Summer

Dad,

That is right the summer is moving along. It is already August and school is about to start again. The summers, as missionaries, are the best because (1) it gets dark at like 9:15, and (2) all the kids are home and so a lot of the parents are home as well. But even when they go back to school we will still have success. It was a crazy week this last week.

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday we had exchanges with other missionaries. I stayed in our area the whole time and Elder Layton went to other areas. Tuesday, President Jones came up an interviewed Justin. He has probably a good 3-4 months before proving himself able to be baptized and that he is converted to the gospel. It is frustrating because he knows what he must do, and President told him what he must do and then he doesn't do it. He didn't come to church again and we don't know why. We are going over tomorrow to see and so hopefully he had a legit excuse. It was great because we spent some time with President after the interview. I was with Elder Harward, who is my zone leader and is going home in 16 days, and after the interview I was like, "Watch this," to Elder Harward. And as we were walking out the door of Justin's house I go, "Man President, I'm hungry, are you buying?" And he laughs and says "Sure". So we hit up Dairy Queen for some ice cream because we had already eaten. But it was good to spend time with him. He is a great man!

Tuesday night we taught the big family, the Castaneda's. It was a good lesson and we re-committed the mom and dad and the oldest daughter for baptism. But then the next day the dad texted us and told us he owed 400 dollars on his utilities and he didn't know what to do, so we simply told him that we would love to help but we or the church can't do anything for you. He got offended and cancelled the appointment we were supposed to have this week and was upset because he thinks all churches should be able to help. So they are dropped as of right now. It is sad because they need this so bad, but Elder Harward and I talked about it and they aren't really ready because they would probably get baptized and then be inactive and not live the commandments for the rest of their lives. And I don't want to baptize someone and condemn them just because I wanted to baptize them. So we will see with them.

Our other investigator, Dawn, was sick this week and so we haven't met with her but we should be this week.

Walter and Jenifer are doing great! They came to church once again yesterday, and the cool thing about that is the fact that they were supposed to go out of town on Friday, but decided not to because they didn't want to miss church. They also came to a baptism of an 8 year-old this last Saturday and they loved it. They are getting excited for their own baptism. They are going to Louisiana to visit family this week and so we won't see them until Saturday or Friday. It was legit, our lesson with them last night, we taught about following the prophet and how it is a commandment. Well we also brought up body piercings because he had earrings and she had more then one set. We used the definition in True to the Faith and we invited them to live it. Well the legit thing about it is that instantly as we invited them to live what it counseled, they both took out their earrings and said they wouldn't put them back in. They are very converted to the gospel! It's been a pleasure and a blessing to be able to teach them and be a part of their lives as they embark on this great knowledge and journey.

That is about all that happened this last week. We are going to go down to Austin to ball with some missionaries today and so we are stoked for it! It's going to be some good ballin' today. Elder Harward has a full ride to go and play at BYU and he is real good. He is 6'10" and we are ballin' with him today.

Thanks for the update of the family. It is always great to hear what is going on. Have a good week. I love you all!

Elder Harvey