When I grow up...‏ July 14, 2014

So this coming week I'm getting transferred!  The assistants call the zone leaders Monday morning to say who in the zone is getting transferred.  On Wednesday we all go to transfer meeting where they announce where these people are going.  So I don't know where I'm going to be in a few days, but I'm packing up pretty nicely.  Yeah, I really like MoCity, and the assistants called a while ago asking if I had a driver's license, so I'm probably going somewhere where I will have to drive. Bleh! I'd rather be on a bike in the middle of the summer.  Well that would probably be good for my health in all honesty.  But I'm hoping this means I'm getting put with a native speaker, the foreigners usually don't have licenses.

But we'll see.

This p-day is being split up, so all of my p-day today is just e-mailing.  The elders in the district are going to the temple with bishop tomorrow, so that is our p-day. Today is really just a normal day.  Tuesday night though, for my last lesson here, we're going to have a throw down lesson with the Martinez family because its been four weeks since they've been to church.  They work super late Saturday nights and Sunday starting at 11, and they've worked up until basically sunrise the last two weeks.  However, they haven't really done anything to get new jobs, so this should be fun.

This last week wasn't super interesting though.  We ate with the Martinez family Monday for my birthday, and Elder Tate's, and Samantha Martinez's.  We had shrimp.  And super large slices of cake that hermana just slabbed onto our plate. At least it tasted super good.  On Friday we celebrated my birthday by eating bluebell ice cream (red, white, and bluebell flavor) and watching the district 2.  But other than that, we didn't really get to see anybody on Friday.  We taught Rosemery Blanco twice, and Elder Tate is going to baptize her before he leaves and I can come back for the baptism! That is what we want at least.

But I'm glad you all had a wonderful time in St. George.  I'd love to just sit and watch a play.  St. George must be super dry.  Its always super humid here.  On the nice days when we're biking, we just imagine what you all would think if you were outside at this moment, and we realize that we have become used to this weather.  I still miss snow though...

But there isn't much to write about.  Saturday we went to a primary activity, and yesterday was an investigator devotional, which I played organ at.  Needless to say, my piano skills haven't been a huge blessing like everyone said they'd be my whole life.  My organ skills come in handy though.

But yeah, I'll have much more next week,

Tengan una buena semana!  Les quiero mucho.

Elder David Austin Barlow

Also, I've been out for four months.  Let that sink in.

Birthday Celebration with the Martinez Family

Blue Bell Ice Cream

Birthday Pie

A tribute to Neil Diamond. His words ring true today.‏ July 7, 2014

Hoy, yo voy a enviar esta mensaje en Español.  Quizás puedes preguntar a mis primos si ellos pueden traducir que ecribiré.  Esta semana, hemos tenido una semana de milagros y fe.  Hemos estuiado mucho sobre la fe y milagros.  Yo voy a decirles que paso esta semana cuando escribo en ingles en algunos momentos, pero, yo quiero que ustedes se preocupen.

Okay, English time.  I wish y'all could understand Spanish so I could just write all in Spanish.  Its quite a fun language and all.  I haven't gotten a letter from you guys yet so I'll just go ahead and talk about my week.  Starting with Monday, we had zero lessons taught.  Continuing to Tuesday, we had one lesson taught.  We also had zone meeting Tuesday, which was pretty good.  We went to Taco Bell after, well the elders in my district.  Next Monday we get transfer calls, so we'll find out if I'm staying in MoCity with the most awesome ward ever.  Until then, our district is doing great.  I've got photos for you guys today, which I have not been able to do for quite a while.  They're going to be good! 

Well as I said earlier when you guys couldn't understand my Spanish, we've been studying a lot about faith this last while and what that really means.  How faith is necessary to work miracles.  So we just have to pray and be diligent and stuff, and other stuff happens!  Like after having taught one lesson for example.  We always teach about fifteen, sixteen, or maybe fourteen lessons a week, but we just said, okay, we're going to teach twenty lessons this week.  And guess what happened despite our horrible start to a week? We taught nineteen!  That is eighteen lessons in like five days.  Even when we teach on Monday and Tuesday we don't do that well.  

By the way, I greatly enjoyed Bethany and Aaron's postcard. I need to brush up on my Beetle's lyrics knowledge, as I only understood about half of the letter.  Elder Tate didn't get any of it and was super confused and it made me laugh.

