August7,"Gotta Be Like Boiled Peanuts"

First things first: I love my companion! Sister Delgado and I get along great and she keeps missionary work fun, which I appreciate! We are sad that she only has 3 weeks here before she heads home to California, but we are using it up! 

We had a crazy experience this past week, and honestly calling it crazy doesn't even begin to describe what happened! We can laugh about it now although in the moment I was a little unsure of what was happening. But it's a good laugh so I will share! So to begin, one day last transfer, when Sister Lewis and I were together we both felt prompted to walk down this street after trying to contact a potential. We had no idea why but we both followed the prompting after pausing and praying off to the side of the road that God would lead us to whoever He needed us to talk to. We knock on a trailer door, no success so we start walking again, and this car pulls over that is filled with people and this lady asks us "What is Jesus real name?" and we are kinda like what the heck is she talking about (southern people love to do this thing where they pinpoint one thing out of the Bible and try to make you guess it and when you can't guess it, they say you don't know what you are talking about) but luckily my companion said "Messiah." and I guess that was the right answer and she told us to come back. Well we tried but she was never home until we got her as a headquarter referral and we were able to get in contact with her again. She invited her friend to come with her to the lesson and we sat down to teach and I was SO excited! They are both in such need of the gospel and I was thinking THIS IS A MIRACLE.... and then it happened. Annifa was talking about how this couple told her that mixing races is a sin and that her having kids with a Mexican was a great sin and that her kids are "border-jumpers" (never mind that they are born in America). Diana her friend lost it and was yelling at her that God loves all His children while Annifa stuck to her position that mixing races is a great sin. Then she starts telling us how Mexicans have ruined her life and that they are all bad people...and all the while, I am thinking I HAVE A HISPANIC COMPANION sitting right there! Then it turns into a cussing fight (I haven't heard that many swear words since high school lunch hour) so we set up a return appointment and got out of there. When we went back things were a lot more calm and she was pretty accepting of the Restoration so we will see where that goes.

We have had some true miracles this past week as we have tried to talk with people that are placed in our path. One happened this week while we were trying to see a LA that wasn't home. We see her neighbor that was working on her yard so we go talk to her and here we meet Michelle and her daughter Cayden. Later that week we were able to sit down and talk with them and this family is so amazing! She started telling us that she researched us after we left and was so impressed that we leave behind our families for 18 months, and that our beliefs are pretty similar to every ones (that's a big thing for someone around here to say) and that she is open to learning more. She said that she has actually been looking for a church to get involved with since they haven't been to their church since they moved away from it. Michelle wants a place for Cayden to go and develop good friends with moral standards. As we were talking about families, I could just see Cayden in Young Women's and loving it and I could see this family being so amazing in the gospel. I am so grateful we found them! They really are so prepared, especially because Michelle had a good friend that was Mormon and told her some things about the beliefs. And before we could even invite her to church she mentioned how she was planning on coming next week. 

Another one happened today as we were walking to Walmart and this lady was about to unload her groceries when we offered to help and she accepted. She started telling us how her husband just got in an accident and then she saw the tags and asks "Are y'all missionaries? I have been looking for a church for my daughter to get into, she needs to make some friends with good people. And I have tried to teach her all I know but she needs something more. Can y'all come teach us? And where is your church?" So we set up a return appointment with Robin and I am pumped to teach her! 

I truly believe God has blessed me on my mission as I have tried to give Him all I know how to give and be positive along the way. I have noticed that the missionaries that are able to see miracles and success in their areas are those that choose to be grateful and look for the good. I know it is all God that does this work, and that He is using me to help others, all the while helping myself. 

Love yall!

Sister Baker