Sept.20,2010

Dear Mom,
Good to hear that all is going well back home and that you are all keeping busy. First off a few weeks ago dad told me that Bentley has been attacking shoes and i would just like to kindly request that you keep my closet closed where the shoes are unreachable haha.
This week went really well. We´ve been kind of struggling in getting people to church lately but we´re working toward success so please keep your prayers with these people that they will be humble and make the right decisions
It was kind a rough week with not seeing the investegators progressig like i would like and also getting into the flow agian after translating all last week but it is incredible how much i have felt the lords love this week. Even with all my many imperfections he still pours his love down upon me. Sometimes I feel a little unworthy of all the Love i feel from him because of how often i am selfish and forget about him. He never forgets me though and is always there to comfort me.
One of ways I most felt his love this week was in a talk that i found in the house of Elder Lawrence Corbridge of the 70. I have been praying really hard lately for strength to have a change of heart and be a better missionary and when i felt really weak i found this talk and it helped me incredibly. It talked alot about what kind of missionary we can be and what we need to do to be the best missionary possible. It talked about the best missionary isnt one how is just obedient and does what is right but that gives his heart and mind to the lord. He said the best missionary is the one that sacrifices his will for the will of the Lord. I have a very very long way to go and am fighting every day but i am progressing and working on sacrificing my will for the Lords so that he can mold me into what is the best me.
I was also asked to give a talk this week in sacrement and talked about Charity, Service and Sacrifice. It was one of the better talks i think i´ve given. I talked about the Charity being the Pure love of Christ. It being Christs love we have to get it from christ and give it as he would give it. I talked about serving others so that their hearts will be opened to accept the spirit. I shared that we need to do what Jesus would do. Jesus always did the will of the Father.
I had been praying that it would atleast touch the heart of one other person and after sacrement meeting a lady came up to me and thanked me for my talk b.c it helped answer her prayers. I am so greatful to be an instrument in the hands of the lord.
I wanted to challenge the family to do something this week. I was reading a talk today and it talked about how the fire of our testimony grows when we share it. I want to challange you all to share your testimony everyday this week and then tell me about how it went. It can be with the family, another member or a non member but this is my challange to you all. Also mom and dad i want to invite you to read a talk by Pres. Eyring called ¨Hearts Bound Together¨ from 2005. It talks about the same thing i invited you to do before in writing down family stories. ( i hope the book is going well by the way) Remember its what i asked for for my Birthday ;)
I love you all and pray that you always have the strength to stand up for what is right. I know the Lord love you and is watching over you and that brings me great comfort. He is also watching over me as a perfect Father watches over his son who is about doing His work.
Love,
Elder Vincent

Sept.13,2010

Dear Mom and family,
Im glad as usually to hear that you all are doing well. I know that there have been some struggles with football but sometimes you learn and grow even more from losing then winning. The tough part is putting what you learn in practice and never doubting.
Things are really good here. My new companions name is Elder Tua´one. He is from San Bernadino California and is a really cool guy. His parents and from tonga and he goes to a Tongan ward back home.
We havent had much time to work in are area lately b.c of the translating we did but thats ok b.c it went really really well. We translated for doctors of the navy and air force and we were able to contact and invite alot of people to church that went through there. We were also able to teach alot of the military and volunteers there and give them a great example of the church. I really wish that we had had pamphlets and books of mormon in english that we could have given them but we were still able to have quite a few gospel discussions with them which was awesome. We translated in a place called puerto Barrios and the attendace at church this week was really high there and i really believe it was because of what we did with translating. It was also so cool to meet alot of volunteers and military that were members of the church. There were quite a few people from Utah there.
Dad had a question to know if the medical terms were hard and yeah there was some stuff that was pretty hard to translate and there was alot of stuff that i had to say that i never thought i would say in spanish but its all good, it helped my spanish alot and i really really enjoyed it. Now we just need to get back to work in my area.
Im really excited about the changes that we had in the zone. There are alot of elders that ive worked withe before that have moved into the zone including 2 of my old comps (Brunsvick and Nadeau). There are also alot of new elders in the zone which i believe will bless us alot. This zone has alot of potential we just have to put in the work and be worthy of the blessings.
I hope you have alot of fun for Erics Birthday. I am praying for you all all of the time. I know that this is the greatest work that i can be doing right now and pray always for the strength to do what is right and follow the spirit.
Love,
Elder Vincent

Sept 7,2010

Dear Mom and Family,
Whats up?!! How are things back in Utah. Things are pretty awesome here in Gualan (hot like always but loving it). This week was incredibly busy. We had an awesome turn out at church 70. The branch presidents son leaves on his mission thursday so may that helped alot but it was really cool to see the church so full.
Saturday we moved into a new house and it is awesome. I really dont like moving and packing and stuff but this non member friend helped us with his truck and we were able to move really fast. Truthfully our new house is probably the nicest house in the mission. It has a big bathroom, a big kitchen and a big room where we sleep with its own closet and Air Conditioning. We dont really use the air conditioning though b.c electricity is expensive here. I´ll try and send you some pictures nxt week.
Sunday night we got a call from the asistants telling us that this week that the area presidency asked us and the other district in the zone to go to Puerto Barrios and translate for a medical mission that is going to be there. So yesterday we went as well as the rest of the week we will be there working with them. Except today(because its 2 hours away and my comp has to pack) and wednesday because of changes. So i will be doing alot of traveling this week and will get very little time to work in my own area but its all good i can share the gospel wherever i go.
Yesterday when we went it was really awesome. It is something the the US air force and the Navy are doing as a joint mission on a huge medical boat. They are traveling all over the world to various destinations to provide these medical services. I really really respect the armed forces and what they do. It was really tempting for me to go and play football at navy but i knew the mission and family was my number 1 priority. If you remember i translated (or tried mostly running errands) last october in my 3rd week in the field. It was really awesome to see my progression with spanish in translating for these peple (even though medical terms aren´t my specialty in spanish). Sometimes i was sitting there translating wondering why the english speaker couldnt understand b.c it just seemed so easy and natural. This mission (because its run by the military) is alot more organized than the first one that i translated for. Also something cool is that there were 3 members of the church working there. One was in the navy and her nephew served a mission in Equador and the other two lived in heber ( on lives in woodscross now) the two of them were volunteers and the guy new Bruce which is cool. I´ll try and write you more about how it goes next week and send some pictures. We didn´t write yesterday b.c we got back from the mission too late last night.
Last night we also got our changes call and my comp has changes. I was really hoping to stay with him more then just 3 weeks but he´s been here 4 changes already so it is probably his time to go. I think im going to break a mission record for the most companions ever though. Haha. Elder Rodriguez only has two changes left so he´ll probably be going to his last area. Also every area in our zone has changes so there will be alot of new areas to work with which i think will be a good thing.
Thank you for all your love and all of your prayers. Please pray for the people here. We need to find more families that can progress. I love you and thank you for emailing me the pictures.
Love,
Elder Vincent
PS tell badger good luck for me and try and get me hayden and his addresses if you can.

