Dec. 14, 2015

Querida Familia,

Holy Cow, lots of surprises in that letter! Thanks for letting me know what's happening at home, I love hearing about it even if it does make me a little trunky. Mostly it just makes me excited, I can't believe that the Kings are moving to Vanuatu! I was shocked as I read that! I hope y'all didn't go broke buying their life away! I am super excited for them! Tell them good luck for me and that I love them. Bro King was an awesome last seminary teacher! I'm glad to hear about Brandon and how things are going. Keep up the awkwardness; I don't want you to be married when I get home. Maybe all three of us could share a wedding in two years when I get home. Sure would help on the decoration expenses... I hope Brandon and Cristian find the right girls soon though! :)

This week was great as always and a little bit unexpected. I'm slowly but surely learning that things seldom if ever go as expected with anything. But it all works out pretty well in the end. The Lord is watching over us. This week one of our most solid investigators, Vanessa, got back with her boyfriend and stopped meeting with us. She didn't come to church on Sunday either, so we're very sad about that. I hope she starts coming back again soon.

On the other hand, two of our previous investigators who we thought we were losing are coming back super strong! Bernie and Damion, grandma and nieto, two of the very best people I've ever met. Bernie got to come to church and go to the adult classes for the first time two weeks ago, and ever since then she has been pursuing the gospel faithfully. I'm so excited for them, I wish you could meet them. Damion is only 8, but he has the spirit of a man. He is going to be a great leader in the future. He is already sharing the gospel with his neighborhood friends and they are starting to listen to us with their families. They truly are two of God's finest children.

Then we have solid Louis. He's 69 and is always there. He seeks after gospel knowledge more than any other materialistic possession on earth. I love watching his testimony grow as he reads and prays about the Book of Mormon. He is absolutely amazed by some things we take so often for granted being raised in the church. He is one of my favorite people on earth. Even if we stopped visiting with him he would still progress on his own and be baptized. He loves coming to church and our ward family is great for him. The members here are amazing. Such faithful saints! Many of them will stand through the tests we will all face in the near future. I just love the people in this area so much!

On another note, I'd just like to mention that this week we picked oranges at a members house. Needless to say, it's been a rough winter... ;) We've had about 4 or 5 days this whole winter that I've had to wear a sweater. Other than that it's been in the 70's and 80's and absolutely beautiful.

I had some hard times emotionally this week, but I was able to make it through with the help of the Lord. Sometimes I naturally start comparing myself to other people and that really makes things awful. I just try to remember that I'm not perfect right now but I can be someday. God still loves me and he will always be patient. I think that's where faith comes in. It's frustrating to be so imperfect right now, but if we trust in the Lord's promises, we know we can become perfect through Him over time. Just keep trying to look for Christ in the world all around you. In 2 Nephi 11:4 Nephi writes

"Behold, my soul delighteth in proving unto my people the truth of the coming of Christ; for, for this end hath the law of Moses been given; and all things which have been given of God from the beginning of the world, unto man, are the typifying of Him. "

Everything bears witness of Him, in the world around us. All we have to do is search and have faith; He will provide! I love you all so much and I'm super excited for these next two weeks! Have fun over the Christmas break and we'll talk to you on the 25th!