August 2,2010 email

Im doing good, I'm not sick anymore, so i have been working all week, im getting in good shape i have lost 25ish lbs since i left home, its kinda hot here so i sweat alot and all i do is walk and ride my bike all day its not that bad im just use to it and its always nice to be able to share your testimony with people who dont have the gospel in there lifes, alot of people that we talk to reject us but just looking into their eyes i know they know what i said is true and i know that they are feeling something they havent felt before, some people just need to soften their hearts! but thats okay thats our job as missionaries! We havent had any baptisms yet but we have lots of people we are teaching! They are just lazy Latins haha they never come to church! haha But yesterday at church i had the opportunity to bless a baby! It was cool! A non-member family wanted their baby to be blessed so i did it!! We are going to start teaching them! Some people are just prepared! This week was training for all the leaders in the mission so elder dixon was gone from wed to sat so i had the opportunity to work with other elders in my zone, it was pretty fun to see how other elders work and study! I am reading a ton i have read the book of mormon once since i left and i am now on my second time im in alma 30! The book of mormon is an amazing book and it will literally answer every question that you could ever have! Its insane! I encourage you to strive to read it everyday! I know it will bless your life so much!! I have also been reading the Bible a ton too ! The bible is really cool too but i mainly just study it because all the people we teach believe in the bible so i try to know alot about it too!! Its crazy how the book of mormon and the bible are so intune with eachother!! The Book Of Mormon is true!! Everyone can know that too, thats whats cool about my calling as a missionary, we dont try to convince or force people to learn we just invite them to ask god! haha one thing i said to some one this week was i was telling them to ask god if Joseph smith really saw god and i said " ask god he was there" haha my comp thought that was funny!! But yeah my spanish is getting alot better i am learning more and more everyday!! Still no word on my visa yet!! who knows! BUt ill just work hard while im here!!


love elder stradling!!