Night Walking

 Our 3 am walk

with Elder Johnston

 Bad Haircut

 with Elder Decocq

 with Elder Timana

Hello friends and Family!!!!!!

I hope you all had a great week!! We had a very interesting week, and it FLEW by!!!

First off, things are going perfect for Sebastian to get baptized this weekend! He came to church again, and he is LITERALLY counting days till he gets baptized. We passed by to teach him on Tuesday, and his mom told us that she had received a note from his teacher, that he couldn’t bring his Book of Mormon to school anymore, because he was reading and teaching his friends during class. When the teacher asked him to put his book away, he responded, "I can’t, I’m getting baptized in 11 days and I have to get ready!!!" Oh we laughed so hard, but I love his enthusiasm to get baptized and to learn more!! We brought him a Book of Mormon picture book, and when we came to pick him and his brother up to go to church, he was sitting outside reading his book waiting for us. He is awesome!

This week, we had Multizone conferences!!! For us out here in Villamontes, it’s about 8 hours to get to the offices in bus. But there was something that happens sometimes here in Bolivia. You see, when something goes wrong with a company or if there is a government issue, the people block the major highways as a protest. So, as we were traveling at 3 in the morning, we had to get off the bus, walk an hour in the middle of the highway to get past the roadblock, and get on to a new bus at the otherside of the roadblock. We arrived to Santa Cruz, and went straight to the conference. The conference went really well, I got to see a couple of my friends in the mission before they finish up this transfer or the next. It was great to see Elder Johnston, Elder Dibb, and Elder Lozano again, and to watch Elder Cuaycal (one of the elders I lived with) give his final testimony. Great examples, I hope to be like them someday!!! It was a really good time going back to Santa Cruz for a couple days!

I have began studying the New Testament again, and there were a couple of scriptures that really called my attention.

Acts 22:15

and John 14:18, "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you."

I’ve come to love the scriptures here in the mission, especially in this area. Before the mission, I never really got into studying the scriptures, but here, I’ve found them to be the greatest source of comfort and peace. They testify of Christ and give us the words of life. They are the roadmap to happiness, the guide to salvation. If you every need answers in life, pray, and then, search the scriptures..

I love you all so much! Have a fantastic week!!

Elder Christian Duvall Newman

Dad, WOW!! Thats crazy that Jacob and Jordan are home! Tell them I say Hi!! Way to set an example and get out and minister helping out with that swamp cooler! sounds like a great dad and daughter bonding activity at the parade for you and Callie! Love you dad!!

Mom, OH DEAR CALLIE HAHAHA. "we aren’t the only white people here now". You may hear me say that when I get home, hahahahah. Thanks for taking care of Liv!! Love you tons mom!

Callie, How fun to go to the Strawberry days parade with dad!! Sounds like you had a blast at Lagoon going on the big kid rides!!!! Have fun at dance camp!! Love you sis!!

Sarah, wow!! sounds like you are catching attention of those coaches!!! How fun to go to Lagoon and see Jurassic World 2! Love you Bear!!

Emma, Sounds like you had one heck of a weekend!! Hip hop is going to be super dope now, because you are in charge of it!! Love you Sis!!


Mom’s Questions:
1. How was your mission conference? Did Pres give you a hard time about your bad hair cut?

It was good! President did give me a hard time about my haircut, first in private then in front of the everyone haha.

2. How are your investigators doing? Any committed to baptism? 

Yes we do. Sebastian this weekend, then Carla and Jimena for the 14th.

3. What miracles did you experience this week?

safe travels to conference, and Sebastian :)

4. Any changes with transfers this week? 

Nope! I will be staying here with Elder Tovar again:)

 Bad haircuts

 The thorn from Elder Newman's shoe

Hello friends and family!!!!

I hope you all had a great week!!! This was an interesting week here in the work of the Lord, with some really awesome moments. 

