8-19-13

Dear Family!

I am not sure what is going on, but something is going on that is for sure! The Lord I guess just has a plan for this area and for me and Elder Fajardo that we are still trying to figure out! This week we found three more investigators, and added another baptismal date for the 21st of September with a young man named Harry! He is Chinese also, and has just been in the states for a few months. he doesn't believe in God, but he told us after meeting with us that he can feel Him as we talked to him on the streets! I was on exchanges that afternoon with one of the district leaders when we walked into him! He was walking down the street, and we stopped and talked to him. He said that he was willing to meet with us, and that he was just a little busy that day getting ready for school and such. So we set up for the next day, and had an amazing lesson with him! We were able to set a baptismal date with him that first lesson, and he even came to church with us yesterday! He went to Walmart Saturday night, and bought a clip on tie with a blue polo and a pair of black jeans! He came all dressed up and really enjoyed church! He told us that he really enjoyed it, and that he is planning on coming back next week! It was so awesome to be able to be apart of his life and to be able to be the one to find him! This is the first investigator that I was able to find on my own efforts and be able to get him to the point where we has a date and seems really solid! We are so excited to have the three dates here in this area! 

Deniella is doing so well also! She went to the visitors center with us, and has just been doing so well! I love the fact that she has just changed totally and now has a testimony of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon! She said that she finally decided to pray about the both of them, and she said that she totally had an answer come quickly and that she can't deny the answer! She has been coming to church every single week for the past month or so and she is basically one of the gang now! She loves the members here in this area and is basically a part of the ward already! She has been fellowshipping our other investigators and asking them if they want to sit with her and to go to and from class together! It has been such a blessing!

Peter is still doing really well. He added a vest to his suit dress this week, and everyone complimented him on how well he looked and that he was starting to look like a Mormon. hahaha I guess Mormons come to church in a three piece suit a backwards Yankees hat and toms for shoes! He is so funny. He feels embarrassedthat he has some gray hair already, and so he doesn't want to take his hat off in front of the other members. The bishop is totally ok if he wears his hat to feel more comfortable and so he is going to keep it on for now. We will see how it goes after he gets a little more used to the members and makes some friends. He went to the YSA sports night that we have every Tuesday, and really enjoyed it. he is a really good basketball player and has just been loving this ward! We are really excited for him. Not this Saturday, but next will be his baptism. He has quit all of the word of wisdom issues and has committed to pay his tithing and all of that! He is so solid it blows my mind!

I love this work so much! Me and Elder Fajardo send our love and our support your way and want you to know that we pray for you every day! We are so thankful for your prayers and for the blessings that we receive because of the time that you put in our behalf. We are really hoping that we are able to stay together next transfer. Elder Fajardo has been here forever and so we are not to sure what will happen. We are just trying to make our numbers so high that president can't help but keep us together!!! I have such a testimony of just being completely obedient and working as hard as possible, and just seeing miracle after miracle!!!! We have been so blessed and just can't even begin to explain the miracles that have come because of the diligence that we have put forward! The Lord is just making things happen and I can't even explain the joy and excitement that has entered my life because of the work that is happening out here! We are working so hard, and just trying everything we can do exactly what the spirit tells us to do, and then to do it RIGHT AWAY!!!  We have just seen miracle after miracle out here, and I am so thankful for the lord, for the joy that he has put into my heart! I have just been so happy lately and just loving the work! Thanks again for all the support. It has been so awesome to be apart of the hastening! I love you all so much! Please keep me posted on everything back home and I will do the best to do the same! 

Much love!

Elder Shelley

picture: Mackay and Elder Fajardo