Nov 10, 2014

Como estan ustedes? So yesterday was Sunday the 9^th of November. That means that it was my 2-month anniversary of being away from home. Wow, it feels like a year. I'm having a lot of fun so far. We've had two baptismal services so far but I haven't done the baptism yet. I have given quite a few priesthood blessings though. It's been great being here. I know more Spanish than I ever have before. But I'm not very good still. Haha. It's coming along though. I am half way through my first transfer. That was quick. It felt like just yesterday I arrived in Bolivia and didn't know any Spanish.

Mom-I am crying in a public internet place while reading your email so be happy. I'm so glad that blessings are coming to the family.  I have included some pictures.  This is my kitchen with no microwave, dishwasher, toaster, oven or anything. I love it. We live on the second floor. Our house is actually 6 different rooms with keys for every room. It's pretty fun.  These two other guys Misael and Darwin are about to send in their mission papers. 

There are 6 Elders in my district. Elder Woolf, my comp, is our District Leader. There are 14 Elders and 4 Sisters in my Zone.  For breakfast I eat a healthy Ice Cream shake every morning. Milk, frozen bananas, wheat bread and oatmeal. The frozen bananas make it thick like Ice Cream.

If you want to send me packages find stickers of the virgin Mary and stickers of Jesus, that helps. Put them everywhere. Especially across the seams where you open the boxes. Colored duct tape helps too because they can't really cut it open and then make it look like it hasn't been touched. Then you gotta pray that I get it. The mission home is where you should send the package as well as letters.

I want to share a story this week. Power comes from emotion. I was on an intercambio this last Thursday with my Zone Leader. We taught two lessons on tithing and I hadn't taught a tithing lesson until then. I didn't know what to say or apply. Then some thoughts came to mind. One lesson I learned after we left, that the son was needing an operation this coming week. He has an infection in his throat and it's affecting his bones somehow. While in the lesson I was given the opportunity to talk or bear testimony. I bore testimony of when we were struggling financially, we couldn't do all of the things that we used to do and we were in debt. I said that I remembered that my parents were paying tithing. I thought, "Why are you giving money away when we need it?" I started crying while bearing testimony. But then our family was able to get back on track with money. I bore testimony that I knew that paying tithing saved us. They all readily accepted to pay their tithing. The lady never mentioned her son's upcoming operation. I found that out afterwards. That night at planning with my Zone Leader Elder Wilkinson he told me, "I know they accepted to pay their tithing because of your testimony." Personal experiences are the biggest conversion factors even if it's for members. We all need to be converted on a daily basis.

I love all of you and I have prayed for every single one of you in every single prayer that I have said since being here. I'm always thinking of you guys. May God bless you in all you do.