First, we are going to start with a funny story. So, I learned I need to use my boots here in Villamontes. I was using my normal dress shoes, when a thorn that was on the ground went through my shoe and stabbed my toe. I stopped, untied my shoe, and tried to take the thorn out of my shoe. It was so stuck in there, I couldn't get it out with my fingers... so.... I had to take the thorn out my shoe with my teeth... Now, I was down on one knee, and my companion had his camera out taking pictures of me taking the thorn out with my teeth, and when I finally got it out, I had the thorn in my fingers, and I was showing it to my companion, when a moped and a taxi passed by.... And it definitely looked like I was proposing to him.. Not my best moment, but definitely a funny one!

So, Gean received the priesthood, and we are now teaching his little brother!! We are preparing them both for baptism this June 30th, Sebastian to get baptized, and Gean to perform the baptism! 

This week, we were working with our investigator Jimena, and a recent convert Ana Carol to finish the Book of Mormon, and we passed by last night for Ana Carol to see if she finished, and we quizzed her a little about the things that happened in the Book of Mormon, and then, we asked her how she felt about the Book of Mormon, and she said, "I think that everyone should read this book, its changed my life." We were so happy to hear that she had finished, and I was thrilled to share my experience to finish the Book of Mormon again. 

This Friday, I finished the Book of Mormon again, and I know it to be true. No matter how often I finish, when I arrive to the last chapters, I feel the confirmation of the spirit that it is true. As I read, I felt the warm feeling in my heart, and peace in my mind. I know that this book is true. It answers my questions, brings peace to my soul, and gets me through the challenges of everyday. I testify with all the energy of my soul that its true.

Love you all!!! Have a great week!!

Con mucho amor, Elder Christian Duvall Newman

Mom, Lagoon day, strawberry days, parades, swim lessons... Sounds like summer in Pleasant Grove! Have a great week!!!! Love you mom!!

Dad, New shed!! Glad to hear that the girls were a huge help! Huge congrats to Ryan! I know he'll be a great missionary! Love you Dad!!

Emma, Pictures with the tourists, champs, sounds like my sister is turning into a celebrity!!! Love you Emma!!

Sarah, sounds like both of your teams are really fun!! So cool that you are going to work out some at the high school with Emmy Dodson!!! Love you Sarah!!

Callie, You lost a tooth???? Awesome!! I do have a favorite treat here in Bolivia! They are these little cookies called Rosquitas. Love you Callie!!

Mom’s Questions:

1. How big is your apartment? Are in a building or on the main floor? Any pictures of it yet to share?

There are some pics in my folder, its just a two room apartment, kitchen and room.

2. Do the members feed you much?

All the time:)

3. Who are your investigators right now?

Jimena, Familia Zuñiga, and Sebastian Tejerina

4. What goals have you and your companion set for this transfer?

Read the whole Book of Mormon in English together

5. What is the funniest thing that happened this week?

Definitely the thorn experience, Or my terrible haircut.

Book of Mormon, Weekend Clothing

Hello friends and family!!!

We had a super great week!!! We were blessed to see some big miracles, and we were able to help some of our investigators see some big time progress.

We had a super lesson with Jimena. She always reads and prays, and she even fasted this past week!!! She has always felt a little insecure about the idea of baptism, so one of the things we did to help her was that we brought one of the teaching records that we fill out in our area book to show her all the things that she needs to learn before she gets baptized. We asked her, "How much do you think that you have learned?" She responded to us, that she thought she had covered about a fourth of it. We then told her that we had taught her almost all of it. Then, we felt inspired to extend a different invitation than what we usually do. We invited her to read the Book of Mormon. But not just a part of it. Not just a verse or a chapter. We felt that she should read the whole thing, and she would receive her answers to the questions that she had. We told her that she would receive and answer, and that we would do it with her. She accepted the invitation, and we asked her how much time she thought she would need. She set the goal to finish is ten days!!! So In every moment of spare time that I have, I have been reading the Book of Mormon, and everytime I read, my testimony is strengthened that we are in the true church!!!

We had the blessing of holding the baptism for our investigator Gean this week. He was truly prepared for us, and a few days before the baptism, we taught him about living prophets, and showed him a video of President Nelson in a Mormon Message. We asked him how he felt to listen to his voice, and he just said, "more sure." He told us he knows that he is called of God. He passed his interview, and I was surprised to hear that he wanted me to baptize him! It was such a cool experience, it felt like it was just me and him in the font. And the next day as Elder Tovar confirmed him a member of the church, we felt the spirit so strong. Feeling super blessed right now!!

