7 years of searching... humble as ever (from July 15, 2013)

Hey Family I love serving here in Bloomington, this place has helped shape me into who I am today. The ward is so good and the people are amazing. Bishop Goodman is such a loving and wonderful example to me as to how a bishop should run a ward. So we had transfers on Tuesday and there are some new changes that have taken place. We now have Sister Malachoska and Sister Baldridge here in the ward covering the east side of town. They are two young but energetic missionaries. Sister Malachowska is 21 and from ogden and Sister Baldridge is 20 from Boise haha. The ward is very excited to have them here in town and it's great to see that they aren't going to destroy the work that we have set up for them. On Thursday we set them up with Michelle who came to church this last weekend, we made the handoff and wow they set a baptismal date with her for August 10th. Yea we've had 2 investigators that we have had get dished out to other companionships. SO the biggest thing is that Gerber Flores is ready for baptism. We had 2 great lessons with him this week and he was interviewed on sunday and is ready for baptism this Saturday. I love Gerber. SO he is from Guatemala and has 2 children and a wife back there Joshua 18 and Kimbelry 16. He hasn't been back there for 7 years. He said that he came here looking for something that he wasn't going to find if he stayed back in Guatemala. He is a good educated man but here he has been getting just a bunch of side jobs like right now he's a cook at Olive Garden. He was basically in tears this last lesson when he said that he has now found the reason why he's here in America. We talked of eternal families and that just clicked. Elder Clark and I knew that we had to tell him that he will need to go back to Guatemala and tell his family what more the Lord has for them, and he really wants to do that. I'm going to continue to stay in touch with him and make sure that he gets his family going in the gospel and that he sees the true happiness of the temple. Well last night we found another Mexican family that wants us to come back and teach them so yea we'll do that tomorrow. I just wish that I knew Spanish. Yes I'd love to go to the ward picnic and talk with people when I get back. I can golf later on.. I'm actually going to go play with Elder clark and another member at like 1 today. Not sure what else to say just been doing to work and I love doing it. Everyday I take off the name tag at night and realize what a privilege it is to have it on. I tried to extend my mission but they wouldn't let me do it. We have some good referrals to check up on and some good potentials that we are going to try and make into new investigators this week. I love you all and I'm doing great here in Bloomington it's the best Elder Gonzalez going strong