Happy 4th!!

Hello Friends and Family!!

I hope you all had a great 4th of July! Seeing all of the pictures of the giant American flag back in PG made me so happy! To quote my brother in a video he sent me, "I love the mission, I love Uruguay (insert Bolivia for me), but there is no place like home, there is no place like the United States." My companion is from El Salvador, so I couldn’t go all out like I would have liked to, but I did search the scriptures for some good old America prophecies, and I’ll go ahead and attach one of those pictures. One thing I did do was call our two American zone leaders that are here in Villamontes as well, and I sang the Star Spangled Banner at the top of my lungs. God bless America!!!

We found another great investigator this week! Her name is Alejandra Marín. She is the wife of a less active returning to activity, and she has seen lots of miracles leading up to this point. They have been trying to have a child for a long time, but haven’t been able to due to some health issues she has dealt with. She and her husband decided to return to the church, and received news from the doctors two days later that all was well, and she would be able to have a child! She and her husband promised that they were going to be coming every week, and they have kept good on that promise! We were able to teach her about the Plan of Salvation, and she accepted a baptismal date for this 28th! She is super awesome, when we asked her if she had any questions about anything, the only thing she asked us was, "Do I need to buy the white clothes or do you guys have them there?" There are few things in missionary work that are better than when an investigator asks about baptismal clothing during the first lesson, haha.

Elder Tovar recently started one of his new goals, read the whole Book of Mormon in English, and I’m doing it with him. I love seeing his eagerness to read, and how he just wants to understand it all. He asks me like a hundred questions everytime he reads about the words that he doesn’t understand, but he is understanding more and more! I admire his courage for trying this new challenge even though it’s difficult sometimes for him!!

Have a great week friends and family!!!! Love you all tons!!!

Con Amor, Elder Christian Duvall Newman

Mom, Looks like you and Emma had a great time hiking to Indian Springs!!! So cool you got to listen to Coleman and Dylan! Can’t believe those guys are home, but I can imagine that they killed it in their talks. Love you Mom!!

Dad, Thank you for the Flag pics!! Wow its gigantic!! This week I’ve tried my best to thank Heavenly Father for the freedoms we enjoy, and for all of the sacrifices that our brave soldiers make to protect this great nation. I feel very proud to be American. Love you Dad!!

Emma, Sounds like a great week, full of hikes, parties, and Antman and the Wasp! Hope you enjoyed your week! Keep having a great summer break!! Love you Emma!!

Sarah, Seems like you are working really hard with both your soccer team and your basketball team! That sounds like Coleman to use the traditional dress of his mission in his homecoming! Maybe I’ll do the same. Love you Sarah!!

Callie, That’s so fun that you guys got to go to Grandmas to celebrate 4th of July!! I hope you had tons of fun :) Love you Callie!!

Mom’s Questions:
1. How is Carla progressing? 

She is progressing great! She came to church again, and is learning really fast. She is on pace for her baptismal date this coming week :)

2. You said you don’t have a lot of melchizedek priesthood in your branch. How many men are there that are worthy melchizedek priesthood bearers and what is the branch doing to strengthen the other men? 

We are still working on getting the Ministering program underway here. The leadership of the branch just recently had a training, so I think it will be getting going soon

3. What ways did you feel the hand of the Lord in your life this week? 

Each time I teach about the Atonement, I realize how much the Savior has done for us. I feel very grateful for all he has done for each one of us.

4. What happened this week that made you laugh? 

We went exploring by the river today, and we entered into a cave to explore. Little did we know it was full of bats.. Funny moment for sure!!