jan 19

Hello everyone!
Jord here a day late but still here ha. Yesterday was a big day in the east with so many african americans that they shut down everything haha but everything is great though.This past week has been quit the up and down roller coaster but it's been a lot of fun and we have learned alot. The weather this past week has been amazing! yesterday we didn't even wear our jackets it was 55 degrees ha i'm trying not to think that spring is coming cause it's way too early for that but that's just how it feels and i'm loving it. Thanks for all your love and letters this past week!
Well this past week was just up and down and up and down ha We taught Richard Johnson again and he really wants to be baptized and we had a graeat lesson with him on Thursday and we were excited to see him at church and then his mom called us the next day. She hasnt' been against us but she has asked that we just teach him at the church because he has some problems going on at home with her and her boyfriend, but she called us and asked us if we were gonna ask for her permission to baptize him and she was a little upset but each time we have finished with Richard we've told him to go talk to his mom about it so she was a little confused but she said she would be at church with Richard and sunday and we could talk then. He's supposed to be baptized this next saturday but he didn't show up for church and so we called his mom. She just answers and tells us that she had him sleep over at a friends house for the first time ever and it's just kinda wierd i think she's affraid of him coming to be baptized and come in to the gospel so she's pushing him away a little bit. But man we were pretty down in the dumps on sunday cause LUIS got called into work so it was tuff but were gonna go back there and do all we can so that he can be baptized. Let's just hope that his mom will ok it and all will go well with everything.
Ok so on to Luis, man Luis has been the all time best man teaching him is such an amazing experience and just to see what difference this is really making in his life is the best. He's agreed to live all the commandments and he's doing great. Sunday morning he calls us and says that he can't come to church because his work a restaurant wehre he works called him and told him to come work. He told them he couldn't and they said if he didn't they wouldn't pay him. The saddest thing in the world is to see these illegal immigrants just get thrown around by people because they know they can. He was running to work which was 5 miles away and we were just sad and so was he. He asked his boss if he could leave for just 1 hour and his boss said no. It's sad to see this kind of stuff happen and we were way down because now he can't get baptized on jan 30 but i talked to president Belliston and he said that if we felt that he was ready that we could still have it that day and that's what were going to do! Last night we went to the temple with him and it was just an amazing experience to be there with him. We talked to him about baptisms for the dead and i talked to him aboaut his brother who passed away and i know it hit him hard. Then we started talking to him about eternal families and man i lost it ha i just got so overwhelmed by the spirit talking about such a wonderful blessing that we have in our lives and to see how much he misses his family and to see the sacrifice for his family that he is doing, makes me feel guilty for ever thinking i have it rough. We watched the Joseph Smith movie and after he just expressed that he knows now that this is his path and what he should do in his life. He talked about the faith of Josph Smith and how he couldn't believe the sacrifice he made for all of us. It's amazing how many people think we worship Joseph Smith and once they figure out we don't it makes more sense. We left the temple last night and i jsut had the most overwhelming feeling of why i am here and what we are doing here. We leave our families for a short time so others can live with theirs for eternity! It really is such an amazing thing that we have this gospel. It is the ONLY thing that can bring us happiness like we have it and i see that day in and day out. We are so blessed to have the truth and to just know why we are here and where we are going. The Lord loves each and everyone of us and i can't say that enough. I 've learned so much that all God wants is for us to be happy and that the Gospel is the way. I will be forever grateful for this opportunity. Luis really is such a stud i'll send pictures but he just is the man! We are so excited for him and just everything that we have.
Thank you for all you do for me out here i can't say it enough for each and everyone of you that are apart of my life, Thanks! Thanks for the letters and my pen pals and just everyone, you all make such a wonderful difference in my life. The gospel is so true people, it is so true and there is nothign better than being a part of it! Especially speaking spanish! I love it so much and it's getting a lot better. Thanks Jon Rog for the Jersey i sport that all the time now! I love you all and i hope you all have a wonderful week and enjoy life. Oh yeah HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM AND DAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 50 I lOVE YOU GUYS cards are on the way! Les amo mucho
Jordan