Aug.30,2010

Dear Mom and Family,
This was a pretty good week. Im glad to hear that everything went well back home as well. I´ve been praying alot for Mac and Jill this week. Its really awesome to see the family growing. This week we had a really good zone conference and President Alvarado asked us to thank all of our parents for there prayers and concern for his wife during her surgery so i thought i would pass that on. I really really enjoyed our zone conference this week and was able to learn alot about how to be a better missionary.
Thursday we were able to have a baptism of one of our investigators Carlos Fernando Lopez. He´s a really cool humble 23 year guy. He was baptized by the Branch Presidents son who leaves on his mission to Quetzaltelnalgo on the 8th. It was cool to see him get a baptism before he left. Three other people i was teaching ended up getting baptized in Jalpatagua this saturday. The area was able to get 7 baptisms this month and has one more fur saturday so will have 8 this change. The district didn´t reach the goal of 20 baptisms but had 17 which is quite a miricle. We only finished this month with 4 in my new zone with only my area and one other baptizing so well have to turn that around. I know we can though.
Saturday the Branch Presidents son took out his endowments and we were able to go through the session with him. It was a really awesome experience. I really felt the Love of God as i went to the temple this time. It was cool to go with junior and i think it really helped him that we went with him. I think it would have really helped me to have a couple of friends at the temple with me the first time i went. We´ve really been able to spend alot of time with Junior (the branch presidents son) and even took him to our joint PDay with us this week. He´s a really good guy and really excited to leaveon his mission.
I really like my new area. It is really really hot but there area alot of really good people here to teach and alot of good members, especially the branch president. It is in the hundreds most of the days here year round. I think my mission is good preperation to live in arizona or nevada maybe b.c i have almost only been in hot areas.
So i wanted remake the invitation that i made to you all at the begining of my mission hoping that you will really try hard to do it. I wanted to invite you as a family to i bring someone to church and to dinner every sunday for the rest of my mission. Whether it be a non member or a less active or even a member i really think its needed that our family reaches out more and like you´ll have told me there is no better way then food. Please have people over to eat on sundays and get people to church. Go pick up people sunday mornings to take them. Go visit people sunday afternoons. I´ve really learned alot here no matter how little someone has they are willing to sacrifice. I know there is alot more that we can be doing back home. We just cant get complacent ofr lazy.
I love you all and am thankful for all of your thoughts and prayers.
Love,
Elder Vincent
Ps do we have 4 missionaries in the stake now? And also please thank bishop walk for me for all he is doing. He is a great servant of the lord.

Aug.23,2010

Dear mom and family,

Things are going really well here in my new area. Its called Gualan, Zacapa. Its suppose to be incredibly hot but has been kind of rainy and cloudy lately so it hasn´t been to bad. I haven´t even had to sleep with a fan on lately which is pretty incredible.

Every elder who has been in this area has loved it and im sure that i will too. From what i hear the ward and espeically the Branch president are awesome and from what i can tell everyone is right. The branch president is a really really good guy. His second son will be leaving on his mission in 2 weeks for the Quezaltelnalgo mission here in guate. He already has one son on a mission in peru who was born 2 days after me.

This week was pretty crazy so i did´t get a ton of time to get out and work out in my area but when i did i met some really good people. We taught a man and his wife for the 2nd time who´s child was really sick because she got burned. They were really really accepting and have been prepared very well to recieve the gosple. They have met and respect many members of the church and i know if they will just pray that then they will know that the church is true.

I´ve really been amazed lately at how the spirit has been increasing my teaching ability. I´ve really been able to simplify my teaching lately and think of examples that relate to the people and to the topic. I really cant explain it other then heavenly guidence that we can be sitting in a lesson and i can think of a good example that the people will understand.

My area is really pretty and green right now but my comp said that when he got here that it was really really brown and dry bc it is a desert. They have had a lot of rain here though so its green. They´ve actually probably had too much rain. The Rio Hondo flows right by here and when Hurricane agatha hit here it completely flooded and covere many houses. I´ll try to send you pictures latter b.c it was really increidble. The rive rose more then 10 feet and theyre were many houses completely under water. It will give us a good chance to teach alot of very humbled people about spiritual preparedness though.

Im hoping everything goes well for jill mac and paige this week and also with heath and eric starting school. I hope everything is going well with the family and that you are always looking for ways to grow and be better.

I love you all.

Love,

Elder Vincent

Aug.23,2010

Aug.19,2010

What Up Fam!,

How are you guys all doin? Im doing awesome here but its been a long few days. I just got emergency changed again. My buddy Elder Fatongia got sick and so they moved him into the capital and they moved me out to a place called Gualan, Zacapa. Its known for being pretty hot out here but i like that. It is close to the east coast and is the zone furthest away from the capital so there will be alot of traveling. Everyone tells me my area is really cool though so im sure i will have alot of fun. I like my comp alot too. Hes from coasta rica and his name is Elder Rodriguez. Ive known him most of my missions so we get along pretty well.

I got a call Sunday night that i had these changes and had to be in the capital monday morning. i dont like packing. We missed the bus that night so we didnt get out here until last night. Its kind of a bummer that im going to miss the 4 baptisms that we had scheduled for this weekend but as long as they get baptized its all good. I dont really need to be there and plus the elder that went to my area is a stud so hell get it done. My comp out there should finish the month with 8 probably 9 baptisms and maybe 10 for the changes. Im really excited for the success in Jalpatagua.

Im really greatful for the new oportunity that i have to be in my new area and try to help these people and esecially the missionaries.

Its kind of crazy that some of my best buddys are leaving the mission in the next 9 weeks. Ive met some really really cool people out here and it will be sad to see them go but ill always remember the experiences with them.

Im sorry that i dont have much to write. Alot happend this week but its hard to remember it all. Just know that im safe healthy and happy.

Love,

Elder Vincent

ear Family,

This week was awesome! It had its crazy times but also some awesome times. First off i want to remind you to pray together as a family always and have personal talks. Also make sure to do your visits and bring people back to the gospel.

That sounds awesome about the sealing. We need to make a concious effort to find our ancestors and get to know them. Remember to keep working on the family history book that i asked for for my birthday.

