Baptism of Brisa

BUENOS DIAS FAMILIA Y AMIGOS!!!

My companion is from Bolivia!

Elder Garnica is the best. He has a million stories to tell me all the time. It's just great.

I can't believe dad is 48... I don't remember when he turned 40. 2 more years dad! 2 Years will go by really fast believe me.

We had the baptizm of Brisa on Saturday. She actually did it finally!!!! The first two times she was too scared of the water. Jhonny Guzman and Jaquin got the preisthood yesterday! We went on splits too. It was an incredible experience to be able to go out teaching with my convert on his first day as priest. He had a ton of questions about everything. About the church, about the mission, about girls. I helped him out with the first two and explained to him the secret of the third. Luckily I've learned more on my mission about that topic than any other time in my life.

So we have several baptism dates we're working with and many families that we're visiting. My goal this change is just to really focus on finding families. Today we're going to hike a huge hill with the whole Zone to burn our sins that we write on paper and put into our Olympic torch to get the whole zone pumped up for the new transfer. Haha, the new missionaries are really awesome here. Almost the whole zone changed. Of course the Earls are still here with me but everyone else is new. I have an elder in my Zone named Elder Curtis Harding. Finally I have a gringo to hang out with on pdays. He has 5 months in the mission.

That was awesome to see Logan. He doesn't look too different. I'm just jealous Nana got to hang out with him and Jacob!!!

I have to go.

I love yous!!!

The Gospel is True.

Elder Layton

Everyday I'm Learning How to Be a Better Child of God

HEYYYY,

How's everyone? This week has been great. We're being very blessed. You remember the Earls right? The gringo couple from Utah in my zone. They're still working on the Spanish. Not completely fluent yet.... but on Wednesday I went out with them all day to help out. I taught them how to do the numbers and everything because it' not like they have a senior companion to teach them everything. We worked on the grammar a bit and taught several families.

They also came with us to an appointment yesterday that was a reference they gave us, and....it's an absolutely great family. They're the Galazar family....and it's a big family. Honestly I felt the spirit incredibly strong during the lesson. We taught the restauration with the help of the Earls. They taught the first principles and everything. What I like about this family is that they were paying a lot of attention. We left a Book of Mormon and everything and invited them to read and pray so we'll see what happen in our return visit.

Peru is getting to feel more like home... I really can't imagine the states anymore. That's weird.

Haha, I can't believe you found my passport! I looked for a week for that thing! About rooming, I can't find the info to Elder Stewart and Cope.....they were in my mission but they went back to their real mission in Bolivia. I'm not sure if they're done or about to get done but they definitely have more time than I do. So....if you can't get a hold of them, the most important is just get a room with Nate. Something cool south of campus is what I'm thinking. My companion will call in a couple of weeks. He's ending his mission the 24th of Feb. What else...

Tell Eileen I say hi. (My voice teacher.) I would do lessons again if I have a little time before school. I'm planning on getting relatively involved there at BYU. I have no clue what yet, but you'll see. Tell Logan I say hi when he comes home. I miss you all very much. Today we're going to go throw water balloons, play soccer, and have a BBQ. Very cool.

I'll just add that I really know the Church of Jesus Christ is true. Everyday I'm learning how to be a better child of God, and through constant prayer and scripture study we can do it better. It's so important to be constant. Like Elder Bednar talked about in one of his conference talks. If you were to ask his kids how were the scripture studies they wouldn't tell you it was exactly spectacular. They fought at times and didn't always learn a ton, but what they would tell you is that they were constant. They never missed a day of family prayer, or a night of scripture study. For that they've been blessed. They did what was necessary to overcome the temptation the rise up every day in our lives.

Have a good day!!!!

Elder Layton