hello, hello, I'm fine, and how are you?

There is a kid's program going on in the library right now, and they are playing some ridiculous songs. For that, I say, "hello, hello, I'm fine, and how are you?" How have you all been? I hope all is well and that life proves to be exciting and rewarding as always. If I remember correctly, Becca is finishing (or recovering from) final reunion preparations, Dad is getting done with a hopefully successful case, and Mom is at home enjoying beautiful music and foreign company. Cecily will soon be abandoned on the East Coast, and with Jay's record, any number of exciting adventures could be coming up soon. Life sounds pretty exciting. I hope that we can all keep our heads straight with all the commotion.

As for San Luis, there has been quite a bit of commotion here too. One of our recent converts was held at gunpoint as two men tried to rob his taco shop. The recent convert always carries a gun at work (those hardened army ruffians) and they had a more-or-less shoot off in which the robber's gun failed to fire, and Braulio, the recent convert, miraculously missed. The whole story is incredibly exciting, especially when told in person from first hand perspective. We met a man in the streets a few weeks ago who seemed fairly interested in learning more about the Book of Mormon, but on returning to his house yesterday, we found that his house had burnt down! I can only imagine the hopeless and desperate situation he now finds himself in, and I pray the missionaries, wherever he ends up, find him and he finds the comfort he needs.

And so it turns out that San Luis is a pretty happenin' place. I have been amazed at the people we have met who are so prepared, especially in the last few weeks. If only it were a simple thing to teach and baptize people, but different elements often impede our ability to teach those who are ready. Work, family problems, illness, and--worst of all--laziness or apathy often get in the way. My goal is to live worthy of the Spirit to the extent that people cannot forget the feelings they had as they talked with us, and will make sacrifices to meet with us. Until then, we will keep battling to teach lessons with our investigators.

We had a run-in with the Spirit of Elijah. We taught a part member family, where the daughters and husband are recent converts, about family history and the importance of temple work. The wife took immediate interest and began telling us how much her family needed their work done in the right way, that they had not had the same chance in this life. We are going to the family history center in Yuma with them soon, and she is leaps and bounds closer to a possibly near baptism.

In fact, as we were learning about the family history center down here, I began thinking about Grandpa Bostwick. It has been over a year, and I'm sure everything is being taken care of, but the church geneology records do not yet have his work as done. I began thinking about what my responsibility will be when I get home from my mission to begin finding our family, but I really don't know if there is room for more help in our family trees. How is the family history work for our family? I'm very curious.

On that note, go to the temple. The greatest blessings of heaven and earth are available in the Temple. For some, it is a sacrifice. For example I don't how long it takes to get from Cecily's home to the Temple in D.C. But for those who are still in Utah .... This is an invitation for all family and friends to increase, from whatever point you are at, your temple attendance. We can do more. I can't wait to be able to do more. They need us to do our part on the other side. Good luck.

The Church is true, there is no greater work than bringing the gospel to those in darkness. I think of those who are kept away from the truths of the gospel simply because they do not know where to find it. I want to show them where and how to find it. What matters more?

-Elder Sam Bostwick