Casa Abierta, Falling out

Hello Friends and Family!!!

I hope you all had a fantastic week!! This week we had an activity where we did an open house for one of the chapels in our stake, so a lot of our week was getting things ready and planning and stuff like that. On Saturday we arrived at four in the afternoon to the final preparations, and we were there the whole day welcoming in the visitors, sending referrals, and greeting members. It was super fun, but I miss chapels with AC. It was super super hot in the chapel, and we were in suits, so that made it even hotter.  All in all it was a great activity, and it was great for the members to get to know the missionaries, and to help the investigators get to know the church a little bit better!

So we found a new investigator last week, and it was kind of a weird way we found him. One of our investigators (who is very outgoing and direct) pulled over one of the guys working in her shop, sat him down in front of us, and basically told us that he needed Jesus and we should talk to him. We offered a prayer to invite the spirit, and right when the amen was said, she just went off and started roasting him about his drinking problem and just basically told him he only drinks because he feels far from God. After she finished her 15 minute roast of this poor man, we taught him about the Atonement, and told him that God loved him, and was waiting for him to turn to Him. He began to cry, and we asked him to offer the prayer, and he prayed for like 10 minutes, just pouring his heart out to God. We visited him again this past week, and he even came to church with us this past week! He really liked it! I know that God prepared him for us!

Ok so funny story of the week. So this past Saturday, when we came to the office to eat our lunch, and one of the workers here let us know that we had new chairs here in the offices! We sat down in our new comfy chairs and right when I was about to start eating my lunch, an angry landlord called me and I got chewed out for like an hour for how his house was left by the missionaries. As the call was finishing up, the chair just FETCHING SNAPPED IN  HALF AND I FELL FLAT ON MY BACK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CALL. Luckily, like a champ, I finished the call before doing anything else. I got back up, and called the worker to let him know that the chair wasn’t exactly what we were hoping for. But yeah, one of those moments you just have to laugh at yourself a little bit, haha.

Ok, here’s to another great week in the work of the Lord, and for many more ahead! Love you all tons!!

Con amor, Elder Christian Duvall Newman

Dad, Woohoo!!! Sounds like an awesome week! Jazz won a playoff series, and trees came down at the Newman house!! Have a great week Dad, Love you!!

Mom, So awesome to hear about our ward boys getting their mission calls!! Huge congrats to Braxton and Chandler, and ‘m looking forward to hearing about Adam’s call soon here!! Love you tons, Mom!!!

Sarah, Nice job in your games, and super glad that you enjoyed the new movie! We will definitely have a marvel marathon when I get back!!! Way to be a good helper with all the jobs this week!! Love you Bear!!

Callie, How fun to go see the play Annie! We will definitely have to watch it together when I’m home. How fun to go and get pizza with mom! Sounds super delicious! Nice job on Cookie Sunday too!! Love you tons Callie!!

Emma, Sounds like a crazy week! Drill yearbooks, another Newman Spirit Bowl victory (3 years straight baby), a run in with the cops, and Infinity War? Wow, sounds like a full week!! Te amo hermanita!!


Mom’s Questions:

1. What is the funniest experience you had this week? 

Definitely falling out of my chair.

2. Are there any people in your ward that you are really connecting with? 

Our Elder's quorum president, Pedro Gutierrez. he is also our gospel principles teacher. He also works as like our mission taxi driver. He is super awesome!

3. How long have the other office elders been in the office? Will they finish their missions there? 

Ok, so Elder Cuaycal only has one transfer left in his mission after this one, so it is very possible he will be staying here to finish out. Elder Johnston only has two transfers left after this one, so he would stay with Elder Cuaycal for one more, train the new AP, and then finish his mission. Elder Lozano will probably stay for one more transfer also, the secretaries usually stay for 3 transfers together.

4. What is something interesting you have learned about your mission president since working in the office? 

He loves his dessert food. He rarely eats a meal without some sort of dessert.