A busy Weekend!

We are gradually growing into our experience here in Sulphur Springs Branch. For a while we called it "Suffer Springs." But now we are calling it Soul-ful Springs. I guess you could say that we getting to know the branch members and they are beginning to trust us and allow us into their lives.

Over the weekend we were able to drive to Sherman for Diana Mackiah's baptism. Elder Whiting did the baptizing and I played the piano and gave a talk on "Baptism." Diana was late for her own baptism!!! What a hoot she is. She was 1/2 an hour late. We were so happy to see her again. I think in her country they do not see time as a stable expectation. For her it seems like she just comes when she gets there. I think she just got up late.

I played prelude for quite a while before she got there. Then we had to have some pictures after she was dressed. But we finally got started. Diana brought two of her non member friends with her. The missionaries are attempting to teach them too. The people from Gabon Africa do not have missionaries in their country. They do not have a church to attend there. It is sad. They are so wanting and needing to learn. I am grateful that Diana can get her education here and hopefully it will give her a chance in this life to progress, unlike so many youth in her country who do nothing with their lives.

Sister Kelly had a luncheon after wards for all of us. It was so kind of her. She had invited Mark Ernst, so we got to visit with him. He has moved and has had a few problems. We hope they can get him back. We invited him down to see us and have dinner with us. They are only 11/2 hour away. We are concerned about him. We are not sure what has been going on. We felt so much love for those people as we saw each one. There were so many hugs and kindnesses exchanged. We wll always love them. They miss us and we miss them.

When we arrived back in Sulphur Springs, we took a twenty minute break and then headed out to the Vasquez birthday party. They were having a birthday party for their one year old son. This was the party of all parties and it is common for Spanish people to celebrate in this way.

I'm sure there were over 100 people there. Many, many children and adults. They had brought in two huge blow=up water slides for the kids, one additional as a jump house for the smaller children. A huge above ground pool where they were playing volleyball, football, volleyball court, cotton candy machine and all kinds of food and drink. The pinata was taller than the mother of the Birthday Boy. It was a Mickey Mouse stuffed with candy. They actually had two pinatas that they broke with the kids. The adults sat around and talked and the kids all played and played and then they broke the Pinatas.

We left before they had brought out the Birthday Cake or opened the many Birthday Presents. I have never seen a Birthday party like that for a one year old. That is the way they do things in Mexico, I guess. It was fun to see. We were about the only ones who were not Spanish there, I think. But we met a lot of people and realized that they also know a lot of people. The Spanish people are interesting. They must have spent well over a thousand dollars on this party, but they go without other things to have this party. They are struggling and the husband has been working all kinds of extra hours to pay for everything. Priorities are a little mixed up, I would say.

On Sunday I was able to teach a missionary lesson in Relief Society. A lot of participation. They seemed to be hungry for hear the words of missionaries. I didn't have a lot of time so thought they would let me do another lesson soon. But the Counselot over the Enrichment meetings asked if I would continue this at their Enrichment meeting this month, she said that more people would be able to attend because of lessactives and the other organizations. Actually the Relief Society room was full. But then it is quite small too. But I had a good experience and feel happy to be able to talk to them about Missonary work.

Sunday afternoon we had dinner with the Branch President and family and then taught Eric the third missionary lesson. He is coming along, but struggling with the Book of Mormon, that is understanding what he is reading. We are going to meet with him at the church on Wednesday and read with him and try to help him to understand it a little better. Then we will teach him again on THursday night, a little later.

J R Fisher, a less active came to church yesterday for the first time. He only stayed for Sacrament meeting, but he came!!! He says he has to do it with baby steps. We had a pretty serious talk with him last week at our weekly lesson. We were pretty honest with him, and that is what he needs. He has a very say home life and is just waiting to leave. He is the only member in his family and I mean they are clear over to the far left side!!!

Last night Marisella Carpenter stopped in with her three children for a blessing. She was not feeling well and did not feel she could ask her husband for one, since they have so many huge marital problems. She and the kids stayed for two hours. They are just in need of attention and love, and enjoy playing with Elder Whiting. While I was visiting with Marisella, he fed them cookies, chocolate marshmellows and peanuts!!! Her home situation is pretty disasterous and seems to be just a matter of time until they will dissolve things. We have to be so careful because her husband is also our ward mission leader. It is so hard to be neutral when he is not being fair with her.

This morning is Labor Day and also our preparation day. We are teaching Efrin this morning, the second half of the second lesson. We are not moving real fast as they are growing and learning as we go. She is having a C section in a week and then we know it will be more difficult to get with them. It would be wonderful if we could get a baptism date before then. We will see how things go. Right now he has not been reading the Book of Mormon. Hopefully by Thanksgiving.

We are feeling so much better about things here now. It is just amazing how it just takes about three months into an area to become acquainted and to where the people are willing to trust us and work with us. We are now beginning to find joy in this are and the opportunities we feel. Our Mexican Fiesta is this Saturday, we are hoping to find some new opportunities there.