Mom and Dad,
It's been one of those eternal weeks. Last Monday we had a wild very long day and just barely got to email and buy food. Starting Tuesday we began to get to know the city of Tecate, the members, and for me more Spanish. I'm coming to love the city here. When I found out this was going to be my first area all I knew was that it was small, east of Tijuana, and right on the border. I don't know all that much more about it now but I have somewhat gotten to know the people and have become oriented to the city and can finally tell which way is north wherever I am.
The members here are fantastic. Every day except for p day we have lunch with a member or member family. So far, all the food has been absolutely fantastic and has been provided in very large quantities. Its safe to say that my mother need not worry for I will not starve. We have received many referrals from members and so far have been fortunate to have a good number of lessons and investigators and very little time knocking doors.
Thursday was of course thanksgiving, a fact which I was unaware of until the late morning when I was reminded by my Mexican companion. I imagined that it would pass without notice here in Mexico but fortunately our bishop's wife is American and had us over for a thanksgiving dinner. It was just us, their family and one other couple from the ward and it really felt like thanksgiving. There were tamales instead of turkey and mashed potatoes but there was also stuffing, cranberry sauce, green beans and for dessert, pecan and apple pie. The stuffing and pecan pie were absolutely fantastic and it is now my second highest goal, after inviting souls to come unto christ, to get the recipes. After dinner we were able to go around and each say a handful of things that we are grateful for and it was fantastic for me to think about just how blessed I am. My life is unbelievably good and for that I am immensely grateful.
As far as mishaps there have been few. I have made few mistakes with the language because I have spoken very little in the last week. It is one of my goals to speak more and more so I can actually learn Spanish but it is hard to speak a language when even the dogs seem to understand more than you. That being said I am slowly both speaking and understanding more. It is one of my utmost goals not to speak Spanish like a gringo and in that I seem to be doing alright. I did accidentally hug someone this week but my resulting mortification i'm sure will lead to improvement in that area.
This week, we have a first baptism scheduled and I am very excited. Rafaella was an investigator before we arrived but we have had the privilege of meeting her and of being the ones to baptize her. She is very excited about the gospel and already wants her family members to be baptized as well. I can't wait to see the difference that the gospel makes in her life and the lives of her family.
In short all is well here in Tecate and the future's looking good.
-Isaac (Elder Lee)
