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

I'm Losing My Companion

Hi everyone!
To answer really quickly your question about the birthday present, I'm cool with just the music cds. I really feel like the luckiest person in the world right now and I'd be selfish to ask for anything else. I LOVE the camera and the 8GB memory card. That's great! I think for my birthday if you could just help me be more financially secure so that when I go home, I can afford school, that'd be the BEST present ever.

I got Camille's email and yours as well, mom. Thank you for re-admitting me. I'll be content with whatever you decide as far as classes go. Tell the person there at the school that I want to go into teaching and I also want to finish art. See what kind of weird look she gives you after that.

This week has been so great. So stressful at times but also so great. Both Sister Roundy and I have felt that we haven't kept our heads in the game as much as we were doing in the first two weeks and for that reason, we did more on Sunday morning than we've ever done to get our investigators to church. We woke up at 5:30 and got ready early. Then we drove to three different houses. At the first one, we decorated Mayra's truck and put a sign on it that said, "How great shall be your joy" in spanish. Then we knocked on the door and woke her up. She was actually excited to see us. Then we went to another's house. She wouldn't answer but we called them and the husband was at work. He actually got a job! And he's been living the Word of Wisdom. Then we went to Hilaria's house and sang outside her bedroom window. She called our cellphone and told us she didn't want to wake up and that she was just going to go to her church at 1.00. Hna Roundy sweet talked her on the phone and we were let into the door. We waited while she bathed and got ready. It was such a satisfying time in church. Mayra was so thrilled that she got her own wake up call and made sure the people in the ward knew what we did. She also was a lot more friendlier. She has a baptismal date but we want to get her attached to the ward before she gets baptized. It's a slow-going process but the incident at church helped.

As for the others we're teaching, their great! Daniel Fuentes is still getting ready for baptism. We taught him a lesson this week and he brought up marriage. Apparently one of the teachers in Sunday school told him that to get into heaven he'd have to be married and after a couple of weeks of meditating it, daniel told us what he concluded. He said he's finally ready to settle down. He's like 40 years old now. He said that he used to imagine himself driving a speed boat with lots of women in it but now the mountain of women is replaced by just one woman and lots of kids. He's a sport. He's driven. He said to us that we need to use our brains to the fullest capacity. We're supposed to come up with new ideas and be innovative. As long as he's obedient, he says anything is possible.

Tonight Hna Roundy is going to the Mission Home. I'm going to miss her so much. I can't express all that she's taught me and all that I admire in her. She really loves me and I love her too. She's taught me a lot about love. After tonight I'll be able to tell you how its going with just me and sister Gibbs.
Ok I've gotta go. Thank you all for the letters and prayers. Keep me in your prayers as I strive to follow the advice of Daniel and use my brain to the fullest of its capacity. There HAS to be a way to get more genuine converts. Pray that I can continue working hard and smart.
I love you all! Send my love to the 5th ward too. And tell Jordan I love and appreciate him. If he could just stay in South Africa, I know he'd find a lot of success and healing.

Love,Hermana Langston

What a Great Life!

Hermana Langston and Hermana Roundy.
Good night, sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite! OW!

Hello Everybody!

It really is a great life. I love hearing the good news of the gospel spreading throughout the world. I can feel that it's starting to touch the hearts of the people here in Texas. We've talked to quite a lot of people in these parts and we even met one old black guy who said that everytime he sees us running past him in his complex he says, "there goes my two most favorite gals in the world." Another guy stopped me and said he admires missionaries so much for the sacrifice we make to stay away from our family. He said he doesn't like to believe in God but there's something special about us that he admires and he always tells his friends to stop laughing at the elders on the bikes. It's interesting how many people notice us and have questions for us even though we don't stop to talk to them. I try to remember that every day as I go out the door.

Hna Roundy is still here with me as well as Sister Gibbs. We're thinking the visa should arrive this week. Sister Gibbs is great. It's hard sometimes to be patient with how slow she moves or how technologically impaired she is, but I would be so ungrateful to complain about that. She does a lot to fix us food, to buy us food, to drive us places in her own car so that we don't waste miles, and stuff like that. She's a sweet lady. We don't use her laptop much but we could if we wanted to. I'm sure going to miss Hna Roundy when she does go though. I have become such a better companion because of her. She loves me no matter what and makes me feel so good about myself that makes me want to communicate with her even when my pride prevents me. I love that girl.

Things are going good in the work. The ward has taken Luis under their wing. Daniel Fuentes, the guy with a baptismal date, finished reading the book of Mormon last Tuesday and called us afterward saying he wanted to make us porkchops. He said that we was "Bien contento" with us, meaning that he was just so pleased because we had actually found him. He said that after reading the Book of Mormon, it just all made sense. All the questions that he's had in his life were answered in the book. He got really serious and told us how amazed that we would sacrifice a year and a half of our lives and put ourselves into physical danger to go find the lost souls and save one soul. It made me think again about why I'm a missionary. I don't realize the impact the missionaries have on the lives of others I guess.

Thank you for sending the gifts for me! I don't know what they are yet cuz I haven't gotten them from the Paradas yet. But I'm now excited to see what camera i have!! Wooo! I'm glad that you were able to spend time with them.

What's the news with Jordan? Is he going to get knee surgery? I've been thinking about him a lot lately and I'm praying that what ever happens is what God wants to happen.

Camille, I really liked the picture of Caitlyn and Troy. I didn't get any email after that so if you sent one, you'll need to send it again. In fact, if you want to send it through the mail, I don't mind. I don't mind coconut either.

Well, we're going to the zoo today so I've gotta sign off. I love you all and am so estatic to be able to share the joy that I feel from serving others with you guys when I get home. Would you like me do some service for ya'll? What can I get you? A soda? Would you like me to serve you a soda? I love you all. This gospel is true. The atonement of Christ is real.

Love,

Hermana Langston

The Things Life Brings Us!

