View from the top of the Santa Barbara Courthouse

We taught a lot of lessons this week, and things are looking more and more positive each day.  The Spanish is still obviously a struggle, but it is slowly coming along, and I find myself being able to understand and say a little more everyday. But all is well.

We found some new people this week, and we have really good feelings about a couple of them. A lot of our existing investigators have somewhat stopped progressing. They have had all the lessons, and want to be baptized, but there are just one or two little things holding them back.  One, Sister Roman has the desire, but she is an 80 year old woman, and has been living with a 70 year old man for 50 years now.  She cannot be baptized until they are married, and he doesn't want to.  Gabriella is in the same situation.  She knows everything, but is living with her boyfriend, who doesn't want to get married. A girl named Alma accepted baptism, but there's nothing we can do about it until she either moves out from her boyfriend or they get married. Araceli's husband is holding her back from coming to church as well.  

 

We found another man named Carlos, who is an alcoholic. We went to visit him and he was drunk. We started talking about his addiction, and he just broke down crying, because he knows he needs to change and wants to set a good example for his children, but just doesn't think he can stop.  We shared with him our simple testimonies that we know this gospel is the pathway that he needs to be on to help his family and also himself, and he just kept crying and said that that is what he wants.  We set a return appointment for Tuesday. He's such a nice man, and I want nothing more than to see him change his life for the better and receive the blessings that only the gospel can give.  

 

We also had a 30 minute talk with a homeless man that obviously hadn't eaten in days, so I bought him a piece of chicken for a dollar and it was like he'd just gotten a million dollars. It was cool to see.  Haha.

 

The members have been great, and we have been going out teaching lessons with one, Felipe Perez. He's great, always willing to help and be bold, sharing his testimony. We love him.

 

Elder Trujillo is continuing to set a great example for me, and throwing me right in the mix of this great work. 

Elder Trujillo and I have started a small money laundering and printing business in our apartment on the side. (haha)
I'll be rich in no time.