June 6, 2011

Hey Y'All,

This week was my last one in Rockwall, I will be transferred tomorrow to somewhere that I dont know where that is yet. I have had a great run here in Rockwall for sure! I love the people here, and it was kind of sad saying goodbye to the wonderful people in the Rockwall and Heath Wards. Nevertheless, this last week was definitely one to remember.

Let's start off with Monday. Last Monday the Elders in Wyllie got a phone call letting Elder Snow know that he was to be emergency transferred the very next day. So Elder Bezona (Elder Snow's former companion) was put in a TRI-panionship with the Elders in Sachse for the rest of the week. On Tuesday, Elder Crockett from Sachse came to Rockwall/Heath with me and Elder Lyman and spent the day in Wyllie/Sachse. Something really cool happened when Elder Crockett and I were tracting. We were just about done for the night, one of the last, probably 5 houses when we see this guy running at us. It was a guy we had talked to earlier and he asked for our number so he could have us over for dinner sometime. Who knows, nothing may come of it, but it was definitely an exciting experience for Elder Crockett and myself.

Now I will skip to Saturday, we were tracting and met a man named Bill Marshall. He is a man that has been acquainted with the church, but is not too familiar with what we believe and our stance on some things. We answered some questions and invited him to come to church. We were more than ecstatic when we came into the chapel on Sunday and saw him sitting there waiting for us. And not only was he there, but the members that had already arrived were standing around him, meeting him and making him feel welcome. Then after church, Lily, a girl that has been taking the lessons for about a year now, admitted to us that it was time and she set her own date for June 18! What an amazing step she is taking and what an example she is setting for her family! She has been really struggling because her family doesn't really approve, but she decided during this past week that she wanted to make Heavenly Father happy, and that she was going to be a missionary to her family by being baptized. What a wonderful person she is, and a blessing it has been for me to know her.

Needless to say, my last week in the Rockwall/Heath area was pretty amazing! I will miss all of the amazing people here and I bid to them a fond farewell. I am still looking forward a little bit to seeing more of the mission and having more wonderful experiences! The Gospel is true and I want you all to know that! President Monson is the Prophet on the earth today and Jesus is the Savior. What a wonderful blessing it is for us all to know this. I am so grateful to all of you that have played such a big role in my development in the Gospel! And in conjunction, the influence you all have here in the Texas Dallas mission!

I am really excited to hear about the groundbreaking of the temple! I have actually been looking at the website the church put up for the temple, seeing the updates on it, I am pretty excited that it is finally under construction! When is it supposed to be finished? Also, Elder Rasband spoke to the mission at the same time Elder Oaks did. I just figured you might think that is cool because he was the one that did the dedicating and groundbreaking!

Love, Elder Layton