Hey Everyone!
So....let's talk about how things are going. You guys are interacting with the Parada family right about now I assume. You'll have to send me pictures and tell me all about it. Dad, I hear that you were able to use your amazing spanish skills in talking to them. How wonderful! Ooh I just wonder what's going on!
Mom, Dad, and Jacob, those Christmas-wrapped presents are for you. I was going to send them and others about six months ago but time never allowed it. The other item is for David for his birthday. Hopefully you can wrap it up before the 20th and give it to him with lots of love attached from me.
Things here in Texas are going well. The temperature dropped dramatically this week and it's been kind of nice to have to wrap up in a scarf and wear three or four socks with my tights. It's nice! Hermana Roundy is still here with me but it's looking like her visa is going to be coming any day now. On Friday morning, we got a new companion named Sister Gibbs. She's a lovely soul who is 68 years old. She makes us dinner and comes with us to some of our appointments. She knows a little bit of spanish but not enough to make any sense. She's fun to be around! But its crazy because as soon as Hermana Roundy leaves, Sister Gibbs will be my companion for a while. It's the first time I've had a senior sister! I'm so excited! We totally have a laptop in the house. A laptop! Anyway, it's been a growing experience with her around. God knows what to do to us to help us grow into less selfish and more patient people.
This week we've been working hard but maybe not as hard as the week before. We've been practicing being a lot more bold and its surprising how natural its become for me. I feel like it's not a big deal to ask people on the first visit, "What would prevent you from being baptized?" whereas before I couldn't bring myself to saying it. It's been fun this week not holding back. Because of that, we have a cute couple with a baptismal date for the 11th of april. The wife is pregnant and due at the end of April. But the husband has been reading the Book of Mormon and knows that its true. He wants to be ready for baptism and his wife says that her kids love church and she seemed excited to bring them. We'll have to work really faithful to help them reach their goals.
Luis Hernandez, our little new convert, is going strong. We went to a Fireside last night with him and he came in a pressed white shirt and tie. He looked slick. He's excited to serve a mission. He's also just loved by the ward so that's good news. Daniel Fuentes is a genius we found who also wants to be baptized. He analyzes the doctrine and explains it to us to make sure that he's understanding it correctly and he ends up teaching us something. We sit there looking at each other saying, "Yeah...actually that's exactly what it means....why didn't we think of it that way?" Etc. But we need to get the ward family involved with him. They're kind of scared of his genius remarks.
Man, I've learned so many life lessons that I wish I had time to write. It's amazing just how different the mission is today for me than it was a year ago. I know better how to be patient with others. I'm not as focused on myself. I understand the doctrine better. I just want to explain it to ya'll but there's no time! Only three minutes!
Thank you all for loving me and supporting me! Thank you for being alive still. Thanks for raising your kids with pictures of me and Jordan around so that we'll be remembered when we get home.
P.S. When does Jordan get home? Day? And um, mom, can you look into the whole school thing for me. Maybe talk to U of UOk I go!
Love,Hermana Langston

La Vida es Bonita!

Hello friends and family!

I just want to say that life becomes more beautiful after surviving trials. I am more grateful for trials now than ever because the blessings ALWAYS come after we endure the trials. This week Hna Roundy and I put more of our heart and energy into the work. Although the pictures I've attached don't really show it, we worked hard! And we sacrificed a lot to be able to find six people who were ready to have a baptismal date. I'm going to tell you a little about my own battle with hopelessness in hopes that it could help anyone out there going through the same thing.

We both felt that it was possible to get 6 with a baptismal date. And we felt confident that the number was inspired. At the end of the week, after fasting a lot, studying a lot, putting much faith into our planning and our communication with people, being more bold than we've been thus far with our investigators, Sunday came. We hadn't made any progress it seemed. No one new had a baptismal date. Saturday night, I was on my knees begging for the Lord to tell me what I was doing wrong and why I wasn't seeing the fruits of my labors. I wanted to give up and curse God, but all I could do really was cry. I just couldn't find it in me to blame God. But Sunday morning came and I was exhausted (maybe the time change had something to do with it). I had to use every last ounce of strength to make calls and still fight to be able to keep our investigators going, let alone myself as well. During church, Luis was confirmed with the Holy Ghost (oh did I tell you he got baptized on Saturday? The pictures are on Hna Roundy's camera) and the testimonies of the members confirmed that this work was something bigger than I could fathom. The spirit was so strong. I knew that God was telling me that my efforts weren't in vain this week. When we got back home, I just felt a sudden surge of energy and fierceness that wouldn't let me quit. Hna Roundy and I made calls like nobody's business. We planned exactly what we were going to teach and how we were going to extend baptismal dates. We made calls while we drove, we talked to people all around us, we said goodbye immediately to those who weren't receptive, we found the strength to call members to come out with us to our appointments and eventually found one. The day was a complete success and we didn't extend a single baptismal date. I thought on Saturday night that I'd be writing you very disappointed in myself but it turns out that I am so so proud. I'm so ready for this week and we KNOW that we'll be able to extend more dates. We've learned where are mistakes are and we're going to fix it. Even more important, in the moment when I wanted to give up the most and throw away what faith I had, I just kept going. I hoped for something better and that something better came. It's going to get even better and I know it.

One thing the Lord taught me was that I have my agency to choose. I can choose if I want to work hard. I can choose to be mad. I can choose to fix my problems rather than wait for that problem to be fixed. I didn't get what i asked for this week, but instead the Lord gave me something better.

Ok I love you all so much. I've gotta go so this thing doesn't shut down on me. Vili, do you know a Lola Maumau or a Tevit Maumau? They live in West Jordan. That's all for now.

Les quiero mucho!

Love,

Hermana Langston

Hello family and Friends,

I had a wonderfully written and slightly witty email ready to go but it turns out I wasn't fast enough in sending it. I apologize. Things are going really good this week. Hna Roundy and I are working hard to reach some pretty high goals and we're trying our best to take care of everyone in our teaching pool. The beautiful thing about the latino culture here in Houston is that they're very friendly and not at all bold about telling us not to come back even if that's what they're thinking. So we just have to teach really well on the streets to see if they're interested enough to listen to us and understand what we're trying to lead to.

People are still getting baptized. The ward is getting better. Hna Roundy and I went to the gym for the first time today and it was an amzing experience. Dad, thank you very much for the letter and the pamphlet on the draper temple. We taught a temple lesson to Mayra who has a baptismal date and gave her that pamphlet to read as homework. It's a very informative thing. Thank you for sending me that calendar and talk, too.

The church is true. The purpose of life is becoming more and more clear to me. My love for my family is becoming more and more alive and meaningful. Its amazing how many people live in broken families here. I'm so lucky to have you guys.

Love,
Hermana Langston

Life Is Amazing!

Why does life have to be so darn amazing!!

I cannot even believe how wonderful life is right now. First of all, it doesn't even feel like I'm training at all. Hna Roundy is an amazing missionary with wonderful talents in teaching and being proactive with her time. She has been a huge blessing to me and even though she tells me that I keep her working hard, I truly feel like she's the one working me. She's amazing! And this past week with her has been powerful. I thank God in my prayers every night for sending her to me. We've found a lot of new investigators, have been able to progress the investigators we already have, and instead of dropping Mayra, she now has a baptismal date! It's been a really busy week but its all been paying off because in church on Sunday, we had the most investigators there that I've ever seen in my entire mission! It was fabulous. Hilaria and her huge family came, Luis who's still getting baptized came, Mayra and her daughter came, and a new investigator who's recovering from drugs came. The numbers were outstanding but even more exciting was seeing the faith that these people are exerting.

