Hey everybody,
I had SUCH an amazing week! I don't even know how to put it into words, but I'll save the best for the last, AKA Maria's baptism that happened on Saturday!
We went and visited Hermana Cordova this week, she's an older Spanish speaking lady in the south Umpqua ward, who we visit once a transfer. She's pretty lonely so we just talk to her for a while. We talked for a while, which was fun, I didn't understand much of it though. I'm pretty sure she told us her entire life story though. As we were getting ready to leave she started telling us another story, this time I recognized her saying "la medicina" a lot, and then she lead us into a plant growing in a pot on her porch. My eyes probably doubled in size, as I started at the plant wondering if it was really what I thought it was. Then I heard this ninety year old lady say "Marijuana" in a thick accent. It took a lot of will for Hermana Coca and I to get our of there without busting up. I love Oregon.
We went to Red Robin with Haylie this week, and once we left and were walking to our car, we couldn't find it. Our car was just gone? We were in a pretty sticky situation too, because my phone was the only one with any cell coverage, and it was at 2%. So, we both ran to Haylie before she could leave. Frantically telling her our car was stolen. I used the 2% of our phone battery to 1) send a link for the lesson we had in 5 minutes to Hermana Coca (as if we could make it if our car was stolen? IDK I guess I'm focused on my missionary purpose even while in a crisis). And, 2) text Hermano Smith and tell him we couldn't make the lesson with Jose he was planning on coming to. Then as soon as I sent the text, Haylie drove had drove far enough in the parking lot, for us to see our car. Right where we had left it. We had simply just not walked far enough. An extra five feet and we would have seen it. Big brain plays by Hermana Coca and I. Haylie hasn't stopped making fun of us since. So, 30 seconds after texting Hermano Smith that we couldn't make it because our car was stolen, we texted back and said, "JK we're coming." To which he simply replied, "Lol". So yeah, that was quite embarrassing, but all is well. We've been laughing hysterically about it for the last four days.
Hermana Cocoa and I had never planned a baptism, and we had absolutely no idea what we were doing! As Sister Phillips used to love to say "We didn't no nothing 'bout nothing". It was truly the blind leading the blind, BUT we did it! I made a program for her on the computer (and it took me FOREVER to get her full name to fit on the cover). We also weren't sure how to say a few of the words in Spanish (like "presiding" and stuff like that). So all in all the program, took QUITE a long time; but it was all worth it when we showed it to her the night before and she got all teary-eyed. All of the Hermanas that ever taught her showed up too! Which was super cool!
Our only stress was that two hours before show time, Hermano Norman came to check the water levels (to the font, which he had turned on 3 hours prior to this moment)...and saw that the water was only three inches deep. Apparently, the plug had a leak in it. Hermano Norman ran to the kitchen, ripped a garbage bag in half, and ripped of his socks and plugged the drain with the garbage bag. With his diligent efforts, and a very intense prayer offered by Hermana Coca and I, the font filled in time. Miracles happen every day.
The baptism was so cool! Maria, was glowing! She was so grateful for everything. She's the best. Oscar- her son, and member as of this January- got to baptize her. Which was incredible. I was a witness, for the first time in my life, so naturally, for the first time in my life, the witnesses actually had to do something. Maria's elbow came up the first time, so we had to tell them to do it again. It was so the best experience, SO many people came to support her. Truly one of the sweetest and most amazing experiences of my life. She was confirmed the next day in sacrament meeting, which was also the first time I've seen someone be confirmed in sacrament meeting. Maria is incredible, and I know that her and Oscar are just the beginning of an amazing work starting here in Roseburg, with the Latino community.
The ward is also booked to have a baptism trip to Medford next week, and Maria is set to go to that! Which will be so amazing, and Hermana Coca and I are approved to go and translate for her! Which is so amazing! I can't wait to get back to the temple! (also the single chic-fil-a in our mission is in Medford, so...).
'Til next week,
Hermana Shelton
p.s. Congrats! To Matt and Shelby for getting married! :)
and I received some very fun letters and treats from the Gittins! Which was very fun!!
1- me and the Gittins clan's care package
2- hermana coca, maria and I post baptism
3- Maria, Oscar, y todas las Hermanas
4- the fatal text conversation w/ Brother Smith
5- me with the finished baptism program, many hours later..:)
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