Erika

Hi Family!

This was a pretty normal week. Nothing much going on. We got a new branch president. I think he'll do a good job. Oh, we also got to go to the temple. That was nice!

This week we're going to baptize Erika. She's really great.

It all started a couple months ago, it was nighttime and we saw our friend Axel walking in the street. We asked him where he was going. And he said he was going to his aunt's house. We went with him and met his aunt, Erika- and her daughter, Josselyn. We got to know them, and they invited us to share a message. I tried to show the Easter Mormon message, but it didn't work. The only video that worked was a video called 'El otro Hijo Prodigo´- the other prodigal son. It's great! By the end of the video they were both crying. Apparently the same situation had passed in the family. The daughter ran away a month ago- and just that week that we found them she came back home. There was an older brother, Oscar, that was mad that his sister had come home, he didn't trust her. So he went to live somewhere else.

A week later we went back- and Josselyn had disappeared. Erika was really upset. We sat and talked to her, and gave her a blessing. Oscar, the son, came back home to live- and we kept teaching them. Erika progressed and went to church. Everyone thought she was a member- everyone loves her there! Oscar is really cool- he's about 20 years old. He got a scholarship offer to study aeronautical engineering. He's really smart. He wasn't sure if he was going to accept it- but we convinced him to do it! He will start studying in June- he will also have to learn English, so we're helping him with that. He has a girlfriend, Jasmine, who lives in another city. Santiago Texacuangos. His girlfriend just had a baby- last week. Her name is Ashly. She's really cute:) Oscar is pretty worried about studying full time, and supporting his little family as well.

Erika is kind of fragile, she has a really bad job, her boss is really mean, verbally abusive I think is more correct. So we've been helping her out a lot- giving lots of support. She's been worried sick about her daughter as well.

We taught her about the word of wisdom, and she decided to start eating more plants. She really is golden. She wondered if I had ever tried lentils- she heard they're healthy and she wants to try them. That why I asked for the recipe:)

Two weeks ago we were on a bus. And Josselyn, the lost daughter, got on. She had cut her hair- and dyed it. But I recognized her. She recognized me as well.
I told Oscar that I had seen her, but I didn't tell Erika- I don't like seeing people cry.

We taught her about fasting. This month she fasted for her daughter.
Last week, out of the blue Josselyn showed up. She told Erika that seeing us in the bus made her feel guilty. She decided to come home. God answers prayers!

Last week Erika decided she was going to get baptized, her granddaughter was born, her daughter came home, it was a good week for her! Once she finds a new job things will be great!

She's going to get baptized on Saturday!

Well, times pretty much up. I love you all!
Have a great week!

Happy Birthday to Todd and Bryan!
Now you guys can buy knives, and spray paint, and dry ice! And Vote!
Have a great week!

-Elder Goodman