Family!

Hey Family!

Sorry about last week's email. I sent it but for some reason it did not go through. The computers we use are fairly old and in a church building. The Internet is not too great. Half of the time, my weekly letters to president Ellsworth do not make it to him, but I just keep on trying. Just remember that I love you and I do write you every week! IF you do not get one, it is due to the computer, not me.

Elder Howard and I are staying together for another transfer. I am so happy and grateful to be able to stay in an area for more than a month or two. I love this branch and we are seeing so many blessings. I don't want to leave for a while. Elder Howard still has a lot that he can teach me and I think every companion teaches me something new and valuable about myself. I think with Elder Howard, I am learning that I do not always need to be so serious. Also, I think I have been shown a lot of my personal pride -- something I am trying to get rid of.

I can not name names or specifics anymore due to us wanting to preserve people's privacy. I will use first names, but it is just something president has asked.

We now have two people we are teaching with baptismal dates for July. The 16th and 23rd. I think both will hold through strong as long as we give the love, time, and attention that Rufino and Ivan need. Rafael should be getting baptized. He knows that it is all true, he just is scared of being baptized and then falling away from the Gospel. I love these three people so much. I just want some of the families that we are teaching to progress.

One family in particular is really on my mind. The husband and wife have had some trust issues and it causes a lot of depression in the husband. They told us how every time we enter the home, they feel something that they can not feel when we are not there. They realize that it is the Spirit. The Virgin came up in our visit a few weeks ago and they were both raised to believe and pray to her. The wife made mention that she loves how she feels when we come over and she always wants to feel like that, but at the same time she feels like she is betraying the virgin. I am not one to Bible Bash...I could show them many verses in the bible that speak specifically on that issue, but I hate contention. My prayer is just that they continually feel the spirit and seek it. As they learn, and put the Gospel into practice, they will have the Spirit more frequently in their home. My hope, is that eventually the Virgin altar comes down....it is like a spirit repellent.

We got to teach a lot this week, but not so much with members. Many went out of town, or were not up to bearing the 115 degree heat, which is hot. My blood is thinning and I am getting used to the heat. Oregon is going to really chill my bones. Not too many people are just out wandering around in this heat, so finding has become more of an evening activity.

We found one great new family. They live right in front of the Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Hall. They seem to be very interested and we have a visit with them later this week. They were a referral from our zone leaders. I am excited. We have a lot of families that we visit, we just do not get the chance to visit them frequently because they struggle to keep their appointments.

Our real battle this week was Church. Rufino and Rafael told us that they would come, but neither did. We even had members stop by to pick them up. It makes it tough for the members to want to help again when they do what they asked, but our investigators flake. I have been praying a lot for member participation, and we are seeing it. I just do not want that to fade. Rafael's reason was legitimate. His power went out and he had to pay the bill. 115 without A/C would be death indoors. Rufino, said he had to go to the grocery store. That one could have waited a bit I believe. Elder Howard and I have decided to focus on the sabbath day this coming week. People need to come to Church. We plan to focus on that commitment with our investigators.

I am glad to hear that you enjoyed your time in Seattle. You two are great parents and I am grateful that I was able to grow up and be taught by you both. I probably have only made it these 20 years because of you both! Thank you so much. I love you a lot.

Things just keep on getting better here in East Catalina. We are seeing a lot of growth. I feel like this area is my baby and we are nurturing it into adolescence, then it will be an adult with a lot of fruit, being many converts and a lot of missionary work. We are focusing on strengthening a number of less active families. Laziness is the common thread. They all still have testimonies, they just lack the drive and desire. We have FHE with one family tonight and we hope to reactivate them soon. They would be a powerful missionary resource.

Saturday I got to go to 2 baptisms of people that I taught. Amparo, who live in the west side of this branch. And Monica, an investigator from my greenie area. Both are such strong converts and I feel so blessed to have been able to see the fruits of my labors here in the mission. I often feel like I am a seed planter, and other missionaries are harvesters. What is important is that these people are eventually getting baptized. It is more than my joy and pleasure to have found them and taught them. I will try and send some photos next week!

I am loving this. I am so grateful to be here. I am so glad the Lord is blessing you all while I am here serving. You seem to all be having fun and living life to the fullest. Just keep on doing your thing, and I will keep doing mine.

I spent some money last week because we don't have dinners quite frequently now since some members can not handle feeding four extra people. It is kind of a downfall. I am trying to gauge what to do. Sorry, I do not want to spend, but eating is needed in this heat!

I love you all a lot. Please be safe, physically and spiritually! Study the scriptures, and say your prayers! I think and pray for you oft. Have an awesome week! Happy 22 years mom and dad!

Love,

Elder Jonathan Alma Pearson