Querida Familia,

I've been blessed with lots of things to write about in my journal this week. Really UNIQUE experiences.

10 And because of the intercession for all, all men come unto God; wherefore, they stand in the presence of him, to be judged of him according to the truth and holiness which is in him. Wherefore, the ends of the law which the Holy One hath given, unto the inflicting of the punishment which is affixed, which punishment that is affixed is in opposition to that of the happiness which is affixed, to answer the ends of the atonement—

11 For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my first-born in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility. (2 Nephi 2:10-11)

Let me tell you about last Friday. We've been doing our best to make time to contact a couple referrals and some bishop assignments for two weeks and it just hadn't happened. So we were really excited last Friday because we had the morning free to get what needed to be done. Done. We go to our one appointment that morning and she peeks out the window, but doesn't open the door, so we do our best to talk to some Tanzanian children in the street and tell their dad we'll drop off a Swahili BOM for them. I love Kansas City. The next stop is to deliver a Nauvoo
Pageant CD. We go to the address and it's a bus station. Apparently the person it's for is a driver and so we just drop it off. Then we make a driving adventure to the far off regions of our area our by the airport to deliver a Finding Faith in Christ DVD. “Umm...Sister, is that a prison?” Apparently prisoners aren't allowed to have DVDs, so we gave it to a lady out front taking a break from the cafeteria. She was nice.

We took a reverse driving adventure back to downtown Kansas City. To meet new move-ins (and to find a restroom as quickly as possible). The first member lived in a NICE big marble building. We go in the front and are very confused as we enter a large poorly lit multi-pillared room that the sign on front said used to be a public library. The receptionist informed us that this was a life insurance firm. I KNEW I felt a dark presence as we entered the doors. So this was a wrong address and No, we couldn't use the bathroom. The next move-in was just a few blocks away. I could hold it. We slowly pass by the next address, “Restart Homeless Shelter.” We stopped at the gas station next door to use a restroom (that's another story), and gave the gas station attendant and his son pass-a-long cards. We sat in front of the gas station for awhile eating Cheetos and contemplating the probabilities of making it through the crowd of hobos (our spirit brothers and sisters) in front of Restart Inc. to find out about the new move in. We decide better of it and are off to see our last referral. He was tracted out by an RM selling pest control.

Next driving adventure. As we pull up to the house there are 3 small vicious looking chihuahuas hopping up and down behind the 4 foot tall fence. We say a prayer in the car. The yipping temporarily subsides and go to meet the harmonica playing neighbors. They kindly brave the
chihuahuas for us. And the man we were referred was a former Utah resident that doesn't think much of the church. He had some interesting misconceptions, that he wasn't willing to have us clear up. But we asked if he needed service and if he knew anyone who could benefit from a
missionary visit. Surprisingly, he referred a man and wife down the street who were having some sort of difficulties. We go see the neighbor (quickly since a husky/bear with big teeth also shows up behind the 4 foot fence—not gonna cut it).

The referral's referral is 6'5”, has a big beard, is dressed as a traditional Jew and comes out smiling offering us orange juice. I wasn't sure what to think about the situation, but wasn't feeling great about it, so I stated our purpose tried to give him a pamphlet and get gone. But, we got stuck answering questions for awhile and came to discover he wasn't just not interested but really really really crazy. I'm glad we didn't accept the orange juice. We went to the visitor center to find everyone else on shift that afternoon had similar experiences that day.

So that was last Friday... Yeah, it was a little crazy. Kinda difficult. But do you realize what this means?!? We're going to have a million baptisms next month! That's what it means! We're still teaching our little family of 5 and after watching the Joseph Smith movie with them the dad prayed. But in his prayer admitted he was afraid to do the wrong thing for his family and he didn't really pray to know if what we were teaching was true. So that was exciting that we know what his concern is now and after they came to church on Sunday (despite leaving a sick teen
at home), he told me he wanted us to keep teaching him. Not just his family, but him. We just prayed about and set a goal for our baptisms next month this morning and I'm excited about the work here.

I love serving people and talking to everyone. And Elder Bednar's right. A missionary's purpose is to be a full-time teacher. It's what we're set apart to do. But it feels good knowing, even though I'm back in Utah in December. I can still give pass a long cards to the people at gas stations. And fellowship and find and visiting teach and testify to everyone. The fans can cheer just as loud if not louder than the mascots. The representatives. And I think once people realize that, the
prophecy of President Gordon B Hinckley willed be fulfilled and the 13 million this year, will be 26 million next year.

Love you all. Be the light unto the nations that you are and share what you have with everyone. Trust me, it doesn't matter where you are. Love you.

Con carino,
Hermana Deb