Beloveds-
This week was crazy haha. The zone leaders asked our companionship to go work in Battleground a few times a week. Battleground is farther north; one of Vancouver's surrounding cities. There are not man spanish speaking people there. I think we about found them all. And we are teaching them, so it's great!
Right now I am trying to get Hermana Peterson ready to train if she has to next week. Never would most mission presidents have a missionary out 6 weeks, and waiting on a visa train another missionary, but this is President Taylor. This man is fearless, and has more faith in us than we can believe sometimes. We are also getting Mara Munoz ready for baptism this week. We couldn't be more excited for her, and that we get to be a part of this. When I got here, Mara had already been taught for a few months. After meeting her, I exclaimed to my first companion, Hermana Williams, that I was not leaving until Mara was baptized. It wasn't just me being determined; I felt those words were true. Well, I taught her with Hermana Kidd as well, and then Hermana Peterson came. Before I told Hermana Peterson how I felt about Mara, she said, "I'm not leaving to Argentina until Mara is baptized." So..we both knew why we were in Vancouver. Mara's baptism is this Saturday, the 17th. We also get transfer calls that day. Neither of us will be surprised if we're both outta here. Mara is one of the best people I know, and it is truly a privilege to be walking with her on this road for a short while. The picture enclosed is of two of her sons. She has four children, and they are about the cutest, sweetest, most polite little things you'll ever meet.
A pair of missionaries came up to me after sacrament meeting yesterday, and patted me on the back, congratulating me on a baptism. "Way to go!", they said. "You got a baptism!" I looked probably a little..disgusted haha, because this is not how I see the situation. When I told them that it wasn't me, but Mara's preparation, and the Lord, they looked confused, and told me, "It has everything to do with the missionary." And tried to defend their case that baptisms arise out of the missionary. Hmm. False. Because that would mean that someone would be considered UNsuccessful if they weren't a part of a baptism. Which is not true. Preach My Gospel teaches us that people have their agency to choose, and your success is measured by your dedication to the work. Not the outward results of your mission, but the inward results of YOU. The longer I am here, the more I think that the Lord doesn't really need 18 and 19 year old kids to come and convert people to His gospel. He could do it on His own, through angels, or dreams and visions. And if He really wanted people to understand the gospel perfectly, He would send out certified teachers, and scriptorians. I feel like the Lord calling us out here is an act of mercy. He knows that we need this mission to shape us. Not for us to shape other people's lives.
I hope you all know that I love you, and I love the Lord. That is why I am here.
Hermana Patton
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