New Companion (Elder Backman), Amazing Conference Weekend, and Poop 😂

Luke sounded SOOOO excited to be serving with Elder Backman.  They have been friends through out the mission and he absolutely LOVES him!   A little about him....he has lived in Russia (for about 6 years I think) and Germany.  His parents are now in Washington.  He plays the guitar and he has a sister that is getting married in the Rome temple after he gets home.  In fact you have to be married civilly first in Italy and so Elder Backman is going to marry them before they are sealed.  Elder Backman has brought excitement about being a ZL back to Luke.  Luke was ready to be released as a ZL, but now he is excited because they are trying some new organizational tools and he is pumped.  Grateful Luke has a companion that he loves :)

Luke reported that Gustavo and Natalia are still doing great.  They have an appointment to get married on May 5th and a baptismal date for May 6th!  So exciting!  They are just part of the ward now.  In fact Luke saw a group text from the Elder's Quorum and Gustavo is hosting an asada at his house!  So cool to have them so integrated in the ward.  What a great example of the power of fellowshipping! 

Both Luke's friends Sofia and Aylen were able to watch General Conference this past weekend!   Sofia was having some doubts and Conference was just what she needed!  She ended up watching all sessions!  And she is still set for her baptism on April 15th.  So exciting!

Today Luke's friend Benjamin, that always goes on splits with them, is leaving on his mission for Buenos Aires!  I guess Benjamin doesn't have a father figure in his life and so Luke has felt like his dad recently.  Actually he said he felt like his trainer :)  Benjamin recently went through the temple but didn't quite understand that he has to wear his garments all the time.  He said they are uncomfortable.  So Luke and Elder Childs would go to pick him up to go on exchanges with them and he wouldn't be wearing his garments.  So Luke would send him back in and tell him to put them on.  :)   Luke is excited to see the changes that happen with Benjamin because he is somewhat clueless on gospel topics.  He will grow so much these next 2 years!

OK now for the not-so-spiritual happenings....Luke and his companion are moving into a new apartment next week.  When we asked why he had a long list of  how bad their current apartment is...cockroaches, the neighbors smoke and their place reeks of it, and their toilet doesn't work.  The other day both he and his companion had diarrhea.  They knew their toilet was having issues but they had no choice.  Well the worst happened...when they flushed it come UP instead of going DOWN!!  YIKES!!!!  Yep it overflowed all over their floor!!!! UGH!!!  Let's just say after squeegeeing and using a whole bottle of cleaner, he was sweating and threw away those clothes he was cleaning in! :)   UGH so gross!  :)  (but memorable!)

So there you go...a great week!  This week they are excited because they get to stay in a hotel when they go to MLC (Mission Leadership Conference) and they get to go a little early and they heard their hotel has a sauna and a pickleball court.  He said it's going to feel like a mini vacation! :)  Also they are planning on going to Iguazu Falls on April 17th.  So many great things to look forward to!

Also it was so fun because the kids are home from Spring Break this week and so they got to talk to Luke!  Luke couldn't stop talking about how buff Gavin is :)  

Goodbyes to Elder Childs....