Baptism in Manteca!

Mi familia,

This week was a bit loco. Not really--I'm bad at remembering what exactly happens during the week, but I'll do my best! What I do know is that, R, was supposed to be baptized on Saturday but left the country and flew to Peru on Wednesday. Sad day! He didn't even tell us. We talked to his wife, who we don't think knew about the baptism, and she told us he was in San Francisco. After calling her and asking if there was a number we could reach him at in San Francisco, she said there was one in Peru when he lands. What??

BUT E was baptized in Manteca!! Yay!!! Sister Beale and I were the first ones to start teaching E in February--that was really neat to be able to have a baptism with my trainee. We did baptize A and the C family together, but this one we taught from the beginning. E was very excited to get baptized--it happened pretty fast! The man who brought her to the English ward the first time at the end of January was there. He was just baptized last July and is on fire with missionary work. Why can't we all be like that? Seriously! I talked to him after the baptism and he said he's had a lot of opportunities to share the gospel with people--and it's so amazing that he got to see the end result of inviting someone to church! Manteca--well, the baptism was in Tracy--is at the opposite end of the mission (about 1.5 hours away), but my wonderful ward mission leader (who's going to turn 22 in June) drove me there with a woman from our ward. We left at 4pm and got home at 9pm. What a sacrifice, yet they were so willing to do it. I spoke about the gift of the Holy Ghost during the baptism. When I got home from the baptism at 9:30 Saturday night, Sister Fernandez told me that we were speaking the next day at church. I thought she was kidding. Nope--we spoke in church yesterday. So I've spoken in the MTC and in my 3 mission areas--check. My talk was supposed to be 5 minutes about any topic and Sister said I spoke for 12 minutes. OOPS. I spoke about sacrifice, the Atonement, faith... I was nervous I wouldn't fill 5 minutes because I didn't have anything written down. The bishop even passed me a note on the pulpit that said, "SEA BREVE." "Be brief." How embarrassing!

So yeah, baptism in Manteca. Two talks. No one is progressing--we didn't have anyone to church and we're having a hard time finding new people to teach, but we're keeping the faith and working hard each day. Things are getting more fun as time goes by--the mission is an interesting cycle of twists and turns and ups and downs, and down downs. :) Anyone could have told me this as much as they wanted but I wouldn't have understood unless I'd come. Wow--so much to learn. So many people to find and teach.

Love you all,

Kates

P.S. Happy birthday, Emerson!!!!