WEEK 28 "Latin Ladies"

Hola todos, 

This week was nothing short of crazyyy. I dont think I have laughed so hard in my whole mission too. You honestly never can guess what series of events are in store for you as a missionary. This week in Hollyweird we made a pit stop at burger king because we were out of water.

We ordered 5 cups of water and they were a bit annoyed at us so we tried to make up for it by buying 1$ burgers. This was quite remarkable because we had just ate a huge meal with one of our members and my companion was still able to down those burgers. I am so proud of her. She is picking up very fast on everything and especilally her abilities to stretch out her stomach so fast. Latins really know how to cook and feed you tons!!!

One of the highlights this week was finding the sweetest Cuban lady, Gladys, who instantly let us in to her house. She is 82 years old and has the cutest little cottage house. She is super artsy, still is renovating all of her house, sews and makes all of her clothes, has the most exquisite garden, and the most detailed tea cup collection. We taught her about the Book of Mormon and she invited us to come back for lunch. Yesterday we went back for lunch and she instantlty told us we needed to call her grandma. She fed us the most amazing lunch and after made a special strawbery, cheese coconut desert because she knew I loved Cocos!

After she whipped out the family photo albums and she told us all about her family. Gladys has the biggest heart. While we were looking at her family photos, her friend Lilly that lives across the street came in. She is a hoot and has the spirit and personality of a 18 year old. After we laughed over all of Lilly's stories we shared a story from the Book of Mormon with them. When we placed the book in Lilly's hands to read she instantly told us that she knew this book was the word of God. She told us that she felt the chills and loved all the passages we shared with her. We told her why she felt the chills and told her this was the spirit speaking to her. She couldnt stop reading it while we were teaching her. There is so much power in the Book of Mormon and we are excited to go back this week and share more. 

I have loved teaching Ymelda. She has some of the hardest trials but still has such a deep desire to strengthen her faith. This week she came to church and needed to brush her teeth but guess how she did it? with the foaming soap out of the despensor in the bathroom. She is a hoot too, we love her. 

Ruth and her family are still progressing  as well and we have met with them three times. Ruth loves church and feels that spritiual connection grow stronger each time she comes. She is the most amazing mother and we are excited to work to get her whole family to church this week. 

This week we had a theme of teaching people about prophets. Everyone had lots of questions about our modern day prophet this week. One of my favorite verses that we shared was in Alma 26:37. 

 Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever. Amen.

Because God is the same yesterday, today, and forever; thus, in every period of time and place on the earth where there were people who were anxiously seeking out Gods direction, God called prophets. Today his gospel hasn't changed. We truly have a prophet who leads and guides us in these days. I know that Joseph Smith truly restored the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ on the earth and that President Russel M Nelson is called of God. 

Quiero Mucho,

-hermana richards