Week 74: Excited For Jesus!

Y'all it got cold here! It literally went from 85⁰ to 40⁰ in one day. Now the highs are in the low 60's. I'm thriving because now I get to wear sweaters! The best article of clothing ever!

Our transfers got moved up to this Friday but we won't get news until Wednesday. Hopefully I don't get transferred. I've put way too much work into this area for that to happen. Plus I was asked to give a talk on Sunday so I kinda have to be here. #theygotmeagain

Michael's family no longer support him joining the church so he's been going through it but he's pushing forward. I'm so proud of him. He also asked me if I could baptize him. He's my homie for life now.

Speaking of baptism... my friend, Pascual, from Del Rio got baptized on Saturday! Aaahhh I'm so happy for him! Oh and remember Ryan who got baptized right before I left Del Rio? His mom is on baptismal date! 

We did a ton of tracting this week and found 7 new people to teach! One of them being Maria (this is where the title of my email comes in). When we knocked on her door and it seemed like she was going to turn us away but we striked up a conversation and started talking about how we all love Jesus so much! She even showed us this fancy Bible dictionary thing called "The Concordance". Maybe I'm just dumb but I had no idea what that meant haha. She kept saying that she's "excited for Jesus" and I loved it. Don't we all need to be a little more like Maria? 

I went on an exchange with Elder Harward in ghetto downtown San Antonio and it was fun! There were so many people to talk to on the streets. Our areas are complete opposites. It's crazy we're in the same district.

Funny story (well more like a really embarrassing story)... we went to stop by a lady who we haven't been able to get in contact with and when we got to the door I was about to knock but I realized it was one of those storm doors that is in front of the real door. So I decided to open it so I could knock on the real door but when I opened it I was surprised to see two people sitting on the couch watching TV (their actual door was wide open). They gave me a pretty disturbed look and I tried to explain myself but it didn't work out very well. Soooo yeah, that was super awkward. And the lady we were trying to find is their daughter who moved. 

Last night we were driving to a member's house way out in the boonies and I look over and see a Zebra just chilling in a field?? We were running late and it was kinda far away so I didn't get a picture. Sister Boerne made the best pork chops known to man though so that made it better. Also their house, despite being in the middle of nowhere, was so beautiful and they built it themselves. I wasn't too surprised though because probably about 90% of the members here have built or are renovating their own houses. It's crazy.

Remember Cindy and Tina from my last email? Yeaaahhh they broke up with us. They're still super nice to us but they decided they're not interested anymore. It happens.

Mario and April came to church for the first time though! I fasted for them so it made me really happy. I hope they keep coming and growing their relationship with Christ. 

My spiritual thought comes from Moroni 7 once again:

"45 And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—

47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen."

Charity is something I have been striving to learn more about and emulate. As Mormon states, charity is the "pure love of Christ" and it's something that we should seek for and ask God to help us posses. Charity isn't a single act but a way of living and thinking. It is the kind of love Jesus Christ perfectly exemplified and is required to enter God's kingdom. I invite y'all to think of ways that you can have more charity in your life! 

Pics!

☆ The district

☆ The Poteet water tower (they call this town the strawberry capital of Texas) 

☆ Michael found the perfect dress for his baptism hahaha

☆ The view from the apartment on my exchange