So this week we spent most of the week trying to get the Flores Cruz family ready for there baptism. They live really far away so it was alot of travel and running around teaching and trying to get them interview but it was worth it. The day before the interview we asked the kids why they wanted to get baptized and one said because they love the church and then the other said b.c they want to be elders (missionaries) one day. That was really cool.The dad and his two oldest boys were baptized on saturday. My comp baptized the dad Pascual and his oldest son Fransisco and I baptized the younger boy Selvin. It was really cool. They were so excited. Our Branch President really helped us out alot this week too.

The husband of Aura that we baptized last week came to church for the first time this week and also the baptism and told us he felt something really strong and wants to get baptized too. So we`re planning on baptizing him and 2 or Auras other kids later in the month. We also have a Baptismal date for this Saturday with Elfido who we have been teaching for a long time. Hopefully it goes down. He really needs it and he is ready.

Our district is doing really well. I dont think this district baptized april when i wasn`t here and i know we didn`t baptize in may. I think there were 8 weeks in this district without a baptism and then my comp and i had one in June so i think there was one baptism in about 14 weeks. But its completly turned around. We have had a baptism in our district the last 6 straight week and in the last 6 weeks our 3 areas alone have had 19 baptisms (9 in the last two weeks.) Our goal for August is 20 baptisms in the district and when we get it we will have gotten over 30 baptisms in 2 months. That will be pretty incredible seeing as our whole zone of 10 areas only had 1 baptism in may and most zones dont get 20 baptisms in a month. Our mission goal is 30 baptisms per zone per month but so far no one has reached it. I know that if we show that its possible others will begin to have more faith and things will take off. Romans 5:19

My mission hasn`t been known for the most baptizing mission in Central America but our last 2 months have been our best 2 months with Pres Alvarado. Our mission is really turning around and changing for the good. I am really happy with the way things have been going and the actions and atitudes of the elders here.

President is really happy with us as well so this month he decided to give us a super P-day. We got 5 of the zones together in a nice chapel in the capital to have P-day together. It was really some of the most fun i`ve had in a long time. I played basketball most of the time (which i haven´t done in like 10 months). It felt like i was out back again playing bball with the boys. It really felt good. More then anything i liked seeing and being with the Elders. There are some really cool good guys here. Alot of my good friends are leaving in the next 2 changes so i`ll miss them but im so glad i´ve gotten to know them. I hope i can be eternal friends with them. It was by far the best pday i`ve ever had. I am greatful for the blessings i have and the joy i was able to experience this week.

I got your package this week. Thanks for being such a good mom and taking care of me so well. I really enjoyed the stuff on Badger and from your foxall family. Im sending Chris a letter this week. Im not sure why you`ll haven`t gotten my letters yet but i`ll keep praying you get them.

I love you all alot and am greatful for all your thoughts and prayers.

Love,

Elder Vincent

Dear Family,
Thank you for your emails. They really mean alot and keep me motivated. On the mission your pretty secluded and sometimes wonder if people still remember you but every time i get your emails i am greatful for the great family i was blessed with. I got letters from Hayden and Mara this week too which was nice.
This week went really well. We baptized a lady named Aura Lorenzo. She lives really far away and her family is really poor but she wanted to be baptized and was ready so we got her baptized. There is also this young girl named Daniela who is the neice of the branch President so she comes to church with us but we had the other Elders in oratorio teach her b.c she lives there, get baptized too. Her family (especially her step mom) doesn´t treat her well so she might move and be adopted by our branch president. I had the baptism count for the other branch but she asked me to confirm her and i felt very honored. She seems so much happier sinces shes been talking about being baptized and had a new radience Sunday.
We took her family with us to the baptism as well and another family that we´ve been teaching from this area called Buena Vista in Moyuta. We challanged them to get baptized this next saturday and they really really want to. They will be three or four (the moms still alittle doubtful if she wants to yet) if they can stop drinking coffee by then.
The next day at church we didn´t have very many people here at all. Its really hard to do missionary work and try and keep the members coming to church but in little branches like this its what you have to do. Aura was confirmed in church as well by our branch President. After church she told us how much two of her kids want to get baptized now too and asked when they can get baptzed so if they get prepared by saturday we might be having 5 to 6 baptisms!!! Please pray hard for us that we can get it done. More that the Lords will will be done. It may not be this saturday but just pray that they will prepare to make the baptismal covenent with God.
Our District has been doing incredible. There are 3 areas and in July we has 11 baptism we didn´t baptize and so that was just in two areas. But this week we had 4 in the distict and everyone baptized. It was a great way to start a month. We have 4 baptisms for august already and 13 more dates. Are goal is twenty which would be a miracle b.c most zones in our mission dont get 20 baptisms in a month.
Today for pday my comp and i went to the capital b.c he lost both his tags so we`´ve both been Elder Vincent for a couple of weeks. He used on of my tags. I got to eat lunch a quiznos which is always good and i got to hang with Elder Hill my mtc comp who´s in the office. He´s the one from Bruces ward and he had some pictures of them and they look good. He is probably my best friend on the mission. I love him.
So would really like to know if you and dad and heath have gotten my letters and if they are reading my letters to the ward. Also if you see badger tell him Congrats for me. My teacher her in the CCm went to Equador and loved it. There are native elders there who dont cut there hair as part of there culture and speak some other cool language.
Thanks for all of your love and suport and please make sure to send my emails to people. Especially Aunts Uncle and cousins. I want to help as many people as possible.
Love,
Elder Vincent

Dear Family,

How are things going back home. I hope your really enjoying life. We only get one chance so we should enjoy it and make the most of it. Make sure you show Briggs alot of love right now and dont judge him. I think thats one of the biggest faults of the Church. We take it upon our selves to judge others when really we should be looking for ways to help them and love them.

Thats super sweet that you got to talk to Elder Clark. He`s an awesome guy. I was a a District Conference with him back in april in Milagro. He`s an awesome guy with lots of Love and passion for the work of the lord. In the conference he actually had the missionaries stand up in front of all of the members and thanked us for our work. It was really cool.

This week was really good but i need to work harder. I will pray harder for more strength and diligence in the work. I think i want to obtain the attribute of being tenacious for the work of the Lord. I love this work so much but sometimes i feel glimpses of fear b.c of the pain that comes when people reject the message but i must not fear at all. ¨Dont fear, only believe.¨ Fear is the opposite of faith. I know that i must fight all of my fears in order to be a true diciple of Christ. Its working a little as i dont think im as afraid of snakes or dogs anymore :) still working though. I know i have the abiblity to conquere the adversary bc ive already done it before.

