Week #82, May 14, 2016

19 months!

Hey mom!! it was great talking to all of you. ha im sick of the short time on skype though! i just need to be with you all again!

this week went by really fast! all week there were different zones from the mission here for zone conferences. our job was to go get breakfast sandwiches for everybody every morning! ha there was one night this week when me and elder decker only slept 3 hours. it was hard to stay awake. but then we were told to just go home after everything was over and just sleep. so the next night we slept for 12 hours! it was such bliss. i woke up almost emotional hahah, no im kidding. 

also this week has been awesome with our investigators! camila acecpted to be baptized on the 28th of may!! what a miracle! and the family from el salvador is doing great! their daughter turns 8 tomorrow so all 3 will be able to be baptized together! 

also my study in the book of mormon has been going great. one thing i read that i needed to hear so bad was in 2 nephi 10:20 that says

¨And now, my beloved brethren, seeing that our merciful God has given us so great knowledge concerning these things, let us remember him, and lay aside our sins, and not hang down our heads, for we are not cast off¨. that gave me a lot of hope. i was also reading something that was said in general conference and then later quoted in the liahona from elder allen d haynie. that says: it matters not what sins we have committed or how deep we have sunk into that proverbial pit...what does matter is that Christ is pleading our case before the Father..." that is what really matters and what should give all of us renewed hope and a determination to try one more time, because He has not forgotten us.

he goes on to testify of the power of repentance and that Christ never says, "oh no, not you again" He will never reject us. he always welcomes us back to be close to Him and use His Atonement.  im so grateful i have come to understand that better lately. that really is why we have trials and weaknesses, so we can be humble and learn to trust in the Lord.

i love my family! and hey i totally can be apart of bradys opening! another missionary here just did the same 2 days ago! so when it comes, just send my mission pres an email and it'll happen! i cant wait! 

love you allll

love colton

To Clint:

Im really glad that brady is doing great! i always say it, but i really miss being with you all.

im glad that you could give him a blessing and have that experience. im really hoping that 

brady gets his call really soon! 

what you say about few people serving in the church is so true. i feel awful for ever missing a month of home teaching. i really want to dedicate my life to Christ and do it by serving other people. i like my calling in the office right now because we serve all the other missionaries and make sure they have what they need. at home i really want to make other people a priority, and also our family.

thats cool you had interviews with elder nash and spannuas. i really think you will be a part of the stake presidency, and i think that because you are one of the most committed and responsible people i have ever met! you are my best example dad!

hope youre doing good. i loved being able to talk to you on sunday! 

love colton

today we played soccer!

i do not like soccer.

but elder decker is dying soon [that means he is coming to an end of his mission] 

and wanted to do it so we played, ha.

 i miss watching college football