Artesia week 11

This week I did exchanges with Elder King down in Loving, NM. It was great.

That was super fun to see all that has changed for us over the last year. We were talking about how it was just over a year ago that Nadia got baptized. That's crazy to think about. Elder King also got to go to the temple this week with one of his recent converts that he had before I got to Abilene. That's the dream right there. I can't wait for that moment. I don't doubt that it would be the best moment of my whole mission to go to the temple and see Javier and Flo get sealed with their little kids. I also hear from another missionary that I know that Genero and Lupe are doing fantastic and strong. I wonder if they would let me go to the temple with them since I wasn't technically there when they got baptized. But I did teach them from ground zero and they ended up getting baptized right after I left on the date that Elder Banks and I set with them. That would be amazing. I hope so. 

Elder King is bravely spraying a wasp nest with some poison.

YOLO right? I should have gotten a video instead because you miss out on the screaming and running away after he sprays them.

Elder Nowland and I were at this lesson this week, then the guy we were teaching excused himself to go inside for a sec. He was there for like 5 minutes, so I got bored and took a picture of Elder Nowland.

Elder Nowland loves skating, so this week when we walked by the skate park in town we had to stop for a minute and get a picture.

HEEEYYY!!!! Thanks for the package! That was a great surprise! We absolutely love the rolo cookies. Elder Nowland says they are delicious. And those suits were a couple suits that I found in the apartment, but that I do not believe are quite missionary appropriate. Yet, they fit me and I think they are cool. So I am going to wear them after coming come. Newport looked like it was fun! I am glad Meg liked the shirt. That is awesome news about Rich. I haven't had a lesson at a members house in a while. They are doing a really good job at coming out with us though. In fact, yesterday we had 3 different members come out with us for an hour each. It was great, and we were able to get so much more done because of it. You have to have the support of the ward to work. This week we have been working on an assignment that we got from the Elder's quorum to visit some LAs. And Meagan's hair looks suuuuuuper long. Impressive.

Here I am enjoying the rain, but safely out of it.

We had to do some biking in the rain this week. I'll tell you what. I am grateful to be serving in the desert and that we hardly ever have to deal with the rain. I loved the rain at home. But as a missionary, it's no fun. It's a battle of keeping your scriptures dry, your clothes from getting dirty, and no one is outside anymore. 
 

Now for the highlight of the whole week. We went over to visit this less active lady this week, and her grandson who isn't a member answered the door. He told us that she was busy. But we were like, "hey that's alright, we'll just talk to you." And we did. And we ended up setting a baptismal date with him. He is 22 years old and his name is Harvey. He has a very sincere desire to change and repent. He has seen that sin isn't happiness (it never was, and never will be according to Alma). The only problem is that last night we found out he is on probation. Nevertheless, we don't know when he gets off yet, and I believe that we can still help Harvey make lots of changes he needs to before baptism.

We also got 2 other new investigators this week who we found while biking down the road. We stopped and talked to this couple, Jaime and Flora, who were drinking. They told us we could come back some other time and were really nice. I thought it was just the beer talking, but when we went back we had a fantastic lesson in  which they felt the spirit strongly and were excited to read the Book of Mormon. We haven't seen them since Wednesday since they weren't there on our next return appointment. But they are very promising, and we also have a lesson scheduled with Mike (this guy who lives with them) on Tuesday. They have very high potential.

No contact with Rita again this week :(  Sacrament attendance is estimated to be about 100 this week. Slightly less than usual. Nothing else big to report except that it is now the last week of the transfer.

I love you mom! I love you dad! I love you Meagan! I love you Courtney!