Nov 1, 2008 Zone Conference always rekindles the fire

11/3

Hello Mom and Dad and Family!

This week was a pretty crazy week. We had Zone conference on Wednesday which always seems rekindle the fire in the work. We made a lot of changes this week with the activities that we do on a day to day basis. We went through and just wiped out all the activities we do that didnt affect our numbers over the last few weeks. Our desire to find people to teach really increased after Wednesday, and we are both happier because of it. Earlier this week, we got a new investigator named Marty. Marty is about 30 years old and has lived an extremely rough life. He was an adopted child and when he was about 10 years old, his parents decided they didnt want him anymore and he went to a foster home. He was living with a foster mom for a couple years until she died. He grew up extremely rebellious, blaming god for all his problems. He has lived on the streets for the past 5-10 years and has been on and off hard drugs. About 2 years ago he got in hold of his Mom who gave him up when he was 10 and he has been living with her. Hes been clean for the past 2 years as well. Anyways, so we met Marty and we taught him the Restoration and gave him a Book of Mormon. Already in one week he has almost read half of it. He is extremely smart and has researched many different religions. He said that that Book of Mormon just ties all the loose ends that were in his mind. He mentioned how he read about the Mayans and the myth of the great white God who visited them and how it makes sense that it was Christ. He said that he has always known that there was just something missing from the Bible and
that there had to be something else. So yeah, we had a lesson with him 3
days ago and asked him if he would be baptized and he said Yes! The date
is for Nov. 22. We have a lot of work to do though. He still has coffee on a daily basis and he is an anarchist haha. Were researching the group that he is part of to make sure there isnt any illegal stuff that goes on in it. Were taking him fishing next P-day because he really doesnt have very many friends. Ill send some pictures home of him. He still looks pretty rough around the edges with his foot long hair and his 6 inch beard, but he is such a good person. So pray for Marty!!

Thats awesome that yall went to the lake this week. I miss that place so much. The weather that we are having out here lately reminds me a
lot of the weather in California. There isnt too much humidity anymore and its about 70 degrees every day. Such nice biking weather! So the wave runners are running well? Thats good to hear. I cant believe we have a master craft and wave runners out there. Jeeze. I dont even want to think about it haha.

Yeah Ray and Brett are both doing good. Its been awesome talking with them.
We are still cracking the same jokes and being all nerdy like we used to so thats fun. Emily is doing really good as well. Shes in the relief society presidency in her ward in Utah so that says something haha. Ive wrote Kimmy about a week ago so Im still waiting on that. Its been really fun keeping in touch with people. It really has eliminated the whole home-sick part of the mission so it actually makes work a lot easier. I still need to write Chad and Katey. I just sent a letter off to Shawna and the Kids so now im working on them. Thats good to hear that chad is so close to being done. Thatll be a blast to have them closer to home.

I feel like my letters have been really boring lately, I'm sorry. Im going to be better at writing in my journal so that I can remember stories throughout the week to tell you guys about. I love you guys and I miss you. But just know that I am happy. This week was amazing. Mom- I love you so so so so much. Dad- I love you with all my heart. The rest of the Fam- I love and miss you all! Bye guys!!!