AHHHHH

Rafeal's Baptism

 HOLA!

I can't believe that this will be my last email I send out as a missionary.
It still doesn't really feel real. Ahh, but God blessed me with a really
good last week. A REALLY good week. But it was really busy so it went by
way too fast. 

First of all Rafeal was baptized!! It was probably the least smooth baptism
of my whole mission haha but it was good he was really happy and that's all
that matters. While the last person was giving the talk all of a sudden we
heard a "gulp gulp gulp." (That's supposed to be a draining sound.) So
Hermana Shannon, Johnson and I booked it into the bathroom to check on the
water and it was only like halfway filled! It had been slowly leaking the
whole time! So we started to freak out a little bit and everyone in the
room could hear us apparently because Obispo came in to check on us and ask
what was going on. Well I was trying to distract him because in the
meantime Hermana Shannon took off like half of her clothes and was diving
in the baptismal font to try to plug the drain again hahaha. Oh man, it was
the funniest thing ever. We were laughing our heads off and saying, "This
would happen to us for our last baptisms." So we had to fill up the font
again and while we were doing that they sang songs in the other room to
wait for us. Luckily God was looking out for us and the font only took
about 20 minutes to fill up instead of like 45. Also Rolando and Rafeal are
both pretty short so we didn't have to fill it up as high :) haha But after
that everything else went smoothly and they were both baptized. 

Do yall remember Rolando? Hermana Andrus and I taught him while we were in
Channelview together then he moved to Hermana Shannons area? Well he was
baptized yesterday with Rafael so that was really cool too because I got
to be there for both :) 

In other news Hermana Bonar had to get surgery on her foot this week so we
had to drive all the way to Port Arthur on Friday! Perla took us so that
was fun. I enjoyed talking to her. They are doing really well and they are
still excited to prepare to enter the temple in a little less than a year
now.

I just want to leave you all with my testimony. I know that this Church is
true. I know that through obedience we find true happiness. No one is
perfect and we all make mistakes but through the atonement we can be
cleansed. Jesus Christ lives and he is our Savior. God loves us more than
we can imagine. We are literally his children. The Book of Mormon is true.
In its pages we can find peace and patience in trials. It was written just
for us. Families are forever. I love this gospel, I love God and Jesus
Christ and I love all of you. Thank you for all of your support these 18
months. Nothing I can say can express how grateful I am.  Happy Birthday
Mom!!

Love,
Hermana San Juan

P.S. See you soon :)

I love this family. #Guzmans

We took Rafeal to dinner.

Hermana Johnson, Katelyn, Rafeal, Hermana Bonar

 Our District

Doing our Laundry

 Hermana Bonar had a good time drawing on my legs. haha

 Making bows!

Hermana Bonar tried to fit as much stuff as she could in my hair. ahha

[Katelyn also sent pictures of the following, but for some reason they are not coming through to me.]

#1 Service at the food bank!

#2 A great picture that Katy took of me??

#3 Obispo and his wife

#1 Rolando Got baptized!

#2 Best refrescaria  ever!!

#3 President Pomeroy

#4 After the surgery!

HOLA

I can't believe that this will be my last email I send out as a

missionary. It still doesn't really feel real. Ahh but God blessed me with

a really good last week. A REALLY good week. But it was really busy so it

went by way too fast.

First of all Rafeal was baptized!! It was probably the least smooth

baptism of my whole mission haha but it was good he was really happy and

that's all that matters. While the last person was giving the talk all of a

sudden we heard a "gulp gulp gulp" (That's supposed to be a draining sound)

so Hermana Shannon, Johnson and I booked it into the bathroom to check on

the water and it was only like halfway filled! It had been slowly leaking

the whole time! So we started to freak out a little bit and everyone in the

room could hear us apparently because Obispo came in to check on us and ask

what was going on. Well I was trying to distract him because in the

meantime Hermana Shannon took off like half of her clothes and was diving

in the baptismal font to try to plug the drain again hahaha. Oh man it was

the funniest thing ever. We were laughing our heads off and saying "this

would happen to us for our last baptisms" So we had to fill up the font

again and while we were doing that they sang songs in the other room to

wait for us. Luckily God was looking out for us and the font only took

about 20 minutes to fill up instead of like 45. Also Rolando and Rafeal are

both pretty short so we didn't have to fill it up as high :) haha But after

that everything else went smoothly and they were both baptized.