Wednesday we began by teaching four lessons

Thursday was pretty cool.  We were doing service for the Martin's basically adopted daughter's real mom. (You know, someone who is always at their house) And on the way back to our apartment we had the most random miracle.  There was this guy named Felipe that would always go out with the missionaries, but he kind of disappeared because he moved into his girlfriend's house and didn't pay his phone bill.  So it had been like two months since I had seen him, and he drives by us and we see him and it was super cool!

Friday was the 4th.  It was pretty fun truth be told.  I got fed a lot.  All unexpected of course.  This hermana Viareal, the one with throat cancer has a house full of crazy potential because she's the only member in her house.  So we taught there, then went the the Martinez house.  Later while driving home we saw some fireworks.  I have proof in photos that we saw fireworks.  Oh, we also biked a ton that day in the most random places.

Saturday was normal, taught three lessons, that one guy from Hermana Viareal's house I think I mentioned last week is going to Kansas to work on the railroad, but he came to church Sunday, so that was good. We'll figure out how to stay in contact with him, because he come back for a week every three weeks.

Sunday was church.  Victor, the one going to Kansas came to church with his dad, and the whole Rosemery Blanco family came which is amazing because we haven't gotten to teach them for like forever! In gospel principles we talked about the sabbath day, which is what we've been wanting to teach that family if we could ever get in with them, so it was great!  Then in priesthood, the stake president taught because our elders quorum president didn't assign anyone to teach, but Presidente Portillo is super cool and knows a lot about stuff like the priesthood, which frankly, I don't really know much about.

Now I'll wait for your letter.  Okay, it just came in, perfect timing!

Well, I don't have much to say in response to the letter other than I wish I could've seen Children of Eden.  Glad you got the card dad!  And I have realized with our bishop, what's so great about him is that he literally visits like every family in the ward.  I don't think I've seen a bishop do what bishop Martin does.  That's why we do home teaching.  Brooke told me about how during all of the play she was thinking temple video.  Actually, I get to be with the Martinez family tonight for my birthday.  I wonder if I have anything in the mission office I can open this Friday?  I like being 18 though, I think I'm in denial.

But I love you all, and may the Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face to shine upon you, May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

Elder David Austin Barlow

 Martinez Wedding Pictures

 Martinez Wedding Pictures

 Martinez Wedding Pictures

Elder Barlow, the Martinez couple, Elder Tate

Happy 4th

Happy 4th of July

Stuck in a Rain Storm

Elder Tate Stuck in a rain storm

Elder Barlow stuck in a rain storm

I love a piano...‏ June 23, 2014

Okay, so going from here on out, I haven't a clue of how to start my e-mail.  Yesterday was p-day, but p-day was a month ago.  Time is a human invention.  We'll see what I can do.  Its been a pretty good week all in all.  Nothing crazy, nothing different, all just fine and dandy.  As for our investigators, its spelled Rosemery, not Rosemary.  It took me forever to learn that, but that's a superficial detail.  We haven't gotten to see her this week, but we did stop by and give her brownies.  Brownies are a very effective way at making people like you.  We expect to bake more this week.  Maybe I'll go day by day to see how the week was.

Monday- We taught the husband of the Relief Society President, Hermano Alcaraz.  He just needs to get baptized.  He goes to church every week with his family finally, boosts our investigators at church number, and just needs to decide to get baptized.  He always says "Algun Dia" Which means - "Hoy, no."  But he's been progressing, and we've been helping him by helping his wife read the B of M every day with her husband.  He just needs to recognize he has that answer.  Then that evening we taught an investigator that accepted a baptismal date! Mario, and I don't expect you to remember all these random names I send, they probably don't mean too much to you, but I'll make sure to get pictures today!

Tuesday- I love our district meetings.  We took a hurricane prep quiz!  And mom, no worries, we are pretty far away from the coast.  Most people that live here are advised not to evacuate if we ever get one.  But we could have a hurricane, and that would make for some fun journal entries.  But anyways, that's besides the point.  We had a wonderful day, and even taught a baptist that is willing to read the Book of Mormon.  Isn't that something?

Wednesday- We ate at a Less Active's house.  She fed us mole (Mol-ay).  Maybe I'll have to learn to make it so I can make it for you guys when I get home.  I think I'll start probing for recipies.  But she has been less active and says that she doesn't want to come back to church.  She has nothing against the church she says.  She loves what the church does, but doesn't want to come back for some reason we can't seem to see.  We asked if she's reading the Book of Mormon, and her reply was she's already read it.

