So this week was another great week :)
There's a girl named Camilla. She's from Colombia and is very tall and nice :)We went to visit her last Tuesday. We taught her the law of chastity and the word of wisdom. Since she has been going to church shes been going to gospel principles and learning a lot about the gospel. She studies on her own too! So when we taught her the word of wisdom she was willing to keep it along with the law of chastity. She's beyond amazing! She's always willing to learn and be obedient.
Last Thursday she invited us to her family home evening. She was going to teach it for the first time :). She did an amazing job! She even made us "underwear" for refreshments! Ok let me explain this: in Colombia they have these sandwiches called "calzones". Calzones means underwear.. haha so all night long everyone was like,"we are having Camila's underwear" .. hahahah we thought it was hilarious. We had so much fun with her and her family.
So she has chosen to be baptized on June 22nd. Its been a rough journey because her immediate family (who are in Colombia) are not happy with her decision. It's funny because she came to the US for only 6 months to learn English for a university program she wants to get into. But she can't unless she learns English. She had no idea that this trip was going to change her entire life. She's awesome, she has chosen to be baptized in June so her family, who are coming from Colombia, can be there. She fasted yesterday (Sunday) for the first time ever. She knows that through prayer and fasting she'll be able to gain strength and more reassurance about her decision. Let's keep her in our prayers and hope that when she goes back to Colombia she'll continue to strengthen her faith :).
Also, there are these two new guys who will be coming to our branch for the summer because they're doing summer sales. They both went to Argentina for their missions so they'd like to attend a Spanish branch :).
Anyway I met them yesterday, and they're very nice! So one of them sat next to Camilla in Sunday school and, my goodness, they looked so cute together! I got so excited that I turned around and raised my eyebrows to Camilla jokingly and she turned red (she's white for a Hispanic so she can change colors) and then he raised his head up and I just looked up to the ceiling and was like is that a spider..? It worked. He looked up to see "the spider" and I quickly turned around. Then after class I said to Camilla, "I think you should go after him." She laughed and told me to go away. My tiny mission was not accomplished yet though. So I went up to him and his friend and asked them questions and one of them was, "so..who are you guys dating in these latter days?.." They laughed and found out he's flipping engaged! Bummer? No..he ain't married yet so who knows what can
happen...jk. Sorry I had to try.
The elders had a baptism yesterday. It was awesome! The spirit was strongly felt and it was just great. His name is Jose Ruiz and he is so nice. We are happy for his awesome choice and hope and pray that he will continue to strengthen his faith and keep developing Christ like attributes. His testimony was also powerful..he's an incredible man :).
Oh yes! Man, here where I live there are so many squirrels! Squirrels here squirrels there..squirrels everywhere! I have started to like them more than I thought I would! They're so flipping cute when
they're running around :D.
Also last night we went to visit an investigator named Maria. This is funny: so we went to visit her (she was a referral from the elders) on day and we knocked on one door (she lives in an apt
building) and they were like oh yes she lives across the hall, and we were like ok! So we knocked no one was home. Came back another time and we knocked on the same door and the lady was like, "she lives across the hall." We were like oh..ok! Thanks! So we knocked on the same door we did when we first got to the apt building. A lady opens the door and we asked, "is Maria here?" She said, "no she's not here right now, I'm just watching her kid." Then we asked for her name and she said her name was Marcella. Then Christopher (who's 8 years old) and said hello to us and then said that the lady that was with him was Maria.. his mom! Man was I embarrassed for her. I freaking love kids, they're always telling the truth! So we re scheduled to come back on Saturday at 7. We went back and no one was home. Then one day we decided to randomly show up. When we got there she
invited us inside and she had company over..we felt awkward. Their names were Silvia and Hugo. We shared with them a little bit about our religion and talked about having faith in Jesus Christ. It went well, we thought. She told us we could come back on Saturday at 730..and so we did..and she wasn't home again. So we decided to show up one Sunday night, with a member this time. She was home (Maria that is) and her cousin Silvia. We talked to them about the Book of Mormon. Silvia looked interested but Maria..not so much. Again, we thought the lesson went well. We offered to teach them English too and they were so down. We went back two Sundays ago and she wasn't home. Hermana keele texted her and she said we could come back on Sunday at 730. So we over last night and her husband answered the door. He said she wasn't home, that she had gone to the city. We were bummed. He was nice though. So as we were walking away, their son (Christopher) ran to us and said hi! Then he was like, "hermana keele, ask where his mom is. So she asked and he was like, "she's upstairs!" Haha. So we gave him a pamphlet of the restoration to give to her. This situation doesn't make me frustrated, bitter, or annoyed. Instead, it makes me laugh but It also makes me feel sad. Things do happen for a reason. Maybe Maria is not ready to hear about the gospel. Her husband is atheist, which could make things difficult for her..? I don't know but we are not going to give up on her or on Silvia (even though we do not have her info). Now, all we have left is prayer. Through prayer, we can ask if the spirit will guide us and let us know as to what to do next with Maria. Christopher is adorable, I cannot imagine a boy like him growing up without any religion. Kids do
need the gospel just as much as any other person. We will pray and ask as to what He wants us to do next.
So, I cannot remember if I mentioned this but my mom and I are the only members of the church. When I was called to serve in the south area of New York I remembered my aunt (my moms cousin) lives in New York. I asked her where she lived and awesome enough she lives 20min away from Patchogue (where I'm currently serving right now). I have taught her twice already. Last Friday we went over and she was having a rough day. Things are not going well between her and her son. It's
sad. So we went with the purpose of teaching her the restoration but of course, most of the time, nothing goes according to our plan, it always goes according to our Father's plan. We ended up teaching her about faith. That brought peace to her heart. We called the elders who serve around that area and they came and gave her a blessing :) and you know what's even more awesome? Her daughters, who are usually busy, came over just in time, without calling them, and were present for when their mom received a blessing. I don't know if they'll be baptized, but all I know is that Heavenly Father is aware of all His children and we got there (she even forgot about the appt) right when she needed spiritual strength. I am happy to be sharing the gospel with a family member. And I am happy that she still wants to keep learning about this gospel :).
All is going well here. I know I am not perfect but if I strive to be better everyday, then I know everything will be ok. I miss my Utah peeps including my family but I know I've been called here for a reason, and I can tell ya now, that at least 9 people (so far) here in Patchogue will be part of my life..and my eternal life. Heaven is not heaven without the ones you love, right? Well I'll make sure all of these peeps make it there :D heaven deserves awesome people like you all, my new friends and every single child of God :).
Anyway, I love you and thank you so much for helping me out with things for my Patchogue people here! they are in need. I know that one picture of the savior can make a difference, so thank you for willing to do that for me! best present ever!
Let me know if you are in need of anything, I am always here to help!
Love and miss ya so much!!!!
Remember: to never give up on anyone, including yourself.
Be strong and of good courage
With love and respect,
Hermana Vasquez
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