Do yall remember Rolando? Hermana Andrus and I taught him while we were

in channelview together then he moved to Hermana Shannons area? Well he was

baptized yesterday with Rolando so that was really cool too because I got

to be there for both :)

In other news Hermana Bonar had to get surgery on her foot this week so

we had to drive all the way to Port Arthur on Friday! Perla took us so that

was fun I enjoyed talking to her. They are doing really well and they are

still excited to prepare to enter the temple in a little less than a year

now.

I just want to leave you all with my testimony. I know that this church

is true. I know that through obedience we find true happiness. No one is

perfect and we all make mistakes but though the atonement we can be

cleansed. Jesus Christ lives and he is our savior. God loves us more than

we can imagine. We are literally his children. The Book of Mormon is true.

In its pages we can find peace and patience in trials. It was written just

for us. Families are forever. I love this gospel I love God and Jesus

Christ and I love all of you. Thank you for all of your support these 18

months. Nothing I can say can express how grateful I am.  Happy Birthday

mom!!

Love

Hermana San Juan

P.s See you soon :)

PIX

#1 doing our laundry

#2 I love this family #guzmans

#3 Rafeals baptism!!

See More

HOLA

I can't believe that this will be my last email I send out as a

missionary. It still doesn't really feel real. Ahh but God blessed me with

a really good last week. A REALLY good week. But it was really busy so it

went by way too fast.

First of all Rafeal was baptized!! It was probably the least smooth

baptism of my whole mission haha but it was good he was really happy and

that's all that matters. While the last person was giving the talk all of a

sudden we heard a "gulp gulp gulp" (That's supposed to be a draining sound)

so Hermana Shannon, Johnson and I booked it into the bathroom to check on

the water and it was only like halfway filled! It had been slowly leaking

the whole time! So we started to freak out a little bit and everyone in the

room could hear us apparently because Obispo came in to check on us and ask

what was going on. Well I was trying to distract him because in the

meantime Hermana Shannon took off like half of her clothes and was diving

in the baptismal font to try to plug the drain again hahaha. Oh man it was

the funniest thing ever. We were laughing our heads off and saying "this

would happen to us for our last baptisms" So we had to fill up the font

again and while we were doing that they sang songs in the other room to

wait for us. Luckily God was looking out for us and the font only took

about 20 minutes to fill up instead of like 45. Also Rolando and Rafeal are

both pretty short so we didn't have to fill it up as high :) haha But after

that everything else went smoothly and they were both baptized.

Do yall remember Rolando? Hermana Andrus and I taught him while we were

in channelview together then he moved to Hermana Shannons area? Well he was

baptized yesterday with Rolando so that was really cool too because I got

to be there for both :)

In other news Hermana Bonar had to get surgery on her foot this week so

we had to drive all the way to Port Arthur on Friday! Perla took us so that

was fun I enjoyed talking to her. They are doing really well and they are

still excited to prepare to enter the temple in a little less than a year

now.

I just want to leave you all with my testimony. I know that this church

is true. I know that through obedience we find true happiness. No one is

perfect and we all make mistakes but though the atonement we can be

cleansed. Jesus Christ lives and he is our savior. God loves us more than

we can imagine. We are literally his children. The Book of Mormon is true.

In its pages we can find peace and patience in trials. It was written just

for us. Families are forever. I love this gospel I love God and Jesus

Christ and I love all of you. Thank you for all of your support these 18

months. Nothing I can say can express how grateful I am.  Happy Birthday

mom!!

Love

Hermana San Juan

P.s See you soon :)

PIX

#1 doing our laundry

#2 I love this family #guzmans

#3 Rafeals baptism!!

Secretos de dos no son de Dios

They are going home in two weeks.

Hermanas San Juan, Shannon and McCormick

Hola!

Another great week here in Galena Park. 

