Hey family so this week has been soo good!! We have had such a great week! These last few weeks our missionaries in our zone have worked so hard! I am really proud of them and the hard work they do! They make me good enfront of the leaders of our mission! Well this week we recieved a new reference form a member and this girl wants to be baptized! We taught the first lesson and now she has been to church for a few weeks so we gave her a date to be baptized and she she was really excited and will be baptized on the 29th of this month! I really hope that i wil be here for that!
I love this place so much! We have La Familia Espinal who accepted a date to be baptized but we have to wait for them to be married but they have a date for September! But that's all the time que tengo para escribir!

Elder Westenskow!

Hey familia!! I am soo glad to be able to talk to you guys today! I feel soo blessed to be here on the mission! So this week has been really awsome and we have had a bunch of success! I am really glad that you guys were able to go the Home coming of Elder Curtis! He was a really good friend of mine! So today i had to go to Santo Domingo to get my visa renewed because Saturday they will start to deport peopel who dont have documentos! Mom so today i was able to see Elder Henriod!! He is really big now! I felt soo small compared to him! Mom i love you soo much! We got to go through the temple today and it was amazing! I have never felt the spirit soo strongly in my entire life! I really felt peace and comfort and was able to take 30 minutes to pray and ask for for guidance! I really feel like as a Leader i have been able to grow and become what god would have me become! I love feeling guided by the spirit! I love My savior and but family i dont have more time to write soo i will talk to you guys next week!!

Les Quiero mucho!!

Elder Westenskow! 

Hey family! This week has been really good! We have worked soo hard these last few days to find new people to teach! Yesterday a member of the church left with us and gave 4 new families to teach and it was amazing! W e had such a successful day! I am really seeing a difference in the work and im glad to be part of it. We have a totally different spirit here in this last week! We are really excited for this new family, La familia Martinez! They are soo amazign! They have such a great spirit!  They really have such a testimony of our savior! We finally were able to contact the Familia Espinal and they were soo happy to see us! We talked about the Restauración  and it went perfectly! The spirit was soo strong in that lesson! They aceppted the invitación a to read and to pray and to be baptized in the church! I love how much faith these people have in our savior Jesus Christ! As they listened to the First Visión the Father feeling the spirit had tears in his eyes and looked aat his wife and said wow!! I am soo grateful this gosple! I love my Savior Jesus Christ! I am soo grateful for Joesph Smith and for the sacrificios that he made for this Evangelio! I know that he is the Profeta de la restauración del Evangelio de Jesucristo! Yo se que Jesucristo vive! Yo se que esta es la Obra de Dios! Well family this week not much more has happened! I know my letter is a little short this week but thats ok! I love you guys soo much!! I miss you guys soo much!! I pray that this week everthing goes well! I hope that all of you are active and are trying each and every day to read and pray and to strengthen your testimonio en Jesucristo!

Les Quiero mucho 

Elder Westenskow!

Hey family! So this week has been soo amazing! We have had a lot of opportunites to find some new people to teach! Today has been kind of rough because ya my comp went home to Mexico! He was a really great friend and really taught me a lot! My companion he is from Puerto Rico and he is pretty cool! His name is Elder Rodriguez! He has a great testimonio and hs such a great desire to work and be obedient! So from today I have 10 weeks left in my mission! I really dont want the time to go fast but it just seems to be flying by! I love these people so much! We are having soo much success and its becoming really exciting to see what will happen! The new presidente is really animated and has such a great desire to serve his Savior! I feel so great!  I feel healthy and strong and really to make these my best 10 weeks of my mission! I was excited to hear that Alex is home! The time seems to be flying by! I think im the next one in the ward to come home? I love this work! I love my Savior! I know that through me and my testimonio i can bless other peoples loves and also to help them get closer to the Savior! Sorry for such a Short letter!

Elder Westenskow!

Hey family this week has been really good! We have been really working hard! We have a few new investigadores that we are excited about! There is a new family and they are soo cool! I feel so grateful for these members that we have because they really try to give us references! Well today is transfers so 4 missionaries left my zone but the missionaries that are coming in are really good missionaries! So this family that we are teaching is real really cool! They told us that they wanted to go to church and so we will have to see. Is week we gave service to a member of the church and we were building him a house but we haven't finished yet! We did the foundations and that wasn't too bad! I only got a few blisters! They have been making fun of me because they say I don't know how to build a house but I'm just not accustomed of small shovels! I'm getting pretty tired! The best thing I can do right now is not think of it! I love this work! I love my savior! I love these people! I want to bless them in any way that I can! They are soo amazing! I really hope that the Lord gives me that opportunity to finish my mission here in Tierra Alta! Just three more transfers left! Me and my comp will have another transfer to work and then he will finish his mission! Well family this is my letter this week hope that you guys are OK!! Love you guys so so much!!

