"I don't want to go!"‏

EL FIN SE ACERCA
Y HAY POCO TIEMPO
DEBÉIS PUBLICAR LO QUE DIOS OS MANDÓ
SALID PUES, HERMANOS, CON FE, PROCLAMANDO
QUE DIOS DE NUEVO SU REINO FUNDÓ.
QUE DIOS DE NUEVO SU REINO FUNDÓ! (Himnos, 173)

This is my last week as a missionary. It's a very bittersweet feeling. As the end draws nigh, however, I find myself feeling more at peace, as if land were coming from over the sea. It's odd, looking back, when I had just a few months, screaming in my head: "I WON'T LAST EVEN A MONTH OUT HERE! I CAN'T DO IT! I WANT TO GO!" And now I, here, with 23.5 months, realize: "...I don't want to go!"

The progress I've had, the growth and the love I've felt, the people I've met and the foods I've eaten (yes, even the crickets) - all of that calls to me, and I say: thank you, God, for having been so loving to have sent me to this beautiful country. Sure, there are problems - but where doesn't? I love the work I've been able to do, the things I've learned. I could try to put them in a list, but I would fail. Too great are the blessings I've received in Mexico.

As I now say, I was raised in the United States; I grew up in Mexico.

But enough melancholy; hay que trabajar! Placentero me es trabajar en la viña del gran rey Jesús, y honroso me es predicar a su pueblo su ley y su luz. ¡Por su luz! ¡Por su luz! ¡Placentero me es trabajar! Por su luz, por su luz, moriré yo en él sin pesar. (Himnos, #88)

Life is good.

Thank you all for all your help, love, and support over these last two years. We'll see you all soon!

Con gran amor,

Elder Newman

P.S. Here's a picture of me shooting a bow and arrow today.

When I begin selecting who to send the email to, I type "Everyone" and it selects everyone.‏

I've been wanting to tell y'all that for so long now. And I finally have.

So, how was New Year's? Great! We watched 17 miracles, which was great, we played a bit of soccer, which was also great, my companion gave me a peruvian soccer jersey, which was also great, and I drew quite a bit.

I'm also very happy that the New Testament will be the book of study this year. I got excited about it when I found it out - and I'll be glad to get out of gospel principles soon. It's a nice class, but still..

So, down to the important stuff:

On Friday, we were waiting for a trasnport to take us over to the meal. However, it passed and I didn't flag it down - so, I thought, "Let's go contact more people. we're a little early anyways". (Pardon my awful grammar). We start going around the block, when a man shouts at us and signals for us to come over. As we draw near, he bagins telling us about him - turns out, he's already a member. Just as we're aobut to go, however, the owner of the house - he just works there - comes out. Within two sentences or so, she's already invited us in to chat with her some more about the gospel. We invite her to Church, she accepts, along with her daughters, and we finish setting an appointment for the next day and head out. We got to the meal late, but that's another story that's not so interesting.

The next day, we decide to teach the Restoration of the Gospel. When we get to the part about Joseph Smith, she tells us, "I've heard that name before. About three or four years ago, I had a dream where I heard that name. I had no idea who it was or what it meant, but now I know." Subsequently, we invited her to be baptized on the 18th, and she accepted. All that's left now is to work with the members and her and her daughter to get them all baptized by then. Things are looking very good for them, especially considering the circumstances.

Elizabeth, Alexa, and Christian are their names. They all came to church yesterday, too. So, here's hoping and praying that all goes well!

Love,

Elder Joseph Newman

P.S. We lit a floating lamp that you write a wish on. It went up about 5-10 meters, then fell into our nieghboor's back yard. Oh well - at least I got the photo!