Seriously, mom, the faith in these people is miraculous and their hearts are being turned towards God. People are so hungry for the word of God. Most of these people don't realize that the true word of God isn't taught in all religions. And only when the doctrines are taught to them with clarity and with faithful, strong testimony are they able to feel that the true gospel is found only in the church that's been restored on the earth today through a prophet of God.
We taught a guy from Mexico who looks almost exactly like Abram Langston only with darker skin and a thicker eyebrow. We explained the doctrine of the fall and the need for the atonement. Even though it was pouring rain and the tiny roof we had over us didn't prevent us from being cold and wet, he still felt the need for the atonement in his own life. He asked us what he'll need to do to get baptized. We've also been teaching the second lesson to Hilaria Hernandez and her family. She has three little kids and a 16 year old daughter. They recently had a death in the family so she's been hungry to know what's happening to her brother who died. She's been praying a lot for her brother but after we taught her of the spirit world and how the gospel is taught there too, she asked, "So should I still keep praying for my brother?" We told her to pray that her brother will be humble enough to accept the gospel while there in the spirit world. After she and her family came to church on Sunday, she was so much happier and asked us, "When are you going to come back and teach us?"

Mayra has a baptismal date. It's been a long time coming. She's been reading the Book of Mormon off and on for 10 years and she knows that its true. We asked if she believed, then, that Joseph Smith was a true prophet. Her eyes got big and she said, "Well, yeah, I'm mean, he saw God and Jesus Christ. He has to be a true prophet." So after talking about it, she said she wanted to be baptized and on the 14th of March, she's going to do it. It's so miraculous to me to see people's hearts change. Its even more miraculous the influence that the Holy Ghost has on those who are humble enough to listen to him.

So enough about me. Let's talk about home. It sounds like good things are happening there. Camille is looking for a car....that's always neat. To answer your question, Camille, that lady wasn't lying, the weather here in Houston is GORGEOUS! I really wish I could be there to see all the funny things that the kids are doing. You know like Adalyn schooling Mom on her dance moves, Caitlyn calling Grandpa "Baumpoo," Kelsey beating up babies in nursery, Daniel teaching nursery (so he's not one of the kids, but i still want to see him in a room with a bunch of kids), and Emily taking gymnastics classes. How's Keiti doing? What kind of fun projects has Corban been taking on? Jacob, how's the tercel's brakes doing? I really enjoyed your haircut, buddy. Please have a fun haircut for me to see when I get home. Jill, are you still massaging? Do you want me to send you a cool cd to play for your customers while you rub them down? It's not as good as Chris Kattan's cd, but its one that Mahnas gave me. She's from Iran and speaks Farsy. You might be able to play it. I'm not sure but I love one of the songs on it. You want to have it? Huh?....ok, honey, I be sending it to you.

Espero que todos tengan trabajo todavia y que esten felices. Ojala que pudieramos todos estar juntos. Me encanta mi mision. Amo a mision con todo mi corazon. Pero aun mas que eso, amo a mi familia. Extrano mucho a mi familia y miro con gran gozo el dia en cuando podemos estar juntos. Voy a llorar mucho yo creo. I love you all so so much. Thank you for helping me serve this mission. I have become such a better person by serving the Lord. I love my Lord so much. I love these people here. I'm so sorry for taking you all for granted but I realize now more than ever the amount of stuff you've all done for me.
I love you.
Hermana Langston

Happy Presidents Day

Hola Familia!
En primer lugar, quiero decirles que "I'm Sorry that you didn't get an email from me last week!" I got greedy. I had a beautifully long and informative--and slightly entertaining email--written and ready to go but as my time ran short on the computer, and the countdown popped up to tell me that I had to hurry up, I just couldn't end the email in time before sending it off. The computer shut down before I had it sent. I guess next time I'll try not to be so greedy in wanting to tell ya'll so much.
I'm doing great. The last two weeks have been good. Last night we got a weird phone call and Hna Campbell got transferred today even though transfers isn't for another week and a half. It's all good though because she's opening up another area with my old companion Hna Torres and I'm training again. I'm here at the mission home right now with Hna Roundy and we're about to head out to our area to get her settled in. She's a cutie. I wish I had more time to tell yall everything.
But thank you all so much for the letters and packages!! I can't even begin to tell you how much I loved them all.
Well, I love you all and I have to go. The amazing thing about this world is that despite so much skeptisicm (sp?), the fact that things are happening for a reason doesn't change. God has a hand in our lives. I'm 100% positive that nothing happens by coincidence. Faith is a feeble little guy that's easily broken if not nourished. But once he gets past the beginning stages, he's hard to break and only makes others stronger.I love this gospel. I love missionary work. I love you all and can't wait to be able to hug you all...and then give you a high five as we drive really fast in go carts together.
Love,
Hermana Langston

One Year Pictures!

One Year Old Missionaries! Hermana Langston, Elder Grow , Hermana Burke, Elder Roberts
A great tradition of shirt burning in the park!

The visit from Elder Perry was amazing. I left that meeting crying. He said some pretty interesting things about the times that are to follow in the economy, in the world. (P.S. what IS going on in the world in the economy right now? How bad is it? He said that the baptisms are going up in all parts of the world except for in the United States. He told us that we live in the land of promise and prosperity. The Lord has promised that as long as the people in this land will keep His commandments, we will all prosper in the land. But as its happening right now, not many people are getting baptized. Inactivity is still thriving. We as missionaries have the moral responsibility to bring these people to the gospel. He spoke with words of comfort and surety. I left that meeting knowing that I could do it, but somewhat worried of all the trials that lie ahead. Tell everyone back home of what Elder Perry said. If we can just hold down are stakes of Zion, we can get through whatever hard times are to come upon us.

I'm attaching some pictures of my 1 year mark burning of shirts. I'm also going to send a whole bunch of pictures from since before Thanksgiving and onward. They're all labeled on the back so hopefully they'll be interesting.

The area is doing well. Luis is still going to be baptized. He finally asked his boss for Sunday's off and he's totally willing to pay tithing so that's a good sign. He's an amazing person who's full of faith and willing obedience. If only everyone in Texas could be that way.

Mom you really are such a huge support to me. Thank you for being so patient and loving with me. I know you say that a lot of people there love me but sometimes I don't know what to think. I feel like Satan is telling me little by little that I don't have what it takes to do this work. He knows that something marvelous is about to come forth among the children of men, and he's doing EVERYTHING he can to try and tell me its not important. That no one at home is even noticing what I'm doing out here so why try. I know that the way I'm feeling right now will pass. But in the mean time, it would help if I got some letters from the people in Utah.

I know that this gospel is true. I'm still working hard amidst conflict and there are small results from it of which I am grateful. Thank you for raising me in the gospel, Mom, and setting a good example for me.

Love,

Hermana Langston

It's Been A Year!

