Buenos Dias!
Well, it's been a pretty solid week, first of the transfer. It's interesting now because transfers don't really affect us all that much now and the only people that go to transfers are those that are actually moving. But it was cool because we got to take down 2 new district leaders after the leadership meeting on Thursday and I'm excited - should be a good transfer! But this was definitely not one of the easiest weeks of my life...we had an incredible amount of lessons fall through and have been dealing with a lot of people that just are not willing to do anything. It was an especially rough day Saturday - we went around all day with members and nobody was home. Those that we did have lessons with basically told us they weren't willing to do anything and just weren't going to progress. But...we've been tightening down and being extra obedient lately, even on the little things, and we knew that in some way or another the Lord was going to bless us. Another thing we've really been doing is something we've been committed to do by general authorities and that's to invite people to be baptized in every single first lesson, regardless of what we think they're going to say. So we've been really doing that, and teaching about baptism, testifying about it, and were just not getting the best answers.
But we had a super cool day Friday and found 2 families - 11 new investigators in one day! They both just came from OYM's - we had talked to one family on the street, and the other one at another investigator's house. One of the families, the parents are Tacho and Liz, is super solid and had gone to church a couple times when they were up in Queen Creek and really liked it! We had given them are card, and they were the ones that actually called us up because they wanted us to come over. That like never happens... So we had a way good lesson, and hopefully they get baptized here in the next couple weeks.
And speaking of baptism, we had something super cool happen in our branch yesterday - a surprise baptism! The sisters here had been teaching this lady named Gloria that has come a long way overcoming all kinds of drug addictions, kicking her boyfriend out of the house, etc. I actually had been by here place a couple times last August but she kind of told us she didn't want it then...But anyway, every time they set a baptismal date she got nervous and things would come up/she would get too overwhelmed. So yesterday she met with our branch president and they decided to just do the baptism yesterday! We got to help do all of the setting up and then I baptized her! It was one of the nicest baptisms I've actually ever been to, and everything came together perfectly at the last minute. She was just glowing - so happy, radiating the spirit, and just so glad that she had made that decision. Since the sisters have been really struggling down here in Yuma, this was also something they needed as well.
We also had a couple really cool lessons yesterday - found out that this girl was staying at our recent convert's house, so we went over and had a super good lesson with her. She's really thinking about baptism, and wanting to make changes in her life. Then we went over to this less-active guy's house (we're teaching his 9-year old son) and had the most packed lesson ever. We got in, talked about baptism, committed him to be baptized on July 30th, and then basically got out. The whole process was about 10 min - just in and out - because we had to get going to the baptism. We've been struggling to have someone with a baptismal date for a couple weeks, and now it happens all of a sudden in the shortest lesson of my life! Pretty cool - so yesterday was just a good day...
So yep, that's what's going on right now - definitely know that the night is darkest before the dawn. Saturday was a super rough day but Sunday was awesome and it looks like baptisms are coming up! Heavenly Father definitely tests us before He gives us success. We're excited though, and good things are happening!
Love y'all!
~ Elder Carlson
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