20 Years of ALL THIS

February 8, 2016

Hey Guys,

Thanks so much for all of the great birthday wishes. Today has been a great day. We went to eat at a place called In N Out. It isn't the same as In n Out in the States, but it is really good. We invited President Klein, and he came. It was a lot of fun. I got to eat onion rings for the first time in 19 months. President and Sister Klein also bought me a cake. It was sooo good. It was chocolate and strawberry with real strawberries on top. I had forgotten how much I missed strawberries. It was excellent, and probably the first time I have ever eaten cake on my birthday.

This week I got to go to Progreso to watch one of my old investigators get baptized. It was amazing to watch the complete 180 degree change that has occurred in her life. When we first found her, she didn't even want to speak to us. She is the daughter of a recent convert who had recently moved back in with her mom after what must of been some sort of split from her boyfriend/husband. She full on rejected us the first few times we tried, so we let up for a while, always including her when she chose to stay seated in the room. After about three months, we decided with my companion to try again, and this time she accepted. And on Saturday she was baptized. It was so cool to watch her come out of the water, and see the weight of all that had happened just lifted off of her shoulders. She just seemed to glow as she sat grinning in her seat as the ward leaders welcomed her into the fold. I am glad that I could go see that.

Also on Saturday, Hermana Jessica, my old cocinera, invited me and my companion to celebrate my birthday in Pizza Hut. It was a blast. They came out and sand to me, put the silly hat on my head (gross) and everything. I felt much more at home with all of them than I feel here in Lima. I feel like being in the office prevents me from getting to interact with everyone as much as I could in my old areas, which is kind of lame, but it was great to get to see them. Plus, several of my mission buds are in that ward, so they were there too. I had a ball.

We didn't get to do a whole lot of teaching this week because we were in a trio. One office Elder left to go fill a hole, and when one of the three had an emergency, we all had one, especially since I am the only one that can drive. I now know how to do all the jobs in the office, which is interesting. Hopefully this coming change will bring more stability and greater opportunities to teach.

I hope you all have a great week.

Elder Aldrich