We didn´t have as much success as far as people in church this week. 5 investigators and only one can get baptized anytime soon and only 39 members but i`ll be tenatious and keep working hard and hopefully be an instrument of feeling the Lords love. We have 3 baptisms planned for Saturday though and We might be able to get 7 which would be awesome. We find out about changes tonight though so we`ll see if i`ll be here. Our goal for August is 11 and i believe 100% that is will happen. It doesn´t matter if im here or not though b.c they are the Lords baptisms and not mine I just need to pray alot that they happen.

Yesterday we went up to moyuta to celebrate the Birthday of two of Hna Auras kids. Aura is going to be baptized on Saturday. They couldn´t afford to buy a cake for them so my comp and i baught one and took it to them. We taught them about how much God love them as his children and is concious of what they are doing.

Im going to write a letter to the ward. Please let me know if they read it or if im just wasting my time.

I love you all so much and you help me stay motivated through your prayers. Stay stong and pray always.

Love,

Elder Vincent

Dear Mom,

Im glad things went well in MT. Its a great place. Im sure briggs did a great job. Tell him good luck for me. He`ll be a good missionary.

So you asked about a package and i'd much rather have letters. But if you want to send me a package you can send me new electic razor heads, scriptures in English, A new journal (about the size of a year book) and lots of prayers.

This week went really well. Thank you all for all of your prayers. They paid off. We had 52 people in church and 14 investigators!!! They really make great sacrifices to get there and now we just need to get them to get baptized so they can really reap the real blessings. Please keep praying for them and these people. I know we need to keep finding new families and people though. I know i cant get satified. I will not get complacent. This work is to important and there are too many lost sheep we must help. Sometimes it feels overwhelming b.c of such a great responsiblity and so little rest but the lord gives me strength always and i dont even get tired. I know this is his work and i need to learn better how to do it his way.

I wanted to invite yuou all in your next family home evening to do an activity to pray about all the things your need to improve on in your lives and listen to what the spirit tell you`ll and write these things down and look at them every morning.

Im really hoping you`ll are enjoying your summer time together. Dont waste the time the lord gives us and learn to enjoy life. I hope you got my letter. Please let me know if you did ( dad too)

Dont forget that your the best mom ever and that i love you.

Love,

Elder Vincent

Ps dont worry about me worry about the peo`ple here im working with. I couldn´t be any happier!!!!

July 19,2010

Dear Mom,

Im glad things went well in MT. Its a great place. Im sure briggs did a great job. Tell him good luck for me. He`ll be a good missionary.

So you asked about a package and i'd much rather have letters. But if you want to send me a package you can send me new electic razor heads, scriptures in English, A new journal (about the size of a year book) and lots of prayers.

This week went really well. Thank you all for all of your prayers. They paid off. We had 52 people in church and 14 investigators!!! They really make great sacrifices to get there and now we just need to get them to get baptized so they can really reap the real blessings. Please keep praying for them and these people. I know we need to keep finding new families and people though. I know i cant get satified. I will not get complacent. This work is to important and there are too many lost sheep we must help. Sometimes it feels overwhelming b.c of such a great responsiblity and so little rest but the lord gives me strength always and i dont even get tired. I know this is his work and i need to learn better how to do it his way.

I wanted to invite yuou all in your next family home evening to do an activity to pray about all the things your need to improve on in your lives and listen to what the spirit tell you`ll and write these things down and look at them every morning.

Im really hoping you`ll are enjoying your summer time together. Dont waste the time the lord gives us and learn to enjoy life. I hope you got my letter. Please let me know if you did ( dad too)

Dont forget that your the best mom ever and that i love you.

Love,

Elder Vincent

Ps dont worry about me worry about the peo`ple here im working with. I couldn´t be any happier!!!!

Subject: Re: July 11,2010

Dear Family,

So i forgot to write this last week so I`ll write it first. I was wondering if you remembered the last time that the 4th of July was on a Sunday. If you dont lets see if ¨play ball!!!¨ freshens your memory. I know im a legend.

So its kind of hard to believe the whole Lebron, Bosh and wade on one team thing so you might need to verify that for me. Also i heard Utah is now in the Pac-10. What happend with that?

Hna Alvarado is in the states for surgery but thats really all that i know. Elder Falabela of the 70 is in charge of our mission right now. I was also wondering if mom and dad have gotten my letters and if the read my letter to the ward and or if i should just not write them???

It sounds like things are going well back home. The football picture of heaths team looks good but they all look skinny!!! haha work harder. Tell people that i say hi when you see them.

Things are really really good here. We have alot of people that are really really close to getting baptized but satan is working really hard so that they dont.

We have one guy Elfido who has been going to church for almost 2 months now has prayed and has a testimony of the church. Everytime we go by he is reading a pamphlet or the book of mormon. He says he will always go to church and wants to get baptized but for some reason he`s not doing it. Hes gotten married stopped drinkin and stopped smoking and now just drinks a little coffee but i think he does it just so that he cant get baptized right now. We had a good talk with him on sunday and he said we`ll talk more about what his concerns are the next time we visit him.

Then we have Aura and her family. They live over an hour away from the church and sometimes cant come b.c they cant afford it. She`s been twice though and loves the church but she says she`s already been baptized 2 times. I`ve tried lots of simple ways to teach that they dont count to God but shes been really brainwashed by other churches and i think is more scared of being jugded by them then by god.

Then we have Fransisco and Ofelia and their family. They are 4 to be baptized and 2 little kids. They are super sweet and practically teach them selves but cant get to church b.c they also live an hour away and cant pay the 20 quetzales ($2.50) to get to church. They want to get baptized but we have to figure how to help them get to church. they`ve gone once.

We also have some sweet families in san fransisco, whichi is a little closer. There are two families there (related to elfido) whose kids are always begging therir parents to let them go to church but there parents still wont go with them. One auder lets his three oldest kids go and loves studdying and reading but hasn`t gone to church yet. He`s 32 and has 7 kids! The other is Anival who has some of the coolest kids i`ve met but he hasn`t let them go to church with us yet. The little 6 year old Junior to us when he is 8 that he is going to be baptized a mormon. Hes a way cool little kid.

We are teaching alot of great people and families but im trying to figure out the way to get over the hump with them. I also need to stay focused on finding new families while still working with these ones.

I love being a missionary. Its the best thing ever. I actually have a pretty nice apartment and we live on the second level. We dont have hot water though. My shoes are doing good. It rains alot right now so they`re usally wet though. There is no place i would rather be right now then right here. I hope all is going well with you`ll and that you are growing as a family.

I love you all.

Love,

Elder Vincent

NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.

June 27,2010

Dear Mom,

I hope you get home safely. The puppy is pretty cute. I dont have any problems. I`ll try and think of a name this week. Things are good here. It has been really rainy here lately but i love the rain so thats good.

