July 5th, 2017

   Well time is wrapping up and I officially have less than a month. This Sunday was fast and testimony meeting and as I was sitting there thinking and listening to people I realized that it was my last fast Sunday as a missionary. I bore my testimony and said that it was my last fast Sunday and it didn't hit me or feel like that at all. Then yesterday we had MLC where people from all over the mission get together and this time it was at president's home in his backyard. It was a good time but when we were leaving I realized it's going to be the last time I see half of those missionaries ever again for the rest of my life...I still don't feel like I'm leaving and my brain and heart are in constant conflict when I think about it.

   The week itself was pretty amazing. We had such a blast with all the people we are working with. We were able to find a few new people this week but the best things we did were with Susannah and Alex. Susannah is growing in the gospel. She came to church on Sunday and then we took her to the temple visitors center where there was a fireside being held. At the fireside a former temple presidency member gave a lesson on how to study the scriptures. It was so so so good!! And Susannah really seemed to enjoy and received some great ideas on how to improve her scripture study. She really wants to come back to the temple again too.

  With Alex we have been prepping him for his baptism that is going to be happening this Sunday at 9:00 am right before church which starts at 10:00. Our bishop suggested we do a Sunday morning baptism so that's what we are going to do! I'm pretty excited for all of it to go down. We have been Skype teaching him the past couple of nights just to go over things so he is totally ready and his interview is tonight which he is going to pass with flying colors. He is so grown up and mature for a 15 year old. While going over the interview questions we asked if he believed we have a modern day prophet. He said he doesn't know if the Holy Ghost told him that is true yet. Him saying that to me just shows how ready and prepared he is to be baptized because he isn't 100% sure about the doctrine but is willing to act on the faith that he has and make changes in his life that he hopes will lead to a knowledge. I love him!

  A great miracle that happened for me this weekend was a post that Alex Veloso (the 14 yr old I baptized last year) put up on facebook. It was his one year anniversary of his baptism in Sunday he expressed his gratitude for joining the church and he bore a small testimony. To me that is the most amazing thing in the world. To see the gospel have a lasting effect in someone's life, especially a youth who wants to serve a mission!!!! Having a glimpse of how the gospel has impacted someone's life is one of the greatest feelings I have ever experienced.