Week 23?

Somewhere I messed up on my numbers, but here is the really week 23!

Transfer information first- The Tolenas Spanish Branch is staying the exact same! The Hermanas and us are both staying the exact same, which is super awesome. I'm so stoked.

About the baptism- We couldn't have it. Some people decided it would be a good idea to get married and have the reception on a night in order to stop the eternal progression of our investigator! Who would do such a thing? And then Satan continued his work by creating a youth dance this coming Saturday! So we're are seriously thinking of going 31 AD style and taking her to a river to be baptized. It would be easier than having to reserve the silly stake center!

On the bright side, we taught 20 lessons this week! I don't mean to be a number crucher, but it feels really good!

We found a really cool lady this last week as well. We just dropped a bunch of investigators, so our teaching pool was pretty low, and we had pretty much exhausted our formers and decided to tract for an hour. We found a lady that had met with the missionaries a little before (no teaching record though) and she was sweet! Her name is Candy (I didn't know that was a Spanish name, but we'll take it!). We taught her the Restoration, and she believes a lot of it. She's a Bible Junkie and has a hard time accepting the Book of Mormon, but she doesn't feel like there's anything bad in it. Her story is crazy though, she just feels the need to accept Christ and to center her home on him. She told us her daughter, who is 15, moved out and is living with her boyfriend. That's pretty crazy stuff, but she's so awesome and I'm sure she'll be baptized.

I also went on English exchanges this week which was fun. We put our bikes in the back of a member's home, because the neighborhood is pretty bad and he lets them do that. His son had just gotten back from BYUI and was waiting for his call (He got it the next day, Independence Missouri speaking Spanish!). We went and did work, and before we left we were visitng him for a little. His less-active daughter who is 17 came out and asked if we were about to leave, and I told her "Yeah I think we are, unless you need anything?" And she said "yeah, could I just talk to you guys for a little?" Needless to say we accepted and she told us to give her 5 minutes and so after that we went upstairs with her and her brother and we taught her. It was so cool! Such a miracle for their area. She is also super into Operation Ivy and Rancid, so hopefully I get to visit with her again on exchanges!

I think that's about it for this week. The Spanish is good for the most part, I was used to Michoacan Spanish is Napa, and people here in Fairfield are from all over, so sometimes it's been hard to understand, but for the most part it's not really a problem anymore. Right now it's vocabulary that I need more than anything else.

A guy that works in the temple shared his testimony yesterday about prophets. He is temple security, and told us he escorted Thomas S Monson into the visitor center. A little girl, 9 years old and a convert, asked our member if she could shake Thomas S Monson's hand. He said he would check, and we he told President Monson, He straightened up, fixed his tie and jacket, and said with a grin "This is the best part of my job!" He proceeded to visit with the girl, and after a few moments she asked him if he would sign her Book of Mormon. He told her no, and she looked sad. He then clarified, this is paraphrasing of course and translated from the Spanish testimony "I'm not a celebrity, and my signature will not increase the value of this book. But I will give you something even more valuable than any signature on the face of the Earth" He then bore his testimony of the Book of Mormon, kissed her on the forehead, and prayed. It was the coolest! I felt like I was there while he was describing this event. Imagine hearing Thomas S. Monson pray.

That's it for this week! Love you all!

Elder Foster