February 10, 2014 - the most amazing week ever.

Dear family and friends,

We have been teaching Isaiah every other day and he is doing fantastic. He is such a smart kid. I think he understands what we teach him better than most primary kids who have been learning it their whole lives. He doesn't quite yet have a testimony of prophets or the Book of Mormon but he understands what a testimony is and how the Holy Ghost feels, so he's well on his way. Every time we teach him we ask him to give the closing prayer, because he gives the sweetest and most honest prayers you've ever heard. You just know he is sincerely talking to Heavenly Father. Yesterday he said "Heavenly Father...I would really like to go back to school tomorrow, if I can." and then lowering his voice to just a whisper, added "I have faith in you." It was the sweetest thing.

Unfortunately though, his parents have asked us to push his baptismal date back from February 22. They aren't in the greatest financial situation and they really want to be able to have a nice baptism for him with refreshments and also want to wait until they have a car so that they can drive their friends and family there. It's completely understandable but also kind of sad because I have a feeling that they will just keep pushing the date back because they want everything to be perfect. Poor little Isaiah is so excited to get baptized and is learning and growing quickly enough that he would probably be ready for that date, but we can't go against what his parents want obviously so all we can really do is continue to grow their testimony of the importance of baptism.

Oh, we are going to the temple this Saturday!!!! Porter got the Aaronic priesthood on Sunday and changed around his work schedule so that he can make it to the temple trip, which means we get to go too. Sister Obeta and I are both really really excited. The elders are also going with one of their recent converts so it's going to be a really cool experience for everyone. It's about a 4 hour drive to Oklahoma City from here so it'll be an all day trip.

As far as Porter goes, he is just on fire. His wife has taken the lessons before but has never progressed toward baptism and has refused to talk to me since I've been here. But she saw Sister Obeta the other day when we were over there and warmed up to her really quickly because she is half Kiribatese too. She told us we could come over and teach her today! I've never seen Porter so happy before. It's really cool seeing what a difference it makes having Sister Obeta here. The Marshallese people really like her.

Every week I'm here I just love Huntsville, Arkansas more and more. I hope I get to stay here for a long time.

D&C 58

2 For verily I say unto you, blessed is he that akeepeth my commandments, whether in life or in bdeath; and he that is cfaithful in dtribulation, the ereward of the same is greater in the kingdom of heaven.
3 Ye cannot behold with your natural aeyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the bglory which shall follow after much tribulation.