Hey there! So you got my pictures, I take it. How'd you know that it was an ironing board? Spoil my fun! grr! Yes, we had way too much fun in the MTC haha :)

Things are going very well here. The work is ramping up. Jenny Hattabaugh should be baptized on August 21st, and there are at least 3 other people who COULD be baptized in August. We will see with them though.

One of them gave me one of my favorite new quotes. Her name is Hailee. She is 14 (i think). Her friend invited her to church and gave her True to the Faith and all this stuff and Hailee really wants to be baptized now. We haven't taught her yet but when we last saw her we asked her how she felt about what she's learned about the church so far. She replied, "It's amazing! It's better than being Christian!" hahahaha!

We had a really amazing miracle this last week. So, I was on exchanges here with Elder Bracken. At one point we drove down this one street and Elder Bracken told me that Elder Perry and I should do some tracting there some time. A couple days later, we did. We knocked on this door and a lady came out and talked to us. Her husband got home from work just a minute or two later so we talked with both of them. And they have a 5 year old daughter, btw. Apparently, they investigated the church about 2 years ago, and attended church a couple of times. Things were going great. But then the missionaries that were teaching them got transferred and they lost contact with the church. They recently purchased a used pickup. However, the previous owner, it seems, made some people pretty mad. Someone did a drive-by shooting at their house. Put a bunch of bullet holes in the truck. One bullet went through the house and shot through a picture of Jesus that was hanging on their daughter's wall. They took that as a sign that they need to get back to church. So they want us to come teach them! :)

I've been thinking a lot lately about being prepared. Ya know. Getting out of debt. Having ample Food and Water Storage. Owning all our own property. Having various emergency plans and supplies. It's very important. It's going to get bad here in a few years. I hope everyone back home has these things in mind and are working on them.

And, of course, my weekly Temple question. When was the last time you went? You should all go every chance you get. I don't have a chance, and I am unbelievably jealous of you all. The temple is extremely important. There's a quote in Preach My Gospel by Spencer W. Kimball. "I hope to see us dissolve the artificial boundary line we so often place between missionary work and temple and genealogical work, because it is the same great redemptive work!” That pretty much says it right there. :)

The next transfers will occur on August 14th. I will know on the 8th if either of us will get transferred, if Jenks will be opened, or what. I personally feel that I will get transferred somewhere else. We will see though.

Today is my 3 month mark. That's pretty insane. I'll be home before you can blink. Thank you for your letters. I love hearing about what's going on back home. I can't believe the Garvins are coming to Utah! Is it the Apocalypse or something?

I got a letter from Grandma and Grandpa Bracken. That was really cool. And I got a sweet package of letters and Brownie Mixes from the Garcias! It's been a good week :) haha

And mom, it is NOT hot in St. George. It's hot here. :P

Anywho. I love you all and I will, of course, keep writing every week and keeping you up to date :) Just FYI, since Labor Day is on a Monday, my Preparationg day will probably be the next day, on Tuesdays. I guess they do that mostly because Library's close on Holidays so missionaries can't email home. But yeah. That's the latest news on my end!

Love,
Elder Bracken