Intercambios y otras cosas.

 Elder Newman can still dunk!

 Beautiful Camiri

 One of the recent mudslides

Hello Friends and Family!!

We had a solid week! Busy week with district leader duties, such as baptismal interviews and companionship exchanges, but business is a good thing when you are in the work of the Lord!!

I had intercambios with Elder Miller this week! He is an excellent missionary. He is from Las Vegas, and has about 7 months in the mission. He speaks pretty good Spanish, and has a vast gospel knowledge, well, actually, vast knowledge in general (He got a 35 on his ACT)! He is a really reserved guy, doesn't usually talk much. My one goal going into the exchange was to establish a good trust with him, and help him to open up a little bit. We didn't have many appointments but we contacted pretty much all day, and that gave us lots of time to talk. He expressed to me a bit about his mission, and we were able to converse openly the whole day. I was able to give him some pointers during the day. We finished off the day and he began to tell me his funny scout camp stories. Total transformation in just one day!! It was a great success, and I really enjoyed working with him for the day.

Elder Pántano is progressing lots! This week, we worked on refining the teaching, and explaining everything clearly and simply. He has been improving lots, and recently has begun leading me around the area, taking me from appointment to appointment. He has also been answering most of the questions in the lessons as we had previously planned. Very soon, he will be directing everything. I feel very comfortable leaving the area in his hands as I go and do my district leader duties, and even though I would like to finish my mission here in Camiri, I feel very confident in leaving the area in Elder Pantano's hands.

I have been turned into the music director of our branch (well not officially, but I have been doing it for 3 weeks straight.) It's fun especially since I don't know how to direct hymns, or sing, or really anything that has to do with music outside of singing hymns at the top of my lungs in the shower. But I try my best. Its also fun because I have to try to keep a straight face as weird things happen during sacrament meetings.

I really feel grateful for the opportunity to be a missionary. I love this work and the opportunity to study and live the gospel like I never have before. I love the Lord, and I feel so grateful for the chance to be one of his chosen representatives.

Have a great week everyone! Love you all tons! Keep the Faith!!

Love, Elder Newman

Dad, traveling once again! Have a good time in Nashville! Love you so much Dad, I would love to have a copy of your talk. Time to sprint to the finish. Fist forward, Love you.

Mom, what a fun and busy week with Sarah's games and the temple and all sorts of fun activity! I bet its fun to have Jackson home again! What an inspiring Sunday with Ward conference. Love you Mom!!

Jackson, wow, I know how you feel with fast weeks! I feel like every week passes by so fast. Way to work tons and go to the temple! Enjoy the date! Love you Jackson!!

Emma, Nicely done in your last dance co performance. and on getting that back to back spirit bowl champ! Nice job in the Alpine District photography contest! Proud of ya! Love you sis!

Sarah, nice job in all of your games!!! Keep playing hard! I'm super proud of you! I can't wait to watch you play when I get home! Love you bear!

Callie, good week! That's super cool that you got to meet President Porter. I would like to meet him too, he sounds like a great man! Have a great week! Love you Callie!!!

Mom’s Questions:

1. What have been the results of all your contacting you talked about in your last letter? Any new people to talk about? 

A couple. We have a new family that accepted a baptismal date! The Familia Monasterio, and a teenager who also accepted a date, Paola Soliz

2. Whose kitten was in your pocket in the pictures on your google drive? Callie about died when she saw it. 

That was a member's kitten, hahaha.

3. Do you study Come Follow Me as missionaries? And if so, what insights do you have this week from it? 

I really liked the part where it talks about Mary and Martha. Martha was busy serving the Lord, but the most important thing we can do is listen to him.

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

Picante de Pollo, oh it was super super good!!

5. Was there a mudslide in one of your pictures? 

Yes there was, there has actually been several here in Camiri lately.