God is so much better at all of this than us!

I love you all! Have I told you that lately!? So this week has been a party! No but really it has been pretty exciting. It started out pretty rough! I definitely am really bummed about my Grandpa! He is really cool and I was not ready for that news! I thought about sweet grandma all week and prayed that all would go well!

But then this week ended absolutely beautifuly with the baptism of Vania. I really love her family! Like a lot! I am so happy for her and her choice to get baptized. We are really trying to work with the parents.  I know I don´t want to solve all of their problems but I know the gospel can at least help with all of them. 

Isidora told us this week that she does not want to get baptized into any church. When she said that I felt like some one was breaking up with me or something. I was super bummed! Hermana Macial is smart though and saw right past it. She asked why and she answered flat out because of her dad. So we are going to talk with the dad. Not that we are going to tell him he should let his daughter get baptized but we are just going to convert him too!!  :-)  I guess the misionaries have not talked to him much so our goal is to figure out what is going on in his head. 

Mariana is still half and half. She is the daughter of a recent converet, Laurdes. She is a sweet heart and has a testimony but is still feeling timid about the idea of baptism. This week something went wrong in their family. I don´t know what because everytime we go over there Lourdes has left the house and she does not want to talk about the problem over the phone. We are anxious for more news!

Okay and now for the funny parts of the week.  First, we were not sure that this was happening so I did not write about it but now we are positive.  We have this manos activo that we love!  She and her mom always have sweet answers to our questions and always let us in to their apartment.  It is this miracle because neither of them work but still have food to eat and a place to stay... By the way, that does not just happen. Every two minutes we were there, there was a new knock at the door with a different rhythm. The daughter would go to the door with a tissue and shut it really quick after she talked to whoever was outside.  Weird, right?  We did not stop teaching though; we continued to have this wonderful spiritual moment talking about Jesus and having faith in Him. Ha ha, yeah she is trafficking drugs!!!  I am not kidding! The other day she tripped on my backpack and all of her drugs fell out of her hand!  Oh dear... not really sure what we are going to do about that one. 

My poor companion is going crazy. I think it is because she cannot communicate. There are times where she will just laugh and she can´t stop. I don´t know why. It is pretty hilarious though. Everyone around her (including me) stare at her and wonder what is so funny.  When you can´t communicate for a month, I guess you go crazy.

I am happy to announce I don´t have any "pulling an hermana Webb" for this week. My Spanish is definitely better every day!  It is pretty wierd to feel my brian finally switch to Spanish.  I am starting to think in Spanish!  That makes me really happy!  It is one reason p days are kind of hard because I never think this much in English. Hermana Maciel has a "pulling a Webb" though! She was talking to someone through a gate. We were looking for a manos activo named Rosa.  Hermana Maciel asked the person if they were Rosa´s Hermana, and the person responded no... her husband. It was definitely a good awkward moment of my day. 

Teaching my roommates English is my favorite part of the day! It makes me feel so vindicated! They are so cute! They come running into our study room with their eyes closed and say some phrase to me in English and then open their eyes hoping it was right. I am so blessed with awesome roommates!

This is definitely not easy, but it is definitely worth it!  I am learning so much!  I read some of my journal today and I was reminded again that God was in charge the whole time and He is and has always has been my perfect teacher!!  (Even when I am stubborn.)  I feel a little frustrated because this whole 'write you guys once a week' is so not sufficient!  I have so many things to tell you all that I never have time to tell you!  I have learned so much in the last month - I am a totally new person!  Everyone should go on a mission!!  You learn so much about everything!  I am happy to say that I am better every day!  The decision is It is not worth it to try to keep our lives our way because God is so much better at all of this than us!  We need Him!  I love the scripture in Hebrews that talkes about a new heart!  I love getting a new heart from my Savior!  I am learning what that means.  It is not just something that is one really awesome spiritual experience.  It is a total change every second of every day.  My desires are changing, what I think about is changing, what makes me happy is changing!  It is such a beautiful process to experience but it is also hard.  I testify that this path is better!  I was so afraid to take it but I am happier!  I find joy in things that I can have forever not things that are only for a day or a year or this life.  I love my Savior!  Every day I give him all of me and he sanctifies my offering. He is the answer just like He has always been.  It is not easy because it is a constant battle.  Satan does not want this change.  I feel like the people in Mosiah five who had no more desire to do evil but to just do good. It is hard to keep that attitude but when I have it I find the most profound and lasting joy!

Love you all! Thank you for your examples and prayers! I need them! 

Love Carlie