I Feel Like Shouting for Joy!

Hello Family,

So great to talk to you all last night.  I have to admit, the post-call realization hit pretty hard this morning.  I keep on thinking of the things I want to say to you and then remember the 4-week waiting period to hear back from you.

Just a little bit about what we did this week.  A lot of our investigators have started keeping their commitments this week.  Iliana Reyes came to church again and had another great experience.  So far she has accepted everything we have taught her as true.  The only problem is getting her to have the faith to live according to her new beliefs.  She is going to have to kick her friend out that is living with her, but I think she is ready for him to go anyway.  We are going to have to pass by today to ask her what she wants to do.

Lucia Andrea Lareta, the young woman who really liked the 1st Vision and the pictures of General Authorities also came to church.  She has been really faithful in reading everything we have left her.  We started her on the Liahona.  She says she just feels happy reading the Book of Mormon.

The gentleman I told you about last night is named Pablo Elisalde.  He is almost done with his chemotherapy.  His daughter converted and married a member.  Right now they are both living with him.  We have been going over to his house everyday to help him move into his wheelchair.  He has been really touched by how much his son-in-law has been willing to help him, as well as the changes he has seen in his daughter.  He has worked as a financial manager for a few companies on the East Coast of the US.  I think he did not get to spend much time with his family because he said he traveled a lot.  He has always known about our church and the Book of Mormon, but said that after having to pass through this illness, he has really started looking for God.  He said his family is much more united now.  He told us last night that he knew the church was true and that God the Father and the Son came and talked with Joseph Smith.  He said he knew that the experiences he is passing through have prepared him to accept the restored gospel.  He wants to come to Stake Conference next week.  We are praying he will be able to have the strength to make the trip.  It has been a wonderful experience getting to know him.

Well, it really was wonderful being able to talk to you.  It was nice being able to step out a bit from the missionary mentality and just remember how blessed my life has been to have grown up in a family with the gospel.  I have come to realize what a wonderful blessing it is to grow up in such a family after living here.  In each of my areas there have been one or two big, young families.  Spending time with them I just feel like shouting for joy because they are just such wonderful, happy people.  Growing up in an environment like that just makes well-founded people.  You really don’t find that any where else.  Thank you so much for making our home a place where the Spirit of the Lord can dwell. 

Well, I will talk to you all later.  I love all you so much.  I was so glad to talk to everybody, even if for only a few minutes.

Hasta Luego,

Bur´ Nan