Hello all! How are you?

Dad it was perfect timing for you to send that dear elder letter. I got it last night and had time to read and prepare what I wanted to say so I hope it’s a lot better this time. Things are looking up for me! The cool story of the week is: So I’ve been working really hard to memorize the first vision, in Spanish, and when we were teaching our teacher about the restoration of la iglesia de jesucristo de los santos de los ultimos dias we got to the part of how Joseph Smith knelt down in the grove and said the prayer to God. I said it fully in Spanish and she started to cry and after I asked why and she told me that when she was on her mission she did that to an investigator and then they knew right then the church was true and our teacher, Hermana Anthony, really felt the spirit. That made me feel really good because during lessons I don’t say too much because I don’t know as much as my companion does but when I do speak I do so to the best of my ability and I let the spirit teach. One thing I have really learned is I might know almost no Spanish but through the power of the spirit anything is possible and anyone can understand what you’re saying in any language. This for me was a huge boost! :-)

Katie made a blog for me? I have had a lot of people tell me they read it, thank her for doing that for me! Hopefully I can add some pictures to these emails sometime soon if I can figure out where we can do that, if we even can.

How is work? Are you traveling a lot more now than you were when I was home? That’s awesome about Jim taking the discussions, he is a good guy and I’m glad that I was able to in a roundabout way introduce him to the church (and Rebecca). I can’t even describe how the amazing this church is. It’s hard to believe how people don’t accept it. I know it’s amazing and boy it sure has blessed me and my family.

Today we got to go to the temple, finally. It has been closed since we’ve been here for cleaning and this was our first time in it and it was cool. I received answers to my prayers about specific things and can’t wait until we get to go back next week! Also I prayed in Spanish with my companion in there and that was really cool. Words that I didn’t think I knew I said so that was another testimony builder.

That's awesome that the Mafia to Mormon guy came to YC. How was he? One of my friends here, another elder that Liz Felix knows told me more about him and he has an amazing story. It’s awesome to see what people go through to support and testify about our church. I know right now I would put my life down for the Lord and His Church. Like Joseph Smith said...persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, calamity may defame but no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing. What strong words those are. Its awesome knowing how important our church is and what it can do for us.

How is mom’s foot doing? Oh random but I found one elder that is going on his mission to Cleveland Ohio and he reports here within the next couple weeks. No sisters though, that I have seen or met.

My companion is still a goof ball but we're getting along well. I’m glad he is a hard worker and he likes being here. I keep having to remind myself to be patient so I hope one day I just become patient and don’t have to worry about kicking myself when I say usted listo or you ready...he is slow and I like being on time!

How’s mowing the grass? I miss all of you can’t wait to hear from you, especially you, dad.

And the last thing, I challenge you all to start reading the Book of Mormon again if you haven’t. I have a goal of reading it twice by the time I leave here...4.5 weeks. I want to do it once each in Spanish and English. Well that’s all I can think of for now. Thank you all for the prayers, letters and support.

I love you lots,
Elder Herman