I made it.

I made it. That´s all I can really think. I made it. That was what everyone said in the CCM. Just wait until Sunday, just wait until Sunday. And then out in the field. Just make it through your first transfer. Done and Done. It went crazy fast, ridiculously fast actually. But here I am. One full fledged full of errores missionary with six weeks in the bag. I was going to say under the belt, but since I don´t wear belts that would be a lie. I wear skirts. I could say under my thermals, but that´s weird. So I won´t.

No changes for me. I´m still here with Hermana Jones in Nunez. We are getting a new district leader and the other newbie in the area is getting a new companion. I´m not sure how I got to be so lucky. But that´s life for you. I´m super blessed.

Unfortunately, this might be a bit of a lamer e-mail. Nothing super exciting. Ricardo didn´t end up getting baptized. LAME! Actually, don´t tell my companion but I think he´s justified in his feelings. We were getting all excited for his baptism and setting plans. And Ricardo is just not feeling prepared. Has the desire, doesn´t feel ready. So we´re trying to help him, make him feel better. He gets to the baptismal interview, passes with flying colors. Still doesn´t want to get baptized this Sunday. Gah. That´s when we find out the real issue. He´s feeling a lot of pressure to get baptized this Sunday. Not from God, from us. Which, in my opinion, was completely correct. He had started making friends in the ward and EVERYONE was talking to him about his baptism, and really no one was taking into account his personal feelings on the matter. I was mildly aware, but my companion took the opportunity not to listen to me. But the AP´s new about it, the district and zone leaders knew about Ricardo. Everyone was pushing Ricardo for his baptism. If President Gulbrandsen had been around I´m sure he would have pushed it too. Luckily he wasn´t.

Anyways, Ricardo´s kind of been avoiding us all weekend. So we´re giving him time. When we talked to him last he said that he wanted to decide when he wanted to get baptized, and promised to call us when he is ready. I´m not sure if I´m supposed to not like this situation or not. But I personally feel he has a point. He still wants to get baptized, and soon. He just wants it to be his choice. Which, in the end, is what the gift of agency is all about. And really, just leaves me feeling confused. Should I be more upset that Ricardo didn´t get baptized? Am I always supposed to be this pushy? Where does the line between agency and persistence end? I can understand if someone doesn´t understand the importance of baptism, and that we need to be persistent because some people don´t realize that this is what they need in their lives. But we need to accept their ability to make choices too, right? I don´t know what the right answer is.

Fun news. At this point in my life I can pretty much say that I have eaten almost every part of cow possible. Last week it was cow intestines, this week I got to sample a bit of cow heart and cow stomach. The cow heart was actually delictable. Cow stomach was a bit hairy for my taste. But that´s okay. The worst part is the family that made it for us apparently didn´t expect us to eat the whole plate they set in front of us, but my companion told me that I needed to eat the whole thing. So I did, later she told me she didn´t actually expect me to eat the whole thing. Well I don´t understand spanish humor. I was not happy with my companion. A small portion is fine. Plain and a lot. No bueno.

Lastly, Sunday night we had a despidida. Which is when all of the Elders and Hermanas that are going home get to say goodbye, and their converts get told about it, and you can go if you bring an investigator. We found someone, and so I got to see Hermana Whitehead again. I love her. I miss her a lot. She´s having fun in her area with her companion too. She didn´t get changed either. Woohoo!

Anyways, sorry this week is lame. The good news is that the investigator we brought to the despidida (Ezekial) wants to get baptized. so, yeah! And hopefully Ricardo will get baptized this week.

Love you all, pray always and be believing and all things will work together for thy good (God made that up, not me. So you know it´s true)

Hermana Reed