Letter from 3/5/2014

I do not think I will get transferred from Mao. It´s possible, but all signs point to me staying here. I think my comp and I will definitely be separated. 3 transfers is a lot. Haha. I will definitely keep an eye out for those missionaries. I had heard of Sister Wolf before the mission, but have yet to run into her. There is an Elder King in my zone from Dallas! It´s fun to have another North Texan around. I´m attaching a picture from our old district because I don´t have a new one but at least you can see my face! The other gringo is Elder Day. Check out the difference between my old and new pair of Oxfords! Haha. I am trying to use the new ones sparingly because I love them. Which reminds me... did Josh buy some Toms? Have him send a pic! Anywayyyyy...

Do you remember the family I mentioned who is preparing to be sealed? Well I was super happy for them, but it was still kind of this ¨now what?¨scenario. We weren´t sure how committed they were. Then Sunday happened. The wife of the spousal unit... because I don´t know how else to phrase it, haha... called us over with the bishop after Relief Society in church. She started to ask some questions about revelation, then told us that she had a dream that the four of us missionaries were having a family home evening, talking about being sealed. She said that she knew it was us, but it was like we weren´t ourselves and that God was talking directly to her. She REALLY wants to be sealed! It was a really amazing blessing, because I think this is what was missing. She had some doubts about it before, but she is all in and really excited now!!

Here are the parents of the family! They are a truly wonderful bunch of people. They have three daughters, ranging in age from college, high school, and eleven. Haha. I´m so eloquent and specific these days. I just took a picture here in the internet center. It´s coming next! Anyway, we also visit a less active brother who is a little older- probably between fifty and sixty- and this last time two of his friends were in his little sewing shop, a man and a woman. It was SO funny because I kept thinking that they reminded me of me, Ryan Davis and Jake Stolzer, but old and Dominican. Hahaha.

The brother who we normally teach will be active in the church again as of Sunday, as well as the family we are preparing to be sealed. Of the two friends of the seamster, one of them is an inactive member and the woman actually was an investigator back in the eighties. She knew about the church before both of them! We gave her a Book of Mormon and we have an appointment with all of them again this Friday. I have a really good feeling about her, especially. As far as studies go, I was reading in Hebrews 11 this week. There are some really interesting teachings about faith. You should definitely check it out if you can.

Just realized that I have crazy eyes in that picture. Haha. These are the bishop´s sons, Angel Luis and Juan Luis. Everyone is Luis in that family. Haha. The one in the striped shirt is Angel, who just got his mission call. Juan is still waiting for his call. Their other brother is currently serving in Mexico! I think a lot of the missionaries from here serve within the country, but I have also heard of calls to Mexico, Colombia and the US. I think Angel was maybe hoping for something more exciting, but as an American serving here, I know that he will be SUCH an awesome companion and huge help to the other missionaries who come here.

As for the house, here is a picture of the kitchen, shortly after moving in. It looks nice, but it´s kind of like living in a model home because things aren´t built well. We are still very happy to be living here, though. Elder Morey and Elder Jimenez came by today to check things out and see what we needed, so we are all good here. The water is special. We use a clean, empty trash can to collect water when it comes when we are showering. I usually wash my hair right away so I can rinse under the tap and put in conditioner. I use the collected water to wash the rest of my body and rinse a final rinse when the water comes around a second time. Haha. Only about a 10-15 minute process! Pretty impressive, considering it´s cold. Haha.

For fun, here is a picture of Elder Torres climbing a coconut tree! He is one of our zone leaders and serves in the same ward as me. His nickname is niño Torres because he looks like a giant 11 year old. He kind of acts like one, too. In a good way. Haha. He wants to have his own animal tv show in the future. I told him I would watch it every week. Haha. He´s going to study marine biology after the mission. We were in a district meeting and Elder Day started chasing him. Next thing I know, I hear the window behind me open and there is Elder Torres, peeking through. Hahaha. I promise we are good missionaries who work hard and behave! I guess that´s the missionary spotlight for the week. Haha.

No, we don´t have a water heater, it was all a ruse. Haha. But sometimes when I want to feel special I heat it on the stove. 

I have to go now, I didn´t get to try to order the scripture cases, so you can if you want. Haha. Ohhhh lands. I love you mom!!!