How are you all doing?? I hope that you guys have all had wonderful weeks and that this email finds you well! As for me, I'm doing great! This past week has been one of our most successful here in Tupiza, so I have no complaints and really just feel so blessed with everything that has happened. About the Branch that we have been working in, there are SO many members, but there a very few who are active in the Church. These past weeks, we have been searching for less-active members and have been able to track a few down and help them on the path of reactivation. Also, the members are beginning to warm up to us more and more, so we look forward to an increase of help from the members of Branch America here in Tupiza. Now, the amazing investigators. I want to focus on Noemi and Robert, Febe (pronounced "Fay-Bay"), and Magalí. With Noemi and Robert, we had a wonderful appointment this week where we got to cook with them, help their kids with homework, and then watch the Restoration movie and give a lesson. They are an amazing family that really wants to progress in this gospel. I hope that they just keep doing well and I know that they will continue progressing :) Now, Febe :) We knocked Febe's door this week and got to teach her a little before taking out an appointment for another day. We came back to find she was already a few chapters into the Book of Mormon we gave here, she wanted to know more, and was willing to do just about anything to understand more and know if this Church is true. We had a couple great appointments with her this week and then (spoiler alert) she attended our baptism and Church for the first time. She is amazing and we hope to be able to keep helping her little by little to understand. She is truly amazing :) Finally, Magalí :) Well, I kind of already said it with Febe, but we are pleased to say that Magalí was baptized and confirmed this past week. I had the wonderful opportunity of performing both of these ordinances and I am just so happy for her :) This week, I would love to focus my thought on her :) One thing that we were really worried about with Magalí was if she would be able to get permission from her parents. She had expressed much anxiety with that and the moment finally came to ask the permission. We talked with her father for a little bit and then an uncomfortable silence settled in as we waited for him to respond. He surprised us after about a 10 second silence (one of the longest 10 seconds of my life! ;) and gave his permission. We thanked him and then he went back inside. We looked over at Magalí and I saw something that I really didn't expect: She was crying. Hard. She was bawling. She was so happy that she had received permission to be baptized that she had burst into tears. This is something that just makes me so happy. In this moment she felt pure joy in a way that we don't feel that often, only when we make the right decision and God blesses us. I love Magalí and am truly so happy for her :) Now, for all of you. How often do you feel this "true joy"? I am asking you all to evaluate your life andd think of when was the last time you actually felt this utter joy. I promise you that if you are doing all that you are supposed to do, this joy can be a daily part of our lives. You must pray, read the scriptures, and do your best to live a Christ-centered life, taking the necessary steps (like baptism and confirmation) for your salvation. If you all will do this, I promise you that you will have the joy in your life that you seek. No doubt in my mind, because God always blesses His children who choose to follow his path. I know that this is true without a doubt :) Well, this was my week here in Bolivia! If you have any questions, feel free to ask! I love you all and hope that you have a wonderful week! Thank you for all that you do for me!
Elder Wynn
Magalí, Elder Vergara, and I on Saturday night :)
Me with Noemi and Robert's daughter
Me made Tupiza jerseys. Heck yeah we did ;)
I love you so, so much! I hope you have a wonderful week!
Love,
Elder Wynn
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