Year 1 - Letter 25 - New Orleans, LA

Una Semana buena

Hi everyone!

Life is so good!  Thanksgiving was awesome, and now we are in the Christmas season!  First off, thanksgiving.  I had PLENTY of food.  We had a Lunch appointment across lake Pontchartrain, which was awesome to go across the Pontchartrain Causeway, and had all the usual turkey, rolls, etc. from the ward mission leaders family, the Batlles.  After that, we went to the Bishops home, and had another dinner, of pretty much the same stuff.  It was fun, and we all went around the table to share what we are thankful for.  After that, it was off to work, just as usual.  We went and visited Daniel.  He is so ready to be baptized, it is crazy.  We found out that his best friend back home is LDS, and his sister is too!  He is starting to feel ready, so we have been visiting him almost every day to help him read, and practice English, which he is picking up on quite fast.

OK, this is a crazy story.  So after about three or so weeks, probably more, of not seeing our investigator Virginio and his fiance Carmen, we finally got an appointment with them!  That isn't even the crazy part though.  So we were talking to them about how they want to be married soon, and then be baptized, and Carmen said something like she was already baptized.  Elder Gillett asked in what church.  She then told us she was baptized in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  We where totally surprised   Turns out, Carmen is one of her middle names, and she is a less active that we have tried her home several times to see if she was there, and never was!  Craziest member present lesson ever!

Dora is doing well.  We visited her again, and tried to talk with her about prophets, but Antonio, the guy she lives with, took us on a ride on the crazy train.  Ah well.  We are still just trying to help her feel welcome and feel she is a part of the ward family.

One of our less actives that the missionaries have been trying to come back to church since before Elder Gillett arrived in New Orleans came to church!  The greatest thing was, is that it was his own doing.  He invited us over one night, and we read in Alma 41.  We talked that in our sins, we cannot and will not ever be truly happy.  He really wants to change, and it is awesome that we get to be here to help him!

One cool thing at the beginning of the week was where we went out with Bishop Bustillo.  He is awesome!  He has a really sincere heart, and wants to do all he can to help others.  I think he is awesome!  He is so great, and lives in our area, so we get to work with him every few weeks.

Well, that is pretty much it for this week!  If you haven't yet, check out the Christmas campaign on Mormon.org.  It is such a great opportunity for all of us to share the true meaning of Christmas with everyone!  Us missionaries count on the work of the members!

Love you all!

Elder Scott T. Andrews

Me on my bike.

Homemade Snicker doodles from Mom and Sadie. Packaged in a Pringles can and were awesome!

Me with Carmen and Virginio.