Hola mi familia!

Josh is getting Baptized on Saturday!!!!!! This kid is amazing. He's already got his dates set that he's going to get the priesthood and go to the temple and even when he's going to get sealed (it's good to have a goal). We've only got 2 days to organize everything, because a lot of people are having to arrange their schedules going out of town this weekend. Mom, sorry about deleting everything, but you sent me a copy of your e-mail address book a couple months ago, so I'll send it back today. That's a frustrating reminder that data doesn't resurrect very easily, nor does it cross the veil. My companion nearly lost all her mission photos last week, but we were able to take her card to a computer guy and get a lot of them back.

We had a couple miracle lessons this week. I'm very very thankful for the guidance of the Spirit in helping us teach new member lessons. There's one young man that's been to church once since his baptism. He comes to most of the activities, but it's hard to catch him for appointments. We felt really strongly that we needed to go and see him. I didn't realize how far away he was. We drove 25 mins south and the timing was beautiful, we got to meet both his parents just before they were about to leave. It was a great opportunity to share the gospel with them, but he's ungrateful for the things he's been given. So we had a bold Lesson One—the Restoration. He said he's coming to church on Sunday, and I got him to write thank you on a sticky note to leave somewhere for his mom. But I don't think he's up to that. Baby steps. My companion, Sister Rivera, is going to be a great mom someday. She knows how to give 'the look' very effectively. She let him have it—'Godly Sorrow R Us.' We'll see him Sunday.

We went to downtown KCMO again this week, but didn't have any luck with our appointments, and were getting pretty discouraged when a nearby Recent Convert just called us up and said, 'Hey, do you wanna come over and teach a lesson?' Whoa. That doesn't happen just for the record. So we picked up some McDonalds and taught him one good new member lesson at a park, before had to go to the Visitor Center.

We've had tons of Aussies, Brits, and Brasilians come through. Not as many as just the regular old Utah type, but a substantial number. It's been really neat. Thing were a little slow this week and I sat in front of the Christus and listened to the narration in Italian, French, Spanish. Romanian and Portuguese. You've heard one Latin based-language you've heard em all. Not really, Romanian is very different.

I have a question for Dad. When we went to Far West a couple months ago, each cornerstone of the temple that wasn't finished was labelled with a different priesthood. There was like a First Presidency one, and a Aaronic one and a Melchezidek one and a 12 apostles one. On the Salt lake City temple what do each of the spires represent? That's really cool you've met 2 general authorities. Oh, and I'm starting the Book of Mormon in Spanish again. So Laban is from Manasseh, and so was Lehi, and Laban got the plates because he some how saved King Ahaz's life or something like that right? I can't remember and it's not in the missionary library :-) Do you get that from the writings of Josephus or elsewhere? Also can I get a review on How Zedekiah's son got to Jerusalem. Or do we know? How's your song coming? There's a version of “He” on the Visitor Center computer sung by Tongans. I should send it.

I went to the chiropractor today. He's Mormon. It was free. My knee hurt. I got popped more than I expected, but my knee feels better. I guess my hip is messed up like mom's. Free medical is good.

My main accomplishment this week was memorizing 14 scriptures for Lesson 3. I'm not good at memorizing so, the Lord helped me out with that. My weakness became a strength and I was pleasantly surprised. Doctrine and Cov 64: 33-34.

Love you all. Thanks so much for the letters and the support.

Con carino

Hna Deb

Oye mi fam! Que onda?

I my companion today. Sister Durrant was wonderful this transfer and I killed her on good terms. She's headed back to Salt Lake and is planning on watching conference with her family. She was awesome, she didn't even get a lil bit trunky the last week. She was an awesome missionary. I want to be like Sister Durrant when I grow up. My new companion's not arriving til tonight. Her name's Hna Rivera and she grew up in Texas, but her parents are from Mexico City. So I'm gonna go buy enchilada sauce and make chilequiles for when she gets here. Wish me luck. Our p-day next week is going to be on Wednesday. It's kind of weird having two Spanish-speaking missionaries in the English-speaking singles branch with the Pali's and white folk. But, Sister Rivera served in the Spanish branch before, so I think we'll be doing a lot of drafting of YSAs from that area.

Last week we were working for miracles. And Sunday and Monday definitely were. We had a couple less actives and almost all our investigators show up Sunday and they had a great time. Then, after debating whether we should get rid of FHE since nobody's been showing up, one of our ward missionaries made a ton of food and called everyone and we had more people there, than at church. It was good stuff. So this transfer's gonna start out with a bang. Poor Josh is still working out his legal leftovers, but we've been teaching him still and he and his friend made Sister Durrant a goodbye cake. He'll make it, but the Lord knows some people need challenges, even if I as a missionary with my lil view of life don't like it.

The visitor center's been fairly busy, but life's good and this week I took a tour with 5 kids and 2 bedraggled parents who were only just starting their historical journey from Utah. I left them a commitment to pray out loud, every time they start bickering. It was great. The kids would start arguing about who had to say the prayer, and had to pray 3 times before they even got out the doors of the visitor center. I don't know if they'll stick with it, but I think the parents appreciated me at least trying to keep the peace though. Tours with kids are fun. I think my favorite age group is mine though. People who really listen to what's being said and are critically thinking everything at the beginning, and give thoughtful answers to questions, and then finally recognize the Spirit trying to teach them something, member or nonmember. Because 20 yr olds are busy with music and people and work and shopping and are rarely in a place where they have to slow down and appreciate silence and just think about something more important than the above items, they really FEEL the difference of climate in the Visitor Center. And they're still young, so I can be more straightforward. It's great to see them want a change. And be able to completely relate.

I really like espeaking the Spanish. I've been pleasantly surprised at how many Hispanics from Mexico come all the way to the Midwest to see church history. They realize it's their heritage even, if they are necessarily descendants. And it really makes me stretch my Spanish, I think 'fue disparado' means 'was shot,' and I use that a lot in the history, but I don't know. So if anyone knows, lemme know. I need to improve my language skills. I'm living proof of the Gift of Tongues, cuz I have no idea what I'm saying half the time, but it seems to get across all right.

Spirit's real. Church is true and I love you.

Con carino,

Hna Deb