Elder Pérez' Mission: Week 18- December 9, 2013- East L.A.

Maria, Elder Ramos, Lydia, Elder Perez

Elder Ramos, Lydia, the bishop, Elder Perez

Dear Everyone,

What a great week we had! Some awesome special stuff happened. The whole week I was pretty nervous as we got closer and closer to Lydia's baptismal date. On Wednesday, President Becerra came to the church to interview her and as he was interviewing her I was so nervous! I was just pacing around the whole church not really knowing what to do haha. She came out and President said he was very much impressed with her and her knowledge and that she was good to go, we were veeery excited at that point haha.

On Saturday, Elder Patterson and Elder Nelson and Elder Ramos and I went to the temple with some investigators, Lydia being one of them, and some members. It was an awesome experience. They put up Christmas lights all around the grounds so the place was all lit up, very nice. It was a kind of bittersweet moment, well at least for Elder Patterson since he ended up getting a call to leave the area. Fortunately I am staying in the area, but I think this will be my last transfer here for sure.

So the temple experience was awesome, of course! The LA temple is so amazing, I think it's one of my favorites now, if not my favorite. Wouldn't mind going there some day... (childrens primary song). The next day, we had the baptism! The baptism was so amazing, I had the privilege of performing the ordinance, so it was cool. As we progressed with the program I just started tearing up because of how awesome the spirit was. I will never forget it. There weren't a ton of people there, but it was nice and reverent. She brought her mom and cousin along too, who I know felt that same spirit as well.

We, the missionaries, sang a song and I could barely get through it because I started tearing up. But this experience is one I will never forget. It was a huge testimony builder to be there. I can feel my testimony growing, and I know it won't stop now! Still a ways to go. Pretty crazy that I hit 4 months already though. But I still have a long ways to go and a lot of people to still help.

Love you all! Pray for you all often as well.