Ahh where to start. Well Rafeal is doing really well. He was supposed to be baptized this past Sunday but he got super nervous and asked if he could have a little more time. So we gave him a sticky note with 5 dates to pray about. He told us that he is just nervous about falling after his baptism into the habits again that he was in before. So we have been working with him a lot this week and mostly just focusing on the atonement and the Book of Mormon. The goal was to help strengthen his testimony of the Book of Mormon so he would feel more confident and have a stronger foundation. Well with a lot of prayer and fasting.....yesterday after church he told us that he has been praying about baptism and he feels really good about getting baptized this NEXT SUNDAY. It was such a miracle. Its amazing how well God knows his children because now he has a stronger testimony of the Book of Mormon and he knows why this is the step that he needs to take. Plus I'm really happy because I will be able to see him be baptized before I go home :)

Domingo is also doing really well. The Jacinto City hermanas had a baptism yesterday so we took Domingo to it. I think he liked it, it raised a lot of questions in his mind so he told us yesterday to be prepared for our lesson with him tonight because he is going to have LOTS of questions haha. It's a good thing that I LOVE questions. But seriously I do. He has a lot about the Godhead and about why we baptize the way we do. He is a little bit stuck on the fact that God, Christ, and the Holy Ghost are three separate beings. But little by little he is coming to know and to feel. He is praying about a date right now as well. He could totally be ready by this Sunday for baptism so we will be praying for him to receive his answer. So pray for Domingo :)

So funny story!!!

I totally face planted it on my bike this past week....hahah

We were riding down the road and there was this annoying dog chasing us (a chi Wawa of course) so I started to pedal really fast and Hermana Johnson turned in front of me so I slammed on my breaks and just totally biffed it and my bike landed on top of me and I was face down on the ground haha. My companions were laughing so hard. Also to top it off while I was laying there on the ground laughing, Hermana Johnson goes, "Umm there is a car right behind you." So I turn my head and there is a car literally a foot behind me slowly inching closer. Apparently he wanted to park on the side of the road in front of his house and I was in his way haha. So he gets out of his car and goes "Oh hey watch out there is oil on the road right there." And then walks in his house.....I was just thinking, "Uhh yeah I know, my face is in it." haha. So funny. THEN two days later when we were riding bikes he passed us on the road and yelled out the window, "Hey don't crash!!" haha so I will have to show yall my awesome bruises when I get home if they are still there. They are pretty cool. 

Me, Hna McCormick, Hna Shannon, Hna Valdez :)

I can't even believe my mission is coming to a close. Everyone keeps asking me how I feel and I have no idea what to even say to them! I have so many different emotions. I love my mission so much and for the things that I have learned here in Texas. I love all of you! I'm so excited to see all of you again! LOVE YOU. See you soon!

Love,

Hermana San Juan

   For some reason we got a kick out of this.

 We had a thanksgiving feast for zone meeting.

Elder Danielson...this picture explains everything.

Cuando Hay Amor

Hola!

This was a crazy week! I think I was only in my area for one full day this
past week. 

On Tuesday we had Zone Conference in Eagle Springs so we didn't get home
until about 6. It was a really great conference though. They talked about
being more exactly obedient and how we can be more effective teachers. The
assistants came out with this new tool called "how to being baptizing
points." They promised us that if we use them we will see more baptisms this
transfer! We have been seeing a lot of miracles using them just this past
week. The whole mission is really excited about it. We went from having one
person with a date to having 3 people with a date in just these past couple
of days! 

Rafeal is still doing awesome. I swear he is not from this planet. His
baptism is this coming Sunday. He watched the long Joseph Smith movie all
on his own the other day and LOVED it. He called us right after and was
talking a million miles an hour about the movie and everything that
happened and how he felt, and everything haha. The only thing that would
potentially stop him from reaching his date would be smoking. He has been a
smoker almost his whole life but he hasn't smoked for a couple of weeks now
and is very driven to never do it again so we have faith that he can do it,
we know he can! 

We also have another person on date for the 23 of November named Domingo.
Yes, awkward Domingo has a date! He came to church for the first time
yesterday and loved it. I think it has been a while since he has come to
church. We watched the Joseph Smith movie with him yesterday and he liked
it and had questions about baptism. He is moving right along. 

Brenda's Baptism

Obispo??

Also, Brenda was baptized yesterday! Remember Brian and Pepo? They were
baptized about 3 months ago. Well Pepos mom, Brenda, got baptized
yesterday! It was such a great service. They are so excited to be able to
go into the temple in a year to be sealed as a family. :) 

I love you all so much thank you for everything!
SEE YOU REAL SOON <3

CON AMOR,
Hermana San Juan 

I love my companions.

