Dearest Familia!

This week was pretty rough again. We currently have 6 investigators and none could meet with us much last week. We tried a lot of formers, but nothing worked out really well. The members in the ward didn't even really have much time to meet with us. Crazy. But this week is going to be better. We're going to find a lot of golden souls. We did have two highlights though. Our newly weds. We met with them last night and they're incredible. Alberto was a total cholo. He was a big time gangmember, was a dealer and basically everything he could be. He had no religion and no values in his life. He decided to change his life when his son was born about 7 years ago and decided he didn't want his son to have that type of life so he gave up everything! He still looks like a gangmember, but he doesn't do any of that stuff and he's the nicest guy ever. Crazy! His wife, Mari, is 34 and is a grandma to a 5 year old and has a 20 yr old, two 19 year olds, a 15 yr old and another one that died. She had her first at age 14. Her 15 year old was on probation and has now been missing for 3 weeks. I can't even imagine. They have both had the hardest lives ever, but you could never tell by how they live their lives now. They live in the ghetto, but their apartment is super clean with nice furniture and his son is very well behaved. They got married because she's pretty religious and didn't think it was right to move in together. They are hungry to learn how they can be better people and raise his son correctly. They actually call us when they have questions about the reading and she even takes notes during our lessons! They're amazing!

Alberto was almost deported this last week. He had a court date and they had to prove that he was a good citizen. We had to write a letter saying that he was a good person. It was super stressful. He's lived here forever, but because he doesn't have papers he could have just been kicked out! We just found out yesterday that Hermana Ramoz from the Spanish branch and who helps us teach a lot of our lessons could be deported this week also. It's so horrible! She has lived here forever, has a family, husband and he works here, but she could just be sent back to Mexico without her family. I've decided I really don't care for this immigration/deporting thing.

MARIA - she's part of the family that we're teaching. She's the mom and very stubborn. She doesn't want to set a baptism date because she has a hard time forgiving people and doesn't want to feel like a hypocrite when she gets baptized. On Friday we had a District fast for baptisms. It had been a pretty rough day with every single appointment falling through. She was our last possible appointment for the day and we were prepared to teach about forgiveness. She was the only one there and it was obvious she had been crying. We started by watching a mormon message on forgiveness. We shared some scriptures and personal experience. The spirit was so strong. It felt like everything we said was exactly what she needed because it was not what we were planning on saying. We both would have completely random thoughts come into our heads, we would say them, and then she would open up even more. I know the spirit completely taught that lesson because none of our words were from us. I had the thought come into my head that she had to be baptized on February 18, no other date. I kept thinking that's way too soon, she won't want to or think she'll be ready. But the thought kept coming. Finally I told her and told her that I knew she was ready and that she knew that she was ready. She agreed, but said she had to talk to her husband first. It was so amazing! To teach completely by the spirit, fast for help, and then have her come so close to saying yes. It was incredible! The unfortunate thing is we haven't been able to get ahold of her since. She didn't come to church and apparently she and her husband got in a fight and she left with the kids to Wenatchee. He can be a mean drunk. We're really worried about her, but hopefully she'll come back soon.

Welp my time is up, but know that the Church is true and that's amazing!

Love, Sister Probst