An Email to Mom.

We have heard from Joe once again. :) He is working so hard and still trying to figure out how to manage his time writing emails and letters. Here are his updates that I brought together from the different emails he sent out. Mainly this is the email to my mom with added details that he sent in another email :)

"Hola Mama! I miss you and the family so much! everything is going good here. ive had some hard days though because ive been home sick and a couple days ago me and my companion had our first really bad lesson with an investigator and i got really upset with myself because i wasnt remembering how to explain the lesson in spanish like i normally and i kept messing up. i started to feel really useless and i was being really hard on myself because all the other companionships in my class had a really good lesson that day.. but the next day me and my companion killed it in our lesson with the same investigator and he said he would be baptized on the 18th of may and we made him cry because the spirit was so strong! that made me feel a lot better.

[Very great feeling to have a lesson go like that. That just shows you that its really the spirit that teaches lessons and not the missionaries. its very true. theres a quote that they say "teach people, not lessons" it means teach by the spirit and get to know them and teach them what the spirit tells you they need to hear even if it has nothing to do with your lesson that you planned because thats what they need to hear to come closer to God because ive learned that that is our main purpose as missionaries, just to bring people closer to God. whether that is by baptism or just by getting someone to pray. that is our purpose. everyone is unique and has there own things they need to hear to be converted to the gospel and to come closer to God. we spend alot of time getting to know our investigators so we can pray to know how we can apple our teachings to there needs in there life]

The mtc can be fun but i find myself getting homesick alot, thinking about what you guys are doing and sometimes i feel like im missing out but i just have to remember that its not me who is missing out its YOU guys ;) haha the mtc food is disgusting.. the cereal is seriously the best part.. haha and i feel like we are just like always eating even when we arent hungry.. because we are just sitting throughout the whiole day in class studying.. The MTC is really great though. The spirit really is always a constant companion here and it helps alot when im missing home and thinking selfishly.

Yo te amo Mucho Mama!

Love, Your son"

Although this email was written to my mom, he doesn't mind it being shared for others to read and get updates. Like I said, he is still trying to figure out how to write to everyone and manage his time well. More details to come soon!! Thanks so much for visiting this blog and reading Joe's updates! He truly appreciates your support :)