Yay for Summer!

Good morning everyone!
Everything has been going really great lately. The weather has been perfect, the sunshine amazing, everything has been fantastic! We have been getting a lot of Italian and Mexican food lately, which is amazing and my favorite. Elder Holm even got his Chinese food the other day, so he was happy. Me, it was ok (still not a super huge fan at all). Yesterday we ate with an old mission president and his family - they had served in Mexico before and they had a Mexican casserole that was very similar to Mexican chicken, it was my favorite meal I have had in a long, long time. Not quite as good as our family recipe, but not too bad. We had tres leche cake as dessert, and that has fastly risen to one of my favorite desserts. After all the brownies and cookies and sweets we get, anything that is slightly out of the ordinary is amazing and makes my taste buds happy. Fact for Lora - they make tie-dye duct tape, thought you would like to know. So carrying around a cereal box for a scripture case has gotten me a lot of attention and I have had a lot of people offer to buy me a new one, I say thanks but no thanks, but I don't know if they will actually listen or not. I am decorating the box this week so that it will be more inducive to the Spirit, but we will see what happens. Now that we got the sprinklers fixed, the water pressure in the shower has gotten really bad. So we are working on getting that fixed up and redirected. Something on the apartment is always breaking down and being responsible to fix it all is not always the most fun I have ever had. But so far, nothing has been too terribly difficult and the members are always willing to help out and make things better and give what assistance they can. I think that is all the random news for this week or updates on how things have been going in my life. I have decided I miss making ice cream and smoothies though, that is something I am excited for when I get back from my mission because they taste so good. Anyway, here is the weekly day by day update.

Monday - President okayed board games for the mission on P-days, which means I was incredibly happy and excited. We went to a toy outlet shop that day and got the game of Curses! and played it for P-day - brilliant!!! Totally relaxing fun that I haven't had in a long time. I know that isn't really spiritual, but it made a big difference for me!

Tuesday - great day! We taught the Nay family on that day at the Medenhall's about the Atonement using one of my new all time favorite stories. Here it is:

" The Room.."
In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room. There were no distinguishing features except for the one wall covered with small index card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly endless in either direction, had very different headings.
As I drew near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was one that read "Girls I have liked." I opened it and began flipping through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the names written on each one. And then without being told, I knew exactly where I was. This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for my life. Here were written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in a detail my memory couldn't match. A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening files and exploring their content. Some brought joy and sweet memories; others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching.
A file named "Friends" was next to one marked "Friends I ha ve betrayed." The titles ranged from the mundane to the outright weird. "Books I Have Read," "Lies I Have Told," "Comfort I have Given," "Jokes I Have Laughed at."
Some were almost hilarious in their exactness: "Things I've yelled at my brothers." Others I couldn't laugh at: "Things I Have Done in My Anger", "Things I Have Muttered Under My Breath at My Parents." I never ceased to be surprised by the contents Often there were many more cards than expected. Sometimes fewer than I hoped. I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life I had lived.
Could it be possible that I had the time in my years to fill each of these thousands or even millions of cards? But each card confirmed this truth. Each was written in my own handwriting. Each signed with my signature.
When I pulled out the file marked "TV Shows I have watched," I realized the files grew to contain their contents. The cards were packed tightly, and yet after two or three yards, I hadn't found th e end of the file. I shut it, shamed, not so much by the quality of shows but more by the vast time I knew that file represented.
When I came to a file marked "Lustful Thoughts," I felt a chill run through my body. I pulled the file out only an inch, not willing to test its size, and drew out a card. I shuddered at its detailed content. I felt sick to think that such a moment had been recorded. An almost animal rage broke on me.
One thought dominated my mind: No one must ever see these cards! No one must ever see this room! I have to destroy them!" In insane frenzy I yanked the file out. Its size didn't matter now. I had to empty it and burn the cards...
But as I took it at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it. Defeated and utterly helpless, I returned the file to its slot. Leaning my forehead against the wall, I let out a long, self-pitying sigh.
And then I saw it. The title bore "People I Have Shared the Gospel With." The handle was brighter than those around it, newer, almost unused. I pulled on its handle and a small box not more than three inches long fell into my hands. I could count the cards it contained on one hand.
And then the tears came. I began to weep. Sobs so deep that they hurt. They started in my stomach and shook through me. I fell on my knees and cried. I cried out of shame, from the overwhelming shame of it all. The rows of file shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes.. No one must ever, ever know of this room. I must lock it up and hide the key. But then as I pushed away the tears, I saw Him.
No, please not Him. Not here. Oh, anyone but Jesus. I watched helplessly as He began to open the files and read the cards. I couldn't bear to watch His response. And in the moments I could bring myself to look at His face, I saw a sorrow deeper than my own. He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes.
Why did He have to read every one? Finally He turned and looked at me from across the room. He looked at me with pity in His eyes. But this was a pity that didn't anger me. I dropped my head, covered my face with my hands and began to cry again. He walked over and put His arm around me. He could have said so many things. But He didn't say a word. He just cried with me.
Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files. Starting at one end of the room, He took out a file and, one by one, began to sign His name over mine on each card. "No!" I shouted rushing to Him. All I could find to say was "No, no," as I pulled the card from Him.. His name shouldn't be on these cards. But there it was, written in red so rich, so dark, and so alive.
The name of Jesus covered mine. It was written with His blood. He gently took the card back He smiled a sad smile and began to sign the cards. I don't think I'll ever understand how He did it so quickly, but the next instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk back to my side. He placed His hand on my shoulder and said, "It is finished."
I stood up, and He led me out of the room. There was no lock on its door. There were still cards to be written.
"For God so loved the world that He gave Hi s only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

