ALOOOOOOOOOOOOHA!!!
I hope everyone's enjoying the time right there on the beach! Well, except for the time about the stings from the stingrays, but at least they have a good story to tell when they get back home now! Good to see that they're alright.
What a week!!! It was kind of stressful working to teach everything to Flora and Patricia during these past weeks, and then with a few things that came up on Saturday with the interview of Flora. Fortunately, we also had a day of miracles on Saturday, the 23rd. Presidente Del Aguila (one of the counselors to President Saylin) was able to take time out of his day to come down and interview her, and then have a lesson with all of them (Patricia, Flora, and Presidente Del Aguila). With coordinating for the baptism with Houston 9 and the combined activity/broadcast later on that night, there was a mountain of things that could have happened. The person who was baptized from Houston 9 was even rear-ended on the way over to the church.
But through it all, the Lord watched over them, and everything worked out. Elder Rodriguez baptized Flora, and I had the blessing to baptize Patricia. Flora and Patricia were confirmed in Sacrament Meeting the next day. I hope I'm not wrong in sharing a couple of things that stood out to me when they were confirmed: With Patricia, the Lord is going to bless her, according to her faithfulness, with the opportunity to serve a mission. With Flora, the Lord will bless her, according to her faithfulness, with the opportunity and ability to bring many in her family into the Gospel. One thing Flora has been concerned about is that her other two children don't have much interest in the Gospel as of right now, but I think that was the Lord's answer to her concern. One way or another, I'm really excited to see where in the Church Flora and Patricia work and serve!!!
I think that's been one of the biggest things that has happened over the course of the past week. Really, what happened with Flora and Patricia Arriaga - how we found them, how prepared they were, and how they're now part of the Church - was a miracle! We've really been able to see the hand of the Lord guiding the work and helping us out, because we can't do this by ourselves. Without His help, we really wouldn't be able to do much of anything. It's amazing!
Personally, I'm doing well. With transfers coming up, there's a little bit of stress there. In the past, when I've been uncomfortable (like, leaving my comfort zone - not anything bad), I can usually turn to Elder Rodriguez and he'll pick up the slack. But this transfer coming up, I'll have a somewhat newer companion - someone without quite so much time in the field. But one thing that helps me out is that when the Lord calls us to do something, He qualifies us and prepares us for the task ahead, so I have complete confidence in the Lord that things will go the way He desires, and that I'll be able to perform the way that He needs me to. I'm going to miss Elder Rodriguez, but at the same time, he's excited for the next assignment that he'll have, and his excitement makes me excited! President told him that he'll have an assignment to help him stretch, and so Elder Rodriguez is a little leary of that, but he's excited either way!
And Mom, if it makes you feel any better - you and Dad being grandparents in 5 years kind of weirds me out as well, so I'm not in any rush, either! Who said that you could be a grandma in 5 years? Oh, and where is Janae at right now? Random question, I know, but she's written me 2 letters through Dear Elder, and I've never known where to write back to. The first letter I received close to Christmastime, and the other, not so long ago. Just wondering!
Well, I've got to get going!! It was great to get your letter! I know I'll have some more experiences to talk about this next week, so hang on tight!!! Have a great week down there in San Diego!!
Les amo!! A infinidad, y mas alla!!
Elder Devin Collins
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