Letter from April 16, 2012

How are you? Things are going great!! Koewarasan is great. It has been tough. But I am trying to stay positive and do my best on a day to day basis. Like Elder Espen Earl once said, We can do hard things one day at a time. And I am trying to live by that. Elder Grange is the man. We get along great and we both have a desire to change this area. It has a bad rep for being the dead area. For being an area of little success, but we are determined to change that. It has been hard but so rewarding. We went out witt the young men the other day, and one of them, Jamien, contacted three young women that were in church that same week. They are now excited about the Gospel and are excited to come back to church. These members are awesome. There aren't very many but they are awesome. They are truly committed to the gospel, and are willing and ready to work with us.

So I am going to be singing when President Gamiette comes this weekend. In Spanish. I guess it is only appropriate. But I am excited. Elder Fuenzlida and I are going to be singing a duet. But other than that we have just been working hard to do all that we can to be the best that we can. Being obedient and striving to do all that is asked of us.

I am so glad that you were able to attend Abuelita's funeral. I wish I too could have been there. I loved her even though I didn't know her well. She was a loving kind little lady. I dont have much to write today. I am sorry that this letter is short today.

Letter from 04/02/2012

So this week was amazing!! Not only did we hear from our beloved Prophet, Thomas S. Monson and the other men called of God!! But we had TWO baptisms!! And I baptized them!! It was so amazing mama!!
I loved it!! Ah, I cant express my feelings of gratitude. Jasmina and Ritish are amazing!! I truly do love them and it was such a miracle to be able to help them come closer to their Heavenly Father. As I have slowly begun to understand the gospel, I now know how important it is to be baptized and to make covenants with our Father in Heaven. And helping someone else to make this step is trule and honor. I will send photos next week!!

So I am being transferred......After 7 months I am making my final address as an Uitkijk Elder. And my heart is filled with such sorrow. I truly do love these people. I love their families. And I love the experiences that we have shared together. I have loved blazing through Uitkijk's jungles to find lost referrals. I have loved the different smells and tastes of what they call "wild meat"!! This is my home. And I feel so sad having to leave. At the exact same time I couldn't be more excited for the things to come. I am headed to Koewarasan to work with Elder Grange. And I know there is something that we need to do together. Someone that needs the gospel and someone that needs us. The members are great there. And I feel truly blessed to be able to serve them. I love my mission. I love these people And I love this Gospel! I just got a email from Nick Sessions! It brings such a joy to my heart knowing that my brothers are serving the Lord. That they are giving of themselves to be amongst others. This Gospel is perfect and it perfects us. That is truly the greatest blessing we can receive as missionaries. A testimony of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. A testimony of restored priesthood power and a modern day prophet. I love it. There is absolutely nothing better in the whole world.