LA BIBLIA

Hola!!

Can you guess?? Another great week!  

Although something pretty sad did happen to us this week. We aren't really sure yet but pretty sure that Bernabe dropped us :( It's kinda a long story and I don't have a lot of time but we still have hope! We fasted for him yesterday and we have faith that he will come around and feel strong enough to do this. We know that he can do this I just wish that he would see how he can do it too. #prayforbernabe 

We did have something really great happen this week though! Rafeal is doing awesome! He is reading, praying, and coming to church. He is nervous but excited for his baptism on November 16th.  

So funny story! Yesterday we taught a 19 year old boy named Domingo who just got here from Mexico to work. We have been teaching him for about 2 weeks now. He is like the skinniest person I have ever seen and iS super awkward/hilarious. Anyway the lesson was hilarious too because first of all we knocked on his door and the first thing that happened was he locked himself out of his house....so Hermana Bonar comes over and was all, "Don't worry I got this" and whips out a credit card and does some weird stuff and unlocks the door like 30 seconds later. This was mostly hilarious because Hna Johnson and I learn now things about Hna Bonar like everyday and everyday she is even more hilarious and random. She has like major ADD so she is great. Anyway, Domingo was like way happy she unlocked it but also he looked a little creeped out that she broke into his house so fast......so we taught the BOM lesson and in the middle of our lesson his brother gets home from church and just sits down and starts Bible bashing us and asking us all of these random questions. It was actually pretty funny because we tried ignoring him and were just going on with the lesson. But it wasn't working so Hna Bonar goes over there and finds a Chinese take-out menu on the table and just starts talking to him about Chinese food haha! We were dying. So that was a fun lesson!  

Also I got to go to my old area for sacrament meeting yesterday because Hna Andurs was sick and her companion needed a companion to go to sacrament meeting with. It was fast and testimony meeting so Jaime went up and bore his testimony! You guys it was the best testimony I have ever heard. He talked about how 4 months ago he didn't have hope or faith for the future until two missionaries found him and changed his life. Then he said, "Now I can say with complete confidence that I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and I know the Book of Mormon is true." I couldn't hold back the tears! There is nothing better than hearing your recent convert bear their testimony on the things that you bore you testimony to them.  

Thank you for everything! I love you all so much. I have such a strong testimony of this Church and I know that it's true.

Love,

Hermana San Juan

We got fed the best breakfast the other day!

        We saw this guy outside with like a 20 ft pole knocking pecans out of a tree and he let us try!

Hermana Bonar 

#BECAUSEOFHIM

I am so excited to email y'all today.  It was just such a great week!

By the way thank you for all the emails. They always make my day and help me push along. 

We carved pumpkins on our last P-Day.

My study desk. 

 I am just so happy. 

GALENA PARK IS AWESOME AND I LOVE My COMPANIONS.

God really loves me because he saved one of the bests for last. 

So this week we set two baptismal dates with people! 

#1 Bernabe. Remember him? I talked about him a little in my last email. He
is doing awesome. He loves the Book of Mormon and always has so many good
questions. He is so dedicated and ready to change. He is already looking
forward to his baptism on November 16th. He came to the ward Halloween
party that we had this past Saturday and I think he liked it. He's very
friendly so he talked to just about everyone in the ward haha. 

#2 Rafeal. So Rafeal is just a straight up miracle. We found them knocking
last week and just on the door contact we invited him to church and he
came! He also came yesterday to church so he has come 2 weeks in a row now.
There was a baptism last night that we also invited him to and he came! We
also set a date with him for November 16th. He accepts everything really
well and just has a lot of faith. We are trying to get his family involved
too. He has a wife and 2 kids. We have talked to them they are just always
really busy. 

Also yesterday I got to go back for a baptism in Houston 7! An 11-year-old
boy (Carlos) and his sister (Isabel) were baptized. They are the children
of the Fernandez family who we have been working with. It was a beautiful
service. I love those kids to death. 

The gospel is so beautiful. 

Also on Friday night we went to an orientation on family history. I'm
feeling the spirit of Elijah people. President Drake is letting us take 2
hours this next week to work on family history and do a batch of indexing.
I'M SO EXCITED. Also never thought I would say that.

