January 16, 2016

Hey everyone!

This week has been great! Demetrius had his interview for baptism this week and it went great! He is so excited for Saturday he just can't wait. Every time he talks about it he just gets near tears. He is so giddy to be baptized! It just reminds me how important this is. This is eternal life we are working here.

Last week a member of the ward, Sister Olaya brought her sister to church. Her sister (Diana) is really interested in the gospel, and we were able to teach her Thursday night. She was raised in another religion, and has always felt something missing and says at church she feels that wholeness. It is incredible what the spirit can do. The spirit really does have a spiritual familiarity, even when you are hearing something for the first time. Elder Johnson and I also tracted into a man named Cidon-Lee Smith. He is such a miracle. I guess he was taking the lessons twice in the past and lost contact with them for various reasons. But when we knocked on his door, he knew we were sent by the Lord. He says that every time the Book of Mormon or the missionaries come into his life, good things happen. He is going to be baptized on February 11. He is really excited for it too!

This last Saturday night, I really got the "East Texas feeling!" We were on our way to dinner in Chandler Texas, and although Tyler is a pretty large city, all of the suburbs are stereotypical east Texas cities. We were driving out there, and the first hint of what we were going to, was the big ol’ black man cruisin’ around shirtless on a lawn mower, with a cigarette in his mouth. We didn't eat anything weird for dinner, but we did hear a gunshot in the woods during our meal. Next time Sister George said she will make us squirrel and dumplings. I am actually really excited to try it. I bet it is delicious!

This week has been great, and full of many miracles.

Love
Elder Riley Layton