EMAIL... Week 8

Buenos Dias!

We hope this finds you all happy, well, and progressing! One of the highlights from this past week was taking cinnamon rolls to the guards around our neighborhood. They are so friendly as we walk the neighborhood for our morning excercise (yes, we still have to excercise). We wanted to thank them for their kindness, so we delivered the rolls with pass along cards. One is already a member and was so proud to tell us about his active family. Since most of them are packing heat, as Steve Gibson very well knows, we want to be on the right side of them. 

Last Sunday was also really great. The men had a priesthood training meeting last Saturday, and Lee talked to them about having the Hermanos actually use it. So instead of having one person do both blessings and one person pass the Sacrament, they had two different brethren do the prayers and two pass. It was awesome to see a recently activated priesthood bearer bless the Sacrament for the first time, and having just had a haircut to do it. They are so young in the Gospel that they don't fully understand the power for good they have and how to magnify it. It was wonderful to see how quickly they embrace elements of the gospel as they are presented to them. 

During Sunday School the Branch President pulled us out and asked us to take him to see the little man, who is dying of cancer. The man and his wife had requested that the Sacrament be brought to them, as he was too weak to come. It was so humbling to watch these worthy Priesthood holders kneel on the dirt floor by the man's bed and bless and then pass the Sacrament to these precious people. Lee was able to bless the bread. The Spirit was so strong! The Branch President also gave the man a blessing. I felt so blessed to be able to witness that special spiritual moment. The Sacrament is so real and such a privilege to be able to contemplate all that our Savior has done for us, recommit to do better, and feel His great love for each one of us!

Our visits are going well! We love & so appreciate the Hermanas. We love working with the investigators and less actives. Lee has taught a lot, and I am making brief and clumsy comments, but my prayers are improving and becoming more meaningful as I learn Spanish. We've got 2 young men, who are preparing for baptism. We get lots of bug bites at their houses, so I am resolving to bust out the 100% DEET. We were at Saul's last night and we heard a weird noise. We looked at their side wall that they share with their neighbors, covered with a plastic sheet, not really tarp quality, but more like the black garbage bags we have for yard trimmings quality. We could see a big bump moving under it...a rat. So grateful it didn't pop out! 

We're excited to do 5 Family Home Evenings next week and for our Branch Conference tomorrow. We get to make sack lunches for the group coming from a nearby town (30 minute bus ride), as they are part of our branch. We know that we're here for a purpose, and probably mostly to refine us. We love you all and pray for you daily!

Love,
Elder and Hermana Koelliker