Also do y'all remember Rolando? The one who moved out of Channelview so we
couldn't teach him anymore? We got good news. He happened to move into the ward
that I am in now but in the other hermanas' area. BUT I get to see him at
church and stuff! He is doing so well. Hermana Shannon told me that he has
a baptismal date and he is nervous but is working towards it! So exciting. 

I love every single one of you so much. Thank you for everything. I know
this is the true church and I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior and He
lives. The gospel changes lives and everyone needs this message. 

We were Mexicans for the Ward Halloween party! haha 

By they way these are my companions Hermana Bonar, Johnson, then me.

Have a happy Halloween!!

Con mucho amor,
Hermana San Juan

Galena Park

Hey hola hi! 

Saying Good-bye to the Jasso Family

So my new area is called Galena Park! And I am in a trio with Hermanas Johnson and Bonar. I started my mission in a trio and now I'm ending my mission in a trio cool right? So Galena Park is really close to my last area Channelview. I actually get to see everyone in my old area every Sunday because we share the same building for church and we combine for 1st hour which is gospel principles. So after all the dramatic goodbyes this past week I just got to see everyone again Sunday! haha it was really nice. 

Hermanas Johnson and Bonar are so awesome. Hermana Johnson is leading the area out and just got done with being trained and Hermana Bonar just left her birth area (which is Port Arthur just like me whooo). Also something cool is that Hermana Johnson was only baptized almost 2 years ago. Her conversion story is really cool too. I'll have to tell it to you when I get home. She has such a strong testimony and is the only member in her family as of late. 

This area is known to be one of the harder areas of the mission. It is SO tiny literally like 5 blocks. We ride our bikes almost all day which is super fun. Also the ward has been falling apart a little bit over the years so it's trying to build back up right now. I am really excited to be working here in Galena Park and I see so much potential in this little place. We met this 26 year old guy walking down the street the other day named Bernabe. He was in prison for about 7 years and has been out for about 3 years now. We went back over and taught him the restoration and it was incredible. He is so prepared. I have already learned so much from him. He is just so anxious to change and live the way he knows he should. It was a miracle.

I love you all so much and I am so happy to be a missionary here in Galena Park for my last transfer!! 

LOVE YOU.

Con Amor,
Hermana San Juan

We did a stand at one of the tiny stores by our house!

el TEMPLO

Hola familia y amigos!

 Hermana Andrus and Hermana San Juan

Teaching a skeleton about the Plan of Salvation 

Jr. Martinez and Katelyn

JR! It was so hard to say bye to the Martinez family. I will see them again soon though :)

What a great week. Seriously a good one. But I also have sad news. I am being transferred out of Channelview for my last transfer! It was a very big surprise to me, I was not expecting to leave at all, I thought for sure that I would end my mission here. But I know it will be okay because I know that God has better plans for me than I do for myself. I'm still sad to leave but the knowledge that this mission is for God and not me makes it easier. I'm leaving my hija Hermana Andrus! I am going to miss her but she is an amazing missionary and is going to do so good. Channelview is so lucky to have her. 

Jaime and Katelyn at the Temple 

So the highlight of this week for me was Saturday because we went to the temple with Jaime! It was my first time going with a recent convert so it was a special experience. He LOVED it. He kept telling us that he thinks it has to be what heaven is like. I agree. I thought back to the day that Hermana Williams and I met him just about 4 months ago. Smoking on his porch, very depressed. It's amazing to me to see how far he has come. He truly is a miracle. 

Also we got to see Meet the Mormons this week! SO GOOD. You all have to go and see it. It's very inspirational. In the movie the humanitarian said, "I'm not perfect but I'm perfect at trying." I loved that. 

I am doing really well! I can't believe I am starting my last transfer..this is not real life. Everything is just happening so fast. I am excited to work hard these last 6 weeks in my new area! Being a missionary is the best thing ever. Also it makes me really happy to think that Spencer is out doing the same things that I am. I think about that sometimes and it just makes me smile.

 

I love you all so much. Thank you for all your support and love. Your prayers are felt! 

Love,

Hermana San Juan

Can you see it? We find Lizzards everywhere!