More Pictures

These pictures were sent in the mail. I had to post them so you can see our "soon to be home" missionary!

Amos Estes - 100 years old!

Although the stain isn't helping his image, Amos is actually a very apt and intelligent young man. He even got himself out of the chair to stand and take this picture.

NACHO! and YOLI!

The forever investigators of Houston 9 finally made it to a baptism. Boy was it good to see them!

Hermana Campbell and I were tired of Luis being casual in the pictures. We told him he had to smile in this one and, unfortunately, I was skeptical that he would actually smile.

August Greetings!

Angel Bernabe with Hna Campbell and Jeanette.

Angel Bernabe and ward members at his baptism.

Melanie Robago...this girl really knows how to have a good time with floam. We made ourselves a sister missionary doll. The lady's hair is a little more maintained than my own...and Melanie's!

Our last goodbyes with Mayra Moreno, her daugter and her niece. Houston 9 goodbyes were tender.

Roberto Montalvon and his "chula" missionaries. He's really cool. We're not!

Hello Family!

It's been far too long since I've written a nice long letter filled with jokes. And it will probably be a little while longer. These past two weeks have been great. Angel Bernabe got baptized yesterday and his baptism had a great turnout of ward members who were excited to be a part of the fun. After the ordinance was over, the sisters went to the kitchen to prepare the food, the kids were running around the church with their shoes off and shirts untucked, the missionaries were talking with ward members and investigators who came to watch, and Angel and I had a little heart to heart (with others around us). I asked him what he was feeling and he said "mucho cariC3B1o de la gente." He was so touched that so many people loved him so much. After a year and a half of loneliness in the United States, he finally found a family. And he loves reading and analyzing the stories of Nephi within the Book of Mormon.

The thing that I love about Galveston is that I'm not just teaching the Hispanic people, but I'm also allowed to enter into a black person's world and teach them too! There's a family that came to church on Sunday who is a black version of the family on "While You Were Sleeping." There's always SO MANY people in there house and it take a lot to get them to calm down, stop talking about the creaminess of the mashed potatoes that they ate the other day, and listen to a lesson. However, our patience has paid off. Three of them came to church on Sunday and said they really liked it. They're all really active in another church, but they were intrigued with the Book of Mormon. Linda, the Mom, has been reading every single chapter we've assigned them. She even took the Book of Mormon with her on a road trip last week and read in the car. She knows its true, but she has a hard time understanding that only one church can be the true church. Her husband Charles and her 26 year old son is starting to grab a hold of this too. Sister Campbell and I have recognized the power that we're able to teach with when we're with them. It doesn't happen in any other lesson really.

Yesterday when we were knocking at 8:15 p.m., there were three different families that told us we'd better get out of the neighborhood fast! They said that Galveston is becoming more and more dangerous at night and if we're on the streets, people will think we're selling drugs. One lady was hilarious. She was mad at us for being so "stupid" in walking around to share the gospel. She told us, "You two would be better off in Salt Lake City," (She had no idea we were from there) "That place is full of mountains and good looking men. Blue eyes, blonde hair, strong. I'd fill up your tank right now so that you could get off this God-forsaken island and live there." We tried to excitedly tell her that we're from there, but she didn't listen. She kept going on and on about the life in Salt Lake City and how stupid we are for not living there until I finally said, "You know what. You've convinced me. I'm getting on a plane next week after packing up my stuff and I'm going to Salt Lake." She was pleased and we all went our separate ways. Luckily nothing has happened to us yet while on this island and apparently it's true that it's getting pretty bad with drugs and crime.

I think in the last few weeks, I've been numb to the fact that I'm going home, or even that I'm a missionary. I've been having to pull myself out of the clouds a lot and try REALLY hard to focus on serving these people. In this last week, I just want so badly to serve with all my heart, might, mind, and strength. I want to know that I did EVERYTHING in my power to serve my Heavenly Father, my companion, and my fellow Galvestonians. I'm sure grateful that Heavenly Father is a loving teacher and that He doesn't hold grudges when we fail to complete a commandment. I know He loves all His children. I know that the process of repentance is real and that agency is completely ours. We have the power to accept or reject help from our Heavenly Father. We have the power to also accept or reject the tempting ideas from Lucifer and his cohorts. I've realized that I'm an agent to act for myself and not to be acted upon. I do have the power to make a difference in my own life and I know that my actions affect the lives of others.
I love learning.
I love this gospel.
I love being with my family.

and I love arroz con leche.