Thursday- Weekly planning, our weekly raspa session for comp inventory.  I hade a limon flavored one.  That was good.  Saw Mario again, taught Hermana Alcaraz and committed her to read daily with her husband.

Friday- Have I ever told you about the Guevara family?  They're a less- active family that's coming back to church bit by bit.  They're super cool.  Oh, and while I'm thinking about it, I was told that you guys are following the ward facebook page or something.  I didn't even know they had one.  But hermana Guevara is super cool, and super crazy worried about her kids, but lessons with her are always super good.  We then went to the ward Father's Day activity, which started at seven.  That meant that people started arriving at about 7:15, and it started at 7:50 or so.  And you though Mormon Standard time was bad.  So much for the "terminally tardy Barlows" As Chloe used to call us.

Saturday- Hooray for Less Actives!!! and the Martinez family of course.  They just love us to death. It makes it very hard to teach, but what can we do.

Sunday- Church- this is the fun story now!  And the story of why its more important to listen to advice from your stake president instead of try not to offend someone.  Its just funny.  So sometimes I play organ in church right?  Well there's another girl that plays piano before I came, and who is often late, and doesn't play all to well.  Well she was on time today, so she got to play the piano.  (A few weeks ago the stake president told bishop to just let me play the organ).  But still I'm just the if she shows up late man, because we don't want to offend anyone.  (If you want to do that in a Spanish ward, don't even blink, cuz if you do, someone will take offense).  Well she can't play the last sons at all.  It was the "Never leave us, never leave us," which has completely different lyrics in Spanish about the Plan of Salvation.  But she couldn't play it, so half way through the first verse, the stake president taps the microphone and stops the music and says lets try that again, but with fervor.  And we think he told her not to play the piano.  So we just sang a capella.  It was awkward, and I laughed inside.  This is why you let me play the organ ;)  But all was well.

 

 

Your favorite elder,

Elder David Austin Barlow

At Jaime's birthday party.  This is how I celebrated your anniversary.

At Houston Texas Temple with Bishop and others

Downtown Houston- On the way to the temple.

This is our good friend Ted the toad.  He is always in this mold circle when we come home at night.

Suddenly there is music in the sound of your name.....‏ June 16, 2014

Hello family!!!  Where's my picture of Daphne?  Oh yeah, how are you all doing today?  Hope you had a wonderful anniversary.  It sounded like fun, taking a nice thirty minutes out of a hectic day.  You two should go on a mission sometime.  And my picture of Daphne?  All Hispanics have are puny yipping chihuahuas and little monsters.  All everyone else has is German Shepherds, Pit Bulls, and Huskies.  But I digress, Daphne is amazing.

And anyways, I have had a wonderful week.  After a baptism is when you have to go find new people, which is hard.  Its nice because there are people to see and potentials to visit, and lots of things to do.  The word tracting doesn't really exist here at all.  I've read in a few of my friends e-mails about tracting a bit.  Well we don't do that.  We can like knock on people's doors to ask about neighbors we are trying to visit, but that is as tractful as it gets.  We just Open our mouths and speak to people.  That's always fun.  We got a few new investigators this week which is good because we haven't found any for a few weeks.  We'll see who can progress the fastest right now.

The fastest progressor we have is a girl named Rosemery.  She dropped off of the face of the earth for a few weeks.  Her kids were baptized in March.  She just wasn't progressing as fast for a lot of strange reasons. She finally opened the door for us about a week or two ago.  She even came to church! Which took a lot of courage on her part because she came with Pablo, the guy she supposedly broke up with a while ago.  We used to hate him.  Tate and the elder before him would call him the devil.  But everybody has potential, and even the devil was once an angel of light.  Pablo hurt his leg, so that should keep him grounded.  We'll get her baptercized.  The kids are awesome, and its just super amazing that they all came to church.  Also, their dog reminds me of a mix of Jasmine and Daphne.

Then Saturday we went to the temple with the Flores family!  They are amazing!  I forgot my camera today, so I really do have good pictures to share (and some good pictures of Houston downtown) but I have yet to get them sent because my camera is forgotten.  Please forgive me.  But the temple was really quite amazing! It always is, but this was an interesting trip.  There was one guy worker there, and one of the first things he said is that missionaries can't get in the water.  We were at zone conference a while ago and an elder brought up how in the temple they wouldn't let them baptize girls, and president was just like "That's kind of dumb."  He's had conversations with the temple president and stuff, and it doesn't make sense that you can baptize someone in the font at the church, but not at the temple.  And not even being allowed to enter the water?  That's some crazy interpretation of a D&C 61.  The temple worker was just rough with everybody, the family didn't mind though which was good.  So we all complained about it in the car (Bishop, wife, and me and Tate).  Yet it was still a good experience.  We then went to a chinese buffet.  I'm going to be super sad when I leave this area and don't have a cool bishop like Bishop Martin.  He's super great.

