Last Week

Hello family and friends! This week we had an amazing baptism (all baptisms are amazing :) and let me just once again tell you all how much I LOVE this work! I wrote about Brother Totong the other week- but he is so awesome. He doesn't have a family of his own but he is relative to the 1st counselor in the bishopric here in 5th ward and was a member referral from their family. He works at their small store (called a "tiange") and seriously member referrals are the best thing ever!! I am so grateful that I was still here for his baptism (sister cruz was sad that she would miss it from being transferred) but I really can see this crazy potential in Brother Totong. I just know that one day he will be a leader in the church! He also is such an awesome example to his friends and loves to work with us when we go to teach them. For example yesterday (Sunday- after his confirmation) we visited him and a couple hours later he went with us to teach his friends (there's like 8 of them- investigators) and in the lesson I asked him if he would like to share his feelings and experience about baptism and he said "sis, I already told them all about I was so excited! they already know:)". It's so humbling to me to see these new members so excited about missionary work and I look back and think how many things I could have done differently to be a better member missionary before serving a mission. I was so oblivious! It is so powerful and simple to share with the people that we come in contact with and especially the people that we love and are close with about the restored gospel. "For what great reason have we to rejoice" as members of this church! I am so grateful to be a member of the true church on this earth and I am even more grateful for the testimony that I have of this church. From serving a mission (keep in mind I'm only 1/3 of the way done) I feel that testimony growing deeper and stronger every day and I know that the root of that growth is from daily scripture study and faithful prayer. I still have so much room to grow! But what I do know is that this is the way to gain a testimony of Jesus Christ and of His restored gospel. This is the way to know what Heavenly Father's plan is for His children and what we should do in order to have true happiness and eternal life! I see this excitement and growth in the people that we teach and I know that it is possible for every person to gain this testimony and conviction. I love you all so very much and I miss you all tons!! Thank you for your love and support! Things are still great here and it's now the rainy season! It's not allowed to swim but when the roads flood we don't have much choice!! :) No, I'm just joking (mostly) but at least we fixed our apartment so it doesn't flood any more! I will buy a new card reader later today so that I can send pictures next Monday!!! I am sorry this is such a short email but I don't know where the time goes! Until next week!!!