Hello!

I'm glad seminary went well for you this week- You are going to be awesome!! I loved my seminary classes and teachers- all of them! And what a privilege to teach on the Book of Mormon this year! I love the Book of Mormon SO MUCH.  There are so many examples of such amazing people. And I know that whatever I'm going through, I'm in good company! Anyone from Nephi to Alma to Amulek to Helaman to Moroni to the other prophet Nephi to Samuel the Lamanite to Mormon (read the book of Mormon IN the Book of Mormon for personal study this morning. That's kind of a sad one :P) But I am in SUCH good company. I'm not the first missionary, nor the last. I'm not the first one who's been laughed at, mocked, ignored, treated badly, commented at, whatever. Plus, they had to go through a lot harder things than I do! But they did it because they (like me) know that this message we bring is true. They (like me) know that Christ lives and has overcome everything for us. It's such a beautiful message, and the stories of the prophets and missionaries in the Book of Mormon help me SO MUCH to receive strength and optimism for every single day. I am so grateful for them and their example.

The Book of Mormon is so powerful. Our investigator Ricardo is preparing for baptism this Saturday, and since he's been reading the Book of Mormon, there is a change in him that is as noticeable as night and day. Literally. When we finally got him to start reading the Book of Mormon, his spirit changed- he was happier, more social, more at peace with his life. His prayers improved a ton, and as a natural result of that, his relationship with his Heavenly Father has grown stronger. His knowledge about our Savior Jesus Christ has become so much more firm, and he desires (all the time) to learn more about his Savior.

All we want is to invite people to experience this for themselves. The Book of Mormon is SO POWERFUL. Yes, we read and love the Bible. But everyone has the Bible. The Book of Mormon is the difference. We invite people to read it and see how it can add upon and strengthen their faith in and knowledge of a God they already know exists, and a Christ who they already know has died for their sins. It is amazing. We just invite you to read it and try for yourself!

So... here's my compliment of the week:

"You don't speak Spanish, but you eat like a Mexican!"

Best. Compliment. Ever.

I still get a kick out of that one :)

We were eating dinner at a members house, and Hermano Martinez looks over at me spooning my second serving of potatoes literally drenched in Chile del Arbol and makes that comment. Ha I laughed so hard.... it's true. I love it. I love the picosa! I tried jabaneros for the first time this week and LOOOOOVED it :) I just like my food to have a little spice! It's funny though- we'll be eating food with members, investigators, random people, whoever! And I'll start spooning on the picosa and drenching it in Valentina, and they get SO concerned- "Careful, that's really really hot!" I say thank you, eat it, love it, laugh, and get more picosa. They think it's funny :)

I think that's kind of it for now. I don't have a ton of time left, but it's been an awesome week! Helping Ricardo finish up preparing for his baptism this week, and helping other investigators, and trying to find others who are ready to hear our message! It's great! Lots of work, but we have fun with it. Particularly when Hermana Toney and I start quoting Brian Regan or Monty Python... it helps to have comic relief every now and then, and you would be amazed how applicable some of those quote can be... :)

Ha I love you all and am gladall is going well! Have an awesome week!!

Hermana Walton