Love you all tons!! Have a fantastic week!!!

Con amor, Elder Christian Duvall Newman

Dad, Looks like a fantastic week!! Look at you slaying the ski course, I can’t wait to do that in a year here. Hope you are feeling better!! Love you Dad!!!!

Mom, Those pictures look awesome!!!! Thanks for sharing your scripture studies with me. So good to hear that Kegan is doing well, Have fun getting adjusted to summer schedules!! Love you mom!!

Callie!! Thats awesome that you had a dance recital. I’m excited to watch the videos. I’m glad that you got to go say bye to Liv before she leaves this Wednesday! Yay for lots of candy!! Love you Callie!!

Emma, Last drill camp!!! That’s so wild to think about!!! Glad that the prayer was answered and you found your friend’s Iphone. Enjoy your camp! Love you sis!!

Sarah, Glad you had a great week at Powell!! Love you tons, enjoy your soccer and basketball!!!


Mom’s Questions:

1. We heard about your baptism from Angel through FB this weekend. Was it Gean? He looks young in the pics. How old is he? 

Yeah, it was Gean! He just turned 18.

2. How are your investigators progressing? 

Really good, helped a couple others accept a baptismal date! These are going well!!

3. How is Romina? Were you able to talk to her about her concerns with what her family members said? 

Yes, but nothing much as of now, we are going to continue to help her.

4. What is the best/worst thing you ate this week? 

Well, I ate cow heart during exchanges, and it wasn’t half bad!

5. Are there any differences among the people in Villamontes vs. Santa Cruz? 

Not a lot of differences, a little in the accent, but not a ton.

We had an interesting week.

Well, Hello friends and family!!!

I hope you are all enjoying summer time, because here in Villamontes, it is SUPER cold right now!!! Ive broken out all that winter gear out of my suitcases that I thought I wasn't going to use till I got home, and I've been using it literally all the time now. Coat, sweater, and scarf, and still super cold! 

We have some investigators that are progressing really well!! Their names are Jimena and Gean. They both came to church this week, and Gean has his baptism this weekend!! Jimena has absolutely been loving the scriptures, reading all of the things we leave her, and just eating it up. Those two are super awesome, and I'm looking forward to seeing how they both progress!!

We had a tough moment this week with Romina, she was going to get baptized, she passed her interview and everything, and was all goo to go, but then, one of her family members talked bad about the church and getting baptized, and last second she decided to not get baptized.. Kind of tough, but we are going to keep visiting her and helping her to gain that desire back.

My cool thing from my study for the week!!

"The surrender of our will to God's will is, in fact, not surrender at all, but the beginning of a glorious victory" -Neil L. Anderson

I know that sometimes things happen that we dont entirely understand, but as we accept God's will in our life, we truly come out the victors!

Con mucho amor, Elder Christian Duvall Newman

Mom, Enjoy your week in Powell!!! Glad everyone had a good last week of school!! Love you!!

Dad, Glad you guys had a good sacrament meeting!! Sarah is quite the helper, glad to hear the boat is running smooth! Love you Dad!!

Emma, Enjoy summer break and your drill practices!! Sounds like you and the friends are having a great time right now!! Enjoy it! Love you Emma!!

Sarah, I know that your team is blessed to have you!! Continue to be a good teammate, and everything we be all good! Congrats on AAU tryouts!! Love you sis!!

Callie!! How exciting to have a new teacher!! You guys will have so much fun!! Love you Callie!!

Mom’s Questions:

1. What is your house like? Do you have any pictures of it to share with us?

I don't right now, but I'll take some pictures this week!

2. What is your ward like? Are they involved in the missionary work?

We have a couple people that help us out a lot!!

3. What type of fish have you been eating? Have you been able to go fishing yet?

We went out today! We caught a couple of catfish

4. How are your investigators doing? How many do you have right now?

Investigators are doing good!! We have about 20 investigators right now.