Hermana Blood: 1-27-2014: Remember that time...

Remember that time when I was in my Book of Mormon class in BYU and all the people with mission calls got to stand up to say where they're going and the girl right before me said "Texas Fort Worth Spanish Speaking"....?

Yeah. That's my companion.

CRAZY right??? Hermana Gwynn and I were talking about the classes we took at BYU and we discovered first that we were in the same Book of Mormon class and then I remembered that THAT happened! Insanity. Whodathunkit.

So that was one of the many highlights from my Birthweek! :)

Thank you SOOOOO much by the way for the AWESOME Birthday package! :) It was perfect and came exactly on time. I also got the Downeast package and I'm just waiting on the LDS Distribution one. You're the best!

This week was a GREAT week! I got to celebrate my birthday on Friday with the Bonillas (hermano cooked DELICIOUS food, like always) and they sang happy birthday to me and everything! Then on Saturday morning I got to celebrate again with a super awesome Spanish Conference! So President Ames got together all the Spanish Ward leaders in the Metroplex (Hurst, Arlington, Fort Worth, Denton) and their Stake presidents and some of the missionaries (really just all of the Hurst ward missionaries because our building is where they have all the mission meetings) and we talked specifically about how we can further the work of salvation among the Spanish-speaking community. It was a GREAT start. We talked a lot about the barriers that could be specific to Hispanics and what we can do to overcome it. There's still a ton of work to do to understand fully the potential this part of the work has, but Saturday was AWESOME to have everyone there working together.

The Spanish ward missionaries with our favorite couple, Debanhi and Mario! They're pretty cool.

We've been seeing Eand N frequently to make sure that N is doing what he needs to in order to prepare for Baptism, and we have grown to really love them a LOT. They're still working on Paper things, but hopefully they'll be able to get married on the 15th of february if they have everything done by the 14th! Another option they've been considering seriously is having N move out for a month or 2 so that he can get baptized while they figure out the paperwork stuff. Before, we weren't completely sure if he really understood the importance of what he was doing, but we're so grateful for E who has SO much faith and is really helping N to understand the importance of this step. So hopefully things will work out to where he'll be baptized in February! Man, we just love 'em.

We haven't been able to see a doctor yet for Hermana Gwynn's ankle, but she's been a trooper. She is still convinced that she's capable of running in the morning, boot and all, so that has only slowed her down a little bit! (Her running has turned more into speed-walking, but she refuses to let anything get in the way between her and her Personal Exercise!) :)

And I'll work on that Abuelita's recipe! I've been actually really good about writing down how these people make all their good food. I've also learned how to make Bunuelos and some really legit cheesecake. FOOD. :)

Sounds like y'all were nice and busy this week! With Dad coming home from his European excursion and the Folsom Festival (man, I loved going to that in High School back in the olden days when I was still in my teens....*sigh*) :) and the SCRIPTURE BOWL! (I wish I was better at doing scripture mastery in seminary now that I'm a missionary...) and Nat finishing up the eagle scout project paperwork! I'm also slightly baffled and extremely impressed that Dad, maybe for the first time ever, stayed awake for an entire movie at the Stanford! Is there some sort of celebration that will be formed to mark this momentous occasion??? :)