We so close to having a ton of success we just need to work really hard and have alot of help from the heavens. Sometime we forget that we as servents of the Lord in whatever calling we have are entiltled to Heavenly Help to fullfill the Lords Purposes. You have the same right in your callings in church.

We didn´`t have a lot of people at church this week. Some weren´t able to come because of the rain and some thought that there wasn´t church b.c of the rain bc they cancelled it during agatha. Oh well.

We had to go to the captial so my comp could sign papers today so i spent my whole day sitting on a bus. Only 5 hours though so half of what your doing today. I got to eat quiznos though so im happy.

Im sorry i didn`t write a longer email but you can read everyone elses too. Know that i love you and that your prayers make a difference. Tell people i say hi and that im praying for them.

Love,

your blue eyed missionary :)

June 20,2010

Dear Mom,
Thank you for your email. Things are good here in Guatemala. Its really beautiful and I love the people.
Sorry i must have wrote the wrong thing last week. My comp has been on his mission 6 months. Things are going well with him. We are working hard and im figuring out ways to work smarter.
Sometimes its hard because the people are so hard hearted or brainwashed in one way that they wont open up to the message of the restoration. I know how important it is in my life and they wont even pray to find out for themselves. It was really cool this week that we had an experience with Elfido (we´ve been teaching him about a month) He´s shared his testimony of the church but he said after we taught the pastor on monday (he was there too) he went and prayed to really know if the church was true. He said he recieved an answer that it was true. He´s going to be baptized and is just praying about a date. I hope that he doesn´t wait too long though b.c satan is always fighting that they dont. We had 3 people tell us they think our church is the true church this week!! :)
I got probably the greatest compliment that i´ve recieved so far as a missionary yesterday. We went by a member family´s house to pick something up and he told me that i am a good teacher b.c i teach with a strong spirit. That meant alot to me b.c i felt like i offended the spirit in the months b4 my mission and my biggest focus on my mission has been to have the spirit. I tell that to all the missionaries who are leaving a well. We dont need to focus on the language or the doctrine much. Our main focus should be on haveing the spirit. The spirit knows the language and knows the doctrine but without it we will have no true success b.c missionaries without the spirit cannot help convert people. We cannot enter there hearts but the spirit can. Having the spirit is the most important thing to me right now. He knows the answers to all my problems. He´s a God.
So there is a lady here wondering if you would like a Guatemalan baby!!! She was just joking but i know you really would haha. I told her if she gets him there you´ll take good care of him. :) About the dog, idk just do what you fell is best and remember to pray about it.
I love you alot and hope you are doing well. Remember that happiness is a choice. Don{t let heath bug you to much. He loves you alot. I{ve seen it.
Love,
Elder Vincent

June 13,2010

Dear Mamma,

How is my wonderful mother doing? Things are really good here in Guatemala. We did have changes and yes once again i have been assigned to a new companion. Thats 13 in 10 months. You just got to enjoy what you got though. Maybe The greatest thing we learn from the Savior is that he always did that will of his Father. He wasn´t forced to but he did and thats incredible.

My new comp is Elder Nadeau from west valley Utah. He has 6 months and is pretty cool. We´ll have fun.

About aunt mae dying. its really incredible how much peace that gospel brings to our lives. There was a talk that i read that made me have a thought, for as many tears we shed for the lost one we will shed 1000X more out of joy when we are once again reunited with them in heaven. It was really cool for me to have a thought and personal revelation like that. I know its came b.c i prepared myself through study and prayer.

About the theater room being a good idea. i know :)

I had alot to ask and say to you but i forgot my old agenda and so next week.

I just want you to know that I absolutly love being a missionary and I love life. Even though life isn´t perfect and there are alot of problems around me im the happiest ive ever been.

I love you,

Love,

Elder Vincent

June 6 2010

From: Searle McDede Vincent

Date: June 7, 2010 4:36:01 PM MDT

To: Joanne Vincent

Subject: Re: June 6,2010

Dear Mommy,

Thank you for your emails. It is very hard when young people die. I had actually been thinking of chris recently b.c i hadn´t heard about what he was up to. Is he family with the proctors?

So first off i keep forgeting to tell you but there are 3 missionaries from the same stake in misoula montana. One is a sister that goes home this change though.

Also I got your package without the stickers but i still haven´t recieved the one that dad sent me with all the research. The hankerchif that you made for Fidelina was awesome. You`re awesome mom.

Things went pretty good this week. We only had one of our baptisms but im hoping we can have 2 more. I really dont think i can explain with words the imense pain that drives into my soul when the people wont except the gospel. It truely hurts. It is the only thing that has ever brought me true happiness in my life, it is better then gold and they dont want it.

However the joy of helping someone come unto Christ is better so i cant be afraid and must just learn to turn rejection into more fuel to motivate me.

Im glad that things are going well back home and that people are progressing. Im glad that church went well and that the ward is doing well. Im also overjoyed that you all are taking such a big role in helping people come unto christ. Im really excited for Mary( is anyone in her family a member? dad said something about her step dad giving her mom a book of mormon?) Tell her i´ve been praying for her.

When you see people please tell them that i say hi and that the mission is the best thing ever.

I love you and hope that you never forget that.

Love,

Elder Vincent

NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.

May 30, 2010

Dear Momma Diese´
Dont worry. Im all good down here in Guatemala. Saturday it rained all day and was kind of bad in the mountains in Moyuta were we were visiting but truely i didn{´t know that it was a huricane until that night when the ZLs called us. I just thought its was a crazy incredibly long lasting rain storm haha. And about the Volcano didn´t even effect my area. I think my last area had alot of ash but not where i am now. They made us stay in the house the next morning just incase though. We also had to stay in the house all day yesterday too which was kind of lame b.c the huricane had already passed and it didn{t even really rain yesterday. But above all know that Im safe and you did a good job preparing me. Stop, drop and roll right. Oh wait thats for a fire. haha
im glad things went well in California. Those are always fun family building trips. It was cool you say so many people you know too. I think Park City has some of the best summer weather there is though once it gets to summer.
I love being a missionary and studying the gospel. I love coming closer to my father in heaven. I am very thankful the sacrifice of Him as well as Jesus Christ my savior. I believe that probably my greatest disire in my life right now is to learn how to fell, understand and follow them. Everything in my life will be better if i am more in tune with the Holy Spirit who is a god and knows everything. Every answer for every problem. It is incredible to think how much God loves me to give me a gift that is that incredibly powerful!!
I love you and hope that you are enjoying life and making good use of your time.
Love,
Elder Vincent

May 26, 2010

Dear Mommy,

This week went really really well. We got a family (that we are preparing to be baptized) married this week. It was pretty cool and i son less thing to worry about so that is good. There have a lot of problems but the gospel message is slowly making a change with them. The little girls in that family are really cute too. I love them and will do everything i can to help them .

