before, and President Campbell told them that they need the chance to be baptized. He also made it really clear of the things that they need to do, and that it will be a process. Since crystal has had quite the past she needed to be interviewed by President Miller who helps out our mission President. Well that happened on Thursday night he spent some time talk to President Campbell as well so they could be on the same page for the interview. Well Thursday night after the interview she threw all of her cigarettes away!! Which is huge. We all know that it is going to be a process, but if anyone can do it, it would be her.  I will have to go into this whole story one day, and give you all the other details. Well Saturday afternoon they were BAPTIZED!! It was so amazing. Crystal was baptized by President Campbell, and Misa by Hermano Solis. They looked so happy, and I can't even describe how great it was. Just because like I have said before we have seen everything through this whole process good and bad. Not to mention I know a lot about there life stories, and the things they both have gone through. Then to be a part of watching them make the change, and be baptized knowing that they get to just start fresh. For the baptism we asked some of the young women to sing When I am baptized which at the last second us missionaries got pulled in. Even though it probably wasn't the greatest because we didn't practice at all. The spirit was strong!! We sang it in Spanish and English I look over at Crystal afterwards and she just has tears in her eyes. Seriously it was such an amazing day. Of course since we are talking about Crystal and Misa we defiantly got a few laughs for the day. The first time she walks out in her white jumpsuit she says "I look like a giant marshmallow." Man I love them. Then on Sunday they were both confirmed, and received the gift of the holy ghost. Which was another amazing part being able to listen the the blessing that they were both given, and how it was just for them. My MIRACLE COUPLE!!!

 

Speaking of Sunday we had yet another great day at church yesterday. Victor came which I am not sure about him. He is kind of fence sitting right now so we just got to figure out which direction he is going to fall.

Then Lucio and Luis both came to church. Which is so good because they are such good friends they both motivate each other. Well they showed up a few Min's late, and I turned around. Which I tend to do because I have to watch the doors for any investigators that come in. I missed them walk in. They are sitting on the back row, and I am up towards the front on the side so I turn around and Lucio just sticks is arms up and waves!! Then in our gospel principles class we had quite the laugh attack. So in the morning when we go exercising we have talked to a couple spanish guys who are usually headed out for work for the day. Well we had been inviting this one for a few weeks now, and to our suprise he actually came. Well in class we are sitting on the front row cystal, hermana peak, and then me. To the side is lucio and this guy well this guy starts to doze off in class. He is making the whole head nods and everything so crystal points it out, and I dont know what it is but all 4 of us start laughing. It was one of those things that once you start you can't stop. Of course Lucio is trying to be more dignifed about it so he is just putting is finger over is mouth kind of telling us to be quiet, but of course you see him laughing. Which makes it even funnier. Then we finally all get calmed down, and thats when the snoring started. Well that was about it for the 4 of us because we all bursted out laughing again!! After church we were invited to have a picnic in the park with Hermano Temo Chavez because he had a bunch of carne asada left over for saturday night. Well we invited Lucio and Luis to tag along as well so that was pretty fun. Then after all 3 of "our boys" went to a child of record baptism, and what is so great about it they recieved so much fellowship from the branch.  After the baptism there was a get together with food, and just people hanging we couldnt attend because it was out of our area. There was so many people after the baptism who just went right up to them, and invted them to attend so Lucio and Luis went to that as well!!! Heck ya!!

 

 

Love Always, Hermana Grimes