They Nay's loved it! We talked about how Christ can sign off His name on the bad index cards that we make and take them away from them if they will only do what He asks and follow His gospel. It made total sense to them and it clicked! They were excited to continue the repentance process to allow the Savior to take away their sins and are excited to receive the Aaronic priesthood soon for Sam so they he can baptize their daughter Kamomi in September. Elder Holm and I usually visit them a few times a week with a scripture or to check up on how everything is going and we absolutely love them! They are an amazing family and it is incredible to see how much the gospel has helped them and changed them and saved their marriage!

Wedensday - Temple Day! Love it! I love the Oquirrh Mountain temple so much now. I still think the Mesa temple is the prettiest, followed by San Diego, but the Oquirrh Mountain now takes a close third. Going there every week for the past 8 months has been one of the greatest experiences of my life! We taught Olivia on Wednesday and she is amazing. I have never seen anyone so prepared to accept the gospel. She loves to read the scriptures and to dig through them for greater knowledge and understanding. It blows me away - she makes marks and annotates about every other verse with how it applies to her and the difference it can make in her life. She is excited to be baptized at the beginning of September. We went over the plan of salvation with her and about 10 of her friends that came along and lots of parents of those friends that were there too. It was amazing! The Spirit was there so strongly and Elder Holm and I learned afterward that one of the girls that was there was having major family issues and after discussing the plan with them, she went home to her family and it was exactly what they needed to stick together and start working back towards the temple again. Heavenly Father truly performs countless miracles each and every day. We taught the Miler's also on that day and that was sweet! Br. Miler is so excited to be baptized and his wife Nandine is so grateful to be active again. They are a sweet family and we are excited for this Sunday evening when he will be baptized. Everything is set to go and we are super happy!

Thursday - We taught Deylon on that day and he is doing great. He and his whole family have been taking the steps to become active again and it has made a total difference in the feeling of their home and in the Spirit that they feel. We also taught the Reese's on that day and they are a great family! All of them are excited to learn about the church and all want to be baptized. We need to work on their smoking problem though - both the mother and the 14 year old daughter smoke. But both feel that the church is true and want to change so we are helping them out the best that we can. They were homeless a month ago and now are renting a very small townhome and it has made a difference in their lives. The ward members have been so nice to them and it has made all the difference and made them interested in the gospel and how it can bless people's lives.

Friday was a great day as well. Lots of contacting and lots of refusal. But lots of nice people as well. We watched Legacy with the Nay's on that day. Also, we stopped by the West's to encourage them on their missionary work, because their friend Patricia has no more interest to meet with us. Sister West shared one of the most spiritual experiences and stories that I have ever heard. It was just what I needed that day with things I had been struggling with and praying about and it put me right back on track. Heavenly Father sends many angels in our lives to help us out and to answer our prayers and that night, she was an angel who helped me out more than she will ever know.

Saturday was another long contacting day. Not much people home, everyone is out on vacation and other things.

Sunday is always one of my favorite days because we get to go to so many church meetings and learn so many new things!!!

Anyways I need to go now! Love you all and hope everyone is doing great!

Elder Hughes