12-22-08 Letter

12-22-08
Hey fam!!!!!!!!!!!!!Hehe how is everyone doing? Its been a crazy long preparing week and the emails were many and great! Dad I’ve gained about 18 pounds in total. I’m still a little light but I feel great and find stuff to eat. I’m trying to be careful with money but its hard thanks so much for all the support.Well this week has been good we’ve been working so hard to bring to pass 3 baptisms this month and we had two marriages planed for yesterday but one fell through. Susy just wont commit and the RM boy friend is killing us. They were so good but we keep finding hidden secrets and sin and they don’t want to repent. It’s pretty sad all they have to do is marry. I was so bummed, but we had wonderful marriage of the other couple. It was awesome. I was a little stressed because I’ve never been to chosique but I found it and we had them married. I took lots of fun pictures and will sent them later but we are hoping to baptize them this week the 28!!!!!!!I’m praying so hard. We have worked so so so hard and work is kind of slow. Rafael is doing good too. I challenged all three yesterday, and they all seemed pretty excited about it. I am going to call or pass by everyday this week I’ll tell you on the call if they are going to get baptized cause baptism interviews for them are Christmas Eve yeah!!!!!Its been busy week and we found 3 more couple for January its hard cause we have to get them all married first. No one is married so it makes it hard but I want families and we will go forward with faith. I know if we are obedient and have faith and go for it there will be baptisms. I really like the East Stake baptism statistics. Wow- 30 baptisms this year!. If Blackburns and I get these three it will be 30 31 32 for me in my first year in mission. It’s been a long haul, but we have done a lot of good down here. I saw some of the Bayovar people at wedding and they told me about some of the investigators. One is going on mission J remember Eddy with the earring? And his mom the miracle? They are doing great! It’s rewarding some days when you hear things. Also Jauja is doing good. Carolina and her family have wrote me 3 times now. I sent them hymnbooks. Huanuco to is still holding in strong. I’m so so so excited for the call!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I will make a list and will be excited to talk on Christmas. The plans sound great! I will be so happy!Love your son and brother working and sweating in Peru!So your going to dinner with Blackburn’s weird! My buds were laughing when I read mom’s email about being a bit more circumspect. That day was fun and I really am trying to be good companion. We are working hard.
I can’t believe you get white Christmas woof!Love Jon--- Elder Rogers