Juan Carlos's Baptism!!!🥳

 Helloooo everyone!!! Miss you!

Juan Carlos was baptized yesterday!!!! It was such an amazing baptismal service. The day before he was baptized, we called him and he told us that he had fallen and really hurt his back. He said it was hard to walk, so he'd need a ride to church and his baptism the next day (he usually walks everywhere). When he showed up at church the next day, he was walking so slow and kept joking that he was like a grandpa. We felt so bad and I was super worried it would hurt him to go under the water, but he kept saying it would be fine. So we went through with the baptism, and it actually ended up going so well!! The Spirit was so strong right as he came out of the water. I'm so grateful for him, the faith he has shown, and his determination to be baptized despite a hurting back.

Remember how last week I said that Alejandro got the priesthood? Well this week he got to baptize Juan Carlos!!! He was so excited to do it and I'm so grateful I got to witness it! His mom, Yeni (also in the baptism photo), has been being taught by missionaries for over a year but has been afraid to commit to baptism. It was such a powerful experience for her to watch her son baptize someone else. I have a feeling it was a really important step for her to see that. I hope she chooses to be baptized soon too! Please pray for her!

This week we had interviews with President Rodriguez! I don't know what I'm going to do when I'm home and I can't have interviews with my mission president anymore haha. I love him and Sister Rodriguez so much, and the longer I serve with them the more I know that they were called by God. They are the exact leaders I've needed on my mission.

I had exchanges with Hermana Santa Maria again this week!! We were in her area on bikes. I miss bikes! She taught me how to make tacos dorados at lunch and they were SO good.

We had a really good lesson with our friend Elias and he accepted the invitation to be baptized in January! We're so excited for him so keep him in your prayers!

On Saturday, we had a ward Christmas party. It was combined with the English ward. We got to have tamales!!! Some of the new members in the Spanish branch sang some Christmas hymns with the missionaries in front of everyone. It was fun but a little embarrassing because I don't think anyone was on the same key haha It's okay though, the Spirit can work through all people even when they're tone-deaf.

On Sunday night, we got to go to a live nativity in Thousand Oaks! It was SO cool and there were a ton of people!!! Our new members Carlos and Alejandro came. Alejandro's mom Yeni also showed up!! There was a mini Bethlehem where we could walk around and do activities. And then there was a live nativity performance. And after, we went into the church building and there were girls playing harps and cookies being handed out. Highly recommended.

Shoutout to my sisters Katelyn and Miranda for drawing Christmas trees for us to hang up on our apartment wall! They're better than any real Christmas tree for sure.

We have transfers this coming week! Hermana Olmstead and I got fortunes from Panda Express this last week and mine said, "You are exactly where you're supposed to be." So hopefully that means I'm staying here haha!

We went ice-skating today for our district activity! I think that's the closest to snow I'll get this Christmas

SPIRITUAL THOUGHT:

(it's long but hey, if you're already this far into my email please just read it!)

The gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of joy. Sometimes I think we mistakenly tell ourselves that we must be doing something wrong if we find ourselves stuck in pain or sorrow. We feel like we're doing the best we can, but wonder if God's punishing us or if we just can't feel the Spirit.

The truth is that God loves us and that He never wants any of His children to suffer. He ALSO loves us enough to stretch us. When He sent us to earth, He knew there would be pain and sorrow. That's why He sent Jesus Christ to earth! He is there to strengthen us through any hurt we may face.

I watched a video I really loved this week where a woman who had lost a loved-one shared her perspective on the pain.

She said that in life, we tend to use the word "or" a lot. "We can be happy OR sad, we can be heartbroken OR hopeful, we can be devasted OR determined to keep going." Sometimes, we have to learn to use the word "and."

Happy AND sad,

Heartbroken AND hopeful,

Devastated AND determined.

This gospel can STILL be a gospel of joy, even when we're going through something hard! God wants us to be happy, and He knows that sometimes the greatest joy comes after the hardest experiences.

My invitation for you all is to acknowledge a trial you've faced or you're facing, and then write down the ways it's helped you grow. There's a reason behind everything!

I love all of you!

-Hermana DeMordaunt