23 January 2010--Un Bautismo ayer!

Wow we had an amazing baptismal service yesterday for my great friend, Jorge.  It was actually his birthday yesterday, so he was born again on his birthday.  

We thought it was pretty cool.  The new pair of married missionaries was a big help for us too.  Jorge asked if Elder Noall could baptize him too.  It was a really awesome experience.  After when Jorge was sharing his testimony the spirit was so strong he started to cry.  He tried to hold it back but he couldn’t, I actually caught myself almost crying too, but I held it back.  It was really powerful.  He really wants to go on the mission, so we are preparing him for that, he really has to be one of the best converts that I have had.  What makes him even more awesome is that he likes running too, he went running with us like 3 times this week.  He is just a good kid, and really a great friend.  

Yesterday we also had a conference with President Leyva, and it was really uplifting.  You always know it was a good conference when you leave and you just want to be a better person in just about every aspect you can.  It was really awesome.  Elder Rojas and I had to teach the last part of a lesson in front of everyone to give an example of how to make commitments.  It always makes you a little nervous to teach in front of everyone, but it really turned out well.  Then when the assistants asked for feedback in what we could do better nobody said anything.  It wasn’t perfect, I just think they were scared to critsize because they thought I would lower their travel money or something   Ha ha not really, but it really was an awesome experience.  

Last night when we were teaching and contacting we were applying everything we learned, and it just makes you feel better.  President even said that we should go into a plaza and start preaching in the middle to everyone like the first missionaries in these latter days did.  I’m all for it, its going to be awesome just standing in the middle teaching.
We also had the hna Jeannette Delgado who has been assisting the church for the past 4 months talk with the bishop yesterday, and he said she is good to go for baptism.  So Sunday night we went over there and challenged her for the 31st of January, and she accepted right off.  She actually said she would rather do it today, but we are trying to animate her other son to baptize with her the 31st.  She is so faithful, and we are just so happy that she finally has the opportunity to make this covenant with God.  The Lord is just really blessing us a ton with the investigators we have right now.
In the office the next week is going to be crazy.  I have to do all of the missionary payments this Wednesday, and I have to do them a little different this time.  They got rid of the old program that I did the monthly payments for the missionaries, and so I’m going to be using the new program called iMOS.  It seems like its going to be a lot easier because all the payments are pre-set it just makes me a little nervous because its different than I have done.  It will be fine though.  I just have to go over a few zone reconciliations to figure out how much money I have to send the zone leaders.
I actually have almost 6 months in the office now, and it looks like I’m going to be in here for about 3 more months.  Usually the secretaries and assistants in the office stay for 6 months, but the secretary of finances usually stays longer because it is a longer training period and everything.  I will probably leave the office with about 4 and a half months left, to just give it all I’ve got in the field.  It is going to be a good time.  The office really isn’t bad, but sometimes I just want to get out there and get a full day of teaching in.  The good thing is when we are out of the office at 4 pm we can usually get a lot done.  I really love the area we are working in too.  So right now everything is just going awesome.  Elder Parsons and Elder Ranilla have gotten a little more excited about running too.  We have run the last 9 days not counting Sunday, and I’m just feeling great.  I threw down a 5k today, and this week has been at least 2 and a half every day.  Preaching the gospel and running every day, I’m just loving life.

Well that’s my update for the week.  Sounds like it has been a pretty crazy week at home, but you guys are going to pull through just like always.  Steph and Andrew, good luck in Region even though you guys are a little sick you can pull it through.  Keep up the good work with your crazy days mom.  Wow you have had a lot to do, hopefully thing calm down a little this next week.  Oh man and that barbecue you guys had sounds amazing.  I’m looking forward to doing that when I get home too.  Even in the middle of winter.  I love our family.  You guys are awesome, and thanks for the letters, I really enjoy reading everything that is going on.  Love you all, talk to you next week!!
Love,
Elder Lee

The pictures are of the baptism of Jorge, and then one of the street that we live on.  Nos vemos. chow!