Well, this week has been quite action packed. For me at least, I don't know about you guys. I just asked what day it was and Elder Barlow told me the 4th, and then was like "woah . . . Labor Day." Then I was like "well, I know what MY family's doing," and images of the Olsen's pool, the Arnell's backyard, tables full of chips and Debi Dip,and cool California weather floated through my mind . . . mmmm . . . :P So what ARE you doing? I'll tell you what I've done today - played futbolito, went to get our blender fixed, put my clothes in to soak, and showered. Don't be TOO jealous!
Now in answer to your question about the mail . . . right now I'm reading the latest letter (we get mail tomorrow, at District Meeting (Tuesdays) that I've had for a week, dated August 12. Talks about how in every letter I talk about food, Sky coming home that day from EFY, etc. We receive our letters every Tuesday from the Zone Leader, Elder Stoddard, who receives a big pouch of mail every week for us (I don't know what day, but he goes into Valencia - the office - once a week, and probably picks it up there) in his zone. Also on Tuesday, we give all our letters we've written (we can only write on Mondays) to our District Leader, Elder Hunt, who I assume gives it all to Elder Stoddard who somehow gets it to Valencia. And in Valencia, they put ALL the letters from every missionary in a bag and mail it off via Zoom (kind of like UPS) to SLC. As for packages we get them every Zone Conference, which are once a month. This month's z.c. is at the end of September. Last ZC I only got the package from Mom, so we'll see if this ZC I'll have the one from Grandma. So I think that about answers that . . .
Well, let me describe my week. Last Sunday was my first Sunday with Elder Speirs, and everything went well at church, but we didn't have any investigators at church. Our mission leader of the Branch, Domingo Torrez, wanted to show us around Las Vegas, which is in our area now and where lives an investigator, Brigida, and her family. She's been investigating the church for about 3 months now, and has been through counless pairs of missionaries. Domingo felt that if he went with us to introduce us to her, we'd gain her confidence quickly. So Sunday we went to visit her,and also met her 18 year old daughter and her 17 year old son. Her husband is rarely home, so he wasn't able to meet us. So, we talked with her and did a quick review of the first charla, and left. That very night, we really felt [impressed] to set a baptismal date with her the next day, for that Thursday - 4 days after we'd met her. Luckily, she's [attended] church before a few times, and enjoyed it. But this would involve teaching 2 charlas a day for 3 days consecutively. But this is what we felt was right, so the next night we went over and taught the 2d charla, at the end of which we asked her to be baptized. She accepted right off, but we asked if we could all go into a private room and ask Heavenly Father if this was the thing to do. So she led us into a little room where we all knelt down, and starting with me, then Elder Speirs, then Brigida, asked our Father in Heaven if she should get baptized, and we all felt such a Spirit. To make a long story short, we baptized her last Thursday and saw her yestereday get confirmed. She's such an amazing person, such faith - she bore the sweetest testimony after her baptism, and also a dream she had. She was sitting down on a couch or sofa or something, feeling very tranquil, when she looked to her left and saw, sitting next to her, a young man dressed just as an LDS missionary. She didn't see his face but she knew it was a missionary, and heard a voice that said "They will lead you." The Latin people, as a people, have so many experiences with dreams like this. Even Elder Urena, my first comp in VA who's descendents come from Mexico, told me about some of his. But anyways, we've also set 2 baptismal dates this week and taught 14 charlas, breaking my 12 charla week record with Elder Penrod. Also yesterday, Jose y Jesus Avlar, father and son, received the Aaronic Priesthood! This is so amazing, seeing such progress in those who you've taught. It's fantastic!
Well, we've just [got] word that we have an interview with the President, and apartment inspections with his wife tomorrow, so I have to go and repent and clean the house real quick. :P Ilove you all so much. This is so true! Christ lives, and knows us. This I know.
Nick
P.S. Send me dark blue clothing patches please! Got a few rips in the rear and the side.
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