The Tale of the St. Patties Day Party

Well hello there my family! How is everything going? I hope that y'all had a great st. Patrick day, I will tell you about mine later. But how is everybody doing? I hope that all is well and that you are enjoying the nice spring weather. It is so very windy here, and it is only supposed to get worse. Other than that however it has been a very good week. We are teaching 2 super awesome families, and the lord continues to bless us with interesting experiences. So on to the stories of the week!

Story 1  

The Tale of the St. Patties Day Party

So just encase you did not know yesterday was St Patrick day. I hope no one got pinched to hard. And President made a new rule, I dont remember if I told y'all this but I will tell you again. The rule is that we can only have dinner with active members twice a week, and the other 5 must be with less actives, investigators, or non members. But if the members bring one of the 3 mentioned previously we can eat at there house. So we have been encouraged to ask people if we can have dinner with them. This may be the hardest thing that I have had to do on my mission. I have never been the person to invite myself to dinner, my mother taught me better than that. But I have been working hard to have the courage to ask, because I believe that President is inspired. Ok so back to the St Patties day story. Last Thursday we were out visiting Less actives. We were driving around El Dorado, and no it is not made of gold sadly. It is just made of brown dirt and houses. So we were driving around this very brown city and went to visit a man named Mr Wright. He and his wife were very nice and let us come in. However they would not let us talk about religion. Instead he told us how he used to be the costumer for Clint Eastwood, and worked on movies in California. Just goes to show you never know who you will meet out in the middle of no where, in Santa Fe. Well Sister Wilkinson was brave and asked if we could come over for dinner one night. Luckily they were very nice and said yea, no everyone does but we will get to that later. So last night we went to there house and had Corn Beef and Cabbage. They had a friend come over but we were not allowed to talk about the gospel. So we just kind of sat there and listened to there stories about there travels to Ireland, and other places in the world. All the while they are drinking there wine and scotch.... Needless to say that we did not stay to long. I think that it may have been the most interesting St Patrick day I have ever had. 

Story 2 the Tale of Our Miracle Family

So a week or so ago I told y'all about that awesome Sunday, and Lupe and her Family. Well they have been doing so good!!! WE have had about 3 or 4 lessons with them, and Lupe and her girls are committed to baptism! Her husband and son (Amilio and Amilio Jr) are still a little stuck on a few things. Amilio Jr is very scientific and is having a hard time believing in God because he cant see him. Also Amilio Sr thinks that marriage is a silly thing and so long as 2 people love each other that's enough. We will keep working with them but we know that this whole family will get baptized someday.

The girls Geneus and Emily are so excited and love when we come over. I bring them books to look at and we play games in the lessons. I think I am compensating for not having the kids with me, I miss them so much. And Lupe, oh she is just amazing!!!! We taught them last night and she felt the spirit so strong that she cried. She said that this is something that she wants and she knows it will help her family. She has been so prepared and I am so grateful that God has given me this chance to meet and to teach her.

Story 3 The Tale of Another Miracle Family

I told you a few weeks ago about Gregory Garcia and his roommate/ possible girl friend Pam a few weeks ago. Well let me just tell you that they are amazing!! The did come to church that week like they promised and have come every Sunday since! We have been seeing them a few times a week and absolutely love them! Greg is so excited to finally find a church that will not take all his money. Yes we have taught him about tithing and he is ok with it, luckily. He is struggling with quieting smoking but yesterday we told him about the blessings that come through baptism and keeping the word of wisdom. He just go so excited and said that he would be off cigarettes by Friday. We told him that it may take time but if he truly relies on the Atonement that he can to anything. And Pam she is also very excited! She told us that since she has been meeting with us she has been happier and that her friends/ coworkers have noticed that she is different. We asked her what she thought was making the difference and she said that is was because of the spirit and learning about the church. They are so amazing and excited to learn more. They even have started to share what they are learning with there friends! Pams friend Georgia has come to a few meetings and said that she liked what she heard! So we will see what comes of that. But we are just so excited that we can be part of there conversion!

Story 4 The Tale of Very Random People

It seems that we as missionaries seem to attract very interesting/ crazy people. This week we met a women who was on the former investigators list. It said that she was excited to learn more but wanted some space for a while. So we stopped by to see her and ask if she was interested in starting the lessons again. Well she invited us in and just started to ramble about her life. She told a very odd story about a one armed mechanic which I will not write. Then she ask Sister Wilkinson if she wanted a cupcake.... And she looked so crazy as she asked. She had her chin up in the air, her tongue our and her eyes were huge! Sister Wilkinson said no thank you and then looked at me for help. We try ti bring up the gospel when she asked if she could smoke. Oh yeah she is also on oxygen!!!! So we gave her our number and told her to call us if she was interested. And we left very promptly. She must have been high, or had done some crazy drugs in the past. We will probably not be going back.

Well that was my week and I hope that y'all have a great week!! I will try to write letters today but I make no promises. I love y'all so much and cant wait to hear from you soon!!! Have a great week!

Love Sister Chatwin