Dec 2 2013

Hola mi familia y amigos,

Well first apparently thanksgiving was this week and not the one before, but I already made a thankful list so I don't have to be thankful until next year! 

This week has been really good. The numbers of lessons is growing every week which is incredible, and even better, familia Velasco attended church this week! They are so dang close and I am so happy they could come. This week I have learned a lot about commitments and how important it is that people do so that they can know. We have one investigator who is very serious about reading and praying with a specific question. Those kinds of people are always hard to find because people have a hard time understanding what we are asking them to do. When we invite people to pray to know Joseph Smith was a prophet they say ¨Pray? Of course Ill pray! I pray everyday!¨ But they don't pray to know if he was a prophet. Or sometimes they think Joseph Smith is a Santo and they have to pray to him. We have to explain commitments so clearly so that people actually receive answers. This investigator was not interested in getting baptised at all, but she understood what we were asking her to do and she did it. She now believes Joseph Smith was a prophet but still doesn't want to be baptised. But we asked her to pray to know if baptism is the right choice for her and she said she will. And I know if she could receive an answer about Joseph Smith she can receive an answer about baptism. Good stuff is happening! It is a good thing that The Holy Ghost does all the work or nothing would ever happen.

I made a goal for myself this week to just say what I would say in English when I am teaching and not repeat phrases in my lessons. So my Spanish feels like it got worse this week but I feel like I will be a better teacher because of it. I sure hope someday I know what the heck I am doing.

Oh and a few people have asked about this monkey that lives in our yard and I think it is about time I gave more detail about him. One morning like 6 or 7 weeks ago I was eating breakfast at my desk and I hear this weird squeaking noise outside the window. I looked up and there was a monkey hanging upside down outside the window watching me eat. I would have sent pictures forever ago but I don't actually have one yet. Every time I try to take a pic he runs away. I'm pretty sure he knows because if we leave the door open he will run into our house and laugh and stand on his head while I scramble for my camera and then will run out. He also loves to torment the dog that lives below us which is always very funny. But I have made a goal to get a pic of him before I move out, I don't know how but I will do it. I don't know if he has a name but I usually refer to him as ¨that stupid little monkey¨. The war continues!

Thanks for all your support and examples. You guys are great! 

Pic- Me and Familia Velasco

Mi Familia,

Dad- I finally started speaking with subjunctive like 2 weeks ago, it took me forever to figure it out. Now I am trying to understand all of that se lo garbage. I got part of my Christmas package but not all of it.

Mom- I understood everything except for the part about pudding pies. Va a tener que explicar. 

Audrey- It seems like all our parents say about you is that you party every night.

Ian- Even if you have to be commanded to write letters I still appreciate it. When does the hobbit come out?

Alicia- No funny quotes this week?

Isaac- I finally saw your Ecuatoriano twin this week after like a month in a half 

I miss you and I pray for you everyday.

¡Yo sé que el Evangelio es verdadero!