Dios contesta nuestras oraciones

Well, for those of you who didn't know, I am still in Pacheco and am now training Elder Lawyer from Orem, Utah. He got here from the US last Tuesday, so he's pretty new. His mom is actually from Buenos Aires, she met his dad as they were both attending BYU, so that's pretty cool. He's 19, a month older than me, shorter than me, and went to BYU for a year before coming out on the mission. He studied Spanish a little before the mission, but it's still been quite the change for him. Sometimes I think, "wow, did I have that hard of a time with Spanish when I got here?" And then I realize that he speaks and understands a lot better than I did, because I barely knew anything. This past week we met a man who asked us if we believed in the gift of tongues and I replied in the affirmative. I am a very firm believer in the gift of tongues. All of the gifts of God are given in order to carry out His work, and I am so grateful for the gift of tongues in my life. It is incredible to think that missionaries can learn languages as fast as they do. I am especially grateful to my Heavenly Father, as I have had to teach a lot more and pretty much do everything a lot more. Speaking more was a change when I became senior companion, when I trained a Latino, but training an American is even more different. God is so great:)

My new hijo, Elder Lawyer

In our first week together we have seen a lot of success. About two weeks ago Hermana Castro from the ward met a woman named Carmen in the barber shop. We tried to contact her a few times unsuccessfully, but then Hermana Castro brought her to church last Sunday, and she came with her two children. We then set up an appointment to meet with her. This past week visiting her has been really great. I have a firm testimony that God is preparing people here for us to teach, and Carmen and her 11-year-old son have both accepted baptismal dates for the 14th. We also met Carmen's nephew Diego this week. When we showed up to his house, he told us that he had been praying the night before for God to send him his disciples so that he could return to His path. I think it's probably for that reason that he is accepting literally everything. He's already read a lot in the Book of Mormon, had a serious girlfriend and accepted the Law of Chastity, went to church on Sunday and is preparing to be baptized on the 14th. He loved church and is excited to go every week and prepare to receive the priesthood.  Miracles happen. God answers prayers. I know He loves us.

Anyway, I love you all and I hope all is well wherever you might be!

Que la fuerza les acompañe.

Love,

Elder John William Garrett