Really Week 5?

Querida Familia,

Hello beautiful people. I can't believe another week has gone by and that we're already in week 5 of this transfer. Sister Beale and I have a guaranteed additional transfer together, so I know I'll be in blessed Manteca for at least another two months.

This week in district meeting we had "Faith Factor," which the zone leaders made to mimic Fear Factor. Last week they had us write our fears on a piece of paper and submit them and the following week they made this Faith Factor, where we had to strive to overcome our fears from the mission. They set it up where some missionaries had to put their hand into this box with a tarantula and teach an 'investigator'--a member from the English ward--a message about the Restoration or the Plan of Salvation. The tarantula was actually blocked off from their hand, but we didn't know that. Others had to call random people in the phone book and have a conversation with them (on speakerphone) about the church or beliefs or baptism--anything. One of the English sisters reached a Hispanic woman and she did her best to tell her the name of the Church in Spanish. I was so proud. Another group of missionaries had to "contact" people (in the meantime, the zone leaders took goldfish out of water so the missionaries were racing against the clock) and if they found the person matched to them who was interested in hearing their message, they could rescue the goldfish and put them back in the water. So there were a lot of activities like that--mine was I had to touch a mouse trap and pull my hand away really quickly. The mouse trap was supposed to represent a doorbell. What I didn't know is that they didn't actually set the trap, but they got me on camera saying, "Really? Would Y'ALL touch that trap??"

We met and taught a beautiful woman this morning named E. She came to church last week with a co-worker--he was recently baptized in the English ward, but she speaks Spanish so we'll take it! We went into her apartment and she immediately started to tell us that she had questions about the Book of Mormon (the elders gave it to her last week at church when we were in Sacramento for Gladys Knight). She then went on to say that she was raised Catholic and had attended a Christian church and was still looking for something and had a very open heart to the things that we were going to teach. She is so prepared and was saying all the right things--wow. I'm really excited to teach her. I love it when we find people who are just so genuine, open and prepared to listen to our message. I know it's something new--learning about the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith and everything, but we have the promise from the scriptures that if we have a sincere heart, real intent to learn and to act, and have faith in Jesus Christ, we will know for ourselves through the power of the Holy Ghost the truth of all things.

Last night we went on a ward missionary exchange from a companionship of English elders who serve in Tracy. I went with a couple in the ward to visit a family (the wife is active and the husband is less active). They volunteer for a search and rescue team where they use dogs as part of the search process. The wife is a nurse. Our focus was to go and invite them to think of people they could share the gospel with. I read Mosiah 28:3 where it talks about the sons of Mosiah not being able to stand seeing people around them perishing (without the word of God). I related that to their desire to help people physically--that they could do something even greater and bless people spiritually by being member missionaries. I really appreciated after the lesson when the couple told me in the car that I was on my mission for the right reason. I'm trying my best and love following the Spirit and being able to teach people according to what Heavenly Father would have them know. I am grateful for this gospel and for this short time I have to share it.

I love all of you. Thank you for your examples to me.

kates