Until we meet again,
Hermana Langston

I got to see Luis yesterday!

I think I'm starting to enjoy talking in English. I also enjoy listening to people who have the experience of speaking a lot more grammatically correct english like my dad. Thanks for writing me that experience, Pops.

Life as a missionary is probably the most gratifying experience I've ever had. ....I can't even begin to express the love I have developed for this place, for these people I talk to, for the gospel I study and teach every day, for my companion, and most of all for my Heavenly Father who is my constant Teacher. I love riding bikes around town and waving to people, I love wearing skirts to my ankles, I love the feel of a tucked in dress shirt with a high-waisted skirt. I don't mind having my name displayed on my chest for everyone to see. I love meeting a new crowd of people. I love being challenged to do what is right and show the pure love of Christ while doing it. I love failing, because it makes the victory so much more enjoyable. I just like so much about this mission experience, and it's going to be hard to leave it. But until that day comes, I'm sure taking advantage of this calling and having fun with it.

Angel is still learning and is so excited to be baptized! He and some members went to a baptism in Houston with us. It was his first time seeing a baptism and he was pensative all throughout it. Afterwards, he was telling others from Houston 9 that he too was about to be baptized and he'd ask me, "Cuando es?" I'd tell him, the 2nd of August, buddy....the second of August. Smiles exchanged. The people in Houston 9 were so excited to see me and Hna Campbell all over again. They couldn't believe we were companions again. I felt the most at home yesterday than I've ever felt in my mission. Everyone I loved most from Houston 9 was there, it seemed. Even Nacho and Yoli made it to the baptism just to see me and Campbell. Not only did we have good company but, get this, we ate ARROZ CON LECHE afterwards! Can you even beeleenat? It was an all around good time!
As we drove back home last night, I sat in the back of the Schatelowitz' suburban with the window rolled down and looked out at the sky while Sister Campbell talked to Connie and Charles. I truly am amazed at the satisfaction this mission has brought me. I don't refer to the choice to come here for 1.5 years, but basically what my decisions and my Heavenly Father has brought me after this time. I thought about why my obedience has brought me so much happiness, why my conscious effort to hold on to hope throughout trials has brought me to this point, and why the mission would prove to be a testing ground of this. Trials are no longer surprising to me. I think I am starting to realize that trials will always come, and depending on how I react will determine how I transform into someone happier, stronger, more like my Heavenly Father.
Ok, les quiero mucho.
Que siguan adelante en la fe del Senor!
Con amor,
Hermana Langston

July Greetings!