This week we also had our District conference. Elder Martino of the 70 came and presided. I dicided we think alot alot as his talk in conference was exactly what i{d been teaching only better and he said alot of things in this conference that i´d been thinking about. They talked alot about the family in the general session and about callings and home teaching in priesthood. It was exactly what needed to be taught. I´ll try and send you some notes b.c it was really good.

A talk i really liked was from My old district president from Taxisco. He talked about the importance of using the time we have well and making the right discsions. he said the people who are not at church for whatever reason ¨made the wrong decsion¨ not to go. It was also cool seeing and talking to people from taxisco again as they were here for the conference. The kids have grown up alot. i also talked to the branch president from Chiquimulia who has now been back from his mission for 2 years and has been branch president for one! Tell eric he should come here and be a branch president.

I amd doing really good and love being a missionary. I´ve been studing the april 2006 general conference talks and have some stuff to send you. I love you a ton and feel your prayers every day.

Love,

Elder Vincent

Dear Mom and OThers,

This week was really good. We had our Zone conference this week with elder Martino who spoke in the last general conference. He´s a convert to the church and served here in Guatemala with Blakes Dad. It was really really good and I learned alot.

The branch is good but there is alot to do. There are alot of problems and its always harder to fix in smaller areas. We are the counselors so we can take more of a direct approch.

Did your mothers day go well? How´d Briggs birthday go? Im hoping to get some letters written this week to send to everyone.

Its really really pretty in this area. I think you would like it alot. Really great lots of trees and mountains but no snow. I like birthdays better with no snow. :) I hope you dont worry to much and just enjoy life. Read the faith that Nephi has in 1 Nephi 3:7 and apply it to your comandment to prepare me and send me out on a mission. The Lord provides a way.

Sorry I didn´t write as much to you this week but I wrote alot to everyone else and dont have alot of time. Remember I love you and the packages were incredible. They made me feel like it was a normal birthday.

Tell everyone that I say hi and remember life is good and dont be afraid to talk to Heath if you need to.

I love you and appreciate you increasingly every week.

Love,

Elder Vincent

ps elder fortin wants a package too :)

May 2,2010

Dear Mom and others,

So just to remind you i turn 20 next week. Kinda crazy right. How are you all doing? How´s life in pc where its still snowing? haha sorry mom.

I just got transfered leaving 4 baptisms in my last area for this saturday but it really doesn´t bother me b.c i have helped build up the area there and now I am in my new area to build it up for my father in heaven and the people here. I would like to see the people get baptized though. They mean alot to me. Especially brandon the little 9 year old boy i baptized. I gave him one of the scripture readers, that you sent me, as a going away present. I put his baptism picture in it and wrote my testimony. He said he´s going to take the book with him on his mission so he can show the people (this is who baptized me and this is who confirmed me). Brandon was like a little brother to me. I told them they´re invited to go live in my room at home :)

So my new area is called Jalpatagua. It is in the same mission zone as taxisco but a different municipalidad (like a county) its in one called Jutiapa. It is alot like taxisco and almost as hot. Its really beautiful but once again there are a ton of inactives and we are the councilours in the branch presidency. I feel almost like I´ve been called as a reactivating missionary as much as a baptizing missionary seeing as none of my areas have had more then a 20% attendance when i arrived. Im happy with that b.c i can help build the kingdom in so many ways. Anything i can possibly do to help these people and my God I will do.

My New companion is Elder Quiros. He´s from Costa Rica and has been out 6 months. He speaks perfect english and always talks to me in English so i always talk to him in Spanish. He seems like a really really good Elder.

My area is about 15 minutes from the Border of El Salvador and like I said it´s alot like Taxisco. I will be sweating almost continually again seeing as its almost always over 100 degrees with the humidity. Its still not quite as hot as taxisco though. That heat was incredible.

There are 6 people in my District (including Elder Martinez my old companion who is now my zone leader). We are really seperated from them though. The closer Elders live about 45 minutes away and then the zls live about an hour 15 away. They all seem like really good Elders and we will do good things.

We had our district meeting and the inbetween city today called oritorio. It went really well. I focused on teaching faith and prayer and shared 1ne 17:49-51 and told them its not how can we reach this goals it´s how can we not when God´s comanded us. We just have to do our part.

I am really excited to be here in this new area and help people. I love guatemala. It is so beautiful.

Mom I love you dearly. You are definately the best mother i have ever had ;) Really thank you for everything and especially all of your prayers. There is nothing like the power of a mothers prayer!

With much love,

Elder Vincent

Ps i got your packages and letters from paige and marnie but im waiting to open them until my birthday

April 19,2010

Dear Mom and others,
This week was really really good. How did yours going? I had remembered that it had been 2 years since Matt died and that seems really crazy to me. I know he died doing the Lords work though and that being a missionary is the greatest thing ever. At least it is for me.
Its also crazy that Grandpa would be 90 this week. I know that i´ve never met him but in having his name i feel so connected to him. I know that you feel the conection as well. I am more greatful for my heritage than you can even understand. I owe it all to those who have come before me.
We had our baptism on Tuesday of the little kid Brandon. It was so awesome! I gave him a big hug after. He´s an awesome little kid. We went to his house after to have pizza for dinner and it felt realy good to have a family moment like that again. He can't be confirmed until this Sunday though b.c we had Stake Conference.
Stake conference went really really well. President Alvarado and Elder Clarke were there and President Alvarado was really happy which is good. He said it was the best stake conference he had been too. He was really really happy with us in our zone b.c we brought so many investigators and recent converts and less actives. Elder Clarke gave an awesome talk on the things we need in order to conqure satan. He used five stones from David and Goliath. 1. Obedience and a pure heart 2. Exceptional faith 3. Divine Help from the spirit 4.Preparation and practice 5. Understanding the power of God and his priesthood. - It went really well.
We also have 3 maybe 4 more baptisms planed for the 8th. Hopefully im still here. We´re having success but we need to work harder still and find more families.
The greatest feeling we can feel in this life is the Love of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. We should look for all the love he sends us in our lives and we should thank him continually for it.
LOve,
Elder Vincent