Lets see, I'm doing great, we went to church yesterday, I played organ again (with super hard hymns... but Hispanos can't notice).  I don't really know what else I can say here, except that I realized that I haven't gotten an e-mail from Bethany since she got a boyfriend.  Oh, and I don't think I ever mentioned this, but yesterday was the baptism of an older couple in the other elder's area.  They have a crazy story.  They came to church and were suddenly super ready to get baptized, just by coming to church and loving everything.  They came twice, they were unsure if hermano's medical coffee (which turned out had no coffee whatsoever) would let him get baptized, they needed to get married, so they were working on that when the third Sunday, they suddenly couldn't find him anymore. Well what had happened is that Francisco (the hermano) had been stabbed 20 times by his step-son Saturday night, and somehow he survived, until he finally got baptized yesterday.  Its just a crazy story.  They should make the district a reality TV show.  Probably better than any other show out there.

Well on that note, I'm outta here.  I'm gonna go preach the gospel, or if I ever become a zone leader, preach the gospel to a bunch of 18 - 23 year old white young adults.  I'd rather preach to Hispanics. But I digress, I love you all and the gospel, and it is the power of salvation unto every man that believeth.  To the Jew first, and also to the Greek.  I don't know about Romans and Barbarians though.  This scripture does after all teach us that the gospel only goes to Jews and Greeks.  But now I'm just being sarcastic and typing words as they come out of my head.  I love y'all!

Elder David Austin Barlow

 

 Gracias.  Le extraño.  Doy gracias a Dios por esta pictura.  Quiero imprimir esta pictura para dejar en mi apartamento.  Ella esta muy bonita, y pienso que ella es perfecta.  Y yo no tengo otras personas para enviar correo, entonces estoy escribiendo estas palabras en Español sobre ella.  Gracias otra vez, y me gusta esta pictura.  Te quiero Daphne!  Y tambien ustedes mama y papa.  Yo tengo una carta para el dia del padre, pero no cabo en el buson en nuestro complejo.  Estoy buscando un buson para enviar esta carta para papa, pero creo que voy a enviar mi carta por el dia del padre en Deciembre o algo asi.

 

English Translation:

 

 

Thank you. I miss her. I thank God for this picture. I want to print this picture to leave in my apartment. She is very pretty, and I think she's perfect. And I have other people to send mail, then I'm writing these words in Spanish on it. Thanks again, and I like this picture. I love Daphne! And also you mom and dad. I have a letter for Father's day, but not out in the mailbox in our complex. I am looking for a Mailbox to send this letter to Dad, but I think I will send my letter the day of the father man December or something.

My First Baptism‏

 Our lessons this week consisted of the Martinez Family.  Yep, they were the only investigators we got to teach this week.  We do have tons of potentials we are building up.  I'm just praying the fruits of our labors are shown sooner rather than later.  But the whole mission only had five baptisms this week.  We had three of them  :-)

The baptism and all the stuff leading up to it was really quite fun and amazing though.  It turns out you can't perform a wedding on the same day you get the liscence so we had to go back to the courthouse to get another copy.  That was fun.  Marriage stuff was worked out pretty well though.   For baptismal interviews, we went on exchanges and I went up to the other elder's bike area.  I was with Elder McDonald from Idaho Falls who knows two of the Hermanas from my district.  They all three passed their interviews while I ate pizza at the house of a member who is having tons of troubles with the Book of Mormon.  I ate four whole pieces of pizza.  Elder Tate has been eating super healthy and loosing weight ever since his recent converts called him fat.  I on the other hand, decided that I can be somewhat healthy, but some days, you just need to eat pizza.

Friday we had zone meeting, it was Elder Tate's first time leading zone meeting and stuff.  They grow up so fast.  I taught him how to use knockers on doors.  I'm training him pretty well.