Hi everybody!
Great Googly moogly its been a long time! Yes, on MLK day, I didn't get a chance to write, nor did I justify going to the Library after last monday to do it. Mostly it was because on Tuesday, Hna Campbell and I drove down to Galveston with two other sisters to help with the reconstruction going on down there. Usually the elders go down, but because Sister Putnam and I really wanted to go, and the AP's are such kind hearted people, they gave into our requests and let us go. It was so funny because the guy who was waiting for us in Galveston didn't know the APs had sent sisters. He was expecting brawny young elders to do the job of putting up sheet rock and installing insulation. When we pulled up to the church, we got out of the car, he saw us, and in an excited slash sarcastic voice said, "SISTERS! SISTERS?! Oh this is the best day of my life." It was a good time. I was sore the next day but we did a such a good job in that old fallen down house its not even funny.

The past couple of weeks have gone really well. Did I tell you that we have a new person with a baptismal date? Luis Hernandez is 20 years old and from Guatemala. He's progressing really well and has a fire for learning. Its so exciting to see! It makes me smile real big and nod my head a lot when I'm teaching him. And then there's another kid named Jesse Luna who we've known for a long time but just recently he decided to come to church with us. He's such a mess with drugs and lack of motivation to live. The first time he came to church--two weeks ago--he seemed slightly dead. He never smiles, can hardly hold his head up, wears his long black hair slicked to his head, and talks really slow. But during Sunday School, one of the girls in class gave him a picture of Jesus with little children and Jesse perked up more. He seemed to pay attention more. After church was over, he said in his slow voice, "I really like this church." And he came again last week. He told his Sunday School teacher that he's not working, not going to school, but he wants to get off the streets so that's why he's coming to church. We've taught his mom a little bit too so we're hoping that with Jesse changing and learning, his mom Sylvia will want to start doing the same.

ELDER PERRY IS COMING TOMORROW!! Yeah...all 6 feet, 7 inches of him will be in our chapel in Sugarland while all us missionaries in the Texas Houston South Mission sit all around. I'm hoping he'll just tell us stories and then give us a hug. I'm so excited to hear the words of an apostle. Its amazing the way that those with strong, unshakable faith help us in our own faith. Listening to apostles and even good, faithful teachers in the church gives me more hope. I need hope.

I've been doing good these past few weeks. I'm learning a new life lesson every day and moment of my life. Some of those lessons take longer to learn than others. I realize more and more how ESSENTIAL it is to have hope. There are a lot of cool scriptures that say how we can get it. But one way I'm learning is by being grateful. When I stop and reflect on the blessings I've been given since deciding to serve this mission, I become oh so grateful. I'm so glad that I have a better understanding of the gospel and of my Heavenly Father even though it has required a lot of painful experiences. So as I've been thinking about that, my hope for what I will experience in the future becomes something joyful. My gratitude turns in to a greater hope. It feels good. I don't like being unhappy, you know? Not fun. Not fun...

The shirt is so perfect and long. I'm wearing it right now with a black vest. And the skirt? Fogettaboutit! Man, I never thought I'd be so happy to wear a piece of my mother's wardrobe. The skirt is cute! It's actually cute to me....oh what have I become. But really, thank you.

To answer a few questions....Yes, I am still in the same apartment. This little shanty has proved quite adventurous for us! Que cosas! We've been collecting bedbugs in a plastic baggy. I'll probably send some home for ya'll to look at. It won't be as cool as Candice and Camille getting a piece of my sunburn on their missions, but it'll do the trick. I've never seen bedbugs before so its so weird to look at them and know they eat my blood at night. Hna Campbell's mom sent us a box of bug treatment stuff so we treated the apt today. We'll see if that helps anything.

I love you all so much. I sure miss you and wish you could all be here in Texas with me. So many black people. So many hispanics. So much work to be done.
Love,Hermana Langston

Monday News

I can't even begin to tell you all how grateful I am. I'm so grateful that there is a plan of salvation prepared for all of us. I'm so grateful that no matter who we are, we have a Heavenly Father who loves us and watches out for us. He knows all of us personally. And I'm so grateful that I now understand this...I realize now just how blessed I've been in my life to have access to this knowledge. I'm so grateful that Heavenly Father loves me enough to give me so many tools to return back to Him and I'm grateful that He works hard to make sure all of us are able to return back to Him.

I was sad to hear the news of Bryce Christensen but I'm so grateful that his family is doing well.This week has been really amazing. So much of my patience has been tried. So much of my faithfulness has been tried. But as a result, God opened the doors and windows and air vents to His blessings.

Jorge is still progressing nicely and making friends in the church. He came yesterday for the first time and seemed very shy and afraid. But we talked to many ward members later who said that they were all in love with the kid. He is bonding with the Familia Estrada and yesterday after church was hanging out with them for quite some time. Hna Estrada was so happy to see him bonding with her and her boys. It amazes me to see how the Lord takes care of His sheep...I feel like I just need to do a little and does a whole lot.We've also found another guy, Luis Hernandez, who's 20 years old and from Guatemala. He was a person who we almost didn't go and talk to because we thought he wouldn't be interested. But after our second visit and after teaching the Plan of Salvation, we asked him a question and he said, "I know that God answers prayers. a few days before you found me, I was praying to God to know my motive in life and now here you are. He wasn't able to come to church yesterday but we all worked together to get him to the Fireside at night and the spirit was so strong.
We're teaching a mother and her 9 year old daughter too. She knows its all true and wants to prepare to be baptized. She's so cool.

I love this gospel so much. I'm so grateful to be a part of something that matters--that builds and strengthens others as well as it does to me. In church yesterday we learned about the Millenium and how for 1,000 years there will be peace on the land before judgement comes. The sad thing is that only those who are worthy to live in such a peaceful society will God permit to live here during that time. Those who aren't will be waiting for 1,000 years in misery. I can't imagine living in my own regrets for 1,000 years and then forever. So I'm trying to remember that and help others here not to do anything they'd regret. I be all pounding on their doors cryin, saying, "Please you've GOT to hear this message!! Don't do this to yourselves!!"
I love you all!
Hermana Langston

Greetings!

Hey Guys! It's me.
Last monday, the district was invited by the bishop and his wife to go to downtown Houston and watch an imax film. So...it took up a lot of our Pday. The funny thing is that we were running late and the elders and bishop called and said, we are driving to the train station right now but you could meet us there if you hurry. Feeling rushed, we decided it wasn't worth it and just went home to put our groceries away. Immediately one of the elders called and asked if we were on our way but we told him to go on without us. He was so solid and apalled as he screeched, "What?? You're not even going to try? Get in the car! You still have time!" We couldn't not go through with it. We got in the car, hurried to the station, missed the train but caught the next one, got to the museum district where 2 of the elders were waiting for us at the station, gave them our bags and we all ran full speed to the theatre where we made it just in time to see the movie. It was so good and what's funny is as I sat next to the bishop's wife and watched "The Grand Canyon Adventure," I realized how grateful I was to that elder for motivating me to do something that I would have otherwise missed out on. Thank goodness he's his brother's keeper and looks out for us when we need a helping hand from our friends. We ended up having so much fun in downtown Houston and he said at the end of the day, "You see? Doesn't it pay off to try?"

