Hey Everyone not in South Phoenix!! :)

First things first:

JUST A REMINDER, IF YOU RECEIVED A LETTER BACK SAYING THAT THE ADDRESS IT WAS FORWARDED TO WAS WRONG, IT'S OKAY. JUST RE-SEND THE LETTER BACK TO THE MISSION HOME AND I WILL RECEIVE IT. There was a mix up in my address when we moved but now it is all taken care of. Please re-send the letters back to the mission home!

Alright, now that that is taken care of, what did you all think of the pictures? Did you enjoy them? I certainly hope so! :)

This week started off great, trailed off a bit, but ended on a fantastic note. All in all, it was well rounded and the work of the Lord progressed in our area. To put a highlight on a few things, these were some of the many miracles that happened:

1: We had a killer Monday! 2 Member presents, 1 other lesson, 1 referral received, and 1 new investigator. I don't think I've ever had a Monday that good my whole mission. We were just so grateful at the end of the day for the tender mercies that Heavenly Father gave us at the very start of the week

2: The second experience happened Thursday night with our investigator Maria Mendoza. Our mission has been putting an emphasis on doing lessons inside the church or at a members home so we took Maria to the church. A member couple, the Bencomo's, came to our lesson and helped us give her a tour of the church which ended at the side of the baptismal font. There we had a lesson where we reviewed The Restoration and answered some questions she had about her beliefs. The spirit was incredibly strong in the room and both her and the members just bonded like glue. We were not able to extend a baptismal commitment but we feel like is is miles closer to entering the waters of baptism. Members, never underestimate the power of your presence at a missionary lesson. You are the key to success.

3: Experience 3 happened while Elder Giles and I did Assistant splits up in Monte Vista on Friday. It was an interesting day but spiritually powerful. We found this man named Roberto that, basically, called us his angels. Long story short, he has been prepared for a long time for the missionaries and now, he is found. Secondly, we were doing some stop bys before some church lessons we had that evening and we were...criticized in the harshest manner by 2 drunk "gentlemen" on the second floor of the apartment complex. We were really sad for the incident but we knew that, if it happened, it was Satan trying discourage us. We didn't let that happen. Our last lesson that night, we prayed a miracle. The assistants have an investigator that they committed to pray about Joseph Smith to see if he was a prophet and, while we were in the restroom, he told Elder Crandall that he prayed, didn't receive an answer, and he wanted to know why. As a result, our lesson consisted of diligence and prayer and, right there in the church, we knelt and offered a prayer. And we stayed on our knees for 20 minutes until he looked up at us and said "How do you feel? Do you feel good right now?" We responded "Yes" to which he replied "...I do too..." It. Was. AMAZING!!! I have only felt the way I did at that time a few instances in my life. I know that Heavenly Father truly does answer our prayers.

4: Our last experience happened on Sunday. We had gone 4 weeks without investigators at church. We devoted our whole day Saturday for church checks and stop bys preparing people for the next day. Long prayers were offered Saturday night and Sunday Morning. 9:00 rolled around...WE. HAD. PEOPLE. THERE!!! All three of us were on the verge of tears because of it. No matter what adversity we go through, all we need to do is exercise our faith in Heavenly Father, do all that we can, Pray harder, and things will work out in the Lord's time. That's not the half of it though. One man that showed up, Jacinto, is...wow....I just can't write a story (nor do I have to time) to explain all that happened to get him there. Long story short, we went to his house at 3 o'clock, checked his reading in the Book of Mormon (he received it Friday and he is already in Alma), taught him Lesson 1 and half of Lesson 2 and set his baptismal date for the 29th of this month. It was such a humbling, incredible experience and I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to witness it.

I just want to add my testimony that this truly is the work of Heavenly Father. No matter what we go through, he is the one with the plan. All we need to do is remain worthy to be able to take a role in it. I know that no matter what we go through, every adversity carries with it a seed of equal or greater opportunity. Never give up my friends, the Lord is on the side and will bless us as long as we are obedient to the commandments.

Well, I hope and pray for you all every day. Thank you for all the prayers that are offered in behalf of the missionaries. They really do make a difference. But, until next week my friends, God's speed! :)