January 11, 2010

Hi family! Mom, thank you so much for sending those clothes!  I'm sure they'll be great! And you know exactly what to look for for me. Thank you for that effort.  You've always rushed to give us anything we need, and Dad too.  And, by the way, thank you for being firm with us and teaching us what's right. There's a less-active convert in the ward who we've been visiting because her son is investigating and we've been trying to help her too.  She has I think 4 children. But they are all over the place.  She's really sweet but shy. I think her children take advantage of her. Anyway, I wanted to thank you mom and dad for being such amazing parents! And to James, Clark, Lila, Michael and Natalie, I hope you think of that blessing every day of our wonderful parents! I'm seeing so many families that don't have what we had growing up and I’m appreciating it more.

Hello friends and family! Another week in the mission field. Hard, but we're doing ok. It seems to be foggy and/or rainy every Monday which is the day we wash the car, conveniently.  This is actually the first experience I’ve had with a self-serve car-wash place.  It's pretty fun actually.  I'm also getting a lot better at reading maps.  It's pretty cold right now.   This is a hot chocolate time of year.
I'm learning a lot.  I'm trying to get better at reading people.  I feel like sometimes I’m oblivious to what's going on.  It's especially challenging with the Spanish, but I’m working on that too.
My piano has actually come in handy in the Spanish ward that I’m in.  Not very many people there play the piano.  I always play for relief society and I sometimes play for sacrament meeting if their pianist isn't there or is late.
I found a good scripture this morning. Alma 5:62.  It talks about being baptized unto repentance.  The interesting thing is that it's said to members and nonmembers.  To members, it's a commandment and to nonmembers it's an invitation.  Being baptized unto repentance is a constant thing.  Just because we've been baptized, doesn't mean we're done.  Repentance is a never-ending process. As we go every week to church and take of the sacrament, we renew those covenants we make at baptism and we can better endure to the end and partake of the "fruit of the tree of life."  To nonmembers, it's an invitation.  This is the right way, and the only way to gain a fullness of joy. Coming to Christ is the only way to live with our Father in Heaven and our families forever and so this scripture is an invitation to EVERYONE to come onto that path.   It's sometimes hard to see a good thing that you have until you either don't have it anymore or see others who lack it.  I've seen that this week especially with families.  I've come to appreciate more fully what the gospel's done for my family.  I'd encourage everyone this week to think of something that makes you happy that maybe you haven't noticed before.  Say a prayer every day and thank your Heavenly Father for that great gift.  You'll be happier.  Once you've got that down, find someone else and help them to be happy too.  That's what this gospel is about.  I'm trying to use that as a boost to give me the courage to talk to people.  When we teach, I feel the Spirit and realize that I really do know something special that other people need.  My companion commented the other day that people who don't have the gospel just don't look happy.  We can tell when we see them on the street.
We're trying to convey this urgency to our investigators but it's hard.  One by one the ones we think are accepting and progressing, seem to lose interest and start avoiding us.  But we're finding new people too so we have hopes.
Thank you for everyone who's taken the time to write me. Getting a letter from a friend or family member really does brighten a missionary's day.
I hope everyone is having a great week! Keep Smiling! If all else fails, find a close friend and come up with a secret hand shake or play with a rubber band or a straw.  That's what's worked most for us. (not while tracting) Count your blessings, read street signs backwards to hear how strange the words sound, whatever works for you, but I want everyone to be happy! Life is great!
          Till Next Week,
                  Hermana Evans