Anyway, the work is going along. The ward is so great and so motivated to make and keep goals for the new year. The bishop is so loving but firm. We're still working towards finding a family that's ready for baptism. The cool news, though, is that we found a 16 year old boy who is so hungry for the truth. He's getting baptized on Feb 8th. He's the miracle story of last Sunday where a less active went with us to visit him. He asked so many good questions and when we set up an appt with him on Sunday, he called us back immediately and asked if we could teach him right then. He wanted to know how he could get into the celestial kingdom. We had a lesson with him in the home of an amazing member family's home and the kid immediately bonded with the dad of the home. The boy's father isn't around because his dad is a drunk and apparently the boy, Jorge, has seen some pretty rough days in his time in Mexico.

Yesterday was a struggle. There are some days when I'm super motivated to work, but then there are days that I'm in a bit of a stoop. Yesterday was one of those. It was amazing though because all the temptations and negative thoughts that crept into my head were able to be conquered by just praying and deciding to overcome. At the end of the night, I was so happy that we'd made it through. And we even found a few families that are pretty potential.

New Years Eve was indeed fun. We went to Hermana Escobar's house with our 4 elders and she had made us our own special meal! It was amazingly delicious! After that we went home, planned and slept.
Peggy and Allison are cool. Thank you two for sending me such a wonderful little christmas package!
Happy Birthday, Grandpa! I thought of you the other day and wanted to come over there and give you a hug.

I love you all. I love this work. I know more now than ever that Heavenly Father loves us and this work is the living work of God on the earth. I'm so grateful that His son Jesus Christ has made me a stronger person so that I can be an instrument in the hands of the Lord.
Everyone, please write me. It helps so much.
Love,Hermana Langston

Happy New Year!

Hello family!
Yes the gifts fit nicely thank you very much. That night after talking to you I was kind of sad but the next day was christmas and we had a beautiful christmas conference with music and everything. It was the whole mission together. The president of the mission had a roping lesson and called up a few elders to try it. One of them roped the calf. The rest no. He called me up there and I was so nervous. I did it on the first try and the whole mission cheered. Man it was fun. So now everyone says I need to start roping cattle.
My weekend was good. We had a miracle happen last night with a boy who was starving to hear the gospel, and the opportunity that we had in taking a less active lady with us to teach him. It was too miraculous to explain in such short, little time but today I feel good. I feel like I just beat my way out of a trial of faith and my muscles were weak when i talked to you guys but since then I finally burst out of the trial of faith, God showed me more miracles, and I know better now than I ever have that this church is true.
I enjoyed talking to everyone on the phone. Sorry I couldn't talk to everyone for a long enough time. I hope you guys set some good goals this New Years Even. Dont even worry about it Im totally going from house to house helping the ward members make their new goals. Our ward has the goal to read the Booik of Mormon 3 times together as a family and look for the 8 CHRISTLIKE ATTRIBUTES and mark them. Maybe an idea for the fam.
Well, I'm wearing the see through dress right now. Hna Campbell says I look chinese in it. I'm really enjoying it.
Dave, read the Book of Mormon and the Bible at least 30 minutes this week and tell me all about it. Did you tell Dave Roach the number to the mission office?
Ok I've gotta go.I love you all!
Love,Hermana Langston

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Christmas Eve Phone Call!

Jeanette and Hermana Campbell at Bishop Reyes's house on Christmas Eve. The Bishop's wife, Lexi, sent an email and the pictures to the families of the missionaries in the pictures. What a nice Christmas Gift!

We were able to talk to Jeanette on Christmas eve after this dinner. We had a good visit but it wasn't long enough! Mother's Day is just 4 1/2 months away!

Here is part of Hermana Reyes's email she sent to us:

We had them over at the house for dinner and gave them a few gifts. We played a game with them where they were to each companionship a box with a gift card in them. Each gift card was for a different thing and they had a lot of fun asking questions and trading boxes until they finally opened them up. I attached some pictures for you to see. We took many and have taken more on different occasions and I would be happy to send you more if you would like. They ate the typical Christmas foods from El Salvador and will probably get to taste holiday foods from all the countries from Mexico and Central America from the various families from the ward.Please know that your missionaries are loved and taken care of always and especially this Christmas here with Bishop Reyes and his wife (me) and all of the members of the ward that love them so much! Thank you for everything and we hope that you have a Merry Christmas. And from all of your missionaries FELIZ NAVIDAD!!

Buying Christmas!

This Pday has been a good ol fashion christmas service day so far. The district and I went to Walmart and bought some presents for some investigators in the ward. We're not sure how well off they are, but we all pitched in $8 to buy them something Real Nice.
I can't even believe that Christmas is just over a week away. Us missionaries have a lot that we need to do in order to get ready for a Christmas activity this Saturday. We're in charge of giving a tour of the church building and teaching a little bit about the life of Jesus Christ in each room. We need to do a lot of practicing to know exactly what we're going to say so that it doesn't take too long and that the spirit is still kept.
We've had some fun Christmas activities this week as a ward and as a zone in the mission. We had a sister's gift exchange in the ward, and for the first time I saw all the Latina women get all excited and riled up and dance to weird music and I felt like I was in another country and with a different culture. But the ladies in this ward really do love one another and are recognizing the need to be more united and striving to love and serve one another more so that they can be more united and happier.
Also, this Saturday we had a "service" project in downtown Houston where about 3 zones and the mission president volunteered to help with an organization called "Navidad en el Barrio." The poorest kids of about 20 schools were invited to attend this activity and so us missionaries just needed to be the chaperones for each group. We sat with them during a 3 hour long program and then guided them into another room where they opened their presents (given by various sponsors). Me and Hna Campbell were in charge of Long Fellow Elementary and those kids are amazing! I fell in love with them instantly and couldn't help but entertain them through the three hours of boredom before their presents. I even made a scene for one of the boys, Jose, because he triple dog dared me to dance in front for everyone. It wasn't in front of EVERYONE, but it seemed like all the missionaries saw. There were many who taped me dancing. Soon Hna Burke joined me. It was so much fun and Jose gave me a big ol grin while he watched me.

This is where Jeanette's letter ends. She added another sentence but it ended in the middle of a word.

