July 2nd 2012

          So we had a good week this week.  Especially with our church attendance.  Sometimes although we teach a lot we don't see much from Sunday attendance.  This week we had 20 people we were teaching come to church.  There was one man who works on Sunday and told us he absolutely cannot take of work, ever.  We taught him a lesson a few days ago about the importance to obey all of God's commandments.  After our lesson we asked if he was going to attend church and he sat still for about 90 seconds.  After saying nothing for more than a minute he finally answered that he would come to church, and he did.  It was a really good to see him able to come to church.  I also had the opportunity of teaching a young family. A family with a very active 6 and 4 year old.  We were given the challenge of entertaining two children by our lesson and also making it relevant for the Adults present.  We essentially told Book of Mormon Stories and then applied it to their lives.  I would say we were successful because they came to church yesterday.  All in all it was good. 

      This week was slightly sad because one of our investigators moved this week.  We found out they were moving last Wednesday because we taught them a lesson that day.  They asked if we could come back before Sunday because they were moving on Sunday.  It was very sad because they were so receptive and nice.  We went back one last time on Saturday, and they cooked us dinner, yes they are very nice.  On Saturday we taught them about the importance of prayer and scripture study and told them to talk to missionaries in their new location (which is very far away... in a different mission)  we also decided we are going to send a referral to the missionaries there to go and teach.  I feel very good about them though.  From what we've taught and how they've been keeping their commitments I feel that they have a good chance of being brought to the church in their new location, but it still saddens me to see them go.  I very much hope they find the missionaries, or the missionaries find them.  

        My companion, Elder De Jesus, is from Manila.  A member from our ward recently went to Manila and happened to find Elder De Jesus's mom.  So he brought back stuff for Elder De Jesus, and me from Elder's mom.  Dessert.  He also told me pretty much everything that Elder De Jesus's mom wants Elder De Jesus's trainer to know.  I was also said that Elder De Jesus's trainer is a good cook.  That was fun to hear.  

         We have a new mission President now.  I haven't met him, but I know he is here and that President Jensen is gone.  Our new mission President is President Monahan.  

--
Have a good week, keep your head up, and smile.
                                                                           Elder Nathaniel J. Merrill