Hereford week 2

I have made a new goal: Take a picture by all the cow statues in town. There are a ton. And here's my first. In the following weeks, be on the lookout for more.

As you know, over here in Hereford life is all about those darn cows. Check it out, even the Moooovie theater is utterly decked out.  

HEY FAM! Wow! Exciting news! Las Vegas Spanish for Ryan huh? That sounds like lots of fun. Elder Nielson went to Las Vegas for a little while before he went off to Brazil. Does Ryan know about that? Spanish stateside is the way to go. It's hard to be a master at the language, and you have to be REALLY dedicated to be good at it. I got that painting while in Pampa from Sis Yates (the friend of Diego and Janie). Pretty sweet picture huh? And I hope you didn't open the other package already because courtney's birthday present is in there, along with a couple other things.

Sorry if I didn't respond to any of your questions if you sent some in your letters, but I haven't gotten any for this week yet. But it seems like mail can be decently fast because I did get a super snack stuffed box from Grandpa and Grandma Coats this week, so tell them thank you!

Now just a little more about Elder Walker. So, his mom is Dominican and his dad is white. Therefore, he didn't learn Spanish growing up. So, we're both still in the same boat for learning Spanish.

One day we were walking down the street and saw this cool hot wheel car embedded into the tar on the road. Surprisingly, we just took it right out like a piece of cake.

Just a couple of us Mormons on Moreman street.

 How studies go when you spill on your slacks

We went to teach one of the recent converts Josh. He works over at the pool, which in the summer is an outdoor pool, but right now it's some crazy bubble greenhouse contraption. I've never seen anything like it, so I had to get a picture inside.

Only in Texas do you find a mailbox shaped like a pistol

Now for our investigators this week. Tina has been doing really well. For the last 3 months she has not had a single Sunday off of work. But we all started praying really hard for her to get Sunday off, so that she could make it to church this week and...... she got it off! She made it out to church and loved it. She's still set for being baptized on May 3rd. So keep praying for her that her schedule can loosen up and that she can be free for church on Sundays.

Saul wasn't able to make it to church this Sunday. His family went out to Amarillo for Easter. Man, up in Pampa it seemed like everyone was always going to Amarillo on the weekends, and it's the same for Hereford too. But we were able to see him and have a good lesson nonetheless.

We picked up 2 new investigators this week: Joe and Silvia. Silvia is Sergio's mom. Remember me telling you how Sergio is always coming out with us and always telling his friends about the gospel? Well, his mom and really seen how joining the church has completely changed her son's life for the better. Last Sunday she came to church and told us she wants to be baptized. Pray for her to overcome her addiction to smoking. She has a sincere desire to stop, but like anything that you've been doing for most of your life, it's hard to suddenly stop and change. Joe is Sergio's friend. Sergio told us how one night this last week he was walking down the street and saw a dark figure coming his direction. He knew it was Joe before he could see who it was and the Spirit told him that Joe needed the gospel. So, Sergio took us over to Joe's place this week and we had a sweeeeet lesson. Joe is a really nice guy. He has a good heart. He's had some rough times (like everyone right?), but he was able to feel the spirit really strongly, as we all were (including our recent convert Josh who came to the lesson too). At the end Joe told us how he was about to leave for a party, but then he felt he should wait a little longer at home before heading out. Then we showed up. He said there was some positive attitude and vibe just exuding out of us that he could feel. So, moral of the story? Always be positive. That's the whole point of the gospel! And people notice it!

I counted our branch attendance this week and there were roughly 75 people there. The building in general is smaller than Pampa too. But, I hear the numbers have slowly been growing here in Hereford as well. Elder Walker and I did an interesting calculation this week: If every year, every single active member brought 1 person into the church though baptism, and then the next year those recent converts did the same... then in only 9 years every single person on the planet would be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. President David O. McKay said that it should be every member's goal to bring one person to the waters of baptism every year. Possible? Certainly! It could sound daunting, but if you break it down into small simple goals/steps, everybody would be a rocking missionary. So get to work everyone!

There you go. I hope you like my motivation speech. But, it's all true. I love you mom! I love you dad! I love you Meagan! I love you Courtney!