Ciao famiglia! Come sta? Alright, I'm just testing out whether I remember Italian or not. I don't. Spanish is better!

Well, this was another great week! It was really weird and sad to say goodbye to Sister Fatkin. During the week I kept randomly thinking "I wondering what she's doing at this moment"...I think I would be swimming. It's hot all over the place!
I don't know if I'm surprised/not surprised, but things are going really super well in the companionship.

So this week we saw David Martinez twice. He still doesn't sleep much. He works from like 10pm-6am then has classes from 8-12pm and then usually meets with us right at 12 and I think maybe he sleeps a little before he goes back to work. Yikes! But he's told us he wants to make seeing us a priority. He really wants to do what is right, but I think he's just stressed right now and really really hard on himself. We talked about repentance and I think he doesn't feel like he should be making any mistakes, and that he should understand more about the gospel. He told us he's stopped going to the gym and he's stopped shaving (he's pretty hairy now) because he's basically avoiding temptations "of the flesh" as he said. Pretty much he thinks he's repelling women and he thinks that will help him out. Interesting. But he's doing good and went to church again. He is currently praying to find out when he should be baptized. Yeah! Our mission goal is to have the 2 baptisms a transfer, and even though we have a couple of dates set, I don't know if those ones will happen. I'm not sure who our baptisms will be. I know David is ready; he just needs to lighten up on himself. He will be baptized. I hope it's soon though, he needs the extra blessings! Well, everyone does!

 

So this week we saw David Martinez twice. He still doesn't sleep much. He works from like 10pm-6am then has classes from 8-12pm and then usually meets with us right at 12 and I think maybe he sleeps a little before he goes back to work. Yikes! But he's told us he wants to make seeing us a priority. He really wants to do what is right, but I think he's just stressed right now and really really hard on himself. We talked about repentance and I think he doesn't feel like he should be making any mistakes, and that he should understand more about the gospel. He told us he's stopped going to the gym and he's stopped shaving (he's pretty hairy now) because he's basically avoiding temptations "of the flesh" as he said. Pretty much he thinks he's repelling women and he thinks that will help him out. Interesting. But he's doing good and went to church again. He is currently praying to find out when he should be baptized. Yeah!
Our mission goal is to have the 2 baptisms a transfer, and even though we have a couple of dates set, I don't know if those ones will happen. I'm not sure who our baptisms will be. I know David is ready; he just needs to lighten up on himself. He will be baptized. I hope it's soon though, he needs the extra blessings! Well, everyone does!
Today for our district activity, we played a little sand volleyball. The sand was sooo hot and it reminded me of playing in the burning sand every day in the MTC. A year ago! It's an odd point to be at when you can say, "What was I doing a year ago?" and you were on your mission. Pioneer day this week. Anyone doing anything to celebrate? I don't think they'll have fireworks here. Maybe we'll watch "Legacy" with someone! Oh yeah, today is Moon day. Forty years ago we landed on the moon! One of our less actives told us that. She's quirky and tells us what the day is. Last time we saw her it was national pecan pie day so she had some for us. Someday I hope to be like that. Zone Conference is this week and that's exciting! Elder Cordova is speaking to us. I think maybe he's an area authority or something like. Not sure. And I think we get to go to the temple this transfer, yes!

Soooo, things are fantastic! I've also been reading in the Old Testament lately. Well, really, on and off my whole mission. I just think people are scared of that book. And there is some gooood stuff in there. Funny stuff! I'm trying to read in all of the standard works, though I'm pretty sure I won't finish them all before I'm done here. Sometimes I get all confused by the chronology of the Book of Mormon, but I think I'm starting to get it more. I'm pretty sure I always took the Book of Mormon for granted. But I love it now!

I hope everyone is happy and dandy! Enjoy your weather and your gardens and your families and your dogs and your books and everything (in no specific order)! Thank you all for everything you do for me! Love you all!

Love,
Emily

P.S. Random fact. We all know that I love to sleep. But as far as I can recollect, I have never woken up past 6:30 and I believe I've taken maybe 3 naps on my mission. And really I'm not too tired. Just proof that miracles still happen!