Week 20

Hie-de-ho, there, familia!!!!

It's great to see things are going so great (Minus for the stressing, but that'll pass as the test passes...and then there will be more tests...anyway, great to hear about Outback! Sounds like everything went AWESOME-ly, especially with the Aussie-style fries! I love those things! And the bread is AMAZING!

And especially, thank you so much for Elder Lowe's address! I've been wanting to write to him and see how he's doing. It looks like he's out in Florida for right now. Hopefully, if he's waiting on his visa, it'll come through in a bit!!

And Stake Young Men's Secretary for dad?! I'll bet he's really excited for that! He gets to work with the youth again, in one manner or another! Just (almost) like olde times!!

Things seem to be a-changin': Justin's probably not too excited for braces OR wisdom teeth. Has he talked to you about it at all? I sent him a letter this past week. Do you think he might write back? I'm really wanting to hear how he's doing. We talked just fine at home. A letter is just putting those words on paper. Hopefully, everything goes well with the wisdom teeth. Tell him I love him! And best of luck with the wisdom teeth and braces! I need to see some pictures if he eventually gets them put on!! And I'll be sending some pictures down here, too, in this week or the week coming.
Sorry about that cold, Kaytlin! I have been working on getting over one, too. Hopefully, it's not too bad, and it's almost gone. How's the soccer going? Still playing goalie at a game or two?
hahaha way to go, Kristin! Filming AND costumes! I remember a couple of those times that we filmed and got into costume, like Brad with that 'Popcorn' video, or dressing up for some of the more intense 'Ninja Training Camp' episodes. I'll bet you had a lot of fun!!

Wow, looks like things are busy outside the immediate fam, tambien! How do Amy and Jimmy like the fact that Kylie is coming back so soon? And when did they first have their exchange student move in? Has Collin been there for a while? Does he speak English pretty well? What language do they speak in Belgium? French, right?

Then school's going to get even busier! Don't worry, though: You're going to do great on your mid-term. Just study hard, and pray beforehand. But it sounds to me like a really good plan of action, school-plan-wise! You've always been interested in education - and the 'intreaguing' things about society...mainly the people we all run into. If you could see some of the people we've run into out here! Not that they're bad, or weird, or anything like that. It's just that each and every day brings new experiences, and exposes me to some type of person I haven't encountered before. And with billions of people here on the earth, there are billions and billions of thought patterns and philosophies that are always really interesting to hear. But even though they're interesting to hear, it's an interesting feeling to know that the message we carry is one that can bless them not just in this life (though we are blessed beyond measure for our obedience to God), but in the life to come. I'm especially looking forward to the blessing of an eternal family. I need to learn how to explain that better in OYMs, because that's incredibly important and unique to the Church of Jesus Christ. His Church. The One and Only.

Before I forget: I did get the cookbook, from the mission office. Maybe we just accidentally threw away the notice that we had something in the front office. I'll have to check when I get back. Usually if we see a pile of advertisements in our mailbox, we just toss them in the garbage. I think now I'll check through, first. Journal-wise, I have one up here that I'm going to start, so for right now - I don't think I need a new one yet. Lorenzo...we haven't talked to him since, but he wasn't very open the first time, so we're spending more time trying to find and teach the people who have been prepared by God here. Luis had a baptismal date for yesterday, but alas! He didn't come to Church the Sunday before, so we had to move his date to the 30th of October. And now we may have a problem, because we didn't realize we were going to have a Halloween party/baptism. The wards in the building are going to be throwing a Halloween party that same night. Maybe we can move his baptism up if he gets to church 2 more times, and has the true desire to go.
My companion's been great. He's been helping me to open up and talk more (which I've had a big problem with here - especially during lessons and when I'm frustrated at the apartment). He's a really cool Elder, and he's been handling the stress of District Leader well. I don't know how he does all that he does! But somehow, he does it, and things turn out alright in the end!

And let's see, the mission in general...The mission is a great experience! I don't think there is anything in this world that could compare - and maybe even in the universe - to the work we're doing. Where else do you get to wake up each and every morning, with the spiritually-confirmed knowledge from God that we're going out into the world to bring God's children back to Him? No one else has this ability, other than this Church. And it's amazing to see the change in people when they realize it, too.
That doesn't mean it isn't tough, frustrating, or discouraging sometimes. There have been days when I just don't feel I can go on, and that I'm ready to give up. But then something comes into my mind that helps me to keep going. The Spirit moves me to pick myself up and continue the work of the One who has sent us here. Very frequently, the Lord reminds me of my inadequacies in teaching, in Spanish, in talking to people...but then he helps me get through it. A huge help has been my companion, Elder Neilson.
Oh, and we do have transfers next week. The transfer has flown by far too quickly!! So if you send a letter this week to this address, I'll get it by Friday or Saturday. And then on Monday I can let you know if I'll be getting transfered, and if the letters need to be sent to the mission office until I can give you my new address. We'll see. I love this area, so...we'll see.

During the week! Some great things were a'happenin'!
After an appointment with someone named Donato (Almost one of the Ninja Turtles!), we got stuck behind a stopped train that was having some mechanical problems, so it was stopped, blocking traffic between Richmond and Rosenburg for about an hour. We were trying to get to another appointment, but we couldn't cross the tracks (illegal AND a bad idea). So we talked to some people in the infinitely long line of cars that was waiting to go across. We talked to one guy (a Pastor - Yes, there are SO MANY over here) that asked us a lot of questions about how he can be saved. Surprisingly, he wasn't as argumentative as some of the other pastors we've run into here 'abouts. He gave us a card for the address of his church, and told us to stop by. That'll be sometime this week, so hopefully we get the chance to see him!
Someone else we talked to we think was the reason why the train stopped. A lot of people were calling us over to their cars to find out what was going on. One of these people called us over, and eventually asked what we did as missionaries. This hombre and his wife had a lot of questions. She was studying with the Jehovah's Witnesses, but didn't seem too fond of them. As soon as we got their address (here in town) the train started moving again. We walked with the car for a bit, trying to set up an appointment with Frederico (the hombre in the car). We'll see how it goes this week!!!!

Well, I've got to his the road. I've loved hearing about everything going on over there! There's always something new, it sounds like!!

I love you all SOOOOOO MUCHO!! A infinidad - Y mas alla!!!

Love,
El Devinator