Hi everybody!
It's been a really incredible week. First, it's been wet. We were on the bikes last Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday while our car was in the shop and we felt the need for a change of clothes three to four times throughout the day but the beautiful thing is that doing this work, it doesn't bother us as much as it probably should.
Sister Campbell had a spill on her bike while talking on the phone to the people at Toyota. Right over the ol' handlebars she went. And it made for some good laughs all week long.
Two more people have felt the power of this gospel and want to be baptized! Angel is a 20 year old guy from Mexico who was a referral from a member referral. His friend moved to another state, but he's still coming to church with us and listening to the lessons and now he is preparing himself for baptism. He told us that the stuff he's learning now -- the fact that we lived with God as spirits, that we are to be on this earth to learn from the hard times, and that we have God's help through a divinely organized church-- all has been stuff that he never knew. And he's excited to be baptized to see the help of God more in his life.
Mike Yeh, the husband of a member, has also agreed to be baptized. We set a date for him to be smoke free by the end of July and then be baptized a week later. He's been so much more hopeful in lessons and he didn't doubt at all that he'd be able to do it. It's really exciting for me to see people change into happier people through learning this gospel. I don't think all of them realize how amazing of a guy Joseph Smith was, but I'll go ahead and start making it known.
We've also been teaching a girl from China who is a friend to the Jones Family. She's so smart and so outgoing. She doesn't come from a Christian background, however, and she's still learning English so we've been teaching very basic with her. In learning about Jesus Christ, and why He needed to come to the earth, she exclaimed, "Oh I get it! So we produce a lot of happiness but also a lot of sadness, and Jesus has the job to take all of our sadness from us and get rid of it." I'm telling you, this girl is SMART! She's starting to pray more and her demeanor has changed since we first started teaching her. She seems more sober.
I have been learning so much about the human race while here. Each child of God is uniquely different and has his or her own needs to be met in order to be perfected. It's amazing to me that God is able to meet the needs of so many people who are so completely different, and that He's able to love us despite our weaknesses. I've been trying to learn how to see past my own weaknesses so that I can confidently teach the doctrine to those who are hungry for it. I've been trying to see past the weaknesses of others in order to love them the way that God would. All of us live in an imperfect world, surrounded with imperfect situations, and act very imperfectly. Yet amidst all this, our Heavenly Father's love is perfect. Is it any wonder that when we feel this love for the first time, we are taken aback and amazed? And each time we feel it afterwards, we can't help but feel grateful. What will it feel like to live in a perfect world with someone who loves us so perfectly? I sure wouldn't know, but I'm glad that God is willing to show us little foretastes while we're here on this earth.
I know that I'm being led by the Spirit. I know that this church is being led by the only chosen prophet of God on the earth. I know that obedience to this gospel brings happiness and a conversion.
I love you all!
Love,
HErmana LAngston

Feliz cuatro de julio!

This picture is of the Galveston missionaries going to the library (today) to hope for an open computer, but it turns out that the library itself wasn't even open. So we took a picture and came to a member's house.

Me and Hna Campbell holding chicks - this was last monday when we went into a member's home for an FHE lesson. Out of the blue, the front door opened, and all these chicked came cheeping in to greet us. The little boy in the center of us had let them out of their cage and was excited to show us his chickens.

The puppy is someone we found on the street. He should be Galveston's mascot because it's obvious with all that he's suffered, he is still full of hope for his future...

I thought a lot about the birthday celebration that must have happened this weekend. Happy birthday to my brothers and Keiti and Emily! Happy birthday to Peggy tomorrow! I hope you got the birthday cards. Peggy and Daniel, you have something coming your way.

So how were the desserts for the fourth? That's one thing I could have had more of on my holiday--dessert! But yesterday a member saved the day and gave us a big ol chunk of pretzel, creamcheese, jello stuff. Really hit the sweet tooth spot. On Saturday, our zone met with the new president and his family. They are really good people! All six of the kids spoke -- even the three year old -- and I felt the spirit so strong with each one. I thought I wouldn't care about the new president and his family, but I've fallen in love with them already and have a greater respect for all of them. Later that day we went out to lunch with the missionaries and got back to work. The night ended with seeing the fireworks from the road.

This work is getting more and more exciting! Missionary work is becoming more than just finding! We're starting to take the role as expert teacher. No longer do we waste hours at tracting, but the members are starting to pull through in bringing us referrals and inviting their friends into their homes for lessons. We have a lesson tonight with a boy who Hermana Rivera met at her garage sale and he's so interested that he came to church yesterday with his friend. Tonight we have a lesson with another branch family and on Thursday we'll teach them again with the Rivera family.

Also we're going into english members' homes and having amazingly motivational lessons about inviting people into their homes. The members are amazing! I love working with them. As far as the heat goes, it's hot! Each morning at 6:30 when we get up to run, it's already warm and VERY humid. The air just swarms me when I walk out the door. But everyone we visit offers us water so it works out.

I'm more than excited to come home, but I'm enjoying sharing the gospel so much. I never thought that missionary work could be so fun. Talking to strangers about different topics of the gospel turns into a very spiritual experience and strangers feel it too. Texas is a wonderful place to me, but even more than that, my Heavenly Father has become a wonderful, merciful, strict, yet patient father to me. I know this gospel is true, I know that obedience to it brings lasting peace, and I know that I am now a stronger person because of my decision to overcome temptation and live according to the words of the prophets.

I love you all

Les Quiero Mucho.

