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