On Saturday, we went to her house to get her to go to the chapel for her baptism, and she was crying because no one in her family wanted to go with her to the baptism! Her mom was sitting there watching TV, instead of helping her daughter get ready to be baptized! I was appalled, to tell you the truth, and super sad for this 8 year old girl! We finally got Joana to come with us, but she cried the whole way to the church because she was alone going to her baptism. She finally calmed down and we started the baptism (we had 6 people getting baptized in our zone), and still her family did not come. Finally 30 min late, right before she was to be baptized, her family showed up. And long story short, after many tears and struggles, Joana ended up not getting baptized because she was too afraid of the water and drowning. It was really sad, and hard, but I guess it was not meant to be!
Sunday, I had the opportunity to go to all three sessions of the re-dedication of the Mexico City Temple, because it was like an extension of the temple in our church's stake building. At first, to be honest, I didn't want to sit for 6 hours, because I have the same problem of my mother to fall asleep. :) But actually, I am so grateful for this experience. I learned so much! And it was cool because I got to hear three talks from Elder Holland, and two from Elder Eyring, and others from other apostles too. It was especially cool because in the last session Eyring and Holland shared personal experiences they have had in the temple, and blessings, especially for their families. And I especially liked when Elder Holland talked about how he couldn't go to the temple for the first time with his son, but in this time he was at his house praying for his son and reading scriptures. And he said, this experience was one of his greatest experiences with the temple, because of what he learned, but he wasn't even in the walls of the temple. And how important it is that we have spiritual temple experiences daily, and have our covenants always on our minds and hearts, to learn more every day. I don't know if you, too, got to watch it, but it was really great. Wow I sound like such a missionary writing this!
Also the other great thing about this re-dedication is that my comp and I have been working really hard with 3 members who were less active, and who are now active, and all three of them have an interview with the bishop and all came to one of the sessions of the re-dedication too! We haven't had any baptisms, but to see the joy of these members reactivated is so great, especially to feel the spirit of the temple. And each one of them now have a desire and goal to go to the temple soon!
Tomorrow is the Independence Day of Mexico, and our ward is having a big fiesta. My zone leader had the bright idea to do a skit... about service. While I try to have a good attitude about it, acting is on the top of my list of things that I LOATHE! "Hate, hate, double hate, loathe entirely!" (The Grinch) But hopefully it will be okay. I will try to use some of my inner Lainie--because Lainie is a good actress and a motivation to all!!!
This week it has rained a lot, from the sky, along with Joana's tears. And with my comp and I in the middle of the rain, and the streets more like rivers, we got soaked, and joined all the other wet dogs on the streets! Literally there are tons of stray dogs, and after the rain, their hair is like matted dreads and I do not miss all the nasty hippie dreads in Santa Cruz! The worst part about the rain is that there is tons of trash all over. So when it rains, it smells so bad! ¨Que asco!¨ (how gross!). But along with the craziness, there are always great parts in each day, and so much happiness from helping people learn that we truly have a Heavenly Father who loves us no matter what, and who has a plan for us in this life!
Oceans of love to all,
Hermana Barton
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