November 2

Hey. This week has been super long and super tough. I dont want to complain, but really, I´m beat.
We have had really good success with a few of our newer investigators and their growth in their testimonies. And what that really means is that they got off their butts and decided to look for the God and the truth. That´s really the obstacle in the mission. Ya have to find the people who want or who are looking for Christ. They are the only ones that will do the things necessary to plant and grow a testimony. We had 5 investigators in the sacrament meeting this week, and we have about 17 lazies,or in other words, not coming to church. Right now I am trying to focus on finding the part member families, because most of them are inactive and they are a good source for references and people who will actually try to get a testimony. Ive been reviewing the Area Book and the membership lists and Im gonna get things together to search for them. A lot of missionaries are baptising jsut to baptise and the dont have much retention. In our area we have tons of inactive people and so I want to work with them a lot too. I dont want baptisms that turn into less actives the week after their confirmation. So, yeah.> MY companion is doing well. I really like him a lot. He´s from Idaho and is a farmer (with a 1000 acre farm). He talks like a farmer and Ive started talking like him because before him it was almost no English. But, we are working on his spanish, Im still teaching every lesson and all of the lesson, doing all the contacting and conversating, but we are progressing with him. I feel like I have two missions right now... Teach the people and teach my companion. Its hard to find time. Pray for me and mostly for him. He and I really are a lot alike, just not with spanish. Anyway, nothing more has happened. Still waiting on the lawyer for a marriage. We have another marriage date for the 20th, but they seem weak right now. We might put a few more baptism dates and a third marriage date, but we just have to help them find the money. That´s another huge obstacle. You find the ones who are willing to look for a testimony, and then they get the testimony, but dont have money for a marriage, a decent lock and door to protect their house, or money to buy the bus passes to church. Haha. Goodness. I cant beleive how much I have changed. Thought process, actions, words, etc. Everything is centered on the gospel and obedience. Did anyone read the message from President Monson in the Ensign about obedience? It was awesome. And the one by Scott on temples. Wow.> But, anyway, have a goood week.
Elder H. Smith