Letter from November 16, 2010

November 16, 2010


hahaha i think the last time all those teams won on the same day was when i was a little kid. Im glad the Ags are doing good, all the new missionaries that come in see me and ask if i went to school before the mission and i tell them A&M, then the next question always is "Are you going to play football there?" i just smile and say, "we'll see" hahaha

1. haha Im sure you are both wondering what was in that letter hahaha. IDK, I was studying one morning and i just had the impression to write Pres. Packard and tell him about my story with Marc MAndel and how everything is going out here. Thats basically it. If you read it you would just be reading the same story, but i did throw my testimony in at the end. Nothing to special, I still dont know why I wrote it, just followiing an impression. I have come to realize on my mission that if the Lord speaks, it is usually a pretty good idea to do it. haha

2.I know nothing about the Christmas Gathering. Just that it is on like the 23rd or 22nd and that all the missionaries (in SD, not in the desert) get together at one of the churches and ahve a big christmas "party". We watch a christmas church movie and then they hand out gifts and president gives everyone an orange and some socks hahaha. I am trying to get president to show "ELF" but i dont think he will show a will ferrel movie, its worth a shot. And yes mom, in my last letter i did ask about skype...i got no reply, there is your answer hahaha

3. "Zone-Leading" is pretty fun. we have to do a lot of extra work, but the Lord has definitely blessed us in our area. Another lesson that I have learned is that when you serve others, the Lord will serve you. That is the case in our area right now. Last week we didnt have time to teach a lot of lessons, but we still had a baptism, 2 with a date, and 3 at church. Still a good week and yes, you read right, we did get a baptism! haha. We have a meeting with president like twice a month and he calls regularly. He like to talk with us, our zone is doing the best right ow in the mission. But, i would love to be a regualr missionary again, i didnt get to do that for a while haha

Well my marine story of the week....it was a pretty good week. The Protestant prayer leader taht i taught last week is doing really well. Last week, he told me that he wasnt interested in getting baptized but just wanted to learn. This week i taught him a little abot joesph smith and authority and how there is only one church taht has it all. And I INVITED him to follow the example of jesus christ and be baptized by someone holding the proper priesthood authoriry of God. He said that he would, but not untilhe gets his answer taht this is the ONLY true church. He will get it this week. His best friend in bootcamp is a stud member. returned missinoary, so he knows what he is doing. I think he will get baptized soon, very soon. The other marine is doing ok. He seemed to cool off a little bit, but im going to talk with the missionarys up north at "phase 2" and get them to talk with him and keep the fire burning. I also found 2 more recruits that are interested. One of them saw one the the recruits in his compnay, that is a member, praying by himself one night and felt like he needed to join him. It was a pretty cool story. the lord works on these guys big time. they have spiritual experience after spiritual experience it is great.

In my area the story of the week is.....I am teaching my first interested cholo. yes, a legit thug from a legit gang. His name is Edgar and he is the son of a member. he came to the mobat yesterday with us and he loved it. He has a lot to change, but he knows everything is true. He wants us to help him change his life. But yes, i am now teaching my first cholo that is actually interested haha.

Well that is about all for this week. Oh, before i forget. Because the San Diego mission is the best mission in the world and the 1st presidency and the 12 love us the most, 3 weeks ago, the California San Diego mission became the 1st mission in the world to have.............TEXTING ON THEIR PHONES!!!!! hahahahaha yep, missionaries can now text. I love my missio so much. It is a lot more fun to text in spanish ahahahah

Thanks for all of your prayers and i will be praying extra hard on thursday, all day. And like dad told me, "no news is good news." I dont want to get any news haha LOVE YALL

Ross