Happy Halloween!

Querida familia,

Happy Halloween! Today is a full Pday. At 5 p.m., our zone is going to a members' home for dinner and then we're going to the church to watch the movie 17 Miracles. I didn't want to be in our apartment tonight as trick-or-treaters knocked on the door (how is that fair that we can avoid people like that yet we knock on doors every day? :) It's better this way!) I'm really happy to have a full preparation day--we've been so tired lately and need it so badly. Why?

... Because we had a baptism on Thursday! My very first baptism! Sister Carlos and I started teaching her, and Hermana Christensen and Hermana Mason and I finished it! I feel like she's mine because I was with her the whole time. Her name is A and she is staying with her daughter right now, who is a recent convert and just had a baby, and she'll be returning to Mexico in December. Thursday was such a crazy day--we went to the church building in the morning to prepare and print the baptismal programs, went home for lunch and to buy some cookies for refreshments, went back to the church (after trying to visit a few more people), started filling the font, got everything arranged, baked cookies, printed off the hymns (it's hard finding Spanish hymnbooks in English wards), and all the little details in between. It was so beautiful. A's father, E, is also in town with her from Mexico; he was baptized last year in our mission (we're stealing all their baptisms!) and this was his first time baptizing anyone. It was a special experience for the whole family. I was running around all day that I didn't even have time to prepare the missionary moment, but I wasn't too worried about it--sharing the gospel is what we do every day, right? So I told about the restoration of the gospel, the Book of Mormon, and shared my testimony. Unfortunately I made another Spanish flub. I was explaining how the bishop and A's father both have the priesthood, but instead of saying "el papa de A," I said, "la mama de A tiene el sacerdocio" because I'd been telling everyone that A, "la mama de S," was getting baptized. Yes, I told everyone at the baptism that A's mom has the priesthood. Of course I meant her father--Hermana Christensen was the one who noticed, but we don't think anyone else caught it. Yikes. A has such a beautiful testimony and when I asked her if she wanted to share it after her baptism, she said yes! I haven't heard any of the recent converts share their testimonies at their baptisms, so I felt this was a really special thing that she was so willing to share hers. When she was sharing her testimony, I was sitting next to a woman who the elders had just met and invited to the baptism. She wanted to clap after A had finished. :) Yep, it was that great. And then what could be better than taquitos after a baptism? S made tacos, which sure beat our cookies!

Speaking of food, I'm turning Hispanic. I crave Mexican candies with chile, I love jalapenos, I'm always in the mood to eat pan dulce (sweet bread), and we just ate queso fresco (cheese) with honey and a tortilla this week. Yum. Not to mention arroz con leche (rice pudding!), and basically any food with chile. Of course I love the people, the emphasis on family, and the sacrifices they make to take care of their families.

Anyone remember my very first contact in Stockton--Je? Well, the first time we taught Je was August 1 and we haven't really been able to contact him since then. We dropped by his house again last Friday and he was home! And he'd remembered some of the things I'd taught him earlier and was eager to meet with us again. We went back last night and set up a time to meet with him again on Tuesday. It was a miracle! Doors have been opening for us left and right this transfer. We baptized A, we were able to meet with Jo again, and we found Je after thinking he'd moved! I'm so grateful that Heavenly Father keeps His promises--that if we're faithful and continue to work, we will see miracles.

Elder Yamashita from the Seventy and his wife spoke to us at Zone Conference this week. He taught us about the first principles and ordinances of the gospel and gave us some missionary training. His wife is the cutest little thing and taught us how to make origami mouths to remind us to open our mouths and they will be filled with the words we should say. I believe the scripture she used was in D&C 33. Oh, and she promised us that we can strengthen our companionships by writing a list of 100 things we love about our companion, which means we have to write 200 things with three of us!

I love you all. If you need a little boost, read Helaman 5--that's what I read this morning, and I told my companions the same thing. I love the Book of Mormon. I'm so grateful that we have this testament of Jesus Christ, and I'm grateful that Heavenly Father really does listen to prayers and that the Holy Ghost teaches us the things we need to know in the very moment we need it, if we have open hearts. I love my Savior. Without Him, I wouldn't feel this inner joy about life. I'm grateful for this time I have to share the gospel with the Latinos of Sacramento. This time truly is sacred.

Love,

kates