Michael got baptized!

 Hola a todo!

 I hope you all had a great week! I can’t believe it is already February! This week was a roller coaster full of ups and downs. 

 Monday, we started off the week teaching Rigo and we set a BD with him. But then for the rest of the week we never saw nor heard from him and every time we went over to his house or called, he wasn’t there or didn’t answer. We also stopped by a few recent converts and invited them to our activities. 

 Tuesday, we had meetings all morning. Later went out to visit a member taught her about patriarchal blessings. Then later the sisters were having some lessons at the church, so we had to be present for those. Afterward Michael asked Brother Peña to baptize him. So, we called Bro Peña to tell him and he answered saying don’t ask me to talk or nothing. We told him it wasn’t that and that Michael wanted him to baptize him. He gasped and yelled, "that's even worse" we knew he was excited though. 

 Wednesday, we mowed a lawn early in the morning and then helped at Casa de Esperanza. Then we prepared for our youth activity. It was a scavenger hunt. We had 4 youth show up which is a record for us. They are all super crazy and stayed at the church until 9 but we had a good time. We also went by Kayla. She is a girl we were teaching a long time ago but then she went to Mexico. She is back and we were able to put her on date for Feb 9!

 Thursday, we had District Council and then went to McAllen for my companion’s doctor appointment. We got back right before our Branch activity. Sister Babcock was able to help get us a virtual tour set up of Carthage Jail. We thought a lot more people would show up but not a lot did so that was sad. Also, our video system just decided to not work so we couldn't hear or see most of it. But I am so grateful for the sisters and their efforts because we had a recent convert and an investigator on date able to grow from watching it.

 Friday was just crazy. All I remember is that it didn't go as planned we found some members that we didn’t know before, we talked to a few people but weren't able to teach anyone until super late and when we went over they just talked and talked and talked and never let us share anything so we spent an hour of just listening. It was very sad and they said they felt the spirit telling them to listen to us but then they didn’t come to church so that was an emotional roller coaster in and of itself. 

 Saturday we were busy all in the morning again. Then we planned a training we have to give later on in the week. So, we didn’t get out to work until 4. We went by some people and none of them were home, so we just went to the baptism of Michael. We had a musical number and I had to give a talk last second because a member couldn't. We taught brother Peña how to baptize and it went super well! Then President Vélez took us to Chili's to eat. They sat us right under a speaker and were playing some really good music but President Vélez being older thinks the music is dumb and was mocking the younger generation and how they dance, and it was hilarious! We were with Brother Peña and Sister Langenstein also, so you know I was just laughing the whole time.

 Sunday Michael was confirmed. We had a church audit afterwards and so we were at the church until 3. We tried to go visit some people afterwards but like I mentioned earlier, people were being flaky. Third and Rigo who are on date didn’t come to church. Kayla said she couldn't because she was sick. So, she attended online church. Billy didn’t come just cause he didn’t feel like it even though he complained about flaky people because he sells insurance. And Billy cancelled our lesson! I was pretty grumpy. We went to Third’s and he just isn’t progressing. Doesn’t want to act on anything. At the end of the day, we went by Kayla’s because she wasn’t answering phone calls. She wasn’t home so we are thinking oh boy what a liar. Our only person on date that is willing to act is dodging us now. I was mad. But we found out she went to her cousin's house who also is a recent convert. We went to his house. Found Kayla and talked to her. We said she has to come to church and meet with us every day. We told her satan doesn’t want her to get baptized and she used the examples of her going to Mission and getting sick but then being fine later. So she knows and things were starting to look better. And then out came her other cousin and was asking a million questions and we would begin to answer one when she would spit out another. Long story short Cassy, her cousin, also wants to get baptized and we put her on date for March 7. The Lord is so merciful and so good! I may not be able to see the fruits of my labors from now on, but I count myself blessed to be able to at least plant the seed and have the privilege of working alongside my Savior. I know He lives and is the one who is the head of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and He directs His perfect work!

 I love you all! Have a great week!
Elder Tolman

Brother Pena