this week has been a locura. Pepe, who I´ve been talking about for weeks, was finally baptized, but not without trouble. He called us the morning of his baptism (Friday) saying he wasn´t going to be baptized, and ranting about a huge disappointment and what not. We had an emergency lesson with him in the middle of zone conference (during lunch), and found out that he thought his baptism was at 8 am, when it was really 8 pm, and when he came to the chapel in the morning and saw no one was there, thought we´d decided not to baptize him. We assured him we most certainly did still want him to be baptized, and so at last he was!
It´s also been really difficult because one of our investigators is dying right now- remember the Romanian family? So we´ve been teaching three generations, and a woman named Iuliana (from the 2nd generation) only has a few days left to live, according the doctors. The really sad thing is she´s married, has a 9 year old daughter (one of those who studies and loves the Book of Mormon), and a 2 year old son and.... no one has told her she´s dying yet. She´s in the hospital, and people come to see her, and leave crying, so I´m sure she suspects, but her husband and father think it´s best that she doesn´t worry. Hna. Coloma and I have been having a really hard time with all of this, but at the same time, I feel so blessed to be teaching them during this hard time. We asked the the other day if there was anything we could do for them. Iuliana´s sister in law Monica (who lives in the house) asked us to just keep coming by and teaching them- that we really bring them comfort.
I can´t tell you how much I love this family. We went to visit Iuliana in the hospital, and when we got there, the family that lives in the home (about 12 people) and their extended family (about 20 more people) were all outside the hospital, and they welcomed us into their conversation, and when Iuliana´s other sister in law went in to see her, she asked us to come with her.
Anyhow, it´s been a sad week in that regard, but I still love the work and love my companion.
I´ve had a good birthday (and birthday eve). We ate with a senior missionary couple last night, and they surprised me with cake and a candle, and this morning Hna. Coloma cleaned the whole piso for me, and we ate lunch with a lot of missionaries in the train station, and they sang happy birthday to me (not to mention the missionaries that didn´t make it and called me to sing it instead). I took Mark´s advice and told everyone and anyone that it was my birthday, so I didn´t feel forgotten :)
Thank you so much for the packages! I ended up getting four in total, and they were all perfect- I love the clothes you sent and the other necessities and nice little things. My favorite things by far were the drawings and letters from my nieces and nephews- like I always say, it´s hard to miss this part of their lives, so anything I can get to remember how they are and hold on to this part of their childhood is a treasure.
My sandals also came, but the APs forgot to bring them to Vialia (train station) today, but I should get them by Friday when we have special training. I´m so excited for those and can´t thank you enough for all that you´ve done for me for my birthday and my whole mission.
I feel a little guilty for how wonderful these 20 years of life have been. I have a sure knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and a bright hope in Him. I´m healthy and happy. There aren´t many (or any) people who are blessed with a family like all of you. You´ve always all been such good examples to me mom and dad, and filled my life always with love and truth, my brothers and sisters have been my best friends, my in laws are all as dear as my own brothers and sisters, and my world revolves around each and every one of my nieces and nephews. I don´t know what I´ve ever done to deserve so many blessings (I don´t think I have done anything), so I hope I can work with all of my strength and heart to at least show my gratitude for everything I have.
I miss you all, but know that I´m happy and that I know I´m in the right place, serving our Lord and Savior.
All my love, Hermana Johnson
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