July 5, 2011

Mom,
Thanks for your email. Sounds like you have all had a fun time lately. I miss the fireworks, that would have been fun. But today we had a BBQ with pork chops and Filipino hot dogs. It was super good. We laid out banana leaves on the table and then dumped a bunch of rice down the middle and lined the outside with the meat. It was good! Mmmmm... I’m glad you had a good time in Leavenworth. Brittney told me that they used to go there every year for some festival and they always had some WORLDS SPICIEST SALSA! She used to always get it. We eat a lot of spicy food here.
We found out today that there are no transfers for us. Both Elder Casio and I are staying in Consolation 2 for another transfer. It will be good. I learned a lot from the new mission president in his email today about my responsibility and how I can improve and have more success both with my companion and in the area. He had only been in the mission for 1 day when he wrote that email, but it felt like he already knew me. The spirit is strong with him. I am really excited to serve under him. I think we have zone interviews next week so I will get to know him then.
We have an investigator named Mark who has been to church twice an is living with the Villarete Family. Elder Villarete was a mission president and an area 70, so needless to say that Mark was prepared well. He has been living there about a week. He understood everything we have taught him. He accepted baptism on the first visit, actually in our Gospel principle class on Sunday before we had even visited him and he accepted! We think he and his 9 year old daughter Andrea will be baptized this month. We are excited about that. Also we are teaching Jameson, a 11 year old who is living with his member aunt. We expect him to be baptized this month as well. Success finally! I expect a lot more will come this transfer. I feel an extra burst of enthusiasm that will help me boost up my enthusiasm, excitement and effectiveness in the work.
I have started reading Jesus the Christ this past week. I am only 30 pages in and I have learned so much and felt the spirit so strongly as I read. It is such a good book. It is the only one in the approved missionary library that I have not yet read. I am excited to keep going.
Thank you so much for your prayers in my behalf and for my companion and investigators. They are very much needed. It really is amazing to be in the work of the Lord.
I love you all, thanks for everything.
Love,
Elder Schenk