Goodbye President Allred

President Allred's farewell. The AP's put on a picture slideshow and it moved Sister Allred to tears. She hugged Elder Whipple and he was a little shocked. Later she went on a rampage and hugged all the chinese elders. They just grinned from ear to ear.

This week was the last week for President Allred. The Allreds went home this morning, the Salens are now the mission presidents and they brought their 5 kids with them who are all under the age of 14. I haven't met them yet, but they are over there in the missionhome in Sugarland. I wonder what they're thinking about the job....On Saturday we had a going away party for President and Sister Allred. It was very nostalgic (sp?) with a picture slide show, talent shows, them bearing their testimony, refreshments after the closing prayer, etc. I took videos of some of the talents so I'll send it off to you. The two tongan and Samoan elders here led a big group of missionaries in doing the Hauka (sp?) So much adrenaline. So little time.

Sister Campbell and I have been able to bear our own testimonies to many people in the streets and in their homes. It feels good to actually know something. To KNOW it. And to know that God backs you up on it. So that feeling has been carrying me through the scary times of talking to white people who question me or refuse to listen or even with people we're teaching who want to learn but are confused. We haven't been able to get a lot of people to agree to return appointments, but people are more honest with us, more open as they speak and as they listen, and they show much more trust in us. Seeing as this is my last transfer, my only goal is to make my testimony known to everyone here without any reservation. Who knows....perhaps amidst the people that it offends, it could actually penetrate the heart of one person that is ready to know that the gospel has been restored and that working towards living that gospel is the only way to real happiness.

This week, we had a cool experience in knowing that we made a correct decision...even though it was a journey in deciding on it. Angelina is a new member in the Spanish branch and on Friday she called us saying that her sister in law needed to hear the gospel REALLY BAD. The only problem was that her cunada (sister in law) lives in Texas City which is off the island, but still within the ward boundaries. We called and got president's permission and later that night we rode up there with Angelina and her husband, Bernadino. The cunada has just had a baby and is going through post partum depression pretty bad. She seemed normal as we started the lesson. She told us that she's very strong in her faith in Jesus Christ, she loves Him and trusts Him, but she doesn't trust this new book we've come out with called the Book of Mormon. So we started having a lesson to explain it and she started crying and went to her bedroom. Her husband came out to us and asked if we could go in there and talk to her. She was laying on her bed with her eyes closed and apologized. She started talking....and the more she talked, the stronger the Spirit was felt. We didn't say anything. We just listened. After about 30 minutes, she said, "so many people have come by, left me their phone numbers, said they'd return, but none of them have taken the time to actually listen. I know time is precious.....I told God that I don't care who it is, but to send me someone to lead me the right way to find happiness....I know He's sent you for a reason."

It's becoming more and more rewarding to feel the Spirit bear witness that I'm doing the right thing. And I felt that night, that even though we had to travel a long way, and spend a lot of tracting time in the car, we had actually made the right decision.

I have to end this but I love you all so much and am pretty darn excited to come back home.
Happy Birthday Jacob!
Happy Birthday Emily!
Happy Birthday Keiti!
Happy Birthday, Daniel!
Happy Birthday, Peggy!

Love you all so much,
Hermana Langston

Happy Summer!

Hello dearest Family and Friends!

Wow, this week was amazing! Thanks to everyone who helped in that experience through letters and prayers. We're finding more and more people who WANT to be baptized.

Yesterday at church, a guy named Tino came to the spanish branch and after the third hour, asked sister Campbell what he needs to do to be baptized. We've taught him a few lessons and now he's ready to take the step that will bring him closer to his Heavenly Father. It's amazing to see someone's pure faith.
We're teaching a lot of English speakers. There are families that have moved to Galveston and haven't gone to church in a long time. We're trying to reactivate them and spark that fire that they once felt. Also, there is a sister from the spanish branch who has returned back to the church after a long absence. She's a single mom with three kids and went to another church there for a while. It was interesting to hear her testimony yesterday. She recognized after going to that church that they don't have nearly the amount of knowledge and power that her own church has. Even though she knew that, she just couldn't bring herself back to church until she humbled herself and prayed for the help to overcome her own dislikes and doubts. She's back and she wants us to teach her ten year old who's been asking to be baptized.
We've been using the bikes a little more frequently this week. One day was interesting. It was hot....like everyday has been...and we were waving to everyone and riding along then waving to others, and riding along. There was a guy out on his porch who was just smiling at us so we waved and said hi. His immediate response was (with a smile), "I can see up your skirt!" We didn't know what to say so we just kept pedaling without any comment.
The fight turned out to be a success. Tuesday night, we had plans to eat with the Schatelowitz family and so we invited little quiet Ian and big ol Mike. Connie Schatelowitz, the mom, was excited for it all and also excited to feed all of us. Mike got there first and he said to me, "are you sure this is a good idea? I think I should just let him beat up on me without fighting back." I don't know what he was planning in his head because when Ian got there, it all worked out. Ian just practiced pressure point moves and yelled in Mike's face. Mike didn't even flinch. Instead he said, "Yeah, you know what this is good for me. Next time a cop pulls me over and does this to me, I'll be immune and he won't be able to intimidate me." Sad thing is that Mike was serious. So everyone got something out of it, the lesson on the atonement was a success, and Ian later thanked us for helping him. I just stood there and ate spaghetti while they did it. I told him, "hey, buddy, it was my pleasure." Now Ian has gone to another state but he'll come back in a month. He's learned a few new things with us that we're positive will help him while he's away for Coast Guard.
Maria Perez is doing well. We are going to see her again today with her mom. There was a death in her family and we haven't seen them for a while.
I marvel at how the Holy Ghost works, you guys. All throughout this week, I've felt guided by the Holy Ghost. On most days, I've acted on the impressions. And when I have, I've felt closer to my Heavenly Father. I've felt stronger and more sure that I'm doing exactly what's right. I feel so much more joy when I'm reverent enough to hear and act upon the impressions of the Holy Ghost.

