Happy Hump Day! - May 27, 2013

Dear family and friends,

Can you believe how fast time has flown!? One year down and another to go! And the work keeps marching on, as well. This week has been full of surprises! Surprise number 1: we went to go get haircuts and they really cut it good! Haha I don't think that I have cut my hair this short since I was like 4 and aunt Carol said she didn't like it! Haha I told the hair cutter lady to cut it pretty short on the sides, and a little bit longer on top. We put a 3 on the side and a 4 on top. And so the pictures explain a lot of what happened to me. It is super short, but very nice because I don't have to do anything to it... nor can I don anything to it. Surprise number 2: the other missionaries here in San Juan were planning a baptism on Saturday and one of the converts said that she wanted me to baptize her. It really caught me off guard. I had only met her a few times in exchanges and at church. She had been kinda doubtful about her baptism because her husband, who lives in the states, had told her not to get baptized. However, she had a dream that I was baptizing her and decided to go through with it. It was a great experience. It made me feel that I really am here for a reason. The Lord has me here for some reason or another. Surprise number 2.5: Maria, Giovani's mother, and Giovani's whole family came to the baptism and Maria is going to get baptized on Saturday! We are still waiting for Giovani and Esperanza to get married so that he can get baptized, but they are just so awesome. I love them so much. Surprise number 3: yesterday I received a phone call from Elder Monge and he is here visiting the mission! It made me way happy and excited to see him especially because he hasn't written me since he went home. It was even cooler because we went out and worked together because he was here in San Juan for 6 months of his mission. I miss the kid a lot! He has such a gift for gaining the confidence of the people. We visited one of his converts, Amanda, and it was so sweet! Man I loved it!

We keep working with Alejandra and her family. It seems like some people from Adventist church came and visited her and the flame kinda died. However, she still came to church yesterday! WE are also working with her brother, Ricardo. He is 18 years old and has had some troubles with drinking, but is going to stop drinking and wants to get baptized! It really makes me happy to see him make these changes in his life.

I love you all and thank you for everything that you do for me! I know that the Lord has his purposes and his ways, even though sometimes it is hard for us to align our will with His. If we can do it, we will be happy! Love you all!

Love,

Elder Hilton