Faith, Fairs, and The Fuzz September 22, 2015

Holy cow...where to start?!

Well, I am proud to report that we had a GREAT week! We have seen the fruits of our labors start to pay off and oh, how sweet it is!

Last Tuesday we went to the New Mexico state fair (pics attached of us watching a pig race and in a dairy discovery van) with the whole zone. It was fun to go and also strange walking around with a sea of white shirts haha. Lots of members recognized us though and gave us free stuff so that was pretty cool! Then Hermana Lopez took us to Red Robin to celebrate her mercy. Tears were almost shed as I partook of that delicious burger. Go America. Tender mercies are real.

The most exciting and most important part of letter is.....drumroll please........

Jesus is getting baptized this Friday and the Villalpando's are getting baptized next Saturday!!! (10/3). We told the Villalpando's on friday night about Jesus's baptism and invited them to join him. They said they'd think about it and let us know. On Sunday after sunday school we were walking down the church and Sara was like, "So you changed the day of Jesus's baptism? I hope that October 3rd won't be too late for us." I was so surprised and gave her a huge hug and could barely contain my joy! We may or may not have gone to the bathroom and happy danced.... :) That's joy in the purest form right there.

I officially completed one year in the mission this week! So crazy! It has been so fun to reflect on everything that has happened and how much I have changed. I set goals for my last 6 months as well, which is crazy that I have so little time left! I am so grateful that I have had the privilege to serve as a full-time missionary and bring the peace and joy of this perfect gospel to the people in El Paso and Albuquerque for the past year.

We have definitely been seeing miracles in all sorts of ways this week. The weather is cooling down, we have been finding solid new people to teach (mainly for the english elders but a few for us too), and we have really just been able to enjoy all the ups and downs that come along with this work. 

I am really just so happy and love these people so much (even if they really frustrate me sometimes!) A few weeks ago I was really hoping to get transferred but now I really hope to stay! We find out Saturday night..eep!

Albuquerque craziness of the week:

Well, yesterday we pull up to our 4 o'clock appointment and what do we see? Just 7 cop cars lined up and down the street. Caution tape and all. We see our investigator standing on the sidewalk so we pull to the side of the road and ask her what had happened... Apparently, just minutes before a man had stabbed another man, ran away, and tried to jump our investigator's fence. Her 65 year old boyfriend happened to be taking the garbage out and pulled the guy off the fence. There was a tussle. Crazy man runs away. Ambulance come, picks up the stabee, and the police start searching for the knife. Just a casual Monday afternoon occurrence.

This morning we got in the car to come email and what do you know-- our ipod's got stolen! Yep, some bum jimmied the car last night. The worst part is one of the ipod's is an elder in our district's...yikes. We are going to have to break the news to him somehow. I am beyond grateful my GPS didn't get stolen, but pretty bummed that now we have a total of 5 songs to listen to. A day in the life, my friends...

I hope y'all have a great week! Look for opportunities to brighten someone's day and yours will be brightened too! :) 

Lots of love,

Hermana Dearden

"Joy is guaranteed to those who are faithful." -Henry B. Eyring

P.S. P-day is Monday next week!