Week 16

HOOOOWWWWWWWW-DEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!
It was great getting your letter today! Sounds like things are (mostly) bomb-diggity. That was really sad to hear about Bishop Sannar. I don't know why anyone would do something like that, and I can't imagine what it is putting his family through. Life...it seems so sure at times, but then we are reminded at just how fragile it is. But in this gospel, we can know for certain that all is well. Our loving Heavenly Father cares for us and is there for us in the good times, and especially in those terrible, heartbreaking times. I hope his family receives all the strength and blessing from the Lord that they need, and then much more.

This week has been a week 'o changes [Ch-ch-ch-changes (name that movie!)]. Oh, and the package should get here on Friday - the day we have Zone Meeting. That's when they bring all the packages to the meeting, and we pick them up and bring them home. I'm looking forward to getting it!
And, side note - I actually can't open up forwards (mission rule), but I really want to see how Elder Lowe (That's who it was, right?) is doing. Could you print it off and send it to me, when you have time? That would be FANTASMIC!
Sounds like there's been a lot going on! How are your classes? By the time I can check back again, it'll be almost 2 weeks that you've had those classes, right? How are they going?
That's soooo cool to hear about Thao and Phong are going to the same place! Different languages, but what are the chances of that? They're going to do great!

My companion's AWESOME! He actually reminds me of someone from the student ward over in Chico, who is serving in Japan right now - and they're about the same height! 6'6"!! Pretty big guy! And then, we had an elder come in this past transfer (I've already been here for a transfer?! Como?!) who is 6'11"!! Wow! He's a hard worker. Plus, our apartment wasn't really...well, not the cleanest apartment in the mission. Fortunately, not the dirtiest, but Elder Jenks and I just never cleaned it, because whenever we were at home, we were planning or sleeping. Now, though, you'll be proud to know we're going through and doing a really deep cleaning, and it's only day 5! We've reorganized the room, cleaned the kitchen, sprayed and killed a whole lot of cockroaches (fortunately, I've only seen one that was about half the size of a computer mouse), and now we're working on the living and dining areas. It's going to be good! And already, it feels so much nicer in there!

As for the actual reason we're here - there have been some ups and downs. Remember the one who lost her baby at birth? Well, she just had another baby boy, and she sent us a text message. She told us she wants to discontinue our meetings, because she wants to baptize her son in the church they're already attending - this Sunday. Apparently, we weren't wholly clear on the whole "authority" part, or that baptism of little children is a solemn mockery of the ordinance of baptism. And we wouldn't explain it exactly like that, but we'd clarify a lot on the whole authority part. We're hoping to still meet with her and sort things out, but we'll see.

As for lessions, we didn't do so hot this week. Only 11 sit-downs (though no one was in our area for the first part of the week, what with Elder Jenks heading home and transfers). OYMs, though - 71! And I'm going to try to increase that during this next week as well!

And....we had an investigator named Luis, who fell off the face of the map for a while. But we found him, worked hard to invite the Spirit into the lession, and he accepted the commitment to be baptized! And he's been to Church before! Way cool!
We also started teaching someone who is the boyfriend of a member, menos activo, and he said he's never felt the same as he did when he attended the Church, and he commited to a date for baptism, too!
So, we didn't reach the goals we had set. But we really helped people to come unto Christ, feel His Spirit, and have that desire to get baptized. All in all, a VERY good week!

I also had the opportunity to give my first blessing in Spanish this week! The experience was amazing! And the Spirit was so strong in the room then. The words just kind of...not flowed, but as I focused on the Hermana that I was giving the blessing to, the words entered my mind, and I was able to struggle through the blessing. It was a blessing for her, but I feel it was also a blessing for me from the Lord to be able to give this blessing.

Well, we've got to get going. So much time, and so little to do! ...Wait, scratch that, reverse it. This is the start of a good week, and we're going to work until it is a great week!

I love you all soooo much! Thanks for all your prayers and support! They keep me going, each and every day!

Con amor, a infinidad - y mas alla!
Dev