Birthday Week!

Wooo! I opened my email today and saw that I had 30 something emails! Thank you everyone sooo much for all the birthday wishes! I have some awesome friends and family!

This week was pretty great! 

First of all my birthday was awesome! Most of the day was a normal day of visting, contacting, and walking. But a birthday miracle really did happen. Manuel Padilla one of our investigators that has been recieving the missionaries for 6 months hasnt been baptized only because he wont get married. But on Thursday we finally committed him to putting a date for his wedding. He looked at his "fiance" and asked her "are you ready to get married!" It made me so happy!

Later that night we went to the Garcia family to eat dinner. It was a great time. We ate cake, sang happy birthday and they even had a piñata of me made! The other companionship of missionaries came and it was great! I was greatful to have a family to spoil me on my birthday.

Anyways, Honduras has a strange birthday tradition. I have heard in South America they push peoples face into cake but here they take it another step further. As we were saying goodbye and about to leave I saw one of the daughters of Santitos walking with a basket of eggs and flour. I already knew what was about to happen. So yes they broke eggs on my head and then threw flour on me. (But dont worry mom they washed my clothes for me the next day)

It was a great birthday! I honestly dont feel 19 years old. It doesnt seem that long ago that I was getting my drivers license. I still wonder sometimes how I ever got here in Honduras speaking another language.

This week we had a great success! We were contacting and came across a man named Orinton in a humble home. We quickly found out that he is a member but hasnt gone to church for nearly ten years. He showed to us his family and told us that he would like for his 2 kids to be baptized. When we invited him to church this Sunday he said that he had a job to do but that he wasnt going to go. And when he came to church not only did he come to church with his kids but with his "fiance" and her sister! We were amazed! Orinton is awesome! He explained to us that one day he was contemplating on his life and felt bad because he hadnt been going to church. And he felt guilty because he felt it was his responsibility to help his children be baptized. He told us that he prayed and knew that God would provide a way for him to come back to church and baptize his kids. On Sunday he was beaming! I know that he knew that God had answered his prayers.

Thanks again everyone for all the awesome birthday wishes! I love you all!!!

Elder Gessell

Birthday dinner with the Santitos

Pinata made for Elder Gessell for his birthday!