Hey there mi familia,

How are things? I got some interesting pics this week of Mom being eaten by an elephant in Thailand and Lisa with her evil chubby-cheeked hamster twin. Lisa, I hope you're feeling better. I am. I was snuffelupagusin'(new verb) this week and hiding under my covers wasting copious amounts of our worlds irreclaimable, precious kleenex resources. About two trashbags worth. We still went to a couple of appointments, but I was on Benadryll and they were more like member lessons with missionaries present.

Our ward mission leader called Friday, since my brain was dead and hadn't called him in a few days and he asked if I needed a blessing. He brought another young man prepping for a mission and they gave me a priesthood blessing that evening. As well as oranges from his wife. I love Brother Tonga. He's like the missionaries' little island grandpa. I slept like a rock that night and am feeling a lot better this week.

Let me tell you about our ward mission leader and his role in the historyof Independence. Brother Tonga and his wife moved here in '62 before any other Polynesian. A few family members quickly followed, such as the Ahmu's who helped build/design the New Zealand temple. He was the bishop of 3rd ward for years and years, which I personally believe is why 3rd ward is so much bigger than all the others. He knows absolutely every less active in every single ward. He's retired now and is THE OTHER full time missionary. He actually requested to be ward mission leader. He and his wife have donated the upper/main floor of their house to the A.P.s to live in. They live in the basement. We started teaching an older man this week, whose wife died a year ago. She was LDS. Less active. We were talking about what to teach him next in correlation and of course he knows Brother Tonga. Everyone does. This is why we love him. When I grow up, I want to be Brother Tonga.

The Midwest is a surprisingly multicultural place if you haven't caught that from other letters. I think because the cost of living is cheap and there's lots of construction jobs, etc. I feel like I've been called toMexico, Central America, Tonga, Korea, Eastern Europe... I talked to a Korean lady in the laundrymat today for 15 minutes about Kim chi and the beaches at Pusan and Kia mini vans. And how to properly pronounce the words I remember in Korean.

The elders from Kansas City brought in an investigator from Kansas City and he was as shiny gold golden as golden gets. Anyway, it gave me renewed hope for finding someone here that prepared for the word. There's not Spanish missionaries in that area, so the elders have just been having teamups translate, but to teach the commandments before baptism, I think they wanted just missionaries present. Guess who gets to translate? ...and it's my favorite...Repentance and The Law ofChastity/Word of Wisdom. Me, two elders and an older Mexican gentleman from Acapulco. There's nothing like the mission. There really isn't. When would I ever possibly be in a situation like this again? It wasn't bad, he's a great guy, but I imagine committing to live the Law of Chastity, would be really tough for him, because he can't get married here. He has to go back home to Mexico if he ever finds a fiance to get married. The chances of a girl being up for that are slim. They might not make it back. He was completely sincere though when he promised to live the commandments and said he'd quit smoking asap and he knew it was all true so it wouldn't even be a problem. I was just amazed and wondering where this man found all of his faith so fast. It was just neat. Spirit was strong. He prayed out loud with the elder for the first time. That was a good day.

Well I love you all family. Have a fun Valentines! Share the Love of the Gospel 0:-) Keep me updated. Work with your missionaries to find people to teach.

Hermana Deb