Hermana Jones week 41

So this week was super amazing is all I have to say. On Jan 6 it was the Dia de los Reyes and I think that is my favorite holiday here in Mexico.  So what you do is instead of Santa it is the three wise men and they bring presents on the 6th of January because on the 25th of December you just get presents from family members.  So what you do is you buy a balloon and then you write what you want from the three Reyes and tie the note to the balloon and then bring the balloon outside and let it float up to heaven I think so God can tell the three wise men what you want.  
 
It was really funny the next day, though, because there were balloons all over the place. In the trees and in the phone lines.  Then all the little kids put their shoes under the Christmas tree and they get their presents in their shoes.  Also there is delicious bread that they make for only that day you can't buy it any other time of the year and it is really funny because inside there is a tiny baby Jesus and whoever gets the baby Jesus needs to buy tomales for everyone.  I found it! I was more excited that I found the baby and got to put it in my journal then sad I had to buy tomales :) 

Also this week we spent a TON of time at the Chavez family's house.  They were just having lots of problems because I think every baptism has lots of problems before hand but maybe because they are such a big family they had a lot more problems than usual.  Just anything that could go wrong did go wrong.  Anyway, finally Saturday night everything was set for the baptism and the next day on Sunday an hour before church they called saying that their dad had left early in the morning because of a few problems and the family wasn't going to church and wasn't going to be baptized!  

It was pretty much the saddest moment of my life but we decided to run to their house and luckily everyone was there except the dad. The mom said that the dad was super upset because his family members had been talking to him and had said a lot of things so he decided that no one in his family were going to be baptized.  The three girls were super sad because they had been counting the days until their baptism.  We were all sitting there not knowing what to do but we called the dad and convinced him to come home and then talked to him.  He finally calmed down and finally admitted that he was just scared but when he agreed they could all be baptized none of them had showered and all were in their pajamas and church is 40 min away and it was already 12:30 and church started at 12:00. 

So everyone was running like crazy getting ready and it was the scariest car ride of my life because we got to church in 15 minutes and all 8 of them in their family plus me and my companion went there in one five person car.  But we made it and they got baptized! I was so happy:) Even their son went to church. He has never been to church and never wants to go but in the morning it was the biggest miracle because he came our ready to go and said "hermanas is this ok to wear to church". We were so happy it really was a miracle! Also he really liked church so we are planning a baptism for him in 3 weeks because they need to go to church 4 times to be baptized. It was just such a special spirit baptizing a family so big. It was super cute though because they got baptized youngest to oldest and once one got baptized they would wait to see the next person baptized. So they were all standing there dripping wet and cold but so happy and it was so cute once their dad got baptized because they had their whole family there. 

I just love that family so much I can't even describe it but I am super sad because we are having transfers next week and I am probably leaving so I wont be able to see the last member of their family baptized :( Maybe I will come back in 6 years when their youngest son can be baptized :) 

Anyway last night was the first night I slept well in a long time because for the whole week I couldn't sleep because I was either worrying about their family or thinking about what we were going to teach them the next day.  So in our ward the elders baptized one the other hermanas baptized one, and we baptized five, so there were 7 baptisms in our ward on Sunday. 

Then because our stake is only the stake center and our  building is the only one with a baptismal font ( All the others are tiny branches) three other branches came to our ward building to have members baptized!  So that other picture is the 11 baptisms of those three braches. We stayed to help because it was a lot of people trying to get baptized and dressed.   So I saw 24 people be baptized yesterday! :) It was super late when we left though because we left at 7:30 so it was a long church day. Anyway I hope you guys have a great week.  Happy birthday Mom!

Love,

Hermana Jones