A FULL Week!

Dear Family,
This has been an up and down week.  I feel like I've experienced the entire emotional spectrum more than once.  First of all, I've been waiting to introduce Elder Razo to the Mendoza Family.  They are eternal investigators, but in the past two months things really started to happen.  The gospel totally turned their lives upside-down.  There's the father, and he gave up smoking and coffee, but experienced a ton of trials.  He was robbed by an employee and lost his job.  The mother is basically raising her grand-daughter and was forced to find work.  They have two children, and both had live-in, not-yet-married companions --  That is, until we taught the Law of Chastity.  Within two weeks, they'd packed their bags and we were so happy when it was just their family.  What an exciting thing to see the changes in their life!  And so it was heart-breaking when a family friend dropped by and told us that Tatay Reynaldo Mendoza didn't want us to teach them any more.  Even more painful when tatay hid from us on Wednesday morning.  What happened?  My heart hurts for them.
I know we're not supposed to pick favorites when it comes to investigators, but I LOVE the Juanta family.  They've made so much progress, and I remember the day Sister Ruby Juanta told us she'd prayed about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon and recieved an answer.  So my heart broke again when she told us about the trials that were accompanying our teaching, and said she wasn't sure any more.  When we dropped by, she gave an excuse and asked if we could just come back "sa susunod na lang".  I wanted to cry.  I love our investigators!
The Hymn, we are sowing, comes to mind.  I pray all the time that Heavenly Father really will "guard the furrows" and "leave us not to sow alone."  The forces of evil are all around, snatching seeds out of the hearts of people that need what we have.
Last night, we finally met with Ruby again.  I experienced the feeling of inspiration for someone else as I listened to her experiences, answers to questions, and to the spirit.  Her faith is being tried, and I wish this path of life wasn't quite so hard.  Jesse Juanta is scrambling for work, and sometimes they don't have food.  I know they can make it, though.
This week we taught a mother who lost her 7 year old less than one year ago.  As we covered the plan of salvation, talking in plain terms, telling her exactly where her son is now, and how he is just waiting for his family to accept the gospel, she got teary eyed.  She was surprised when we told her that families are forever, she's been taught that after death, we're all just angels.  Last night, we visited again, I feel that she wants so much to hear that she'll be with her son again.  We talked about life after death again, and she asked if family members will recognize each other.  How will she find her son?  Will he still be her son?
The gospel is the most comforting, uplifting, happy news in the entire world.  This mother has been waiting a year, wondering where her son has gone, and Heavenly Father in His mercy is letting me see, first-hand, how He answers the heart-felt prayers of His beloved children.
I'm loving the work here.  I know this gospel is true.
I read this week in my study that Heaven is a continuation of the ideal home.  Thanks for being such an amazing family, and giving me a taste of heaven!
Love you lots,
Elder Loren Peck
Chris!  Happy B-Day!  The Time is Far Spent, there is little remaining . . .! Love ya!