I Will Do What I Must

¡Hola a todos y bienvenidos a mi correo!

This week was pretty awesome in the fact that we were able to continue helping Frank and Santos in their lessons and keep preparing for their baptisms this next Sunday.

The email title this week is because it's crunch time for Santos and Frank. We're going to do all we can to help them and make sure they're ready to be baptized next weekend.

Our friend Frank is so elect and ready. As we taught him about temples, he expressed genuine interest and desire in wanting to do work for his ancestors. He even said that he'd done family history with his member friend years ago. We even set up a time to go see the McAllen temple open house with him. All in all, he's progressing super well, and I'm super excited for him.

We almost had a little hiccup in the plan on Sunday, though. The night before, we'd had a lesson with him at the church and he'd passed his baptismal interview. We reminded him about church the next day, and he said he'd for sure be there. Come Sunday morning, and he's not there. We tried calling, and he wasn't answering his phone. We were kind of panicking and worried that maybe something had happened to him. We had a couple of other friends at church with us, Santos and Adalberto, so we couldn't just leave them alone. We ended up taking the sacrament and then heading up to Frank’s to see what was going on. When we got there, we saw his adult son, Mark, standing outside. We asked him if his dad was home, but there was no reply. I'm not sure if I've talked about Mark before, but he's schizophrenic and doesn't really talk. Previously, I've only heard him say "yes" and "Jesus." We knocked on the back door, and Frank told us to come in. He said that he'd been on the way to church but had forgotten his Book of Mormon, so he came back but was planning on coming to church. We were relieved he was okay and told him it was okay if he didn't bring his Book of Mormon every week. As we were leaving, we said goodbye to his son Mark, and much to our surprise, he just started talking to us: "Run. I like to say run. About a thousand miles. To Mexico or San Antonio." Needless to say, it was a strange experience.

But Frank made it to church, as well as Santos and our new friend Adalberto, who accepted a date to be baptized early in September. He's an interesting guy, but really wants to grow closer to God and do all that God has asked us to do. He said he loved church and felt the Spirit super strongly, which is always awesome to hear.

Santos is coming along well, and we're helping him learn what he needs to. He still loves coming to church and is getting to know all the members. He said he'd met with missionaries in San Antonio before, and they had been helping him be baptized too. We're double-checking the church records now to make sure he didn't actually get baptized before. If not, then he'll get baptized this weekend. I doubt he was, but it's always good to double-check.

Not much more to say this week, except that I know the Lord loves our efforts. When we do all we can and serve Him with our whole heart, our efforts will always be enough to Him, and He will make up the rest through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Have a good week, everyone.

Dream big. Dream... safe. And remember, you are loved by God.

-Elder Teeples

P.S. My phone still isn't cooperating, so I hope this email reaches you. Whenever that may be.

Last week's email: There is too much, let me sum up

Movie: Princess Bride – the Spanish swordsman, Inigo Montoya, says this about his life's story.

Pics:

Me with the Selena Statue, Mirador de la Flor (Selena was a famous Spanish-music singer and was from Corpus).

On the USS Lexington, a WWII aircraft carrier that is now a museum on the coast of Corpus.

Random weird bug (no idea what kind it is; your guess is as good as mine).