DILUVIO!

Hola familia!
Como estamos? Quiero dejarles saber que todavia vivo aun despues de un diluvio aqui. Mucha lluvia!

We had a good ol fashioned Texas rain on Saturday. It rained real hard for 4 hours straight and I took a couple of videos for you. We weren't sure if we were supposed to be out working but we did anyway and as we drove to our appointment, the street turned into a swimming pool really fast. I didn't realize how deep it was until the car started making funny noises and I totally pulled the car up onto the curb to get the engine out of the water a little better. Hermana Gibson and I said a prayer and backed that thing up and drove back to higher ground as fast as possible. We parked real far away from the house and waded through water that went up to my knees (up to Hna Gibson's shins). The lady was appauled (sp?) that we did that to get to the appointment. She was assuming that we wouldn't show up because of the rain. After that appt, we got a call saying don't drive anywhere for at least an hour so that the streets could clear up. It was a really fun adventure. Neat!

Training Hna Gibson is really fun. She's an amazing teacher and even though she doesn't understand or speak spanish very well, she's brought the spirit so strongly into all our appointments. One of which was with Jose Alvarez. He's a 30 year old guy from Hondurus that has been humbled because of his loneliness here in America. When we started teaching him, he recognized that we were angels sent from God and for that reason, he didn't have a hard time believing what we were teaching. However, he did have a hard time accepting the need for a second baptism. We had a lesson with him and a member and talked about his doubts. We wanted to give him a baptismal date and we prayed really hard before going into the appt to know whether or not he was ready. When we were talking, it seemed like he had too many doubts to accept baptism. But at a certain point in the lesson, Hna Gibson opened her mouth after not having said a word the whole time and with tears said, "Jose, I know that you are ready for baptism." Jose sat there a minute and began a long monologue about the first time he met us and talked about all the signs that just pointed out the fact that God was answering his prayers through us. He said to us that before Hna Gibson even said anything, he said in his heart, 'God. The minute that this girl opens her mouth and speaks, I'll know that you are speaking to me.' He knew that our message was true because he felt the spirit. We gave him a date for the 16th of may and after thinking a few seconds, he said, "Acepto." For those of you who don't habla espanol, acepto is spanish for "I accept." The man basically said, "I do." And he's been happy ever since.

Luis is still doing good. He is trying to get together enough money and eliminate a lot of responsibilties to be able to serve a mission in a year. For that reason, he's probably going to move to New York. I'm trying to put together a testimony book for him before he goes with the testimonies of all the people who were at his baptism.

Daniel Fuentes got the priesthood this Sunday and has the calling of ward greeter. He's so scared but knows that it's what he needs to get over his social anxiety. He's so humble and accepting of what the Lord has prepared for him. He has a lot of faith.

I'm learning to be less selfish. It's hard not to want to stop and relax. But what's keeping me going is looking outside myself. I look at all the people who are hopeless about life or who have lost any desire to do what's right and who would be happier with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Turns out there are a lot more people like this than I realized.

I love you all. I'm so grateful to be serving the Lord right now. I'm so grateful to have a family who loves and supports me in what I do. I admire my family so much and want to be able to be as selfless as the brothers and sisters I have who are giving up everything to be a dad or mom or whatever it may be.
Les quiero muchisimo!
Con carino,
Hermana Langston

April Greetings!

Here is a picture of me and Hna Roundy the night that we dropped her off at the mission home. I dressed like she dressed and that made her roll her eyes. I totally know how to keep someone from missing me too much.

This picture was taken at Daniel Fuentes' baptism. L to R Hermana Gibson, Sister Gibbs, Daniel Fuentes, Hno Estrada who ended up baptizing Daniel and me. Daniel was SO NERVOUS! The picture was taken after the baptism because the white jumpsuit didn't fit him well.

Hey guys,

It's me again. Man the weeks are going by fast again. I had a whopper of a week! On Wednesday, Sister Gibbs went to another area with a new companion so that she could get her ESL classes started and stuff. That day, I got a new companion named Hna Gibson and she's from Orem Ut. She's 6'1" so I feel like a really tiny little guy. But she's amazingly positive about this work and is so willing to take instruction on missionary work so it's very nice for me. She doesn't seem to be homesick yet and I haven't heard her complain once--even after seeing the dishwasher full of cockroaches. She's great and we're getting some real stuff done around here.

My birthday was great, thanks for asking. Thank you all for your cards and packagaes. Thank you also to the missionary moms that sent cards! That was a surprise! The elders in my district surprised me with a twix filled b-day cake and breakfast burritos. Mahnas threw a party for me and I cried because it was the first time I'd seen her since her trip to Iran and also because I just didn't expect her and Sister Peck, an english ward member, to be at her house with party hats and one million pieces of iranian candy. The next day, Wednesday night, Luis told me that I have a defect about me and said that if I wanted to fix it, I'd let him take me and my comp to IHOP. So, after teaching a couple of lessons with him, we went to IHOP.