April 12, 2010,

Dear Mom and Others,
This week was really good. My companion got a little sick this week but we gave him a blessing and all is well. We baptized the little girl Fidelina and it was absolutely awesome! She was so happy. She´s an awesome girl her mom is a little specially and her little brother is handicapt and I don´t know whats really wrong with her dad but she helps keep everything in order with the family. She has trouble sometimes just b.c the way she´s been brought up and all the difficulties she´s been through. They´re super poor but are always so happy. I wish i could send you the pictures but from some reason they wont show up on the computer when i try to send them. Idk but its all good.
I Still love Guatemala. We have alot of progressing investigators here. I could see us having 10 baptizms here in our ward in may. I´ll probably get changed though but thats ok as long as they get baptized.
We ´ve been focusing on finding more families lately. I know that will lead to more success and help out the lives of many people and families for many generations.
We had a really good zone conference this week were we focused on faith. We also focus on not putting limitations on our potential. We talked about how we as humans put fake limitations over ourselves or the world or other people tell us we can do things and for some reason we believe them and dont even try. We are children on a God and therefor we should not restrict ourselves b.c God can do anything. I thought of 1ne 17 when we talked about that were nephi´s brothers tell him he´s crazy and cant build a boat. In verse 50 he¨s says God can do all things, if he commanded me to make the water in to earth i would be able to do it and then in 51 he asks them a question i absolutely love ¨How is it that he can not instruct me to build a boat-¨ I love that i can just see him staring them in the face ¨tell me what i cant do with the help of God! I can do it all. I need to have the same attitude here and know i can do all things and can baptize lots of people b.c it is what God has comanded me. I can and will make a difference here.
Im really glad you had fun in mexico at the beach. In taxisco at times i was like 5 minutes from the beach but i never saw it dang it haha i saw the ocean from the mountains though which was cool.
Im glad you´ll got to have such a cool expirience with so much family up at our house. Its always so much fun to be with all of the family cousins and what not. Really alot of my favorite memories are doing things with cousins over all of the years. Make sure to send me or email me pictures. Oh also for my birthday you can send me a USB memory stick so i can save emailed pictures on to it.
I love you a ton and keep working hard to share the gospel, You are the best mom i´ve ever had and never forget that. Dont forget to read john with me before my birthday.
Love,
Elder Vincent

April 5, 2010

Dear Mom and Others,

How are things going? How are you enjoying your vacation? Its it pretty cool there?

Things are really good here in Guatemala but the city was really really deserted for Holy Week. We got some good work done still though. We have one baptizm set for this week with a little girl from one of the poorest families in the world. Its really sad but she´s excited to get baptized. We also have 6 other people who have accepted our challange to be baptized we just have to set baptizmal dates for them. We are hoping to set all those dates this week and one more. We could really use your prayers so we can make it happen.

So i finished the Book of mormon too. It was cool to read it for the first time in spanish. There are still quite a few words i dont know but i understood everything which was really cool. So listening to conference we recieved a new challange that elder anderson gave us in the last talk. We are to read a study the gospel of John in the Bible so im challanging you to read it with me before my birthday as a birthday present to me, ok.

I absolutely loved conference. The last one i felt like they talked more to new members and investigators but this one was more the family and the parents. You all will really benifit to watch read and study these words of the holy prophets. They are our connection to the heavens. Since they were talking to parents alot and im not a parent yet i took notes for things that will help me when im a parent one day but i really tried even more to apply the tteachings to my present circumstances. I tried to apply myself to being a parent and my investgators the children. I learned alot about how to teach and help my investigators b.c of this.

I especially enjoyed Elder Wilford W. Andersons talk about the atonement bc it was almost exactly what i have been teaching on my mission and expecially and especially to one thick shelled investigator that we have now that went to that session. He said conference was just ok and that later he would tell me what he liked and didn´t like. It made me feel pretty sad. There is nothing bad about conference!!!! I also enjoyed Elder Martinos talk (he´s a 70 for central america and came and talked to us when i was at the ccm) It was about embracing trials b.c we need them and its our attitude that makes all the difference. These are two things I have been really focusing on the members i´ve been teaching especially less active so it made me feel good to think that i was maybe doing something right. I even tell investigators that i pray for trials everyday b.c i want things to be tough so i can have resistance and be stronger. More like my heavenly father.

So I have another specially birthday request but i´ll wait to write it to you until its closer to my birthday. Tell heath congrats on bball and i really hope that you enjoy your trip and are safe. Work hard to help others find our father i heaven. We are only selfish if we will not.

I love you a ton

Love,

Elder Vincent

March 29,2010

Dear Mom and others,

Things are really good here in guatemala. The new email is alot bigger so you dont need to save my emails anymore. You can just forward the ones you get from me to other people. I got ann´s wedding invitation this week which meant alot to me (the guy looks really nice). I also got the letter from Jackson which was really cool. Things I would maybe like for my birthday, first off letters from people, especially cousins who have served missions with experiences and what not. next for things to get me to just keep at home a new dog tag for the one i lost and the black football backpack from the highschool and a black football hat. Other then that idk maybe a small hymn book in english and books of mormon in italian and french and Pictures!!!! other than that i dont need much i just love to get spiritual letters.

This week was really good. My comp is getting nice and adjusted to the mission but he has a culture shock moment everyday. Im really glad that i got to go to the ccm (mtc) in guatemala. He´s really excited and motivated to be here which is really nice though.

This week our big acomplishment was that we followed the spirit to get the written permission from a crazy dad for a little girl to be baptized. Her name is fidalina escobar and we are going to baptize her april 10th. Her dad doesn´t know how to write his name so we just got him to write si (which means yes mom). She´s from probably one of the poorest families i´ve ever seen but she really wants to be baptized. Her moms a member.

This week I also gave a talk in church. They asked me to give a talk on mission work so I did that but focused on the real purpose of mission work, which is so that we can help others to use the atonement and how there are other our friends and family who are suffering b.c they dont have the understanding of testimony that we have. So we need to help them and show them how to release there burdens. I feel like it went really good but i don´t know if anyone listened except the investigators that were there which made it worth it. Its kind of crazy that me (quite little searle) gave a 20 minute talk in spanish. haha Im so glad to have a understanding and testimony of the atonement.

Im really happy about all the mission work that is going on back home. You´ll should really keep seizing this opportunity to share the gosple with so many missionaries out from our stake and especially our ward right now. Im really happy that mary is progressing. You should tell heath to tell her to write me a letter. Also invite as many people as possible to watch general conference.

Im healthy safe and happy so you should be happy. I love guatemala but i dont love how fast the time is going. I hope you have a ton of fun on your vacations and that you stay safe. I´ve been trying to write you all letters but we dont get alot of time. I should finish the book of mormon by tomorrow and hope that you all are close too. I love you a ton and tell all the cousins and friends i say hi.

Love,

Elder Vincent

March 24,2010

Dear Family and Friends,

First off im safe heathly and doing incredibly well so dont worry about me. Second, I only get one hour for email and a couple other hours to write letters. Its not as easy for me as you at home, but i hope you do enjoy what i send you and that you are sending them to others so they can benifit from what I write. If not it´ll make me sad that im not helping as many people as I possibly can. I did get your two pakages and thank you for the pictures and the other missionaries thank you for the food.

