Monday, October 29, 2012

Baldwin Village Week 9

Dear Everyone,

We have had a miraculous week this week, let me tell you! I've been pretty astonished at the blessings that Heavenly Father has been giving us in our area over the past few days.

This week we started teaching a girl named Kxxxx. She is AMAZING!! She's been coming to the USC ward since June, and all last transfer when I was with Sister Deskins we thought she was a member. Well, while we were talking to her a few weeks ago we found out that she isn't a member! And so in between sessions of conference we set up an appointment with her for this week. It turns out that she was introduced to the gospel by her boyfriend whom she was dating when she was 16. Back then she knew it was true, and wanted to be baptized but her parents wouldn't allow her to. And so, over the past 2 years she has been going to church and has such a testimony of the it's truthfulness. She told us something really interesting/beautiful though during our lesson. She said that if she had been baptized 2 years ago, she wouldn't have the testimony that she does now, because she wouldn't have had to fight so hard to defend what it was that she believed in. And now that she's 18, she wants to take that step and be baptized, but understandably she is apprehensive. So, our goal as we meet with her is not only to prepare her spiritually to be baptized but to help her find the confidence and strength in her testimony that she already has so that she can approach her family about her decision. HOW COOL IS THIS? Her baptism is scheduled for the end of this month, and we are all really excited to help her to work towards that goal. She is just absolutely amazing. And this whole experience is just another testament to me of the power that we have as members in missionary work. She's never had lessons from the missionaries before, but she has a solid testimony because of the friendships that she has with members of the church who are unafraid to answer her questions, live their faith, and love her. It's amazing. 

We also have continued to have really wonderful lessons with Txxxx. He is just like, a gospel sponge and is so filled with sincerity about learning the truthfulness of the gospel for himself. Another person we are teaching, Sxxxxx is continuing to prepare for her baptism at the beginning of next month. We can tell that she is a little apprehensive as well about it, but since this time she is the one who made the decision and she is the one who set the date she also seems more solid in this decision than before. I am so excited for her to make those promises with heavenly Father and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost to help her throughout the rest of her life.

On a non-investigator note, I am learning to cook real, delicious Mexican food from a lovely member named Martha. We eat dinner wit h her every week and now we are spending more time with her in the kitchen helping her create the food we eat. This week, I learned how to make chile relleno's (just for you dad!!) and they were DELICIOUS!! I can't wait to share with you all when I come back home! We'll have a giant dinner and it will be delicious.

This weekend we also had the opportunity to have a mini missionary with us! Her name was Sister Castagnola and she was such a wonderful addition to our companionship. She's 17 and super excited about the news that she can go on a mission when she's 19 instead of having to wait until she is 21. She is going to make a wonderful missionary some day and it was a blessing to have her in Baldwin Village. She was able to testify and touch the hearts of some of those that we teach in a way that we could not have done without her. 

Well, I love you all and hope that you've had as wonderful a week as I have.
All the best!
Sister Hensley

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