April Something 2001

Dear Family,

I never know what to say right off . . . I always get stuck for a few minutes at "Dear Family . . ." I guess I'll just start right off. :)

. . . Heck I don't even know what to say . . .

Well, this last week was "Semana Santa," which means that the Catholic Church does lots of traditional stuff to commemorate the death and resurrection of Christ. They've ben parading through teh streets with crossed and the locals all make effigies of Judas and ask people for money for Judas, then culminate the week with the beating and lighting on fire of the life-sized Judas dummy, which took place last night. Unfortunately, I was unable to see any burnings because we didn't venture to any of the backroads last night. Bummer :(

I got pourch Thursday, because our Zone Leader had a conference in Valencia. Oh, about him and pouch. He really doesn't have anything to do with sending it off. He sends Elder Gleed with the mail to send it off before lunch every Tuesday, so it always gets sent to the office every week.

The work right now is doing well, despite the low dats that we're getting. The President has given us newer and ever harder goals as Standards for the mission. 40 charlas (12 of which have to be between charlas 2 and 6), 75 contacts, 10 references, 4 splits, 4 people in church, and 1 converted family weekly (baptized and confirmed.) They're extremely high but they do give me a lot of hope. You see, as standards of the mission, if we don't achieve every one of those dats weekly we're being disobedient which means that both the Lord and President know that we can definitely achieve these goals, which means that there will be so many more people baptized and confirmed in these coming months/year. What a blessing it is to know for someone that after having been baptized and confirmed, every single one of their sins is undoubtedly washed away and forgotten before the eyes of God the Father and Jesus Christ. How amazing is that? Senor Pernia, patriarch of a family that we'll baptize on the 28th, calls baptism a "buen aferta" a "great deal." And besides this family of 3, we also have planned to be baptized on the 28th Billy and a little old lady called Maria, and then for the following week we have at least 2 more people who will be baptized. Such a great blessing to be able to give people the chance to be baptized.

Well, I kind of ran out of stuff to say . . . I have a a sweet game to teach Skyler when I get home, it's called "Espadas." Well, I guess I'll talk to you guys on Mother's Day. I don't know for how long we'll have to talk. I assume that we'll find out on the 18th because it's Zone Conference. Also, there are changes the 3rd of Mayo, so I may be changed. Chao! Love, Nick.