Saturday was basically spent working on getting the baptism all ready.  We made the program and stuff, because the ward isn't organized enough to do it for us.  We set up and filled the font and all, and people showed up and it was a super great baptism.  I baptized Samantha, and I just read over my comps shoulder that he was super nervous about my first baptism.  Years of acting classes really have made something as short as a baptismal prayer super easy.  The primary kids sang I like to Look for Rainbows in Spanish.  I played piano, and all was well. Bishop Martin baptized Jaime, and then Elder Tate baptized Adela.  They loved it, and they were crying afterwards and stuff.  They'll be awesome members to take out teaching with us.

Sunday they got confirmed as members and got the holy ghost!  Hooray!!!  Also I played the organ again.  There's a girl that usually plays the piano (horribly) for sacrament and bishop and wife were having her do it so as not to offend anybody.  Spanish wards are soooo easily offended by tiny little things, so we have to watch our step.  However, at the baptism, President Portillo, the stake president simply told bishop to have me play the organ.  I feel so honored :-)  All is really going great.

Oh yeah, this week was transfers, but our entire district (which is basically our ward)  stayed the exact same.  The only changes were that Elder McKinley left the zone and other minor unimportant details.  But seriously though, I don't really ever want to be a zone leader for my whole mission.  I like prosylting.  I didn't come on a mission to preach to white 18- 21 year olds, but that is basically what AP's and Zone Leaders have to do.  I think I'll aspire to district leader, although me and my comp have made it a goal to get Elder Tate to be Assistant to the President (and I'm not sure if it was a joke or not).  I've noticed my Patriarchial Blessing doesn't really talk about leadership, especially during my mission, and I am perfectly fine with that.

But I should end now, I have to send out a giant e-mail about my first baptism to everybody from everywhere and I only have like twenty minutes to do it, so I love you all, I love the gospel of Jesus Christ, and I love this work.  Amen

Elder David Austin Barlow

Bishop, Martinez Family, Elder Barlow, Elder Tate

A wedding, a wedding, hooray! A wedding, a wedding, today!‏

Well first off, I really want to just go and hear more and more about Thomas Barlow and stuff.  I actually remember reading something about how Lancashire became a big hatting area for a while when I was looking stuff up at college.  That makes sense then, because it was during this Thomas's life that the area became quite hatty.  While we're thinking about family history, we've been asked to have a name that we can take throughout our mission temple trips to do everything for.  Do we have any names I can use? Because I ain't got time to find anyone new in our line, although I did help a Recent Convert find out more about her grandpa this week (that was a cool experience).  So basically let me get this straight, Thomas 2, father of Henry, was born in greater London, Surrey.  They family moved to Lancashire when the hat factory moved.  Thomas was a hatter his whole life then.

That's all super cool.  I just want to sit down and family history all day long, but seriously though.  If you can find a name for me, that would be wonderful!  I don't even want to talk about my week now!

But I will, we had a pretty long normal week.  Wednesday was super great.  I forgot my camera so I can't send pictures this week, but next week you'll get pictures of the Martinez family.  They went to the courthouse and then got married! That was super great, and they are just so amazing that it makes up for not having a super good week.  We just want new investigators, that's all.

Thursday was pretty cool.  We taught five lessons even though we had weekly planning take up time.  We taught this one investigator whose children were baptized a few months ago, and she has basically been avoiding us for lots of reasons.  She's frustrating, but what can you do.  Her children came to church, a family that hasn't been to church for years finally came to church, the Martinez family was at church, so our church attendence was pretty nifty this week.

Friday, because Tate (I mean Zone Leader Elder Tate, the handbook says we need to call them that, and we just laugh at that) is becoming a zone leader, he had to go to mission leaders conference which means I was just with some other elders all day, and it wasn't a very exciting day.  We had like no prosyliting time.

Saturday and Sunday were both pretty slow days.

And I really can't think of anything else to say.  I love you all, and the Lord always shows us grace when things are tiring.  We were biking so much this week because it was the end of the month and were out of miles.  Man I'm sore, and Tate's being all healthy because his converts told him he was fat at a baptism in his old area.  I will probably lose a bit of weight.  And if you ever feel like it, I could use another pair of pants or two.  Just so I have extra for the week.  Church pants, not jeans, I have enough of those.

But I love you all and hope you have a great week!  Gospel is true, and I really have nothing else to say.