Love, Hermana Langston

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

Farewell Houston 9

First and Foremost,
Loved the pictures beyond explanation. It made me feel confident that there is definitely a God who loves us.
Second, is Jacob already graduating? That part makes me slightly sad. Ask them to hold off on the graduations until after I get home. Good?
Number three...I'm leaving Houston 9. So starting Wednesday, you can change the color of the stickers on my wall poster marker map. I knew it was coming even though everyone thought otherwise. I just barely told Luis over the phone, and Hna Rodriguez from the ward knows. I'm afraid to tell anyone else. It's already going to be rough with Luis. I'm full of all sorts of mixed emotion right now.
Oh can I tell you?? This week we've been working hard in trying to find a family, right? We fasted on Tuesday and it was a VERY difficult fast. But yesterday, we found them! They got the job! They got the job! The dad and kids want to get baptized. The mom is skeptical but the dad is going to fast this week for her to soften her heart. I'm almost 100% positive that they'll be getting baptized. It's wonderful to know that God answers our prayers.
So Miss Joan isn't going to be teaching after this year, huh? That is going to be very hard for everyone. Ah man, I'm already missing her. Change is so difficult, you know? Tell her that I say hi and that I love her so much. I actually miss her laugh right now.
Well family, I'm going to sign out now by saying that God always takes care of us better than we can take care of ourselves. He is able to do it when we are people of faith--when we look past the weight of the world and believe in something that we're not able to see or even understand. He will guide us if we'll just let Him.
I'm confident that Houston 9 will flourish with a new missionary here in my place and me gone. I'm confident that Luis will become a better person in these next months.
But it still doesn't take away the pain of saying goodbye.
Les quiero mucho.
Cuidense mucho.
~Hermana Langston

May 11th Email

Hna Toapanta and I helped Mayra paint her bedroom. See how much we're helping?

Hermana Toapanta and I saying goodbye at the mission office.

Me and Maria Mendoza.

This picture is from the Houston 9 Mother's Day Activity. It was a dinner and a dance from the 70's and 80's. The elders went to the Salvation Army and picked out not only their own clothes but our clothes too. Can you even believe the size of my companion?! And they found her a perfect-fitting outfit! The group with a blonde kissing a guy from El Salvador is a picture of our district with the bishop and his wife. The bishop's only 24 years old. His wife served here in this mission two years ago. They're so cool and hip.

Hello Family and Friends,

I was so happy after being able to talk to all of you on the phone. Thanks for all being there. I realized later that I didn't talk to any of my in laws or my nieces! Was Emily there? Adalyn? Tell them that their aunt (or sister) says hi and that she loves them too too much.

I told you a lot about the mission thus far. I just wanted to let you know what happened in the past week. We went on sister exchanges and I was paired up with Hermana Toapanta who's from Ecuador. She taught me so much spanish! And we've also started an English class here in the church so last Tuesday was our first day. It had a really good turn out considering it wasn't advertised hardly at all. Sister Gibbs, the older senior sister, is setting it all up and training us missionaries on how to teach. So right now as I type this I am also designing a cover for the teaching material binder. And I'm wearing my tight paisley pants that I bought for a dollar on Saturday. And I have my mouth full of peanuts. Jill-style.

But it's getting really stressful and yet super fun here. We're thinking of more and more ideas for finding people and earning their trust. It turns out--and we didn't know this at first--that a lot of people assume that we work for the government somehow and won't give us their information or let us into their apartments because they're scared of getting deported or getting their children taken away from them. Some ladies in a certain complex thought that we worked for CPS (child protection services) and told everyone in the complex to look out for us. So until one lady let us in and told us "you guys aren't mean at all. I don't know why they thought you worked for CPS," we were getting the hispanic hand in the face.

I can't even begin to explain how wonderful it is to teach others and to see the good that's in them. Still there are days when I'd like to give up hope on these people, but it leaves at the end of the day and I'm back to wanting them to know how they can become like their Heavenly Father. The majority of people here are just working folk who settle for breaking their backs working all day and all night, and drinking on the weekends to find their happiness. The women accept the role of obedient house wife and mother that they've been taught, and they've never considered the fact that they can some day be a goddess. The world likes to lie and enslaves these people with false ideas. I realized this week that we need to teach them a lot more simply than we have been doing. We need to start out with teaching them to recognize good and bad and teach them to be obedient to what is good in order that they are freed from the bondage that bad choices bring. And from there they are able to understand the restoration of the gospel.

