January 4th

As far as things for this week not much has happend. First week without a baptism, NOOOOO. New years was a late night again and didn´t get much sleep. Food has been awesome. I don´t know how many different versions of papussas there are but I think I had a different one yesterday. It was covered in egg and then fried, like french toast. It was good. They have cole slaw that's pretty good too. I have been to this place called Pollo Campero which is like KFC and it's just not the same.

We have spent a lot of time with members trying to build the branch. The branch is so deprived of preisthood that I am first councilor with my companion and our other two district members are second councilors . We are trying hard to build the church but I am not really sure how we're going to make that happen. The biggest challenge is to get the members involved. They just don´t want to. So we give talks in Sacrament, teach gospel principles and priesthood. Last week we tried to get the deacons to understand the importance of their calling, but they just mess around as deacons do. I would take any of the deacons in our ward any day. I am learning to be patient and learn from others. Especially with our investigators. We have this one where she knows all that we can teach and passed an interview with pres. but when the day came she just didn´t want to be baptized, so we asked why and she just didn´t think she was ready and didn´t want to be baptized. It's tough. You love the people so much especially someone you have . They know all that you can teach and they come to church and are practically a member, but just believe they aren´t ready for the first step. It's also tough because you want them to succeed. It makes you cry and hurt and feel like you have failed. I feel now like I know what Heavenly Father feels like when his children do bad or disobey or ignore the commandments. He hurts because he wants them to do good. Anyway, life has been good other than that.

I love you all and I know what I am doing is right. I love the work and it makes me so happpy to bring others to the Gospel. I feel so happy when someone gets it and they understand what we do about this life and the next.

Take care,

Alex