We had our transfers this week. I'm in my same area still and I'm training agian. This time an American from California. Elder Brunsvick. He seems like a really good guy and I really like his enthusiam. Now that I can speak spanish it feels weird to be with someone who cant though, his spanish is really good for only 9 weeks.

So we found this Jehovas Witness down here contacting the other day. There are alot of them down here and they are probably the hardest people to teach. They are kind of crazy. This lady was trying to show us up in her door. I'm not gonna lie I didn´t bring my best game but we listened to what she had to say for a while (she was just pulling out scripture and trying to show scripture knowlegde and what not) but after a while I was like ok now can we please share with you the messege of the restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ and she said ok if it was in the Bible. I proceeded to share with her the first vison and she interupted and was like this guy isn´t in the Bible and I'm not going to listen. Then I told her true it doesn´t say Joseph Smiths name exactly in the Bible but it also doesn´t say Jesus Christ in the Old testament but does that make him any THe Savior of the of the world. She got kind of thrown off by that. We shared the first vision and testified and my comp wanted to contend but thats not my thing even though I'm money with comebacks I know the spirit is stronger. She then tried to got to go to scripture knowlege asking us all this lame questions. I told her I dont know all the answers to all the questions but I know Joseph Smith was a true prophet. She didn´t get it though but it was a good learning experience for me.

I also had another really cool experience this week with a Guy we are teaching named Manuel De Jesus. He was a reference to teach english but we´ve almost only talked about the gospel. I´ve challaged him to be baptized a couple times but he says he wants to wait but we´re working on that. He knows the church is true and said he will get baptized but wants a clear answer from God.

He also belives that my old comp and i were sent specifically to him because of our past experiences with my comps parents dying and the things I went through so he trusts us. I told him that he needs to see the same in respect to the Savior who understands his troubles even more then us b.c he suffered exactly for his sins pains and errors and that we were only representatives of us. He said he knew that but that when we left he probably wouldn´t go to church any more bc it was only us that brougt the spirit to him. I told him that that wasn´t right and that we were here only as representatives of Jesus and that he should go to church and get baptized for him b.c we are not representatives of ¨the church of the missionaries of the latter day saints¨ and that the Book of Mormon doesn´t say ¨Another testament of the Missionaries¨ on that cover and that he need to trust God more.

I also recieved a revalation on what the answer to his life problems were. It came to me that it was the same answer to my problems i had and i believe it is the answer to the problems of all. The atonement of Jesus Christ. I told him that a knowlege and really feeling of the power of the atonement changed and saved my life and that i truely believe it is the answer to his problems as well.

I told him that when i was suffering with all the pain and sadness that i went through that i didn´t understand why i had to suffer like i did but know i understand that i may have had to suffer like i did so that i could share with others and him the answer to all our problems. I told him that i may have just suffered so i could help him at this momment in his life. It was probably the most spiritual lesson of my whole mission.

Well i love you a ton and keep sending me letters and pictures. i´d love to have the one of heaths whitesox hair.

Love,

Elder vincent

March 1,2010

Dear Family and Friends,

So we should be about finished with Alma right now in our reading. Things are really good here. I didn´t feel the earthquake in chille here but i felt one here this week that was pretty big for me haha. It was cool.

This week was pretty good. I grew alot spiritually. My comp and i fasted this week and it payed off. We set two baptismal dates for the 13th of March. Im really excited. We are trying to set other dates as well.

Things are really good. I feel the love of the Lord everyday and am continually drawing closer to him. I can feel the love of my Heavenly Father so incredibly i just wish i was more worthy of it.

This week our Stake President came to our ward activity on wednesday night and talked about family relationships. I hope to write you a letter about it this week.

I dont have alot to say this week but will try to write you more next week. Know that God is with me walking with me and protecting me. I have put my life in his hands.

I love you a ton and please pray for me and for the people here. Let me know if i can help anyone.

Love,

Elder Searle McDede Vincent

February 22,2010

Dear Family and Friends,

Im really glad you finally got my package. Im glad you liked it too. I was really hoping you would.

This week was really good. We had our zone conference and the Stake

President from our Stake came and talked. He is such an amazing guy. He started being a steak president at 27. He is so in tune with the spirit. Then the new doctor/elder for central america talked with us about dealing with stress and staying happy. His name is Elder MacAurther and he's from Springville and served in Vietnam. Dont know if dad maybe knows him.

This week God really blessed us with new families to find. We found four really good ones all contacting. One of there kids have been coming to alot of the activities and they come with friends who wanted to go to church so we went and walked them to church. It was good preperation for being a dad trying to keep track of 5 kids all younger then 11 during sacrement. We hope their parents will come this next week. We also had one more investigator come to church. His name is Manuel and he's a really good guy.

The highlight of my week came Saturday and yesterday. We were walking back from dinner in the night Saturday and felt like we should take a way we normally dont go in the night. There was this lady with two kids and one of her kids was carrying a bag and without even thinking i asked them if they needed help carrying things. They said no but we talked as we walked and found out that they were coming back from visiting her niece who was recovering from surgery. She was born without ears and an lds doctor came here and did her surgery for nothing. They talked so highly of what our church does and how strong the youth are. We set an appointment to go back and meet with her last night and went our seperate ways.

We went back last night and it went great. We really got to talking and it went really well. Her story really touched me b.c it reminded me of you and your family mom. She has three daughters 12, 20 and 26. The oldest two are married and one lives with them and supports them b.c she is over 50 and no one will hire her for her age. She was also fired only b.c of her age.

It has just been the 4 girls and there families for a while b.c about 12 years ago her husband was kidnapped for a ransome b.c his parents had a big buissiness and this lady maria brought the people the money and so they pushed her husband down in front of her after she gave them the money and then they shot him twice in the chest in front of her. She was two months pregnant with her youngest daughter.

We talked with them about the plan of salvation and it went incredibly well. We explained that through the atonement of Jesus and the mercy and love of our heavenly father they will have the chance to live with their husband and father again. And that one day the youngest would be able to meet her dad. I shared your story and about how close i feel to grandpa even though i dont know him and how i love having his name. I told them how special they were to me b.c of how similar their story was to yours and that of our family.

They are so strong. She doesn´t go to any church right now but prays as powerfully as anyone. She said even though she doesn´t go to church she's never lost her love and need for prayer. Im really going to pray for them and these other great families that we've been blessed with. They are all so special to me and even more to our Heavenly Father. If they weren´t I would have never found them.

I love you all and hope all is well. Please pray and tell others to pray for me and these people. There is so much power in prayer.

Love,

Elder Vincent