December 9, 2008

Hello Everybody!
It's Tuesday and I am going to make this email a quick one. I'm doing real great out here. Real Great. Me and my new companion Hna Campbell are pretty much best friends already. She's from Centerville? Utah and she used to be Hna Burke's companion. She loves Houston 9 area and she loves the fact that she has downgraded to an apartment full of roaches. Who wouldn't love that! But we're doing great together and Hna McDonald is doing great with Hna Burke.
This week has been crazy. The ward is going through a bit of a trial and we're all working together to try to serve each other more. The new bishop is only 28 and is shaking things up real good. The missionaries support him, but a few of the ward members need some convincing. So that's become a big part of our work here. Elsa is doing great. She went to the english ward this last Sunday to see if she'd like that one better. She really liked it. We're going to meet with her today and talk more about it. Elba and Fernando are being tried in their faith and amazingly are handling it really well. They came to church even though they are strapped financially and could have gone to work instead. Elba is starting to understand and love the Book of Mormon better. She's sort of sick right now so we've been praying a lot for her health. They both are working toward baptism.
We've come back into contact with a lady named Sylvia Luna. She's an amazingly faithful woman who believes in the miracles of God. Her kids have been taken away from her by Child Protection Service, but she has been carrying on with her life although its very hard for her. She wants to spend christmas with us missionaries because she figures its a sad time for us since we don't have our family and because for her Christmas is definitely not a happy thing. But she's begun reading the Book of Mormon and feels that its true. She wants to be baptized, but at the same time Satan has created a huge trap to prevent her from doing so. We're going to have a lesson in a member's home with her today and we KNOW that she's going to start progressing. She's that faithful and determined.
I've come to appreciate the gifts that God has given me. Have you ever wanted to feel God's love for you? Have you ever wondered how He shows it? I've realized that a HUGE way He shows his love is through words. He doesn't speak to us personally, but the words of His prophets in the scriptures do. The words in the scriptures have helped me solve a lot of problems this week. Read your scriptures. Turn to them for help. Pray in sincere prayer to your Father in Heaven and let His love speak to you through the scriptures. That is a huge gift He's given me along with so many others.
I love this gospel so much.I love my Heavenly Father. I love my big brother Jesus Christ. He's become my best friend and I'm no longer ashamed to do what He wants me to do. He knows what's best for me.I miss you all. I can't wait to talk to you all on Christmas. Remember that my call can only be 30-40 minutes so plan ahead of what you want to say.
Love,
Hermana Langston

Hi Family!
First.Thank you all very much for the package that was sent to me. I am excited to eat all that there food but even more was I excited to listen to people on the CD. I still haven't finished the CD but I liked Emily's song to me the most. I let all the sisters in my zone listen to it when we were in the car and they laughed so hard. I feel so special to have my own song created for me. And to answer your question, Emm, I'm doing great! And my companion? She's getting transferred.
Today we got the call in the morning saying who was going and who was staying. Hna McDonald is going. I hope I've trained her well enough, but truly she has grown a lot in the past weeks so I think she'll do well. I'm almost positive I know who's coming in next and I thinking I'm excited. I'll let you know who my next comanion is in my next email.

This week we got to hear an apostle speak to us! On Saturday, Elder Ballard was in the area to visit his family, so he said, "Oh you want me to come and speak to your missionaries? Ok, sho." And that's exactly what he did. He's so down to earth. He's so full of truth. He's so put together and has the right perspective on life. I think its because he is so full of truth. Anyway, it was a neat experience and I want to tell you that if there's ever an opportunity for you to go hear or see a prophet or apostle, do it! Sacrifice whatever it takes to go see him and your own testimony will grow so much. Your hope level will skyrocket. To the MOON!!!...and back. Say that reminds me. I gave a talk in sacrament meeting yesterday on sacrifice. It was the fifth sunday and four of us missionaries spoke. I shared the story about mom punching the cake because us kids didn't know how to sacrifice. Nobody laughed. But afterward many came up to me to compliment me on the spirit i brought into the meeting. Our investigator Elsa said that she was really glad she came to see me "testify." Say that also reminds me...Elsa is progressing towards baptism! It's so exciting to see someone who actually understands and is excited about this doctrine. We watched the 25 minute restoration movie with her and she had to rewind a few parts because she liked the wording of it and she felt like she wanted to really understand the process of the Book of Mormon better. She said, "Wow these are the exact same questions that we have!" as it showed Joseph Smith's confusion before he knelt to ask which of all the churches were true. She wants to be baptized, but she realizes that her family doesn't like church and so we are going to start helping them as a family and not just her.

Also this week, we had Thanksgiving. Happy Thanksgiving. We had some good appointments during the day, we visited most of our progressing investigators, and we had 3 dinner appointments. I was sick by the end of the night. I actually ended up throwing up and getting a fever. I'm still getting over it but it's not affecting the work. I got to thinking about something the other day when I heard our mission president say, "Don't think of your lunch break as 'your time.' Pday isn't 'your time.' It all belongs to the Lord and you should never think about yourself instead of others." This stressed me out a little and I asked myself, well when will I ever have MY time? When will I not have a moment that I'm sacrificing to give to others? And as I was thinking this, my thoughts linked into other thoughts and I came to this conclusion. Why do I even want "my time"? What will I get out of it? Well, I think I'll be happier because I'm getting what I want. So ultimately I want happiness. Something inside me said, have you not been the happiest when you've been serving the Lord? When you've been giving to others instead of yourself? It's a weird thought but its true. I have been the happiest these past few months because I've been sacrificing my own wants for the needs of others. But I've been doing it with faith, knowing that the Lord is going to bless me with a better consequence than that of which I'd get if I'd thought about myself instead. It's backwards. When give others what they need, we are given what we want. And that want is HAPPINESS.

Elder Ballard said something profound. He said, "You will never find the enthusiasm to wake up in the morning until you internalize these doctrines." He was of course talking about the doctrine of Christ. So often before the mission, and even on the mission I've wondered, when will I ever be happy to wake up? Will I ever not be in a bad mood in the morning, dreading what lies ahead of me? It turns out that the answer is yes. I am waking up happier each morning. I'm actually excited to read my scriptures in the morning. I'm excited to learn spanish. I'm excited to go out the door and go to work. I'm really loving life. I don't love giving up sweets right now. But that's only because I haven't been doing it for a while so it still feels un natural. I used to HATE recording the daily miles for the car, but now I don't mind. I used to hate getting up to exercise but I now look forward to it. I used to dread approaching people on the streets to talk to them....and I still get kind of scared. But after its all said and done, I truly LOVE talking to people. So why do I love it now? I don't think my situation has gotten any easier. But the difference is that I understand the doctrine of Christ and have blindly obeyed it until my faith has become a pure knowledge and understanding. Now I see why obedience is so importance. It truly does make a person happier.

