9 DINNER APPOINTMENTS

I love hearing from you guys and that the ward is doing missionary work back home! That’s great because a lot of the members in Utah don't even worry about it when it is the most important thing! I am glad that you guys had fun in Hawaii too! But Tell Grandma Goodman that I love her and that I hope everything goes well with her eye surgery.

But this week has been pretty normal. Just working hard and trying to find more people to teach! We had 9 dinner appointments so that was a ton to eat. We have to eat so much to make the Members happy but I love that! I am so grateful that we always have food and that we also can spend time with the members! I am loving the ward so much! Oh and it is -25 windchill so the schools are closed again, it is so cold! I love everything so much! This week is short because it was just a pretty normal week! But tell Stephanie thank you for the letter and that I will write her back as soon as I can! It made me so happy to get something from her! I love you all so much! Have a great week!

ROSALBA'S BAPTISM

I asked Elder Dussan and he said that he is from Bogata North which is right by the temple! But you guys are so lucky to be in Hawaii in the warm weather! I was just laughing about when we went to Hawaii a few years ago and I flew home early for the championship football game with Dad hahaha! But yeah I got the package and I was confused about he tie because I didn't see one in there but I love the keyboard I! It makes everything so much faster and easier! Now I don't have to type everything on the ipad #firstworldprobs. I love that you got fried on one side! Classic Newport for all of our family haha.

But this week has been great! We had another baptism on Saturday! It was the lady, Rosalba, who Elder Gomez and I were teaching and then asked for the sisters. I was so happy to hear that she was going to get baptized because it made me feel so much better about her asking for the sisters to teach her! I was so happy to hear the news and then earlier in the week we got a call from the sisters and she had asked if I would baptize her! I was so happy I was going to start doing cartwheels in the middle of the street but Elder Dussan told me not to. So on Saturday her and her son were going to get baptized and when they showed up the son didn't want to get baptized anymore so it was just the mom.  My heart was so full of love for them and The Lord! I had to baptize her twice because I accidently messed up on one of the words so I felt kind of bad but hey she is baptized now and has the gift of the Holy Ghost! I never realized how important this gift is that we have because investigators are always like it is hard to understand the scriptures and then when you guys come and are teaching it makes them seem so simple.  This is because we always have the spirit with us and the spirit testifies directly to our needs in the way that we most effectively learn.  I love Rosalba and her son so much! One thing that made me so grateful that during their baptismal interview, we went with the district leader and his companion because they needed another man, the sisters were talking to the son and were reviewing the questions with him and they asked him what God means to him and he responded that he means so much to me because he's like my dad right now because I don't really have one! It was the shortest but most sincere testimony I have ever heard. I am so grateful for you guys all as a family, especially dad and Sam too for always having the priesthood in our home! I never knew how important it was until I got here and I am going to do all I can for the rest of my life to live worthy of it so my family can live worthy of it too.  My heart is so full of thanks for them and for The Lord right now in my life. I know this gospel is true!

But Liz and Oscar found a dog the other day outside in the snow and it is so cute! It is just a baby and it looks just like Carol! The girls named it tiny Browny and it is funny because their other dog Butterball looks like a mix of Kev and Box so it makes me feel like I am right at home! I took a picture with it, and don't mind the hair because I just barely took my beanie off.  But I hope that you have a great time in Hawaii. I love and miss you guys but there is nowhere else I would rather be! Oh and me and Elder Dussan are staying together again this transfer.

Rosalba's Baptism 

BAPTISM IN THE WINDY -- BELOW FREEZING -- CITY

We are supposed to stay inside all day but we may run to the Church so we can be with some of the missionaries! I always cover myself to keep warm!  The only part of my body you can usually see is my eyes.  We will be safe - don't worry.  But I will send a better email in a little while!  Love you!

Okay so we are at the church now! We made it just fine! I wore two hats, a scarf, my big coat, a sweatshirt, sweats, long johns, 2 pairs of socks and my long gs.  -40 below isn't as cold as you would think it is haha. We played sports at the church for a long time today and are going back home to rest!

But I loved your pictures. That is so nice that Kev let you and dad sleep in her bed, such a sweet dog.  And I think that is one of the first times I have seen Dad in a suit in forever! But I would love to meet up with Jim if I can! But yep I made the Christmas cards! It took me like 10 minutes to do I just went to Walgreens and had them done on one of our p-days! I also have a funny Christmas card that I just haven't sent you guys yet, it is written and sealed and stamped I just need to send it.

Liz's baptism was amazing! It was funny though because our ward mission leader doesn't really help us that much and our bishop gave him the keys so we were waiting before the baptism at the church to fill up the font and he arrived late so we were stressing out that the font wouldn't be full and that we wouldn't have the jumpsuits because they are both locked. Finally he gets to the church and we are like thank goodness but we still need to hurry. He is sitting there for a second and then he is like I forgot the keys in my temple pants because all of the members go on Saturdays to the temple here. I am so stressed so the other missionaries helped us take off the locks for the font so we basically broke into it and luckily he had another key for the jumpsuits. After that though the baptism went great! Her husband did baptize her and it was amazing! Oscar's dad confirmed her on Sunday and we were talking to her after and she was like today is the happiest I have ever been! She said she was overwhelmed by the spirit and that she could feel it enter her when she was confirmed. We reminded her that that feeling is hers forever now! It was absolutely amazing and it was nice for our other investigators to see! President and Sister Woodbury came too.

And then yesterday I was fasting for help to find new investigators and then one of our part member families walked in! The husband (the investigator) had been out of town for all of December and he finally came to church! It was an answer to my prayer and he looked up all the scriptures during the classes and his son got ordained the priesthood! It was a miracle!

Everything this week has been so great! Love you guys all! I will send some pictures in a few minute too when I am back on my iPad.

ELDER DUSSAN, LIZ AND OSCAR AND FAMILY, ELDERS EICHERS AND GOMEZ

ME AND MY DAD WITH OUR FAST SUNDAY TIES ON FOR OUR FIFTH FAST SUNDAY: