Week 23: Bapped Up!

What's up!

Man it's been such a quick week, I feel like I was just typing a email. But, it's been good out here! 

On Saturday we had a baptism! Her name was Miriam and shes the niece of the Carvente family! Their little son named Bryant got baptized too, and it was such a dope night! We had 3 investigators there, Maite and her two sons. They loved it, and were wondering later if they could have their cousin Nefi baptize them! So awesome. The missionaries gave a musical number at the baptism, and let's just say there was a lot of lip syncing haha. After the baptism, we had a Thanksgiving party and that was a ton of fun too. There were a ton of people there and so much food, which was all amazing cause it's the Spanish ward duh.

This week we definitely had some downers, not gonna lie. Two of those were having to drop some baptismal dates because people didn't come to church. That seriously is the worst haha. We sit there for the first 15 minutes of sacrament meeting just praying that some of the people we invited will come, and of course they don't :( But hey, we had Maite and her family come, and my boy Ivan! Ivan also said that he wants us to come eat Thanksgiving dinner with him which is super cool, and asked if he could take us to PA with him and his girlfriend, but sadly I had to shoot that down since it's not our mission hahaha. He's the dopest investigator though, seriously the nicest guy ever. He always offers to cook for us every time we go over, he's the bomb.

We also had a lesson last night with our recent convert and friend Alex. He's 14 and just has a pretty rough life. We were talking to him last night about why he got baptized and tried to get an idea of what he wants to do with his life because he really hasn't been coming to church or reading the scriptures or anything. Eventually, we got to the point where we asked him if he felt like anyone cared about him. He said no. I lost it at that point and had to turn away so he wouldn't see me crying like a freaking panzee. It legit is so hard sometimes out here. Not because of the language, not because of mean people or the fact that we're out here for two years or anything like that, but because you come to love these people so much and legitimately want the best for them. So when they don't live up to that potential or just don't recognize their potential you honestly are heart broken. It's just rough not being able to do more. But we had a good talk and let him know that we love him, and that we know God does too. He's an awesome kid, I love that guy like my other little brother. 

Back on a positive note, we had a super cool experience with maite and her family. So after the baptism she randomly brought up getting baptized by nefi, and that would have to be December 2nd because he leaves soon. So we had a lesson on Monday and she said she wants to do it here with nefi, OR wait til she goes to Honduras where a ton of her family are members. soooo she's either getting baptized here or in honduras, but either way it's happening! So happy for them, she reminds me a lot of my momma it's awesome. And she always has food for us so that's a plus! They just love joking around and stuff so it's cool to be able to talk freely with them, but then also help them learn more and more about how they can live with their family forever.

Well guys, I hope you all have an awesome Thanksgiving weekend! We'll be doing some service and eating dinner with some dope families out here, pray for me that I won't throw up from all the food we eat! Even though I could use it cause I've lost like 15 lbs since I've been out here 😂 Love you all so much!

Elder Allen

1/2/3. Pic at city island of the lower Manhattan skyline 

4. Selfie at the Thanksgiving party! 

5. Baptism! Forgot to smile :(

6. Another sunset at the train station with a white girl face for some reason

7. /8. Uno más foto with the laundry lady angélica!