January 18, 2010

January 18, 2010
Here is the latest from Elana in “sunny Guatemala”. Keep in mind that she is thinking in Spanish so sometimes we get a mix of Spanish and English.

So this week was incredibly. we had 4 baptisms and we have another one this Saturday. Yesterday, the familia Ordonez Amaya was married and baptised in the ward building. wow the Spirit was sooo strong. i invited President Lorenzana to come and he gave a brief talk on matrimonio. i even got to sign as a witness. they are such an amazing couple. Lorena has 4 children from 2 previous unions, but Sergio has taken them all in as his own. yesterday was just the beginning of an amazing life that they are going to have together. but wow is it stressful planning a wedding and a baptism, even a simple one like this. we made the cake for 100 people, put together 100 plates of tomales and enchilladas, decorated the whole chapel, did her hair and makeup (me), took pictures, arranged the agendas and smiled during it all. Sergio, Lorena and the oldest daughter, Alejandra, were all baptised by Presidente Nefi who is just sooo amazing. he was crying during the ordinance because the Spirit was sooo strong. In just one year, in March, when the temple of Xela opens, Hna Rodriguez and i will get to attend their sealing. i just have soo much respect for this family. it is not easy changing generations of family traditions for a new religion and a new way of life. i have so much respect for men like Sergio who are willing to change and care for 4 children that were not his. the day before the intravista we had to repasar las mandamientos, and i was a little nervous that the ley de diezmo was going to be a little difficult for them to except...but like everything else this family is so willing to keep all of Gods commandments so that they can have an eternal family. God blesses us sooo abundantamente when we keep His commandments. and that is a promise. i have seen it over and over again. i used to wonder why the church leaders are usually so blessed. even here, the Bishop is a lot more well to do than most members...but i am beginning to understand that they blessings promised in the BOM are still in effect: ¨if we obey the commandments, we will prosper in the land¨.