Not much going on in the area....but Luke has mastered stick shift :)

Well Luke needs our prayers.  His area is very hard and so far they haven't had much success.  But I remember on my mission when I was struggling, my family fasted for me and I felt that power lift me up and we found success.  So this fast Sunday we are fasting for Luke, that he will find those who are ready to hear the gospel! 

They might not be finding anyone right now, but one success is Luke has mastered driving a stick shift and now wants one when he gets home :)  ha ha ha!  I'm so glad to hear that too because I was worried about him driving around the streets that he says are a "free for all" without traffic lights etc.  Yikes!  So knowing he is doing better at driving stick calms my fears a bit :)

I loved hearing Luke reflect on his mission and what he has learned.  He said a few things that stand out (and hopefully I'm close to how he said it...)

• Missions change you and let's you know you can be better and so can everyone else.
• Missions are the repentance process on steroids.  It helps you understand who you are and who you can become
• Missions help you have a new perspective on the world, on God, and yourself.  It changes you if you let it

He went on to tell us about an interview he had with President Reber where he remembers he was being hard on himself.  President Reber stopped him and had them read parts of Moses 1 together.  He told Luke to notice the way Satan talks to Moses and then the way God talks to Moses.  He taught him we can always restart.  We always have the chance to be better.  He also used the Brother of Jared as an example.  He escapes to the promised land and forgets the Lord.  The Lord chews him out for hours because he forgot him.  So the Brother of Jared repents and immediately after is the miracle of the 16 stones.  He went from being chewed out to being blessed with light.  Such great faith, so amazing that the Lord blesses us....we can go from sinner to great faith.  Repent and start to be obedient and immediately you are entitled to the Spirit!

I'm so proud of Luke and the amazing missionary he is.  He has grown so much and this growth couldn't have been possible if he didn't take a leap of faith and serve the Lord on this mission.  Wow God is good!

They watched the car in front of them hit this alligator on the road!  So of course they had to stop and take pictures :)