TRANSFERS, TRAINING-AGAIN, Exploring his "DIGS"

Buenos días a todos!                          7 May 12
          Another week, another letter. This week has been a pretty interesting, but solid week. There weren't too man crazy or outrageous moments, but just some good solid missionary work.
          Last P-Day we took another trip out to the desert. We went to a place called the "Rochester Art Panel". It is a bunch of old Native drawings on a rock wall. It is said that it was a very sacred place to the Native people. It was a pretty cool little hike. The rocks are covered with drawings and there are even some dinosaur fossils around. This place is home to the world's longest hieroglyphic snake. (See pictures.)
          We have had quite a bit of new experiences. We started teaching this kid named Kemmer. He is about 10 and he has trouble hearing. When we teach him, we have a signer. We teach and Bro. Stephenson signs what we say to him. He can hear us, but it helps his understanding of what we say. It has pretty cool to learn some signs and now I can do a few basic signs. I think I am learning just as much as Kemmer is. We also started teaching Priscilla's daughter, Andrea, this week. (Priscilla was baptised two weeks ago.) We have had some struggles with her just because she is so rowdy during our lessons. She has also been attending Primary. We should have a baptism with her in a week or two.  
          We are able to do a little Spanish work here and there. We have a Spanish investigator whose name is America. She has a bunch of family that are members. This week we went over for a lesson, and we were just following up with her prayers and her reading in the Book of Mormon. She said that she felt good when she was praying. So I asked her if she thought she had received an answer. She then just said, "Yes, I have." I was pretty startled because I was prepared to hear, "no, not yet", so it caught me off guard to hear that she got her answer. She said that she just felt so much peace and happiness when she prayed that she knew these things were true. So she accepted the invitation to be baptized, but we just have to work on her getting married to her "husband". She has lived with him for like 9 years and they have 3 kids together, but she doesn't know if he wants to marry her. So that is a struggle right now, so we will continue to try and work that situation. We can definitely use your help with some prayers there.
News from around Emery County: The high school baseball team has been doing really well. I know some kids on the team and we have talked about how I used to play. They have only lost two games all year and were regional champions. They had a State Playoff game here on Saturday, and since most of the town was there; we went there to be where the people were. It was pretty cool to be able to see the game, and to talk to all the people there.
          TRANSFERS: This week was transfer week. The suspense is over, I am going to be staying here in Castledale Bilingual. But I will be a father once again. Yes, I will be training a new missionary. It was quite a surprise because the Zone Leaders said that I should just get another companion and move after next transfer, but I guess the Lord needed me to train a new missionary. I am pretty nervous, just because Elder Weyant has been my youngest companion(least amount of time in the mission) since I trained Elder Leguizamón. I will also be here for at least two more transfers, because when you train, you are involved in a 12 week program (2 transfers). That means I will be here until my birthday (JULY 30, for anyone who wants to know!) at least, and I could die here. (In missionary terms that means end your mission.)  But who knows, that is a long time in the future and for now I am focused on training a new missionary. That means this week I have to take a trip down to St. George on Tuesday, stay the night, go to a meeting on Wednesday, get my new "son", and then drive the 5 - 6 hour drive back to Castledale. So it will be a long two day journey. It will also be hard, because we lose two days of working in our area. So hopefully we will be able to make up all that time.
          NEWS FROM HOME:  Well I that is cool that Matthew Rickords got his call  The Denver mission is lucky to have him. I know that Beaugh Meyer (old friend from Boise) is serving there right now and he loves it. I am glad that he is excited about it too, because that is exactly where the Lord needs him to serve and the Lord has people there prepared for him to find, teach, and baptize.
          I am glad that Pops was able to bear testimony with minimal tears. I am also glad to know that the missionaries are still being very helpful to both of you. Also, that they were able to give Mom a blessing. Mom, I also want to say thank you for your paragraph in regards to my Mother's Day card that I sent you. I knew it would be unexpected, but I knew I needed to do something for you. I am grateful for the time that you gave up to dedicate to all my activities and to helping me grow from a boy into a man. I really appreciate all of that time. I wouldn't have traded any of the times that I spent with you or comforting you when you needed it. It was my duty as a son to comfort you when you needed it, but to give you a few grey hairs as well. Too bad you dye them all now! (Kleenex moment from a thankful mother for her son!)  Well I am glad that Sister Huntsman's letter was all good things. She is a very nice older lady that is serving as a Stake missionary in Castledale. She actually cut my hair last week. (We received a letter from her telling us that our son was a good missionary and setting the right example and always smiling and happy.)  
           I hope all is well on your end of things, and I am really glad to get the news about Pops and what the specialist believes will happen for dads care.  Good things are going to come! I love you all! Talk to you on Sunday!  (One of the two phone calls allowed each year -- Christmas and Mother's Day -- he gets to talk to the entire family -- not just the mom!!)

Live it, Love it, Preach it!   del campo misional en Emery County, Utah!

ELDER D