Email 1/9/12

It was a really really good week! This is a really good last transfer and it's making me really not want to go because all these amazing things are happening and time is going way to fast!! The last two weeks have gone soooo fast!! I'm starting to freak out a little bit. Luckily we are busy and it helps keep me pretty focused here...I love love love it here.

I have lots to write so if this doesn't make sense I’m sorry..

FIRST OF ALL>>>

So remember the crazy family I was teaching in my last area with the crazy parents and really cute kids? Well the last week I was there the mom freaked out on us and told us she didn't want us to teach the kids...mainly because she could see they were progressing. And that would mean her husband was winning...Anyway she told us we couldn't come over anymore and it made me heartsick because I love those little kids and worked so hard with them...SO the hermanas there called yesterday and that family called them back over and said they are letting the kids get baptized!!!!!!! President gave me permission to go to back! I am soooo happy!!! Miracle!! Can't wait.

“L”!!! Remember “L” I taught him for my last 7 months here he was the one who always cried and is really sweet and always gives us flowers and stuff? Love that man. He got baptized the week after I left and I went back for his baptism...Anyway HE IS DOING AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING! I can't get over it. He has changed so much! He is so happy and he's doing missionary work and is giving out book of Mormons and shares his testimony with everyone. He makes me so stinkin proud. The amazing thing is that while we were teaching him we could never get him consistently reading the BOM because he didn't read well. He never passed further than 3rd grade and he doesn't understand anything he reads and it takes him like 5 minutes for one verse. So we always used to go over and read it to him. So this guy “S” moved in with “L” so now “L” is less lonely but “L” gave him a book of Mormon and now we are teaching “S” (who is golden)...So we went to read a in the BOM and “L” volunteered to read it and he read BEAUTIFULLY! He can read now!!!!! He started bearing his testimony of how by reading a little bit of the BOM everyday has helped him learn how to read!!!! How amazing is that? I thought my heart was going to jump out of my chest I was so stinking happy that not only does he have such a strong testimony but he loves the book of Mormon and HE CAN READ!!! ”L” is almost unrecognizable from the day we first met him! And he comes to church in a white shirt. Also...we were asking him how he felt about having the priesthood and he said. Well I'm trying really hard to be worthy of it but sometimes I get mad...? SOOO CUTE. I never thought I would love 40 year old Mexican men like I do, but I really do. Lots of them. He's the biggest sweetheart ever. When he found out I was back in the area we showed up at his house and he had a dozen roses, a letter thanking me, a necklace and bracelet, and chocolates for me. He also has pictures of us all over his trailer...I am so thankful I have had the opportunity to know this amazing guy. Also we taught him some English, which has been hilarious. We taught him how to say "sweet" and "okie dokie"...Now he always says in. Rarely in the right circumstance but still it's cute. He text us the other night saying good night and said "oqi roque" he can't spell...

“P”- I also love “P” a lot. He wants to get baptized so bad but is having so much opposition. He had 3 women last week...this week there are 5! All these desperate women live at this apartment complex that he is the maintenance man for and they are all over him. This is going to sound weird. He’s a more attractive Hispanic and really outgoing and funny so we understand why all these women are all over him...so we call him everyday during his lunch break and read the book of Mormon with him ha-ha. He still is struggling giving up smoking. He's down to one a day. But I can tell it's hard for him he's shaky and anxious and fidgety and a little snappy. Sometimes I just wish I could take some of the opposition away. I really want to be here when he gets baptized...

AND “M” AND “F” came to church!! I have never been so proud of our little ward! So many of the members went up to them after and made them feel welcome! It was a really good Sunday. In Sunday school “B” (RC who we baptized back in June) bore his testimony about how he wants to do missionary work! I love when recent converts want to do missionary work it shows they are truly converted. “B” and his wife say they are coming to Utah to get sealed In June because they want to see the SL Temple. I kind of can't wait for that!

OHHH remember “H” and his mom “Y”? “H” is my little punk who I’m trying to get on a mission? Hma B and I taught him mom way back and she told us she wanted her records removed? Maybe you remember maybe not...But this will make Hma Barker happy- THEY ARE COMING TO OUR WARD!!!! “Y” hates Mexicans because she is from Guatemala and she thinks she is better than them so this is a big deal!!!! Also “H” is seeing the bishop!!

Tonight we are having a family home evening with all the single men we are teaching and recent converts. There should be 10. We're pretty dang excited. It’s sad how many 40 yr old Mexican men there are here that are lonely because their families are in Mexico. So we are getting them all together to make up their own little family. I will take pictures:)

It was a really good week:) I'm a happy lil missionary.

I LOVE YOU