I love you all so much. I'm glad you are still having fun over there and saying funny things. I'll be seeing ya in August! Til then....keep writing!

Love,

Hermana Langston

May Blessings

You didn't get my email??
AWE MAN!
I wrote a nice long one and told you about the flooding. Then I thought it had sent but it turns out that it didnt. Sorry about that. It's a good thing, though, I guess that it didn't get sent because in there I said that I was excited to call you guys this sunday....meaning yesterday. I totally got confused. So best that I didn't confuse ya'll too.

Let's see...the past two weeks. Well, the most exciting thing is that we did get lots of flooding. Nothing nearly as bad as a few blocks down the street from us where people died and cars were turned upside down. The thing is that as missionaries we don't get to watch the news, see. So on Monday night, Hna Gibson and I went out proselyting as usual and the wind picked up mucho grande. Then the wind started pelting us. So we got back in the car. Love cars. But we didn't realize how bad the flooding was going to be and we just kept driving. We had to stop by the elders apts and they were impressed that we were still out working. They took a picture of us all soaked and I'll be sending that to you directly. But they told us that we shouldn't be out working so after our following appt., we went back to the apartment.

Mayra was BAPTIZED!! That's cool that there was a baptism in the ward. I realize that there is something special about baptisms. They bring the spirit so strong. Mayra was so nervous but so elegant in her white gown. She came to church Sunday and she seemed like a completely new person. She is now involving herself with the Relief Society more and wants us to teach her daughter so that she too can be baptized. I love Mayra so much and I'm so glad that I didn't give up on her when all the other missionaries did. She told us that if it weren't for us, she wouldn't have been able to go through with it. It made my day to hear that.

Luis is still going strong in the ward. He went to a camp out the other week and is bonding well with all the ward members. He's just so in tune with the spirit and his own personal revelations. He tells us of his excitement in receiving personal revelation, but never tells us what that revelation was. He understands the sacredness of it.

We're finding a lot of single guys who've left their families in Mexico or El Salvador or Hondurus. They've been spiritually prepared and its exciting to see them recognized the truths in this gospel. They're able to see that it's not something the world teaches, but it's different. And for that reason, many of them are on board for baptism.

I'm so glad that Dan is cancer-free! That's a huge relief. Gives me more hope in everything. People here are freaking out about the swine flu. We've been counseled on how to avoid it, and the importance of staying in the house if we have the symptoms, but Sister Allred, the president's wife, assures us that it's nothing to be scared about. So far, I haven't had any of the symptoms and neither has sister Gibson. We're ok thus far.....I drew a picture during the whole shpeel of how to prevent it. It's a picture of what I'd do if I got it. I look at it often to make me feel better. Ravenous hogs may come knocking at the door, but I'm confident that I could fend them off. And if I'm lucky, they'll just give me a black eye.

I'm doing my best to take care of myself. I need to eat better and I'm going to try to eat more healthy food this week. This Sunday! I'm excited. So after 5 Utah time? Ok I'll call after that. I've got so many good stories to tell you about the mission and I'm excited to hear a little something from everyone. Since we only have 30-40 minutes, think beforehand of what you want to say. I've been marking down a few ideas myself.

I love you all. I'm amazed each day at the blessings I've been given as a daughter of God and I complain less each day. Still I have a ways to go, but I'm truly astounded at the mercy of my Savior who's able to forgive when I'm truly repentant. I love this gospel. I love the perfection that this church holds. I love my Heavenly Father and Jesus. I love these people and will be very heart sick when I leave....so promise me that you'll come with me when I return someday. I wish you could all meet these people. The hispanic people are so open hearted and humble. Plus they'll make you really good pupusas or gorditas. Would you like crema with it or just salsa? Salsa? Ok but try just a little bit of crema also.
Les quiero mucho!~~Hermana Langston

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