4th of July 🇺🇸

Wow what a solid week! Also it was the last week of the transfer, time is just flying by! Only 2 more transfers left what's happening?! The good news is both my companion and I will be staying here for the next transfer which I'm stoked about, and I'm even more pumped that one of my son's that I trained will be my Zone Leader (Elder Hathaway 😜) I will also be the district leader again so a few cool changes this transfer and I'm very excited! 
This vet doesn't know how to spell my name...
Some highlights from the week include having 3 DA's with members, celebrating 4th of July with an American family in the ward, and of course extending another baptismal date! We now have 3 friends on date for baptism and honestly we would not have found any of these people were it not for the lockdown, God is sooo good and we have been so blessed during this time frame. 

Dinner appointments!

Dinner appointments!

Now about the 4th of July, there is a family in our ward from California and we met up with them at a park for the 4th of July to have a little picnic and play some good old American Football. Let me tell you, it was great!! I haven't played American Football in forever and I just enjoyed throwing a ball around and running routes and just living the life, plus the food was quite nice and we had some A&W rootbeer which is a luxury here! I had such a fantastic day.  



Another great thing from this week was that I was able to finish reading the Book of Mormon from cover to cover for the 5th time on my mission. As I read Moroni's closing testimony I have no doubt in my mind that these things are true, and I know from personal experience of prayer and study that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, and that Joseph Smith is the prophet of this dispensation to restore the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on Earth. This knowledge has blessed my life and I am truly grateful for it! 

Each week just seems to get better and better here. Not only with the lockdown but also with the progress of the work. The Lord has blessed us in so many ways both large and small, and I am grateful to be able to recognize his hand truly guiding this work! I'm so grateful to still be here for these last 3 months. I hope everybody has a good week and stays safe, love y'all!

Elder Orchard

A note from Mom:  Stockton sent me pictures of his attempt at cookies this past week.  He didn't have the right pan and didn't know how long to bake them.  They were a complete disaster and he said he was really disappointed.  





 I got to be on the phone with him for an extra 30 minutes or so giving him a step by step tutorial.  He did great and it was time I really enjoyed!  His cookies turned out much better after he got a cooking lesson. 

I made some homemade oreos this week and they are good 👌🏼

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