Could you all do me a favor? Help me out by sending ideas for teaching certain principles, ways to create an environment where the Holy Ghost can teach, or just advice on how/why I should keep my head in the game. That'd help the work move forward just that much more.

Les quiero mucho y siento que les voy a ver muy pronto....me duele al pensar de eso. Pero, bueno, les quiero MUCHO!

Su hermanita Tejanita favorita,
Hermana Langston

Galveston Greetings!

Aloha from the tropics of Galveston!

Ok just kidding its not very tropical at all. Galveston gets a lot of guff because it pretends to have pretty beaches and it pretends to hold the same amount of tropical fun as any other island, but its really quite gross. The water is literally brown and the seaweed is starting to stink a bit. But still people flock to it on the weekends and Mom the sand is white.

This week has proven to be fruitful. Maria Perez was baptized! Pico doesn't come around anymore (in fact the last time we went over there, there's a big fat chain around her little chainlink fence), and Maria told us she's been feeling a lot less stressed ever since she hasn't had to worry about her unwanted visitors. She thanked me a lot for it and I felt grateful for following the prompting to actually take action. Taking action is hard to do sometimes, you know? But Maria got baptized, almost her entire extended family showed up!, and it was the more spiritual baptism I've been to. She went into the water so peacefully--no splash. And after it was over, she stood up crying and told her family that she has never felt the way she feels right now. She knows she's entering into the church that has to be the only true church of Christ. She was so grateful to everyone for being a part of her special day. I admire that woman a lot.

We've been finding people in the most curious ways! Yesterday, for example, we had a member give us the phone number to a guy that she'd met on the street who'd talked to the missionaries a while back. He knew that Angelina was a member and asked her to tell us to give him a call. So we'll be doing that directly.

Another way we found someone AMAZING was by listening to the spirit. Sister Campbell was writing a note for a less active member and I was standing there letting me sights wander to other apartments. There was one up on the third floor of another building that caught my eye and something told me we should go knock it. There wasn't anything special about it, just something told me to go knock it and I'd probably find a family. So we made the hike up there and an asian man answered. He told us that Maria wasn't there and we were slightly confused. It turns out that his wife is a member and missionaries would pass by every once in a while to visit them but hadn't been by in a while. We got to talking and come to find out he's been having doubts about his Buddhist beliefs. He also had doubts about the mormon church but he recognized that we didn't show up by mere chance. So he let us come back the following Saturday and we've been by three more times now. He's learning more about his relationship to God, his potential to become like him, why he needs to rely on Jesus Christ to get to that point, and how he can apply the healing power of the atonement in his life. He came to church yesterday for the first time and he's starting to get a lot of his doubts answered. His son, Mikey, reminds me of Jana Kessinger's boys. Tell Jana I say hi!

We also found a couple walking into their house as we were knocking doors. We almost didn't go talk to them, but again something told us to do it anyway. She is a member who hasn't been to church since she left Hondurus years ago, and her boyfriend is just straight up curious about the church. We took a member to visit them the second visit and it was a perfect match. She bore testimony of how she overcame her own doubts about the church and now she's the happiest and strongest she's ever been. Ceci and Adan obviously have their Heavenly Father looking out for them. Hopefully they take action.

So many fun things are happening here! We're finding so many less actives and friends of members who want to learn about this stuff. And we're doing it in fun ways. We're working on getting me a Laman outfit so that I can show up to people's doors with a beard. Also, there's a 19 year old kid named Ian here who's in the Marine Corps. We've become his best friend and he wants us to help him study for his test. So what do we do? We asked a big old 24-yr-old guy to host a family home evening so that Ian can practice his moves on him. Mike is excited to be able to fight back. And Ian just needs to toughen up anyway. I'll let you know how that turns out.

Things are going good, though. Man people are feeding us A LOT!! We're riding the bikes more so hopefully that'll help work off the foods. I sure do love this mission. I'm so grateful that God gives us what we need and not what we want. I love my Heavenly Father so much and I love the perfect organization He's put on the earth for us. This church teaches perfection. I'm feeling myself being perfected through obeying the principles taught here. And I see others being perfected as well.

