EMAIL... Week 6

Hola Peeps! 

Another week in this amazing place! We had a great week meeting with less actives, investigators, and members needing a lift. It's amazing that they let us in, whether we have an appointment or not, and sometimes it's better that we just show up. The Hermanas think they dog them, but won't hide if we're with them. We're the ancient ones, so they respect us. Ha ha! We've got them fooled! 

A huge milestone for me last Sunday for Fast and Testimony Meeting...I was able to bear my more elaborated testimony in Spanish without a paper. My abilities are progressing slowly, but our sons keep telling me that it takes time. I just started my in the field Spanish tutoring, so that should help a lot too. Thank goodness for the spirit, and for the kindness and patience of these good people. I am being put to the test today at our RS activity. I get to teach them how to make chocolate chip cookies, galletas de chispas de chocolate. Yes, I did bring chocolate chips and 2 of my big cookie sheets. I've made them and taken them to some of the Family Home Evenings we've done, and the biggest adjustment is the temperature in Celsius and a propane oven. Most don't have ovens, and some have cement ovens. Should be interesting! 

We went to the weekly Branch Activity on Thursday and the counselor in the District Presidency was in charge. He asked Lee what he had planned, like that was his responsibility.  Lee, of course, said he had a video on the Restoration, and that worked for the counselor. The church is on a huge, grassy, fenced in lot with a basketball/soccer cement field, so when the gates open, lots of boys come to play, like it's a park and to use the Internet, for which someone must of leaked the password. The counselor made them come in for the video. Some stayed through the whole thing, but most went back out to play.

We're hoping and praying that the baptism for an 8 year old girl goes through today. The Hermanas thought that neither of her parents were members, but the Branch President just found out that her mom is on the records. When we visited her last night, she was so excited to get baptized and hugged us both. She and her family now have to meet with the Branch President, so we'll see what happens.

Great lesson with a less active and his non-member friend. The spirit was strong and they both felt it. They suffer from what is a huge problem here, no job and not going to school. They have too much time to get into trouble. They worked at the church this week, painting and doing yard work, so hopefully that boosted their self-esteems and gave them some hope for a positive future.

We are so blessed to live in the United States and for the freedoms we enjoy. We can never take what we have for granted, as that is how we could lose it. Heavenly Father loves us and sees from the  beginning to the end. He has a plan for each of us, much better than we could plan for ourselves! How blessed we are to know Him and our Savior, and to have the faith in Them and understanding that we do!

Much love,
Elder and Hermana Koelliker