I hope everyones new years is going well. Last night they had fireworks. The bad thing is they were close to us and we were on the normal schedule: trying to sleep. All we heard were explosions. I was a little frightened at first but then I realized what day it was.

The highlight of this week (and so far my mission) was the baptism we had yesterday for the Santibanez family. Elder Lizama and I were both able to be part of this one. We told them that they could choose who they wanted to baptize them and they said they wanted us to do it. So I got to baptize the father Sergio and Elder Lizama got to baptize the Mother Pilar and their son Bruno. I didnt judge Sergios hieght very well and hit his head against the wall during the ordinance but other than that everything worked out very well.

I know that this family will go very far. They have their sights set on the temple and are working to receive those higher ordinances. They are already teaching their other children so that they can be baptized and sealed together as well. I dont have any doubt that the lord has great plans for this family, and we will be working with them to help them meet these goals.

Im really grateful for this opportunity to be part of their conversion. Ive never met a family so prepared. Elder Lizama and I didnt do a whole lot, we just found them. The lord did the rest. During the first lesson we found that the sister Pilar felt a spiritual prompting when she saw us knocking doors, and as we conversed with them we found that Sergio has a brother who is a less active member of the church and he said that even though he is less active, he finds that the gospel has been a source of peace for him. Im sure that this brothers testimony was a strong impact of the conversion of this family. We also found that these are people of high values. They married young and have never been unfaithful. Neither do they drink or smoke. I know that the lord has been preparing them for a long time. I remember that the first several lessons we taught were centered on jesus christ and the atonement. I had a strong prompting that this principle is the most important principle for this family, just as for all people to understand.

I look forward to seeing what the lord has prepared for this family.

I hope everyone has a great week this week.

Until next week, I love everyone very much.

Jeremy