Week 27: Dona Ana and Las Colinas Wards, Las Cruces, NM

 Jambo! It's hello in Swahili I think lol

So I'm staying in my area and I'm with the same companion. I was really excited to stay because I love these wards and the people are great!

There is this refugee family from Tanzania, who lived there for 25 years, that just moved to Las Cruces last month. Most of the family is baptized or not old enough to be, but we have been teaching two of them, Mwanege and Balebanga, and they are going to be baptized Saturday! They don't speak English though so we are having to have the Swahili elders or sisters translate for us. I definitely have learned to teach simpler and it's been really cool meeting with them. 

We had a missionary activity with the ward, so a more low key activity, and we had a bonfire! It was awesome and we had about 8 of our friends come and some less actives too. It was a great success! It was so fun, and we lost track of time talking to people and we missed our ward coordination meeting 🤦‍♀️ lol. After, we had a great phone call lesson with our friend Barbara, and we invited her to church.

The next day we had church and early meetings. I'm fine in the mornings, sometimes, but it was a bit rough. Well, in our second ward, our new convert Matt gave a talk. But that's not all, he gave a talk the WHOLE sacrament meeting. Haha, and he's a really funny speaker so it was entertaining.  Barbara and her three kids came!! I wasn't really expecting her too, but she did. And the whole time I was praying she would feel the spirit and not be weirded out with anything. She said she hopes to see us Sunday!!! Wooo

Also, some less actives came and I am so proud of them, and of Barbara. It's not easy going somewhere new or that you haven't been to for a while, but when people do, it's awesome!!

I also had a prompting to visit another less active and it ended up really good, and she even had three kids baptizing age. I think it's cool that the Lord guides us. It was just a regular thought, but I know as we act on those, we are blessed.

Last thing, so this guy named Jon Bernard blocked me on Facebook a few months ago. I started mentioning the Book of Mormon and he was like, no thanks. But then today he unblocked me and wants to talk again!! I think it's cool that people can really come around. If we are examples and if we try to share it, they will remember and be drawn back.

I'm so grateful for the light of the gospel and the light that so many people have. People here in my ward are such examples to me. I want to have more light!

Love y'all and I know Christ loves you infinitely 

Love Sis Crofts