H O L A

Hola mi querida familia!!

How are things going up in the states? Great I hope :) This week has been a good week....but not so much to write about like last week.

Happy Birthday Grandma Beck!! I love you and hope you have a great day!!!!

Today we had interviews with President Gamboa here in Salinas. Everything went great in the interview. It was kinda fun cause it was just our zone and he was more relaxed and joking around a bit and stuff :)

Yesterday, we had a really neat experience at church. First, on Saturday we passed by an investigator's house for an appointment. The lady (Luisa) has had a lot of problems in her life. She moved in with her husband when she was almost 15 years old. Her husband has never worked, he only drinks. He has mistreated her almost all of their time together. Her oldest son died a few years ago. And the list goes on and on....it's really sad :( But when we got there on Saturday she opened the door and looked really distressed. We asked her if something was wrong and she said she didn't want to listen anymore and that we shouldn't come again. We asked if something had happened and she said she just didn't feel any difference when she was listening to us. She believed that everything was true, but just didn't feel any difference or peace or anything. We told her that we wanted to keep coming because we knew that this Gospel would change her life for the better, that it would bless her, that it would help her family, etc. She still didn't want us to keep coming though. So, we told her that she is always welcome to come to church but she said no thanks. So we left, knowing that we had done our part and now she had to make the choice. And we doubted that she would come to church on Sunday.

Come Sunday, there were no investigators that were able to come to church...until about 50 mins into Sacrament meeting. Guess who arrived...Luisa! We were so surprised and she walked in and sat right down with some members. We talked to her after Sacrament meeting and she said she just kept feeling like she should come, so she came. In Gospel Principles, she was the only person there, so we decided to watch On The Way Home (the video I mentioned last week, I think). When the family got baptized the spirit was so strong and she started crying. We talked a little bit after the video and she said she wanted us to keep visiting and that she knew the Gospel would help her. And then she said "Can you guys like bless people or something?" (I don't know what made her ask that, but she was referring to Priesthood blessings of comfort). So we explained about those blessings and then she asked for a blessing. My comp gave her the blessing and it was such a spiritual experience.

I am so thankful for experiences like that! This Gospel is amazing and the only true Gospel on the face of the earth. I truly know that it blesses peoples' lives. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet called of God. I know that he saw our Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ and that Christ's church was restored through him. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and that it contains the answers to all of our questions in life. I know that God loves each and every one of us and that we are his children. He wants us to return to live with him and thanks to the Atonement of Jesus Christ, that is possible. We will be able to live as an eternal family with God and Jesus Christ. I know that the power of the Priesthood is real and the miracles still happen.

I love you family!!!!! You are the best in the world! Thanks for your support. Thanks for your letters. Thanks for pictures. Thanks for all of the prayers! I LOVE YOU!!!!!!

Love, Elder Beck