The week got off to a great start by keeping us and our volunteers 'hopping'. I like to be busy but I also like to be able to spend quality time with the people. It is a little hard to have the privacy we want with each person because we use the church foyer for working with them most of the time. When we have several at once, we use the Stake President's chairs outside his office so we don't have conversations going on so close to each other. Often we use our offices, even though small, for internet job searches, applying for jobs online, and faxing résumés. We are grateful for what we have and we make it work. One of our volunteers helped us find information about how people, with education from other countries, can have their credits transfered to the United
States. It costs them money to do it but is worth it if it helps them in getting better jobs. Any information we get is a plus for us and our people.

We had the La Joya Ward elder's quorum president, his first counselor, and secretary, and the high priest group leader, and Bishop at our ward orientation night. Bishop Rodriguez interpreted for us and we feel it went very well. We have four more wards to meet with in this stake and hopefully by that time, we will have the other stake up to were this one is. It is all about doing the best we can and leaving the rest in the Lord's hands.

Zone Conference instruction was on Lesson 4 in "Preach my Gospel" in recognizing the spirit. Elder Scott's talk from General Conference and Nephi's experience in obtaining the Brass plates was also used. Sister Miller focused on the Christ-like attribute of gratitude. The sister missionaries and Sister Miller and I sang the hymn, Abide with Me in Spanish and it really sounded good. The knowledge and teaching ability of these young missionaries is definitely because they are listening to the spirit. I picture my grandsons someday doing the same and pray for their parents every day to guide their young lives.

Saturday I attended a Stake Relief Society meeting on Provident living which was very informative and well attended. I was able to help with prelude and the opening hymn. Elder Avery help with an Eagle project that was going on outside taking out dead plants and old grass and planting plants and laying rock and ground cover. He was sore the rest of the day but still helped get some house work done.

Today was the Hidalgo 1st Ward Primary Sacrament presentation that we have been practicing on for 3 weeks. It is always amazing how different the practices are from the actual performance. The children did a great job and the missionaries assigned to that ward said it was a good message on the importance of families. I love how music is universal and I could play even when sung in another language.

It was a good week and we are grateful to be doing the Lord's work!

With love,
Los Averys