Another Day, Another Tamale

Holaaaaa!

Hermana Tapia reporting back with a wonderful baptism for Kat! (The Columbian investigator) Kat is actually the wife of a less active member (who is from Mexico, woot woot!) and since teaching her he has been reactivated and he baptized her this Saturday!!! All these wonderful couples are just strengthening my testimony of the gospel and how it deeply impacts families and marriages.

I never took the time to share with you that I actually met Kat my first transfer in Old Town. Long story short: she mixed up phone numbers, my trainer and I ended up going to her house and realized it was outside of Old Town area and in Little River as was sat down on the couch and they asked how long we'd been in serving in Little River. Woops, not our area! We worked things out but before leaving I felt like I needed to bare my testimony. Kat related so much to me and my conversion story and I was so sad I didn't get to teach her. Then I get transferred to her area right when she started losing contact with the Hermanas. They couldn't get a hold of her and she was never home. She finally contacted us one day and opened but about what was going on, we went over and we were so excited to be reunited! I love her and her family so much. Especially her 2 year old daughter that finds me and sits by me at church almost every Sunday. I had no idea that night we met her that in a couple months I would be attending her baptism. Kat and her family have taught me so much and I will never forget them. She has one of the strongest testimonies I know and the spirit was so strong as she shared it after being baptized. Here's Kat and I that one night we accidentally met when I was in Old Town and at her baptism. (Is it just me or is anyone else seeing this pattern where I met people in my first area that are now deciding to be baptized??) 

I'll have you all know that I have yet to catch any of the nasty cough & cold bugs going around Virginia. Did I mention almost every single one of my companions have been terribly sick at some point and it didn't hit me once? Yep, I'm just a little bit proud of my immune system lately. Just wanted to share that, no relation to missionary work whatsoever.

Hermana Gonzalez and I have been praying for a family to teach since the beginning of the transfer. Now that we are on our last week (Transfers are next week, we find out Saturday night where we're going!). We were working extra hard to find that family we had been praying for and we found them this week! Here's a little run down, Mario is the dad he was baptized at 20 and left the church when he came to the US because he didn't know where to find it. His wife Peach (I'm losing my ability to think of creative code names so bare with me) is a strong Catholic who feels there's something special about her husband's faith and is willing to learn more about the gospel. We saw them twice this week. The first time we went over we had them and their 3 little girls around the kitchen table. We used the restoration cups featured in my email a couple weeks ago and they were so attentive and asked awesome questions! They all understood it so well and I was amazed at how smart their children were! At the conclusion of the lesson we invited them all to read the Libro de Mormon individually and as a family and to pray to know if it is true. Peach was speechless. She said that it all made sense but that she just didn't know what to do or what her extended family would think of this new religion. Before we could say a word their second youngest daughter mumbles something softly. We all turn to look at her. Embarrassed now she sinks into her chair. "What was that sweetie?" Says Peach. After 5 seconds of silence the little girl finally says in a soft voice, "I said, you can't know if you don't read the book." Words of wisdom you should all listen to! Hahaha! It took every ounce of facial strength in my face to stop from creating the biggest grin. So basically Peach has incredible children and she is willing to read and pray about all we teach them. I love this family so much already and I cannot wait to see what 2018 has in store for them and me!

We are teaching and meeting so many wonderful people and I realized this week how much I love and how attached I am to the Little River members and leaders. I wouldn't trade anything for the people I have met. ALSO WE SAW DJ THIS WEEK! He's working hard, we love him. Also, a little update on Winter, she's still amazing and adorable. We had a movie night with her this week and watched The Joseph Smith Movie. At the end she said "Wow... I LOVE IT!" HAHAHA!

Explanation for the subject: Since Christmas I have had tamales from the following countries this week:

• El Salvador
• Peru
• Nicaragua 
• Bolivia 
• Guatemala 

I don't think there was a single day this week I didn't have tamales... They were so good but Mexican tamales still have my heart. Hahaha!

Happy new year! I am so excited to continue working in la obra misional this year. I love being here, it's tough at times but so amazing. Los quiero mucho!

Hermana Tapia