THIS IS SUCH AN AMAZING MISSION!!!

Take care!
Love,
Hermana LAngston

Hello!!!

Hello Family and Peggy!!!

Quick! Everyone write me:

6424 Central City Blvd #326
Galveston, TX 77551

I still don't have it memorized. But anyway, there it is. Galveston is SO GOOD! We're definitely in Hurricane season. It started June 1st and we've gotten a few shpeels about how to be prepared. But so far its just been a real nice time of sun and a cool breeze. I love it here.

Sister Campbell and I are doing great things together. We're trying real hard to make big things happen, and so far....the results are few. But yesterday at church, we had a lot of good things fall into our lap. Like President Allred arrived and was able to interview an investigator named Maria Perez. This saved us a lot of hassle and a lot of time. Another thing was that a member couple asked if they could accompany us to an appt. They actually came to us and asked! We're going to be seeing some good things here. The members are great.

Maria Perez is getting baptized this Saturday and she's so thrilled. She has a brain tumor but is so upbeat and happy to be living. She's such a good little member missionary too. She's about 40 and recently her elderly mother moved in to help take care of her.

I have a good story.

Here in Galveston, there's a lot of poor people and people who have made some really bad choices in their lives. Pico is one of them. He's older, of latin blood but born in Galveston, really gross looking, and has a mustache that, accdg to Sister Campbell, looks like that of Stinky Pete. I consider it a white handlebar. But he flirts with Sister Campbell a lot and she wishes that she could tell him to stop but she doesn't have the courage to do it. Anyway, this is the background.

On Friday night, we went over to Maria Perez's house and drunk Pico was outside with a drunk friend and Maria was yelling at them for ruining her garden with their lawn chairs. We put up with them for a few minutes then left them outside while we went in to teach a lesson. Maria was so frustrated because almost every day Pico shows up and just loiters. He has nowhere to go. But she tries to tell him to leave and he won't. As she explained all the stuff that he's done, and the disrespect he has, and the smoke he creates that does damage to her and her mom, the emotion built up inside me and I couldn't stand for it anymore. I got off the couch, went to the front door, and raised my voice at them. I didn't remember what I'd said until Sister Campbell reminded me later and said she was really impressed. I was impressed with myself. I remember a year and a half ago being in a position of not knowing how to tell people off and getting VERY upset at myself for it. But it felt so good to stand up for what was right and to see how grateful Maria and her mom was for it all. Doing what's right has its reward.

I'm speaking spanish, but I think it'll be harder these last few months now that we aren't teaching all the time in spanish.I'm so happy to hear about the stuff going on in the homeward and the lessactives coming back. I enjoyed looking at the pictures on the blog. I showed Sister Campbell. She's VERY IMPRESSED with Dan's picture of Joan, Karen, and Miss Connie. I am too.

Ok, I've got to go. I hope everyone is doing well. I hope Camille and Candice will have a happy birthday tomorrow, and I look forward to getting your one million letters in the mail.

Love,
Hermana Langston

June Greetings!

Hello Family

I'm here in Galveston just chillin on the beach. I wrote ya'll a letter but didn't put it in the mail until Saturday so I reckon you'll be getting it on Tuesday or Wednesday. I'M IN GALVESTON! Tell Miss Christy that I thought of her when I got here. She's right there are a lot of black people and I'm lucky enough to be able to teach them! Us sisters cover the english and spanish ward. It's lots of work.

Two questions:(1) Has anyone ever experienced a delicious sacrament bread? Like real moist homemade bread or bigger pieces of the usual stuff? Well, here in galveston, they break up cream-filled croissants for the sacrament. It was the best Sunday of my life! Donuts in church!(2)Camille has braces??

It sounds like a lot is happening back at home. I'll be excited to see all the changes. I'm sure glad everything turned out well at Jacob's graduation and the invitation email was beautifully worded. I laughed right out loud. Where is Stephanie Payne going to get married? Is her husband a good guy? He's getting a really good girl, that's for sure. And Alyse Pepperdine will be at my homecoming? Tell her I say hi.

Galveston is different from Houston 9. I wrote in my letter how it was saying goodbye to everyone. Here we are teaching a cute Mexican couple who has a downsyndrome boy. We teach him how to read spanish and then we teach the parents. They're progressing slowly but the spirit comes in evertime to testify that the fulness of the gospel has been restored and is found within our message. They're going to accept once they're able to have all their doubts resolved.

I'm with Sister Campbell again!!! Her and I are working together to make a real powerful impact. We also just moved from the old apartment into a smaller one so I'm not sure the address. Write anything to the mission office for now.

Uh....yes! I got the envelope and the foundation is working out great. Thank you so much, mom.

I haven't looked at the school registration papers. Mostly because I've forgotten. And also it makes me sick to my stomach to do so. I put full confidence in you mom to make the decision.

I've gotta go but I love you all so much. I know my Heavenly Father is shaping me into a better person each day and I feel the affects of the atonement as I repent of my shortcomings and sins.This gospel is the most powerful influence on the hearts of men.I'm grateful I'm able to share it.

Love,
Hermana Langston