Family, I love you all so much. I'm so grateful for what you're doing to help me be out here learning and growing. I never want these feelings of happiness to go away. I hope I never fall back into the pattern of selfishness when I get back home. Help me not to do that, ok?
Jill, thank you for the pictures! I love it so much. David and Rachel, I enjoy your son. Thanks for being a support to me.Dan and Nicole, I met someone from Albequerque yesterday. They're moving to South America though.
Candice, I promise I wasn't in San Diego. But Emily should have gone and said hi anyway and given the lady a kiss. And then probably she would have magically transformed into me cuz stuff like that happens when you kiss a frog so maybe it happens when you kiss a missionary. I wouldn't know.Camille, I wrote you an email.Jacob, I wrote you an email.Jordan, I wrote you a letter and email. I love you.Dad, I still need to write you a letter. Mayber you could write me another letter to remind me to write you a letter. Then there will be letters all over the place!Mom, your spanish is almost as fluent as your french! I'm so impressed! We'll definitely have to gossip under the dinner table when I get home. Slash, on Christmas.Peggy, I loved your thanksgiving card!I love you all. Este evangelio es verdadero.Los quiero mucho!
Hermana Langston

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!
I love this mission, you guys. I love learning so much about the gospel and putting it into practice. I love the Lord with all my heart and am so grateful that despite my weaknesses and tendency to forget Him, He still loves me too. I am so grateful for you all. I'm so blessed to have such a large, supportive family that radiates joy and happiness. I love life. I love being alive. I love waking up each morning! I love going to bed each night knowing i've done my best and deserving the short night's sleep. Thank you all so much for sacrificing so much. Thank you for your testimonies. You strengthen me just by writing to me.
Anyway, allow me to answer a few of your questions. Elba and Fernando are doing GREAT. They finally came to church!!! Last Sunday they didn't after they promised they would. We passed by their apartment on Monday and had a real nicechat with them. Fernando is so smart and in tune with the spirit. He explainedthat after searching for work with his friend in the morning, they found anopportunity to work. He had promised Elba he'd be home in time for church,but when the opportunity for money was before him, he couldn't resist. Hetold us, It's like Satan put that beautiful, shiny trap before me and I justcouldn't resist. He was so sorrowful and said, "The one Sunday when she[Elba] was ready and willing to go, I prevented us from going." Theyrecommitted to coming and sure enough yesterday they showed up. Elba was evenwearing a dress! And they stayed for all 3 hours. They are so faithful.Wendy is experiencing some slander from her friends and family. We triedtalking to her and addressing the doubts, but she just doesn't seem to wantto talk to us about it anymore. However, we have an amazing story about a womannamed Elsa. We met with her for the third time on Saturday and she was soexcited to tell us what she'd learned in her Plan of Salvation pamphlet. Shehad answered all the questions in the back, written out the answers, and thenhad gone to her sister's house to share with her what she'd learned.Elsa told us that it was so exciting to be able to know something and to be ableto teach her sister. She said that she felt like we must feel each time we teachand that sent chills up my spine when I heard it. My little Elsa is growing up!!My student is teaching her own student! Anyway, she's been reading the Bookof Mormon, she's been praying every night, and she told us that she KNOWSits true. It just feels right. She's studied a little with the Jehovah'switnesses and other religions and she said that this just has a completelydifferent feel. She said she wants to be baptized so as soon as she comes tochurch, we're giving her a date. I had a little eye-opening experience, too, when I went on sister exchangesthis week. I was with Hermana Burke for 24 hours!
This week has been a rollercoaster of emotions and events. I've seen some really bad days, but also extremely good days. I was able to go back to Galveston and do some final service there with my district, one other district,and the AP's. I love being able to bring fun and joy into the lives ofothers and I have seen where I've been able to do that this week. In church,Hermana Estrada, a slightly grumpy old lady was called on THREE TIMES to give a prayer. She's the type of person who really doesn't like to do it. The third time was in Relief Society and I said to her, "Hermana, you are going to be RICH with blessings after saying so many prayers." Her frown went away and she just laughed. It makes my heart glow when I can help others laugh and enjoy their lives.
My testimony is like gold to me. I treasure it and love to share it with others. I know that my Heavenly Father is real. I know that the atonement was a real thing that helps me everyday to heal and grow stronger. I love the prophet. I love reading the words of the prophets and apostles of Christ and I know that their words are the very words of Christ.I'm so sure that the Book of Mormon is real that I would sacrifice everything I have if it meant another soul could come to that same realization.This is the work of God.His children are coming to a true knowledge of their Savior.So many lives are being blessed by this gospel.Treasure your own testimonies. Live your testimony.I love you all. I miss you and can't wait for the day I can talk to you.
Have a very happy Thanksgiving and know that I am so grateful for you. I will be praying.
Love,Hermana Langston

I Love This Gospel!

Oooh eee I love this gospel so much. I love it, I love it, I love IT!! (Leg in the air). It brings so much happiness and not only that but protection.

Two good stories to tell: The other night Hermana and I were knocking doors in an area that we just felt needed to be knocked. I just KNEW there was somebody who needed to be found. After the night was over, we found a few "meh" people who had "meh" interest, but we set up an appt with them and returned the next night. Both of them weren't there so we kept knocking. We found a lady named wendy who spoke to us in really good English but is from El Salvador. She was home with her two kids who look black and so it confused us as to whether or not we should speak Spanish or English. But we sat down with her and spoke English. She first saw us a missionaries for a church. She was curious because she had been a part of another church before but didn't like it and she hasn't been to church since. She basically was "church shopping," you know what I mean? But we started talking, and we started teaching real doctrine, and suddenly the spirit was so strong. I saw tears come to Wendy's eyes as she listened. Suddenly she asked, "Are you two in charge of the church? Do you do the sermons?" A little confused and surprised, we both said no. She said to me, "because I feel something with you. I trust you. You just seem like you know what you're talking about. You [hna Mcdonald] seem a little more nervous or scared or something, but I can tell you [me] know what you're talking about." It kind of made both of us laugh but we explained that what she's feeling is the Holy Ghost. Her original church shopping attitude changed into her life story of how she feels so empty. Her reason for talking to us became less superficial, but instead filled a deep cavity that she perhaps didn't realize she had until she got a taste of what she could have in its place. She was more than willing to let us come back and said she'd be more comfortable in a church in Spanish, so we've set up another appt and she's excited to come to church on Sunday. I was so glad after that appt that we kept on knocking even after the original appts fell through.

The spirit has also protected us in a few small situations this week. One happened last night when we were trying to find the house of a less active member. It was out in the country and we walked up to this house that was very dark. I didn't feel in danger. But as soon as we got to the door, we both noticed a GINORMOUS dog just sitting there. The owner came to the door and was amazed that his dog didn't attack us. He said that Jesus must have been protecting us. Turns out that all around the house was warning signs for this dog and usually the dog is pretty angry. I felt like Daniel must have felt in the lion's den. Truly the Lord protects His servants.

Elba and Fernando are doing well. They're having a hard time financially but they're practicing more and more faith. The ward is needing more help and us sisters are trying to excite everyone to practice faith and have hope for the future. I love you all. I love this gospel. I know that its true. We have such a huge responsibility to help and lift others. Lift where you stand.
Love, Hermana Langston

Let Us All Press On

Cooking with Fernando and Elba

Dear Family and Friends!
It's raining and I'm wearing a sweater! A SWEATER! I love Houston in November!

