An Up and Down Week

January 24, 2011

Dear Family,

That week went by so fast!! I can’t believe that we're already to P-day once again.

I have had a very interesting (and maybe even life changing) week myself. We thought for sure last Monday that we were going to have a baptism on Saturday. Then Doris told us no, because she didn’t want to get baptized without us getting her a dog first (It’s a really long story; I’ll have to explain it all later). She went kind of crazy, so we decided we would not go by her house ever again. We got to Friday with no plans for a baptism and out of nowhere we got a call from Doris. She said that in the night she had decided to pick up her Book of Mormon and while she was reading, God told her that she had to get baptized. We figured it was a miracle!!! Then, right before the baptism, she told us that her daughter, who is her legal guardian, said NO WAY and we couldn’t baptize her. It was really an “up down, exciting one moment, then completely sad the next moment” kind of week. Then last night again, she said that she wants to get baptized and she’s working on getting her daughter to let her do it. WE SHALL SEE! Ha-ha-ha. Wait… We just received another text message… the daughter just said no again... ha-ha-ha

On Wednesday, President DaSilva showed up. There wasn’t really any fixing to the whole problem I had, but I did have a very profound experience. I had an interview and the things that were said were very enlightening. I feel much better now. I learned several things and I realize that there are many things that I need to change to become a better person. It was interesting because in the interview I asked the president if he wanted to know everything about the situation. He said, “No, just go fix it”. We then talked about when you get angry or upset at a situation, we lose our free agency. We become a victim to the thing to which we react and no longer are we a free agent. I have now set several new life goals and since the interview, have been feeling much better. I feel like I’m finally getting this whole thing figured out. I now know that whatever comes of this ridiculous situation in 33 will be resolved the way God wants it to happen. It brought lots of peace to my mind.

My health seems to be just fine. I never got too sick. Sorry, I tried to get pictures to you, but this computer is super crappy. There isn’t anything too special that you need to send me. What you said sounds pretty good to me... well maybe some family pictures or some pictures on one of the memory cards of the house and the valley if you wanted to. I’m doing pretty well, in fact I’m doing really, really good! Well, I love you a lot!

Love Elder Sluder