November 11, 2009

Dear family,

So...one question....When was the last time I told you that I love you...? because madre mia, you all are way to nice. The two packages that I did in deed receive last Thursday were INCREDIBLE. I felt so bad when I opened the box and found those decorations, but don´t worry, Elder Carr and I are using them to the best. I want to put the big spider up on our door like at home, so that when it opens it will drop down. I haven´t had time to do it yet, but it will be done.

Thank you soooo much. I, of course, loved the Roasted Rasberry Chipotle Sauce. We had our district meeting in Aranjuez yesterday and Elder Taylor from Idaho, our district leader, interviewed one of our baptismal candidates, Isa. She was my first lesson in Spain and she has been approved and will be baptized this Saturday at 6:30 p.m. We are sad that her husband doesn´t want to be baptized yet but she is a fire ball. About 24 years old from La Republica Dominicana, and she has faith like none other. She has a powerful testimony of the Book of Mormon and that testimony has helped her have faith in a living prophet and Joseph Smith. She hasn´t received a personal witness of these two yet but she said that she knows that the Book of Mormon is true and, doing the connection, the others must be true too.

This is how my testimony was in the beginning. I knew that the Book of Mormon was true, which led to me believing that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, until I received the answer that I was looking for. And now, I have received that answer many times and now realize that I had received it before that time that it hit me, but did not recognize it. We met with Isa on Monday and she told us that she had a question about why she could not have 2 piercings in her ears, as she had read in the For the Strength of Youth pamphlet that the prophets have counseled against it. We told her that we didn´t really know why. I told her that with this commandment as with some others, I just have to exercise my faith in the calling of a prophet and my testimony of him.

For me, if the prophet says something, you just do it and are blessed. It is different coming from a background of believers and members like me, because people usually want a reason, and the walking by faith, not by sight, is hard for a lot of people. She told us that the first hole was one she had done by her mother when she was a baby and then got another one when her ear grew later on. We just told her that she needed to make the decision and the next day at the interview she showed up with one earring, and didn´t even tell us. I just happened to look at her ears and saw that she only had one. I was so happy for her, knowing that this little thing was a tiny test of faith, that would begin a life long journey of faithful action in the words of the prophets.

But to regroup back to the previous thought, the roasted raspberry chipotle sauce, after the interview the other two missionaries came over to our chaleaut and we cooked hamburgers that Isa had given us. When they were done, I thought about the chipotle sauce. I had already eaten one stick of cream cheese with it and thought that it might be good on a hamburger. I was so right. They were incredible! The other three tried it and said the same thing, making weird noises and praising the ¨magical sauce.¨

We then went on to the second dish which was pita bread and refreid beans. I again had the inspirational thought to try the ¨magical sauce.¨ I did and again it turned out fabulous. The other three did so as well and began calling it the ¨makes everything good¨sauce. It was hysterical, because it really made everything else amazing. A big burst of flavor all in your mouth, with a kick at the end that just bites you. I loved it. IT IS AMAZING!!! Thank you so much for that and the TONS of candy and the decorations. I use the cool pen every day and thank you for getting two of the bigger things. Elder Carr appreciates that.

Transfers are coming up this Sunday and am hoping that I will at least stay here one more. That would mean that I would be here in paradise for la Navidad. This place would be so fun and beautiful during the magical time of Christmas and the members are amazing. Pertaining to the transfers, I will give you my address but don´t send it until I write you next week, and let you know if I am still here. The address is Aranjuez, Madrid Calle Abdon Bordoy 57. I actually do not know the area code, maybe you can find it. But I will let you know again next week.

Thank you for all that you do and thank you for telling me again about your goal to accomplish the 7 steps. This is inspired because it is perfect for the investigators. This is something that they can do, that is fairly simple, just requiring a little bit of effort and consistency, that would really make all the difference. Thank you sooo much and I will go home and read the article out of the Ensign.

I am really trying to focus and the more I do the more weaknesses I discover in myself. I am really trying to change all my bad habits on this mission and I realize that if I lose myself in others then I will find myself, with a new heart. I am also realizing the importance of daily repentance. Even as a missionary I am very far from perfect and am trying to involve the perfect love, strength, and help of Christ everyday.

I love you all. I cannot thank you enough for those two packages, they really were... a little bit of home. Just what I needed. Don´t worry I am not homesick, but it is nice to have a little reminder of how life is back in Provo Utah, or as they say here... La Fabrica.

Adios, por una semana. They are flying by. I can´t believe I have almost been out for 5 months. WOW!!! When I think about that I just want to work harder. I have a lot to work on to be the missionary that the Lord has prepared me, called me, and sent me to be.

Have a great week.

Love,

Rob,