Last Tuesday, we had another lesson with Hannah, and it was kind of sad because she pretty much isn't wanting to learn to find out the true church, she just plainly wants to know for the knowledge side, so we are still going to meet with her and help her know about our church, but she like totally told us she won't come to church, or won't even come to our open house we are having for the new church sooo... that was kind of a bummer!!
That evening we also went over to a members house who is over family history, and she taught us how to be able to teach people we are teaching to do family history, so that was awesome! While we were there, another member came by and give us 500, yes FIVE HUNDRED flyers to give out to people in two weeks before the open house!! That wouldn't be a big deal for us if we had time, but where we have at least 3 lessons a day, it will be tricky haha.
Wednesday morning, Stephanie had her baptism interview and she passed!! Yay!!! She did come out of the interview crying and we weren't exactly sure if it was a good cry or bad cry, but it ended up being good, she felt the Spirit super strong so she started tearing up.
That afternoon we met with Celia, and practiced spanish with her and then taught her some english as well! Celia is seriously the cutest human being ever. After we were done with the language studies, we met with Sister Barreto and went through the whole relief society directory to help her know who is active and less active, and going through that whole list took us 3 hours hahha it was crazy and my mind almost exploded!
That evening we went around to a bunch of mexican restaurants and we gave out flyers to the open house we will be having for the new chapel! We handed out a ton of the flyers we were given, and we only have half of them left now so we made some good progress!
We also stopped by Lori this past week, and she has been struggling a lot.. Her dad has been getting worse in his health and it has taken a toll on her as well. We stopped by her house two times this past week, and both times we went by she said she didn't want to talk to anyone.. We fasted and have been praying for her a ton!! She also didn't come to church this week so we are kind of getting scared for her... It is the WORST how hard Satan works on people, especially as people get closer and closer to baptism, just as she has been! She did show up to her interview with Bishop yesterday (which was a miracle in itself because she stood him up for the last interview) and we are hoping and praying she is still staying on track to be baptized soon!
Saturday and Sunday were the best days EVER!!! Stephanie was baptized on Saturday and wow, I don't think I have ever felt that much joy in my life! It was the best experience ever. Her whole entire family came, and none of them are members, and they were all full of tears as well! Before it all started, we walked into the bathroom to check on her and she was already crying as well, but it was a good / nervous / excited cry. We said a prayer with her, and the spirit in the bathroom (yes, the bathroom haha) was so strong it was amazing, and she started crying even more. Then the program was so amazing, and two of the brethren who had visited her while she was in the hospital during her really sick time of her pregnancy and given her a blessing, those two brethren gave the talks and they were pure gold. Her baptism was perfect as well! After she was baptized we went into the bathroom and just chatted with her while she was changing and getting ready, and she said she felt so good and so happy, and so clean!! She also joked that her father in law should have held her under a little bit longer haha, shes seriously the best. After she was done changing, we asked her if she would bear her testimony and she was quite nervous, but she said the most sincere testimony I have ever heard. She started crying while bearing it, and the Spirit was so strong and we could tell it touched her family members as well. She said that she knows this is the true church, that the book of mormon is the "real deal" (I loved that!!!) and that her baptism day has been a long time in the making. She told of her experience in the hospital during her really sick pregnancy, and how amazing the spirit was in that room, especially when they told her everything was going to be ok. She also bore that she knows God has a plan for everyone, and she knows that all of her experiences she has had were there to strengthen her. She is honestly the best. I have loved having the opportunity to meet new people, and there are so many people that will hold such a special place in my heart for the rest of my life.
Sunday was awesome too! She looked so cute, and so did her family! All of her family also came to church for her confirmation and her baby's blessing, and it was awesome to have her whole family there!! Her confirmation was so amazing, and she was absolutely glowing after she was confirmed a member and received the Holy Ghost! They also blessed their sweet little baby, and her grandpa blessed her and did it in spanish, and it was just so awesome! I know that the members don't speak spanish also felt the spirit, and it is just so amazing that even if you don't know what is being said, the Spirit testifys that it is true!!
Last night we had a lesson with Gomathi again, and she told us that she does want to be baptized in the future, because she knows it will bless her and her family, she just wants to learn more before she is baptized, so that was awesome for her to tell us! We still have the language barrier, but she seems to understand most things pretty well, and we just pray that the Spirit will continue testifying of what we are saying!
Soooo last night I received my transfer news, and I am going to be a TRAINER, EEEEEKKKKK!! I won't meet my companion until Thursday, but if anybody has any advice AT ALL, I would appreciate it more than you could ever know!! I also talked to MY amazing trainer this morning, Hermana Schellenberg and asked her for some tips, and she will also be training AGAIN and so I get to see her on Thursday which I am absolutely thrilled about!! Hermana Schellenberg also told me that they went to the temple with Xiomara and Hoffmara this past week, and they are two Sisters that will also always have a special spot in my heart! I just love being a missionary and meeting people here that I would have never met if I didn't make this decision to serve my mission! It is truly the best decision I have ever made :)
I just want to tell my little cousin Jayden a quick (late) happy birthday last week! I love you tons little man! ;)
Thank you all for the love and support! Again, even if you didn't serve a mission or didn't train, if anything comes to your mind or advice you think I could use to be a trainer, I need it!! Haha I am honestly super excited but it's also a little scary!!! I just want to be as good of a trainer to my companion as my trainer was to me!!
I love you all and I hope you all have the best week!
Hermana Griffin
Stephanie's Baptism and Baby Blessing
Street Tacos!
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