The days are flying by and can I tell you a little secret? I'm scared for my mission to end. Good thing I still have a while. I love the spirit of the Holy Ghost and I just know it will be harder to keep it with me as much when I go home. I've felt the guidance of the Holy Ghost a lot this week.This ward is going through a rough time and one of the elders was emergency-transferred just recently so everyone is a little weirded out. We're not sure why he was, but it was very weird. The members love missionaries and love missionary work, but it seems like perhaps their hopes aren't very high right now because there haven't been many baptisms. Right now it is our responsibility as missionaries to instill hope and love towards one another in this ward. We're working really hard to find and bring people to baptism. Allow me to esplain...Elba and Fernando are our most golden people up to this point. Elba got really sick this week and was working herself too hard so Hna and I woke up really early to be able to help them make their pupusas and rice in the morning. Selling that stuff is how they make their living. Elba was so sick but she got out of bed and told us what to do. I think we didn't do much, but the fact that we were there bright and early to help meant a lot to them both. Fernando has been reading the Book of Mormon and practicing a lot of faith. The elders gave Elba a blessing of health and it was amazing. The words touched both Elba and Fernando. She is still very hesitant about coming to church. On Sunday, after a very stressful morning and guiding our other investigators through church, we went to Elba and Fernando's apartment. They were watching a movie but we invited them to a charla fogonera that was to start in less than an hour. Fernando was very excited to have an opportunity to show the Lord his sacrifice. He said, "I'd be more comfortable here watching this movie but I know that He will bless us if we go. Even if the sacrifice is chicito, He will still bless us." Ok so he doesn't actually speak spanglish but you can imagine what it'd be like if he did, right? SO...they came! It was a very uplifting and inspiring thing and what's cool is that a member took them to the charla, so they got to know her and socialize a little bit more.I realize more and more how CRUCIAL normal, average, everyday members are to this work. I've been nobody in this work. All I do is listen to the promptings of the spirit. And I work hard to do it. The people who make a difference in bringing people unto Christ through His restored church are the everyday members of this church. The investigators have gained much trust in this message by hearing sincere testimonies. They've seen how charitable these members are. Some members work 10-12 hours a day, yet still will come out with us missionaries because they want to look for "las ovejas perdidas." It's touched me so much to see how hard they're willing to work and what they're willing to sacrifice for their Lord.I love this gospel so much. I just can't believe I've lived my whole life in this gospel and only now have I come to see the marvelous truths that it holds. There is an eternal truth in this universe that none of us can escape. We can either accept that truth and live happily because of it, or we can fight it to the death and live in complete misery. I love sharing this message with others. Sometimes. Sometimes I get scared. If I were an angel, I'd totally trump up my voice and cry repentance like a big ol' trumpet slash trombone. Maybe I could get more attention as a trombone. Keep striving to better yourselves and look for opportunities to sacrifice. Just like Fernando's little sacrifice brought him blessings, so will your little sacrifices...aunque sean bien chicitos!

Love, Hermana Langston

Its better to offend man than to offend God

Hello Familly and Friends!
I've been so excited these past few days to come here and write you. This week has been flying by and we have been working more by the spirit than we ever have before. We've been able to see a little fruit of our labors and also the blessing of obedience. Not only that, but I've encountered fun little messes that I still haven't learn to clean up myself.
I haven't put any thought into what I'm going to do when I get home, but I hope whatever I do involves my family. What did everyone do for Halloween? What did the kids dress up as? I and my companion got to come in early for the night since Houston gets crazy on Halloween. We worked hard to meet our goals for the day then went home and enjoyed ourselves a nice frozen pizza and watched a Christmas movie while wrapped in a blanket. Nothing like Mr. Krueger's Xmas on a scary Halloween night.
Guadelupe isn't progressing as nicely as we expected but she is still reading the Book of Mormon and has lots of questions. We just need her to start keeping appts and maybe she'll progress better. The little girl Ana isn't technically progressing but we're still teaching her and her little brother and sisters. Its been amazing to feel the difference in their house after we turn off the tv, sit the kids down, and sing hymns with them. I'm starting to see more and more how blessed I was to grow up with the gospel teachings in my home.
Did we tell you about a couple named Elba and Fernando? We've known them for a few weeks now but just recently we had time to sit down with them. They just moved here from NC and they'd talked to missionaries a lot in North Carolina. Fernando is so sweet and humble. Elba is so hard working and strong. But she didn't want to go to church or be baptized into our church. After teaching the first lesson to Elba, we set up another appt to meet with the both of them. The second time, though, we just talked to Fernando who was so open to listen. He told us about one time he was taken to jail and he prayed to be released so that he could go take care of his wife again. He told the Lord he'd read the whole Bible if He'd free him. Fernando read the Bible and 30 minutes after he finished it, the guard let him out. When we talked about the Book of Mormon, his eyes lit up and said, "I'm going to read that book from beginning to end. When I finish it, I know the Lord will solve the problems I'm having with Elba right now." Last night we had a miracle lesson with them. We hadn't planned a specific principle to teach them but after talking to them and listening to their doubts, we sang "I Stand All Amazed" and I tell you honestly the words that came out of my mouth after that did not come from my own brain. The spirit inspired my every word and at the end of it, Elba was crying. When I asked, "Elba, when you know that these things are true, will you be baptized?" she only hesitated a moment and said, "yes." Her husband explained so much about the Book of Mormon to her. He's begun reading it and he understands better than any investigator I've met why the Book of Mormon "Is the most correct of any book on the earth." Elba let go of a lot of pride last night and we committed them both to learn more about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and prepare for baptism. I feel so much love for them. They're like my second parents. When we went home, Hna McDonald asked me, "Was that you talking in that appt?" She could tell that the spirit was guiding me cuz, shoot, I sure can't say anything as smart as I said last night. In fact, I can't even say a firm no to people who I want to go away. We've had a creepy encounter from a sort of investigator who asked us if we could marry and then kept calling and calling and leaving messages and being too flirty. I tried to kindly tell him that it wasn't allowed and that we can't sit and chat because we're busy missionaries. He still kept calling so finally the district leader told him off. One day I'll learn to clean up my own messes.
This area is growing. It's happening slowly but since we got our new district leader, things have been improving. The bishop is very hard working. The members are very excited to welcome new people at church. We're starting to put this work back in order and we're starting to accomplish goals that we set. One thing I've come to learn is that this gospel teaches order. God is a god of order and the more organized we are, the more we are able to feel the spirit. Obedience by faith is the only way to learn of the happiness that God has prepared for us. Seek to organize your lives a little more. Seek to organize and clean your minds. Seek for that which is virtuous and lovely. The spirit will dwell with you and I'm telling you it's the most amazing feeling to have the spirit guide your very thought and action.
Este evangelio es bello. Este plan de felicidad es posible. Trabajemos para encontrar felicidad.
Love,Hermana Langston