I am eating Thanksgiving dinner at the Hernandez family's house. I have no idea what it will be like. We had a ward thanksgiving party on Saturday and it was super fun! It was basically the same as most Mexican parties. Loud Mexican music and dancing. There was "Thanksgiving food" but it was heavily mexicanized with a lot of chile. It was really good! Basically the Mexican American tradition is to skip Thanksgiving and start celebrating Christmas waaayyyyyyy tooo early.

 

Everyday is usually a good day here, but yesterday was extra happy-making. So much goodness kept happening to us!

 

1. We are not the best at street contacting. We prefer to knock doors, so we usually just say hi and other normal stuff to people we run into. This one guy that lives in our apartment complex is always super nice to us and always asks us how we are doing and random stuff like that. Yesterday morning we ran into him on the way to our car and started talking to him. We told him we were on our way to church. He started to look really nervous and then asked if he could come with us next week. He has been having what he has called spiritual difficulties and thinks that the best thing for him would to be learn more about God and what he wants. He told us he could tell that God loved us and he wants us to teach him what we know. We were like actually, that is what we do. He was like what! No way! And then we set up an appointment. He looked so relieved! We should have asked him weeks ago! Poor thing.

 

2. Four of our investigators came to church. We felt like shepards making sure they all went to the classes they were supposed to and had friends and stuff like that. Plus we had to babysit one of the Elders' investigators. Don't ask me why. It was so hectic! I am so looking forward to the day when my investigators are my own children and I can teach them from the beginning the right what so that they know what's up.

 

3. I helped the Spanish ward coordinate when they could use the building by translating what he said into English, which another missionary translated into Korean for his ward member. I don't know why I thought this was so cool but I just love me the Garden Grove Culture Clash.

 

4. We went to a baptism for some of my companion's old investigators after church. It was so beautiful! She had taught them for a long time and was so happy for them. Watching her face was just as much pleasurable as watching the baptism.

 

5. We ran into the Ap's at that church building. Ahh they're so cool. Plus we got to see a lot of other missionaries there.

 

6. The Bowens were at the baptism. They are so nice! President Bowen even gave a short talk in Spanish. It was so cute!

 

7. The Gomez family came to the baptism. The girls were both so excited. Valerie, the one who is 7, held my hand the whole time.

 

8. We had dinner at Hermana Estudillo's house. She is an amazing cook! And super helpful and nice.

 

9. We finished off the day by having an amazing lesson at the Gomez's. You can feel the Spirit so strongly there. After our planned lesson we talked about all the little events, including their son's death that have led them and us to all be where we are now at this moment. It was amazing to see God's hand in all of our lives and even cooler that they realize that and can feel His love so strongly.

 

Love you!