:)

Hey family!!

This week has been really awesome. Most of our appointments were kept and we have had lots of members to come teach and knock doors with us. I ADORE the members in our branch!! it is so fun to take 18-20 year olds out with us. Some of them are preparing to go on missions and others college so we can really relate with them.

It is going to be hard when the day comes for me to leave this area. It makes me miss hope and jill, because they are about the same age of our adopted jr companions. This week has gone by faster than expected. i really can't believe it's p-day already. OH! Before I forget, next week we are traveling to Abeline for a two day zone conference so p-day will be on Friday instead. Just a heads up.

I have been meaning to tell you about our friend Betty, a woman Sister T and I met a week or two after we moved here.

During one of our first p-days, we found ourselves in a cute antique store. This isn't your average damaged-furniture-old-smelly-stuff antique store.

"Antiques And" (odd name, i know), is nestled between thrift stores and abandoned buildings in the center of historic San Angelo. Inside, wall to wall shelves are chromatically adorned with trinkets of the past and paper thin china garnished with artwork outlived by their illustrators. Though it looks like a humble shop from the street, further investigation proves otherwise. Though moderate in width, this store runs deep and has high celines. Like a foundry building full of displayed treasures disguised as nothing but a walkin shop.

We could have perused for hours, but we were distracted by an abrupt greeting from the owner. Betty refers to herself as "THE Betty Brown".

She is in her late 70's and has more stories and experiences than probably her whole antique collection combined. Mrs. Brown pointed to our black tags and said "You! I need to talk to you two!" I honesty thought it would lead to a doctrinal conversation. We sat down with her and she told us about a Mormon man she had known 40 years ago in San Angelo who she wanted to contact. "You Mormons are better networked than anyone. Can you find him for me? He changed my life and I need to thank him." All she had to assist us in our search was his full name and the last year he lived here. We took the info and started on our search. While we were brainstorming how we would start such an investigating, I recalled someone who we had visited not 3 days prior who claimed to have lived here since she was baptized back in the 1960's. We called her, and to our astonishment found out that her family is close to that of this man and that she has just got off the phone with exactly who Betty has been searching for. We were able to gather contact information and bring it back to Betty the following p-day.

Over the last 2 months, we have become good friend. Though we have referred her over to the elders that are over the area in which she lives, the sisters and I try to visit her weekly. Just yesterday we helped her clean her shop and do tasks that are physically difficult for her. She is so sweet. Betty gives us water whenever we pop in for a quick Hello and introduces us to all of her customers as her "Nice Mormon friends." :) We have been able to share the gospel with her during our short visits and helping her with whatever she needs. She reminds me of Jean. Full of life and stories. Sometimes her husband will come in the shop and honk the horn on his walker so we will go talk to him. It's easier to be away from home when you begin to really love the people you work with.

The Warren Jeffs court case has been a big deal here.

I guess he has been saying things that really ruffle the feathers of local religious folk. We have had difficulty teaching people about a modern day prophet because Jeffs is the first reference they think about. Satan is really working to destroy the work by confusing the doctrine.

We have to clear up misconceptions about Mormons ("we aren't THOSE Mormons, there are different kinds. We are not affiliated.... polygamy?? No! No we don't...") I don't mind teaching and explaining it. It is just really frustrating when they aren't willing to hear the truth because of what they have heard. Its really sad. But I have strengthened my own testimony in even the harshest conversations just from testifying. We just hope that the spirit penetrate the hearts of those we share it with. Satan sucks. No joke. Sometimes missionary work really feels like a battle.

As initial for little sister Wilson, I called an Indian wrestle match last night after planning.

It was AWESOME! There was even war paint involved. I will email a picture or two. :) Sister Wilson is awesome.

She has a set of lungs! Sometimes when she sings in the shower, i try to harmonize from the other room where no one can hear.

We like to have her sing after some of our lessons. So talented.

Outta time. I love the work!! Thank you for your prayers. What do you want to hear about? Questions i should answer in my next email?

loooveeee you all

sister orr