The Pure Love of Christ

This week was hard for Hna. Jojola and I.

The HIGHLIGHT of the week - and probably the HIGHLIGHT of my whole misison - was when José Antonio got baptized on Tuesday. That was like..... wow. The most amazing thing ever. He was so.. happy, mom. I've never seen anyone so happy. He knew exactly what he was doing and why. All of the Young men were there like totally cheering him on. Right before he was supposed to get in the font, Hna. Jojola and I went back with him and He RAN to the front door and looked outside and we were like...

"what??"

and he was like "She hasn't gotten here yet."

and we say "who??"

and he says "my mom."

And it was so hard to do the baptism knowing that his mom wasn't there.... but he did it, and his mom arrived RIGHT after.   She was so sad to have missed it, but José literally wiped her tears from her face and told her just how happy he was. Mom. I've never been to anything like that.

I've been studying a lot about "The pure love of Christ" and what it really is... and yesterday we were talking to José.   And I just told him how important he was to me and I said like... if I get to the Celestial Kingdom and he's not there.. I would literally GIVE HIM my spot. Because I love him a lot. He's a really special kid.

I wish you guys could meet him.

I love you all!

Love,

Hermana Cedeno 

 Jose Antonio and Hna Jojola and myself

 The Youth in the Ward with Jose Antonio

 The Young Men in the Ward with Jose Antonio.

 Seriously, this was amazing.  I've never met someone so ready and prepared.

 He was so Happy!

 When his Mom got there after the baptism.

 I was being Whitney Houston :-).

 Sooo, it rained again. and Jojola and I had to run to the tiendita (the market) in the morning so we were sloshing around... like this. asi es.
 

This guy on the back of the bus had my hair LOL!

 This was so beautiful!

We stayed together!

Okay, I'm sorry.... Nicole mostly sent pictures and I didn't get them posted:  Here's her small letter and pics from last week and I'll make sure and post her email tomorrow as well:

Hi Mom everything is going great.  Hna Jojola and I stayed together for transfers but we are in a "new area" because they split up our area so we are exploring new parts.  

This is Lola! a 17 year old sweeeetheart that we are teaching. we are also teaching her sister and her father. She's great :)

Lola and her dad showing us her.... school project hahaaha

 

Here I am!

Real Futbol!  LOL

Where we bought Jose Antonios shirt

Hna Jojola and I. :-)

Jose and his CTR Ring.  I got this ring from the Achievement Day Girls in my ward.  I was so thankful I had one to give to him.  Thank you so much to those sweet girls in my ward!

That's it for today!  I love you all!

Love,

Hermana Cedeno

 

What if you could have anything you wanted?

Cambios are this Tuesday and it's just breaking my Little heart. I hope that I don't leave this place I just love it so much. And I just simply can't leave Hermana Jojola! We're best friends.

Roberto and Kenia got married!!! my pensionista :) Well... my pensionista's daughter. They´re like our BFFS. LB for them.

 Roberto and the Elders.

This week was almost normal.. So that's good haha

On Tuesday, Hermana Jojola and I went to do her immigration so that she can stay here :-) It was actually miserable. haha  All you do is stand in line and wait to… sign some papers.  It was great. The worst part was that… I already did my immigration a couple months ago. So I just sat in my own Little chair and waited for Hna. Jojola to get permission to stay in Bolivia.

Next to me was a guy from Brazil. We started talking and I just started begging him to start teaching me Portuguese… and he totally did. And I love it!! This week I've become a little over obsessed with Portuguese… during my "estudio de idioma" (language study)-- that's all I study. The. Whole. Hour. Yesterday I watched "The Restoration" like 3 times in Portuguese… I'm really planning on having it SOMEWHAT down by the time I get home. I'm lovin'it.

On Wednesday… I cut Hermana Jojola's beautiful long hair. She insisted and insisted and I've never been so scared to do something in my life. Not to mention the fact that once she sat down to get her hair cut… she handed me a pair of those like SCISSORS THAT THEY GIVE YOU IN FREAKING KINDERGARTEN. I'm like..

"GIRL YOU WANT ME TO CUT YOUR HAIR WITH THESE???"  And that's what we did.

It turned out cute :-)

And a couple days later… she cut mine. Haha I didn't want to.. but it had to be done… it was dead. Asi es la misión.

We started teaching two really awesome youth. Guys, I can't even tell you how AWESOME the youth in our Ward are. They are so great. They are always bringing their friends to hear about the Gospel.

One is José Antonio. I cant even tell you…. Ugh.

We have been teaching him for a couple of weeks. His parents don't want to listen to us but José is just.. all over everything. He goes to church, seminary, mutual. And  he loves it.

He is only 15 years old, so last night we stopped by where he is working (he Works at the house of a member along with a bunch of the other youth from the church) and I was like…

"Joseeé…. We have a present for you!!"

And he's like…. "what???"

And I hand him the form that his parents have to sign before he can get baptized. And all the other Young men like started cheering and yelling and saying like "Dude, that's so awesome, you're gonna get baptized!!"

And he just looked at Hna. Jojola and I and said.. ".. gracias. Muchas gracias."

He was. So. Happy. Ugh.. mi corazón. And then I asked him ..

"José, if we were really gonna give you a present, what would you want?"

And he pauses for a sec and says "a shirt and tie. To wear to church."

And everyone was just quiet. Because we all know José goes to church in jeans and a t-shirt. So Hermana Jojola and I say..

"okay". And right after internet.. that's what we're gonna go do.  We're going to buy Jose his shirt and tie. :-)

I love you all!

Love,

Hermana Cedeno