Our First Full Week in Our New Home--Monterrey, Mexico

Dear family,

This past week has been BUSY!!! We were still moving in and shopping for things whenever we got a new list together for Wal-Mart. Our trining in the mission office has been rather intense also because the Monthly Reports to Salt Lake were all due this week, and it's the only month that we'll have our "shadows" to help us. Friday night we were at the office until 11:00 p.m. and Wednesday we were working there until midnight, but we did get the reports in on time.

Monday we had our first staff meeting at the mission office with President and Sister Romney and all the Elders who work there. After the opening prayer, President Romney told us that every Monday is a "feeding frenzy" right after the opening prayer so that the Elders can focus on the meeting instead of their hunger. It was fun that to know that Sister Romney fixes breakfast for them every Monday. At the meeting we learned the system of a lot of things in the mission, and exactly what we are supposed to be doing.

Tuesday we taught our first "Preach My Gospel" lesson to a newly baptized member (however she hasn't been confirmed yet). Here, they wait a while (usually 2 weeks) after baptism before they confirm new members. She has a 6-year-old son named Julio who will be brought up faithfully, I'm sure. His mother, Brenda, is reading the Book of Mormon every day and doing everything she has been asked to do. She has such a light in her countenance that even her family has noticed a change in her since she joined the Church. She is dependable and loves feeling the Spirit.

Wednesday we went to the temple with half of the missionaries in Monterrey Zones. In two weeks we will go with the other half. It was a beautiful experience for many reasons. The temple workers don't have any couples on Wednesday mornings to be the witness couple, and dad wasn't sure if he could kneel and stand as often as he needed to. For years he hasn't been able to stand up in the prayer circle for fear of losing his balance. Well, let me tell you, he did kneel and stand and had no problem in the prayer circle. As missionaries we are blessed to be able to do whatever we are asked! Ya voy!! (That means we're going). Lo haremos!! (That means we do it)as long as we're called.

Thursday the reports were all in and I began preparing for next month's computer input and dad was paying bills all week. We taught Brenda and Julio again that night.
Friday was our preparation day, but we went to the office most of the day and fell into bed tired at night.

Saturday we worked in the office all day and enjoyed some time together watching "Ella Enchanted" on our DVD at night. We hear that Saturday should be our preparation day from now on because the Elders take their on Friday and someone needs to stay in the office on Fridays. That's great with us!

Now you know our "loose" schedule every day. We love the office work, but truthfully we love teaching even more. It's true, but sometimes we are called to do whatever needs to be done, and we're happy to try to make things run smoothly for the proselyting missionaries.

Thank you for all your prayers for our success in this work, and thank you for your prayers for all the missionaries to be inspired and safe as they work. Many of the Elder have holes in their shoes from walking everywhere in their areas every day. None of the missionaries have a car or a bike. We hear gun shots often and know that the missionaries are tracting where people are drunk and on drugs and they are often surrounded by dangerous circumstances. That's no joke--they truly are courageous in their work, and strive to make friends everywhere they go so that people will know they are friends and never want to hurt any of them.

We always pray for you as well. Thanks for being who you are!! We love you,

Mom and Dad