Ramirez Family Baptisms

Hello friends and family hope you had a great week, because mine was amazing!!

Monday was a great preparation day, we had a great homemade breakfast and then water balloon fight in the rain! Both activities were really fun! Then we had a visit with the Henkels who are an awesome family and the Cagnacci family as well! 

Tuesday we had district council that was all focused around asking the right questions, and helping our friends recognize where they can get their answers from! I had the opportunity to do a baptismal interview for a lady named Cammy Thompson and it was a great experience, she has an amazing story and strong testimony! We had a great lesson with John who has a lot of great questions and is excited to learn! We also met up with our friend Destiny who is just trying to get to know Jesus Christ and follow him better, and it is amazing to see the joy she has as we teach her about the gospel. 

Wednesday we went boothing on Ventura College campus, started teaching a girl named Tonya who loves studying the Bible, asking questions, and learning about the church! We also met Emily and Jessica who are super sweet as well! Then we had institute, Tonya came and loved it and said she'll be back next week! 

Thursday we had dinner with an old friend of Elder Pickrells that lives in the other ward in Ventura, we went over the baptismal interview questions with the Ramirez family to prepare them for that! We also met a lady named Tiffany who is super sweet, and it was cool to see that conversation go from her saying, "No I'm okay thanks" to, "That sounds amazing" and that is just what the Spirit does!!! 

Friday we had a fun Mission Leadership Council. I always love hearing/learning from President Rodriguez, he talked a lot about what it means to lead as the Savior did. Ministering to the one and doing it with kindness, seeing our friends and fellow missionaries as Jesus Christ does. I got to go on an exchange with Elder Brian and Elder Mansfield which was fun. Elder Brian usually serves up on San Luis Obispo but was down for the day and so I got them both and we had a good day! We had the Ramirez's baptismal interviews, met with our friend Erick, and visited recent converts Davey and Susana!! 

Saturday I was with just Elder Pickrell for morning and we went to the swap meet, but it was raining so we talked to a couple of people while staying dry under their canopy, gave them a pamphlet, and one seems pretty likely to go to church up in Santa Barbara!!!! Then we went to Bishop Roger's house and we made Bolo ties with him which was super fun! We went to Lamb of God with our friend Pablo and I got to see Jorge Alonso from way back in Simi Valley! And we saw some Senior missionaries that used to be in our mission! 

Sunday we had the baptism of Amber, Amathyst, Robert, and William Ramirez. Their family has seen major changes since embracing the gospel and it was truly amazing to be a part of this step in their lives. They absolutely love the gospel and I can't wait to continue to see them grow and learn in the church! We had a lot of support from the ward which was amazing to see! Then we went and had a visit with Bro Shepard and he actually taught us with planes!! 

"They felt joy and thanksgiving even in the midst of their afflictions. They had not yet arrived in the promised land, yet they were rejoicing in the promised blessing because of their consistent and resilient trust in Him"

This quote is talking about the Jaradites who came across the sea in barges. They has hard times, yet found joy and recognized the blessings God had given them and remembered the blessings that were ahead! 

Hope you all had an amazing week and saw God's hand in your life!! 

Pics: 

1. Lamb of God 

2. Baptism 

3. Baptism(Amber and Amathyst)

4. Bro. Shepard 

5. Davey and Susana 

6. Water balloon fight