Daniel Fuentes got baptized on Saturday and he was INCREDIBLY nervous. After a lot of unfortunate events, he actually got under the water and came up. I took a little video of him afterwards so hopefully I can send that to you somehow. He's been confirmed and now we will work really hard to help him do what he wants to do--help build the kingdom of God.

So many miracles are occurring here that are leading people to the missionaries. People have been walking up to us and telling us they've been looking for us. I wish I could tell you all about it.

Right now we're working with Mayra moreno so that she can be baptized the 2nd of May. Also, we found a cute family that wants to learn. I'll keep you updated on them.

Camille, thank you for that yellow shirt. It's uber cute and comfy. Thank the 5th ward for the birthday card and tell Robin that I'm amazed by her card crafting skills. I know this gospel is true. I want only to serve God and His children

Love,Hermana Langston

HaPpY BiRtHdAy JeAnEtTe!!!!

Jeanette's birthday is April 8th! We hope she has a great time. Too bad we'll miss taking a picture of her blowing out her candles! She may be 23 in years but she's much older in spirit.

WE LOVE YOU JEANETTE!!!

Consider the Blue Bonnets of Texas

My most sacred family and friends:

I just received a package from my two faithful friends Peggy and Allison, another one from my mom and Camille, watched a video of my nieces and nephews at the Badgers' place for conference, looked at photos of David as a child that his mother had posted on the internet for his birthday, read a letter from my little brother who's doing all he can to love the people in Africa, comtemplated a long letter from my beloved brother Daniel on the topic of love and selflessness, and I can't help but cry with joy. You don't know how happy I am in my life right now. If I could have any wish right now--seeing as it is my birthday and all--I'd wish that every single person could understand and experience the joy that I feel. I love you all so much and even more than that, I love my sacred Heavenly Father who takes care of ALL His children, especially me. When I consider the lillies of the field, I KNOW that my Heavenly Father is conscious of me--his Texas blue bonnet.

Daniel, your letters are so inspiring. I will be forever grateful for your advice to lose myself and love others because it has helped me have a meaningful mission. David, your acts of kindness to me in giving me whatever I've wanted or needed--both on the mission and beforehand--have softened my heart and helped me look for the good in others. Jill, your emails and humor have always kept me going through the times I was upset with myself and the world. Camille, you will never know just how much impact you've ALWAYS had in my life. Thank you for still writing me weekly! Candice, I've always wanted to have your life and for that reason I called you before anyone else to get advice on whether I should serve this mission. Thank you for helping me make the best decision of my life. Mom you know that you're me hero, I hope. You're my angel who I will never be able to repay. Dad, the same goes for you but for different reasons. I literally won't be able to repay you for those credit card debts....so, uh, good luck with that. Just kidding. I just really love you for being a solid, silent sacrificer. Jacob, you have a gift that inspires me. I want so badly to just come home and spend time with you. You've always made me feel Christlike love when I'm around you. Jordan...if you can hear me from way over there...I admire you for all that you're doing to keep going. Keep enduring to the end. You're loved by everyone, including people here in Texas that you've never met. Grandma and Grandpa Travis and Langston, I reverence your work that you've done in your lives and are still doing. Peggy and Allison....you two deserve to go to the Celestial Kingdom for just being so faithful in writing me and doing all that you do to better the world. I love you two so much and think so highly of you guys.

I just wanted to express to everyone how much I love them. Conference weekend was the most rewarding and wonderful experience of my life and I don't even exaggerate. In the peaceful chapel in Houston texas, I watched the prophets and apostles speak and I KNEW that this work was real. I KNOW without any doubt that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the one true and living organization run by Christ himself. It proves that God and His Son Jesus Christ are still god of miracles. It also proves that how we treat others and teach others is the most powerful principle.

Luis Hernandez is my new best friend (you didn't hear that, Peggy). He taught me something this weekend. As he came with us to our appointments and bore strong testimony to the people we met, his heart was changed. From Friday to Sunday, he worked hard with us. He watched conference with us. He told me that had I not decided to serve a mission, he wouldn't be where he is today. He's SO GRATEFUL for having the priesthood. He's so grateful to his Heavenly Father for having sent the restored gospel to his life to guide him in these latter days.

I miss Sister Roundy. I cried a lot when she left.But I love Sister Gibbs for having taught me a lesson in reverence and obedience to the Holy Ghost. I think we could all find a lot more peace in our hearts if we did all we could do to keep the Holy Ghost with us at all times. That of course means first being baptized to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. But after that, we must strive to learn what all that it takes to keep the Holy Ghost with us and strive to listen to the promptings we get. I love this gospel. I love my Heavenly Father so much for being so patient with me while He struggles to teach me how to behave like a daughter of God. I've learned so much this week.I know even more that this gospel is true.I know that the Lord clothes the lilies of the field and feeds the birds in the sky. And he will heal those who trust him. And make their hearts as gold.

With all my love that I try so hard to be able to express through feeble means,
Hermana Langston