Hola Todos!Good news! Y'all only have to deal with reading two more of these! It's insane, it is getting so close, but just still doesn't feel...'real', I guess. I don't know, just thinking about how life as I know it is going to come to a sudden halt is really hard to fully grasp. But I can't like prepare for it, because while I am out here, I don't want to slow down in the work. Other return missionaries, you get what I'm saying, right? Haha, anyways, this week was awesome! We saw a lot of miracles, and got to have some really cool experiences! Also, I'll get to the haircut thing later.We didn't meet too many new people this week, but I do want to talk about one real quick, Carlos! He is from the Dominican Republic, and saw an ad on Facebook for a free Bible, and was really excited, because he left his back home when he moved here. Fast forward a week, and we come by last Saturday with a Bible and Book of Mormon. He was super intrigued by the Book of Mormon, and was stoked to read it! He the asked where we go to church, and said he'd see us there the next day...We were pretty shocked, haha, but he actually showed up yesterday, and loved it! It has been super cool talking to him.As for those we are already teaching, it was awesome! I don't remember if I said, but She is planning to be baptized on July 28th. And as always happens when people start to plan to be baptized: trials! It's been super hard, she has had some family issues, car issues, health issues, and just Saturday night, her daughter had appendicitis so she had to get emergency surgery...but she is still going like a champ! She is showing a ton of faith, and making progress despite the hard things, its amazing to see! Then Larissa and Erminda. Kind of funny, so out last lesson, we were talking about how they feel about baptism, and it basically went like:me: So, this is your baptism, so when do you feel like you would be ready?Larissa: Oh, I don't know, I haven't really thought about a date...me: well, it can be whenever, we can do it in like 2 weeks, maybe a month or*cuts me off*Larissa: yeah, that sounds good!me:...a month or two?Larissa: naw, two weeks! that sounds great!Erminda: Yeah, that sounds like an excellent plan!me:...well alrighty then!It was awesome. They are super cool! They also cook super well which is a serious plus, haha. Man, I'm going to miss real Latin food...Anyways, it has been a really cool week, we even got to meet the new mission president! His name is President Ashcraft, he is from Idaho, and really young (49) as far as mission president go. He is still a bit shell-shocked about being called as a mission president, but he seems like he will do super well! I won't really know him, but I'm excited for him and the Florida Orlando Mission! This place has been amazing and I would not trade this experience for the world! (well, except my family, but that doesn't count!)As for the haircut, that was this morning, and it has really left an impression on me. I have spent two years learning how to help others understand what Christ can do for them. How He can truly help them. Carry their burdens. Erase their guilt. Heal them. It has been really sad just thinking about how I will not be able to do that anymore. It's been taking a toll, but this morning, God gave me and awesome opportunity. I went to get my haircut, and we were kind of in a rush, so I wasn't in a very spiritual mood, but the lady cutting my hair is just going at it, talking to the other barber. And suddenly he talks about a buddy of his that died in a car crash. And she just looked at me and goes, "I just don't get that! Why does that happen?" She caught me a bit offgaurd, but my immediate response was, "things happen sometimes, it doesn't mean God caused it". She then looked at my comps and asked the same. They were caught off guard, but explained what they could about how God respects our agency, and allows some things to happen sometimes. She thought for a second, and then pulled out her phone, and showed a video of a car that was just destroyed. Smashed and torn apart. Then said, "he lived, my son lived. Why?". We were once again caught offgaurd, but explained that at times, God will intervene in a way for a specific purpose, and it may not have been her sons time to go, God's plan is perfect. She started to get really teary eyed, and thanked us, and explained that was what she thought. Her son didn't have a faith in God, but she hopes this experience (happened yesterday) will help him realize that error. We promised that as she continued to live faith and do what she could for her kid, that things would work out. God never promised us a perfect life, just a perfect eternal recompense for our faith. I shared 2 Nephi 2:2 with her, where a father is talking to his son who has been through a lot. he says, "Nevertheless, Jacob, my firstborn in the wilderness, thou knowest the greatness of God; and he shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain." She thought for a bit, got a bit more teary, and thanked us. She finished up the haircut, and told me not to worry about paying, and thanked us profusely for sharing what we did. I don't feel like we really shared that much, or anything that profound, but we did bring the spirit, and that is what she needed to feel the peace of Christ. I did not need to be a missionary to have that experience. I just had to be available for the Lord to use. I know we can all experience that joy of helping someone feel the healing power of Christ! And the only thing that feels better than Christ's and God's love is sharing it! Sorry for the length, I just never want to forget that. I love you all immensely, and can't thank you enough for sending me you love over these last few years! I hope you have a fantastic week, I LOVE Y'ALL!!!<3 Elder Fox
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