Hi Mom!
I'm alive and still in Salinas. You have been getting my e-mails every week, right? Sorry they are not very detailed. I'll try and do better this week. So transfer calls came and it looks like nothing is changing. I will be spending my third transfer with Elder Mote. Which is ok because we have to see Reina and Odilia and Gerardo finally reach the waters of baptism together. They are still having complications getting that darn birth certificate here from Mexico. But with prayer and faith we'll figure out a way to get it here somehow.
Our 15 year old investigator Jamie Martinez is excited for her baptism this weekend and we are too! But like always, Satan is doing all he can to stop it. But we will fight him to the bitter end. She's come along ways. Trying to get her to pray was like trying to pull teeth, but now she volunteers to say them :)
I had procrastinated doing exchanges so this past week we squeezed in 3. I had a really good experience with a greenie from Samoa named Elder Ete. He's a big rugby player. He's very humble and has a powerful testimony. Ha ha, there was this crazy guy that we met while contacting in the park, and while he was just trying to bible bash, Elder Ete calmly bore his testimony with his thick accent. The power of Elder Ete's words and the lack there of in the words of the other guy was so apparent.
Later we were teaching a less active family who only a few years ago were very strong in the church. We shared a shortened version of the Restoration with them and the spirit was very strong. Then we took turns asking inspired questions,and I felt prompted to ask the head of the household if he was reading from the Book of Mormon. He responded 'no' and it became clear to him that there was where he needed to start his road back to activity. He committed to begin reading from the Book. Elder Ete asked him to share his feelings of the Atonement and the good brother got teary eyed while expressing his gratitude for this gift of gifts. It was a powerful experience. So life is good here in Salinas, the weather is still beautiful and the Gospel is still true.
Our 15 year old investigator Jamie Martinez is excited for her baptism this weekend and we are too! But like always, Satan is doing all he can to stop it. But we will fight him to the bitter end. She's come along ways. Trying to get her to pray was like trying to pull teeth, but now she volunteers to say them :)
I had procrastinated doing exchanges so this past week we squeezed in 3. I had a really good experience with a greenie from Samoa named Elder Ete. He's a big rugby player. He's very humble and has a powerful testimony. Ha ha, there was this crazy guy that we met while contacting in the park, and while he was just trying to bible bash, Elder Ete calmly bore his testimony with his thick accent. The power of Elder Ete's words and the lack there of in the words of the other guy was so apparent.
Later we were teaching a less active family who only a few years ago were very strong in the church. We shared a shortened version of the Restoration with them and the spirit was very strong. Then we took turns asking inspired questions,and I felt prompted to ask the head of the household if he was reading from the Book of Mormon. He responded 'no' and it became clear to him that there was where he needed to start his road back to activity. He committed to begin reading from the Book. Elder Ete asked him to share his feelings of the Atonement and the good brother got teary eyed while expressing his gratitude for this gift of gifts. It was a powerful experience. So life is good here in Salinas, the weather is still beautiful and the Gospel is still true.
Love Elder Flake
Oh, and to answer your questions Mom, the charge at Marshalls was from when I bought Elder Mote a shirt for his birthday. I withdrew the money ($140) to buy the marriage licenses, but because of the birth certificate problem, I wasn't able to do so. Know that I love you so much Mom! Thank you for being amazing :) Love from your son, Elder Flake
This is a beautiful letter. Elder Flake's kindness is one of his best qualities and truly lifts others.
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