Lauren's baptism Day

This is Lauren with Elder Yanez, Elder Watanabe and Elder Tripp.

A little history here.  Elder Yanez came to our ward from Florida but he grew up in Long Beach California.  He went to live with his grandmother in Florida because his family wasn't supportive of his membership in the church.  When he arrived in our ward he was shy and scared.  He hardly spoke for the first two months or so.  He finally started to come out of his shell about the time he got a new companion - his first one went home.  He started to talk to people and tease Lauren occasionally.  He seemed happy.  His second one went home and then he got Elder Watanabe.  Elder Watanabe is from a small town in Japan.  His father teaches English but he never learned it from him.  Elder Watanabe's grandfather was the mission president of one of my good friend's mother while she was on her mission in Japan.  He is great.  He has a great sense of humor and a very positive attitude.  After only about six weeks Elder Yanez was transferred to Sunnyvale into a Spanish speaking mission and we got Elder Tripp another newbie.  While he is nice, he is nervous and doesn't know when to stop talking often.  He obviously misses home but he will grow into being a good missionary under Elder Watanabe's tutelage.  This was a great group of young men to help Lauren get baptized.