Dear Everyone,
I hope that everyone had a great fourth of july! Things down here in the south are going pretty darn good. As always, spanish is going good. Teaching is a blast. The food is great. The cockroaches are fantastic (I dont think I ever mentioned that there are cockraoches.....everywhere! haha). Mom I put your birthday present in the mail along with a some other stuff. Sorry that took so long. So this past week has been crazy. We talk to a Pentacostal pastor who had read half of the book of mormon and told us we were false. It wasnt the funnest experience ever but its all good. We actually had him read Mosiah 10:3-5 and I felt the spirit come in as he read it and I testified that this was true and that he had felt something different as he read. His face changed a little and he looked at Elder Porter and I and told us that we had gifts of the holy ghost and a desire to preach and should join his church. We said no that we could not deny the truthfullness of the book of mormon and this message. The whole conversation I believed that something we would say would change his heart but it didnt. It was one of those experiences where I was reminded that everyone has there agency. This week i was able to go on exchanges with Elder Evans from Nevada which meant I got to ride a bike again:). We actually were riding our bikes and passed some guy and Elder Evans stopped to talk to him (I accidentally ran into him because he stopped so abruptly haha). We talked to him on the side of the road and committed him to baptism right there which was awesome. Later that same day we had a lesson with a lady named teri and her son tez. I dont remember if I told you about them but they literally have the exact same story as me. Terri was with a guy who ended up stealing her 3 kids from her and she didnt get them back until about a year ago (over 10 years). Terri is going to be baptized but Tez said no because he feels like God has made him suffer in his life. The lesson was really great and I was able to share a lot about what had happened to me with Tez to help him out. I want to check with my mission president and see if I can give you Terri's address, mom, because I thought of you. So the 4th of July was pretty festive. Elder Porter and I put an American flag in our car and gave out cookies to families in our area. Not to many Hispanics are to pumped about the 4th of July haha. It actually rained just about the whole day on the rain which I didnt mind because I love the rain. We actually talked a lot with the leaders in our branch because we literally have to revamp the whole branch. We have to get all the lideres on the same page with the ward mission process because our ward mission lider hasnt really done that (but that's ok because we have the help of Heavenly Father!). So the coolest thing happened the other day...we found an investigator of ours after about 3 weeks or more of not being able to find or get a hold of her. We went to her work and she said she was sorry and was really busy these ppast few weeks. We taught her a quick lesson and asked if she still wanted to be baptized...she said YES. We asked why and she basically said becuse it will help her. Talk about miracles after miracles. Quick thing: we had dinner with a member names Hno Aguinada. He is the most humble man ever. We asked him what he wanted before he went back home to his family in El Salvador and all he wants is to share his testimony with those that have fallen away from the church in our branch. I just about cried right there. Such a righteous desire and sweet humble man. I know that there is power in love. I testify that we can love those around us through the help of our Savior. Missionary work does not end when my two years are up. This is a life long thing that I am so happy to be a part of. Find time to go teach with the missionaries or invite them to teach in home with an investigator. I testify that you will be blessed in so many ways. I love you all and testify that there are people waiting to hear this gospel all around us.
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