Elder David Austin Barlow

Worse than being away on Christmas‏

My favorite holiday!  Memorial day! Man I'm sad I didn't get to be there, and I probably am more sad today than I'd be on Christmas, because seriously, this is my favorite holiday.  Memorial day family traditions seem to outstrip all other holidays.  4th of July, New years, and even Thanksgiving just don't hold a candle to tortellini salad and the Crystal Inn.  Sigh.... But it was a good week nonetheless. And as you can see, P-day is Tuesday this week because yesterday was Memorial day.  I think most people e-mail from libraries.  We e-mail in the English church building.  Its been like forever since p-day, because its been more than a week, so I probs won't remember everything I need to write so we shall see how it goes.  Oh, and mom, I think you misunderstood.  Its not high blood pressure.  Today it was 104, last week was somewhere in the 110's.  How low does it need to be before I can see a doctor to get me off of this medicine?  And LA means less active.  As in the father used to be a member but long since left the church, so we found them and had a fun time.

Using my journal, here is my week.

Monday- Was p-day.  We all tried to go bowling, but the place cost like 10 $ and 5 $ per game.  I like those summer mornings in Bountiful Bowl where it hardly costs anything to go bowling.  I got a package from Amanda and friends.  It included spin it bible trivia.  I haven't opened it, but we wanted to take it to the LA's house we visited and say "This is the do or die! Whoever wins this is in the true church!"  But we had a good day and taught two lessons despite p-day.

Tuesday- We went to that LA's house one last time to see if we could get anywhere with the Book of Mormon.  We didn't, so it didn't produce much fruit, but oh well.  Darn Christians.  Also, this church believes that apostles are perfect (Peter denies Christ, All have sinned, Paul says he's horrible), that in the time of the "law" that non-israelites couldn't be saved.  We read "God is no respector of persons." At which point they said "God is a respector of persons. We live in the time of grace when everybody can be saved! Egyptians and all those people couldn't be before Christ." (Jonah preaching to Ninevites, God is no acceptor or persons, etc.)  So they're crazy and don't understand anything.  The kid who was our age was cool though, despite the differences. He really enjoyed talking with us, even though we know we would not get anywhere if we came back again.  "The correct answer was the Mormons. Repeat, the Mormons."

Wednesday- Nothing really important.  Taught our Recent converts, the Alvarado and Flores families.  They're great.  We might go do baptisms with the Flores family this Saturday, we shall see if things work out.

Thursday- The Martinez family bought us Burger King.  We got all marriage plans worked out and they are getting married on Wednesday.  Then the 25th of June they're having a little party at the church, and they get baptized the 7th!!!  Hooray!  Pics will come of that.

Friday- Tried a service bike.  Didn't really find anyone who needed service, but we talked to some cool people.  I like talking to old people.  They're super great.  Although today I was getting annoyed over little details that turn the mission rules into Mosaic Law, but that's all okay.  You know, when you hear you comp talking about how a girl can send him a list of members in her area without directly e-mailing her.  Like that matters in the long run, but what can you do.  I'll just take it with a grain of salt.  And my blood pressure is low enough that I can handle that grain of salt.

Saturday- Good day. The Martin's brought us Carl's Junior for dinner.  That was a lot of food.  I couldn't finish the double western they just gave us.  We then went to a service baptismal for the dad of a family Elder Tate baptized in his 1st area.  It was wierd cuz I didn't really know anyone there, but I ended up playing the opening hymn somehow.

Sunday- Church.  Jaime Martinez came so he's now church qualified.

Monday- Memorial day.  We had district meeting, and so as we were about to take the other elders to get a spare tire, we helped this guy get gas.  He was interesting.  It was crazy rainy today though! Like a real Texas rainstorm.  Usually rain doesn't stop us from doing anything.  Our whole district is basically out of miles, so we had to bike.  So we packed our stuff into ziploc bags, started heading out to try the Martinez family first, who live a whole 75 feet from our house, and in those 75 feet we were drenched.  Its kind of funny.  So Jaime is like opening the door and giving us a towel and telling us to come in.  We stayed there for quite a while finishing teaching what they needed to know.  Then Jaime went and bought us Church's chicken.  Which is like KFC, but probably worse for you.  They're such a great family though.  Jaime even called us because he saw us on the 90.

Well that was a lot of writing for me, and I spend more time writing you guys than normal, so enjoy my long letter. and save me some tortellini salad.  Maybe I'll buy stuff to make it soon.  Anyways, I love you, and I love the Book of Mormon.  I hope you have an awesome week. Pics to come shortly

Elder David Austin Barlow

And Elder Tate just got a call calling him to be Zone Leader I think.  Yep

Andy

Companion Inventory Raspa

Our District

Rain

Taco Bell with Keene, McDonald and Tate

That Raspa

We're in Stafford!