T E X A S: The message of the restoration holds so much power

The weeks just get better and better out here in Carlsbad! I cannot believe how much I love it here already. Some days I think about how sad I was to leave Borger, and it just blows my mind that I already love it here just as much! Although, they will all have such special places in my heart:) Karla wrote me and told me she'll be going through the temple this transfer, so I will hopefully get to go with her!

Anyway, as for things here in Carlsbad, we are being so blessed! Somehow, even with this crazy heat, we have found amazing people to teach. We found a new investigator this week. She is so amazing. She was a media referral, but she can't remember requesting the bible that we got told about. But she let us right in and we were able to teach her the restoration. She loved it! She cried for about 5 minutes after we shared the first vision, and she just kept saying how every single breath she took after hearing it felt like more and more weight off her shoulders. The message of the restoration holds so much power. It is amazing to see how it changes lives, and I love being the one who gets to share it with so many people for the first time. Even just the words of the first visit changes hearts!

Our other investigator, Desire (not Desiree, Desire) is doing AMAZING. She has been taught for about 1 year now on and off. And she has never progressed or accepted a baptismal date. BUT the very first time I met her, she told us about an amazing experience she had. She finally asked God if she should be baptized, and no matter where she turned in the Bible and the Book of Mormon, she read a scripture or story about baptism. She knew God was telling her that she needs to be baptized, but her problem was that she simply just doesn't want to do it. We went over and talked a ton about the why of baptism and it was an amazing lesson. The spirit was the one teaching her the entire time! It came so clearly to her mind that if she wants to have a desire to be baptized, she has to actually read every day, come to church, and act on what we teach her. She was like, "man! That's why y'all always ask me to read and pray and come to church! I get it now!' We were STOKED! It is so rare that that actually clicks in an investigator's head, but when it does, they just soar:) Her baptism is planned for the 26th and she will be ready! Pray that it all goes through. We can't wait!!

This week we also got to do service at a food pantry here run by the Methodist and Catholic churches. They loved us! It was so fun. We walked in and they were like "Oh, it's the Mormons coming to help!" They were so happy to have us, and it was so wonderful to be all together, working as Christians, simply trying our best to follow Christ and help others. No one cared that we were LDS. They were just happy to have help. That is truly the way it needs to be. Pure love, and pure service!

Also, I hit my 9 months this week! I could not believe it!!! Time is all downhill from here, but I know the works is all uphill:) I have been blessed with an amazing first half of my mission and I cannot wait to see what's in store for the second half.

I hope y'all have a blessed week and know that I love you tons!

Hermana Peck