from high tops to high heels....: Septiembre en San Rafael

Well, sorry for not writing last week everyone. Our email time has been cut down and sometimes I run out of time. Hermana Dana and I are doing great! The weather is finally warming up and it makes things a lot better. I got 2 winters in a row (Utah, and then here since seasons are opposite) so I am SUPER happy to see some sun finally.

Our investigators are doing great. Last week we saw a lot of miracles. Here is one that happened with the Familia Gonzales (mother, father, 5 kiddos ages 12, 11, 9, 3, 2). They said that they were going to be out of town Sunday and we were very sad. They had been to church once but to get them more prepared for baptism, they really needed to assist again. We walked really far to pick up another investigator Natalia, but she said she was ¨¨leaving out of town¨ so we were really bummed. I had a very strong feeling to walk to Flia Gonzalez´s house and that they were there even though we would be late for church. We knocked, and THEY WERE THERE! They had gotten home at 2 in the morning. I pumped them up and told them to hurry and get dressed, they could obviously go back to sleep after church haha. So they all threw on some clothes and it was 5 minutes before sacrament meeting started and we were 45 minutes walking away. I had put cash in my pocket in the morning, not really sure why. Well it was exactly enough for us to call a taxi and arrive at church, only about 7 minutes late! Not sure why I had thought I needed cash, but the Holy Ghost made me think to bring it. So that is only one of the miracles of the mission this week.

Romina, Joni, and Brisa could be entering the waters of baptism this week. The parents are not married (like about 75% of the people living together here) so we are going to get them married and baptized just like Flia Garrido. I feel I have been left here this transfer specifically for this family. It takes over a month to start the marriage process so I might not see the fruits of the labor, but I know I am here for a reason. Hermana Dana and I are growing a lot and she is already an amazing missionary,

Here is the news on our converts (which make up about half the congregation). Lucia and Agustina have read the Book of Mormon together out loud for over a month straight and love the primary songs. Their mom is following their example slowly. Marcelo Garrido passes the sacrament every week. Marcelo Jr, their olderst son turns 12 this month and is anxious to be a deacon. Their younger girls got a name and a blessing yesterday in sacrament meeting. Lautaro and Nazalena are amazing and helping their mom (who was less active) everyday and have become the strength of the ward. The mom just got called as young women´s president, but when we taught her kids she was smoking and hadn't been to Church. The gospel changes lives!

Well, that is all for this week. We did lots of family home evenings and had lots of fun playing ultimate frisbee with the Elders today. Keep strong, the church is true no matter how many miles you are from Utah haha! The Lord lives, He blesses us everyday- you just have to be grateful and find the tender mercies in the day!

Love,

Hermana Thatcher