Milagros de Domingo

 Celebrating Elder Lozano completing 18 months in the mission. 

 Intercambios with Elder Johnston

 Pique Macho, Tastes alot better than it looks

Hi Friends and Family!!!

So we had a super good week this week!! First off, a little update on that golden family that we found two weeks back. So they are the family Retamoso. The mom and son moved back to Villamontes because right now they are having some pretty big financial problems, and the Dad (His name is Renan) is staying here in Santa Cruz trying to save his business. He is a chef, and he is selling just enough food to stay in business, but not enough to pay his debts or really progress. He expressed all of this to us when we visited him on Thursday, and Elder Lozano testified that if he offered a prayer before he opened up to sell, that God would help him in his business. I felt a strong impression that we should kneel and offer a prayer right then, so we invited Renan to kneel down with us, and offer a prayer to bless his family and his business. He did so, and told us that he felt really good afterwards. He said, "Tomorrow is going to be a good day, thank you hermanos." We passed by again on Saturday for our cita, and he told us that the next day after we prayed, he had prayed again, and that it was the best day he had in a super long time. He came with us to church again yesterday, so all we need is for his family to move back, and he wants to get baptized (he doesn’t want to do it without his wife and son). Prayer is so real, answers come when we get down on our knees and pray!!!

On top of that, we found two really good investigators this past week!! The first is Herman Jimenez! He is a super golden investigator, and a referral from our mission president! He lives in the other area in our ward, but the thing is, he lives alone, so its super hard for the hermanas to visit him, so President gave us permission to visit him and teach him! He came to church yesterday, and he is super super awesome!! Looking forward to our cita this Saturday, he is super awesome! The other, her name is Elizabeth Santiago. She has a daughter that moved to Utah, and listened to the missionaries, and it changed her daughter's life. She got baptized and has completely changed. Now, Hermana Elizabeth finally accepted to listen to the missionaries, and we were able to explain to her what the Book of Mormon was, and invited her to baptism, and she accepted! This Wednesday, we are going to teach her more, and work on getting a date set!

So sometimes here in the offices, I feel like a baby in the mission. You see, this week, the next youngest Elder in the offices (Elder Lozano, my comp) completed 18 months in the mission. I haven’t even hit 8 months yet, so I feel pretty inexperienced sometimes. But its super awesome, because I am constantly learning! We had intercambios this week with the AP´s, and I got to go to Elder Johnston's area! It was super fun, and I learned a ton from him, he is a stud!!

We saw some big time miracles this week, here’s to a great week, and hoping for some more this coming week! Love you all tons, have a fantastic week, remember to get ready for Conference in a few short weeks!!

Con amor, Elder Christian Duvall Newman

Mom, Hope you had a great week! Sounds like an eventful week, so crazy that Ty is married!!! That’s so crazy, tell him congrats from me!! Callie as an escort again, sounds like she has become the official Mr. Viking escort!! Have a great week Mom! Love you!

Dad, Maroon suit, that is definitely a Ty move, and you are right, definitely super cool. I need a picture of that!! Don’t worry Dad, we´re keeping the hammer down here in the offices, it’s going to be a crazy couple weeks here with zone conferences this week, preparing for cambios the next week, and then, cambios. Holy cow this past transfer has flown by!! Love you Dad!!

Emma!!! Woohoo!! Going to Cali this week!! Have a great week, and remember to relax a little bit. Sounds like a good competition for Mr. Viking!! Doesn’t surprise me one bit that Will won Mr. Viking, he is a funny dude!! Have a great week! Love you Em!

Sarah! It’s never fun to hurt your ankle! Hope that it is feeling better, and good news that those growth plates are still open!! Maybe you will pass up Jackson Glad you had a good time with pedicures with Grandma and Mom! Love you Sarah!!

Callie! WOOHOO Disneyland!! Have a great trip!! Mom told me all about you escorting almost all of the boys, and sent me a bunch of pictures!! Love you Callie!!

Mom’s Questions:

1. What is the update on the Familia Retamoso? Did the dad end up moving back? 
Dad moved back! Still waiting for the rest of the family, but great progress for them!!


2. How is Jose Luis coming along?
No cita this week, he was super busy, and no church either. Not really progressing right now.

3. Are you still singing “What does the fox say?”
Thankfully no

4. What is the best thing you ate this week?
Pique Macho!!

5. What was your favorite scripture this week?
I’ve been reading in the New Testament lately, and I love the last chapter of John. It reminds me of the talk by Elder Holland you sent me.