FOR ISRAEL, HURRAH!

Hooray! Hooray! Hooray-'ooray-'ooray-'ooray-'ooray!

I just love Baptisms! Ooops, I've gotten ahead of myself and ruined the ending... Oh well, surprise or not This week was GREAT!

So, Monday we had to go to the mission office and pay our fine from the towing incident. Oy... Ah well, I didn't want that money anyways (SOUR GRAPES!) But in the evening we met with Joseph Leocadio And had a wonderful lesson. It was two hours long. Oy! Long time I know. But he has so many good questions and side stories. The funniest part was that we didn't have all that much to cover, just the ten commandments and the importance of prophets, and yet it was two hours long. Whatever; it was worth it!

Tuesday was an interesting day. We met with The Espinozas. Wonderful people. Sister Espinoza is a member of the church and Brother Espinoza has been attending for 36 years but... isn't a member... yeah I'm confused too. And what makes it harder to understand is that he speaks only Spanish. SO! I could barley understand anything besides "Comme mas tortillas." Good food.

Wed we met with Joseph and he was able to meet with Bishop Rodgers and it was a great meeting. I love bishop Rodgers. He's soo cool. He's got the good laid back Polly attitude. Anywho.

Thurs. Joseph Met with Elder Soffe and passed the Baptismal interview - which really isn't like an interview-interview-interview. It's pretty cool. Like, "Do you believe that God is our loving heavenly father? Do you believe that the church has been restored? What does that mean to you?" So We weren't worried about Joseph passing. so we worked out some of the stuff for the service and yeah...

Friday, Joseph gave us this funky Filipino drink called Halo-halo. It's more like a meal than a drink. It's got like... rice and beans and fruit and ice and milk and this weird purple stuff.

Saturday JOESPH GOT BAPTIZED! Wooot! And his brother and sister came and his wife and kids and his father in law and a bunch of people from the ward and it was soo great! the spirit was so strong and it was so great to see him make this first step and to set the example for his family. MAN i love the gospel!

Sunday He got confirmed a member of the church and received the gift of the Holy Ghost. It was wonderful. So peaceful. and at the end of sacrament meeting he was like, "You know that feeling of being a part of the 'ward family' and being accepted and unity that you mentioned- you could have at least told me that it was literal!" Ha ha. So great!

Anyways enough about that GREAT news.

Thank you all for you emails and letters and love and stuff.

Things are going great. We are starting a new transfer (six week span) and I am still in this great area! But our teaching pool just went down so, we are going to do a lot of finding people to teach. after all nothing can be accomplished in missionary work until we find someone to teach.

SO! I love you all! and I miss you. and I love you. In that order ;)

Catch you next time!

-Elder Barker