Shaelyn in Chicago: We had 8 people at church, which is HUGE.

11-5-2012
Familia,

This week was pretty good. The first part was rough because I was having weird stomach problems again, but we got it figured out by Friday and worked hardcore all weekend.

A lot of our time this week was spent cleaning. There is a family that have been investigating the church for a long time, and they have 7 kids ages 12-2, but they haven't been able to be baptized because their mom has gotten super sick. She has breast cancer which has moved to her bones, and she also broke her back. She also happens to be a grade A hoarder. She wouldn't let anyone in to help her while she was home, but she is now in the hospital, so the relief society, the missionaries, and her neighbors have taken charge. we have organized a huge project, where we are going in and cleaning every day for hours, organizing, and overall trying to make these kids' lives liveable. they were all in one room, with only two beds, but now they have new bunk beds. :) we have been focusing on the kitchen and it took us about 4 days to finish. oh man, i really wish we'd taken before and after pictures, because it is crazy. you would not believe it. So that how we've been spending a lot of our days hours 10 am to about 2 pm.

Halloween we tried to find some people, but. . everyone was out halloweening. and we had to be in by dark. so overall not a great day. We did get delicious 50 cent corndogs at Sonic to celebrate though. :)

Things are going really well with Delia and Nathaly, our investigators that are on date. Delia said that in this last week she feels like she has grown a ton spiritually. Nathaly also is progressing a bunch, and its making her nonmember uncle have more interest as well- and he's been learning about the church for forever just not making any commitments.

This week we found a few more people to teach. We are going to start teaching Modesta Rivera's sister, who lives in the area. And also a part member family, where the wife isn't a member but has been on date for baptism like 7 times, and then backed out last second cos her member husband talks her out of it. He has way less of a testimony that she does. But they are awesome.

Saturday we had a branch costume party and there was a huge turn out. It was super fun, and a good opportunity for me to try and get to know more people.

and YESTERDAY. oh man yesterday was awesome. We had 8 people at church, which is HUGE. Probably the most i've had at one time. Some of the Rivera family relatives were at the party, and we invited them and they came to church the next day. so that was sick. After church we had 4 appointments back to back, which took us to the end of the night. So we ended the week exhausted, but feeling pretty good about everything.

so. . I think that about catches ya'll up to today. Which leaves me nothing left to tell you!
I'm glad mom and dad had a great time in Hawaii. I hope everyone else is surviving as it starts to get cold and finals and stuff are coming around. Good luck with rehearsals for the musical, Morgan.

Love you all. Miss you all.

Les Quiero,
Shaelyn

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