Elder Westenskow!!!!

ey family! This week has been good! We have found a few more familias so the work is really progressing! One of the Familias we are really for is the Familia Sanchez! They are soo special! They are going to church this week and they are reading the book of Mormon! We had a great lesson with them yesterday! We shared 3 Nefi 11 and it went great! We felt such a strong spirit in that lesson! We asked them if they would be baptized when they recieve an Answer and they said YES!! I really do love my area and my comp! I cant believe that he has to go! It will be hard! I am so grateful for the love of the Savior in my life! I love the spirit that i feel each and everyday! This has not been the easiest time of my life but surlely the most important! The spirit is our Comforter! Manuel , Familia Guzman, Familia Minaya, Familia Espinal are doing so well as well! I love them soo very much! They are such loving people here! The spirit just floods out of them when they talk and when they share with us their testimonios with us about Our Lord And Savior Jesus Christ! We celebrated the fourth in wendys it was really good! Monday we had a great day because we contacted this new guy named Claudio and he is really interesting! His daughter that lives in the United States is a member of the church! He has a lot of interest to learn the Gosple!

Thanks Family for your letters! 

Love Elder Westenskow! 

hey family! So this week has been soo good! It has been a long week because the mission presidente changed and now we have a new one! Our families are really progressing! My companion now only has 2 weeks left and he is very nervous to go home but excited at the same time! Yesterday we went  to Puerto Plata to go say bye to some of his people down there and it was very hard for him! I think it will be the same for me! So anyway this week we have had a lot of success with finding new people to teach! Manuel is really starting to gain a testimonio of the Gosple! The Familia Espinal and the Familia Guzman are really excited to learn more and to go to church! We have seen such a difference in our work and in the members! They are starting to leave and preach with us and now are giving us references! This work is so true! Tjhis saturday me and other american missionaries will be going to Wendys to celebrate the 4th of July! We have taught a lot lately about The Familia and it has really brought a great spirit to our Area! The family is soo important and the Lord ahora is really trying to strengthen the Familias! We are seeing a lot of families in this day falling apart and having a lot of dificultades! The Gosple doesnt take away the tests and trails, but it helps us overcome them! We need to be patient and everything will come out good! Well family i love you guys soo much and hope that you guys are ok! I will send a few pictures to you guys today!

Love 

Elder Westenskow!

hey family this week seemed to go by soo fast!! We are having such a good time! My companion finishes his mission in three weeks! He is such a great companion! He really works hard! So this week we found a new family and they are soo awsome! Its a family of 6 and they are so excited to start going to church! The Dad expressed to us that we wanted to help his family become more united and feel more at peace in there home! We expressed that the Gosple of Jesus Christ would help him with that vision! He said that this week that they will be going to church on sunday!! The weather is starting to get really hot now! It really hasnt rained that much!! The time just seems to fly by! I have been feeling really good! My zone is becoming one of the best in the mission! I am so proud of the missionaries in my zone! They really work soo hard! So this is the last week with this mission presidente! He leaves on tuesday! I feel like the mission wont be the same! I am excited though to see the new one! He is dominicano and he served in this mission! Presidente Castillo will be a great presidente! Almost all of our investigadores are progressing! I am really happy to be where i am! Family i love you guys soo much! I know that this Gosple is soo important! I love these people here! They are soo loving! This really is going to be hard to leave them! This work is true! I know that Grandma would be proud of my work here! I love the Plan of Salvation! Well family i will talk to you next week!

Elder Westenskow!

Sorry family for the short letter last week! This week has been really good! In 2 weeks we will see Manuel get baptized! He told us on sunday that he wanted to be baptized! He is such a powerful man! He really has soo much love for our Savior! We have a few families that are progressing now and said that they will go to church next week, so we will have to see how that goes! Thanks everybody for your birthday wishes! this was really a great birthday! The sister missionaries in my zone made me a cake! It was banana bread with chocolate with powdered sugar on top! It was really good! I love the missionaries of my zone! They work soo hard! I know we have one of the best zones in the mission! A lot of our lessons have been falling the last few weeks so its hard to have your head up all the time! I love this work no matter how hard it gets! These people are soo amazing! I know that sometimes the work gets tough or even life gets tough but these trails that we face daily are here to strengthen us and to guide us Gods Kingdom! If we are close to the spirit in everything we do, he will will  protect us and guide us to the correct path! He is our comforter and he will be with us in times of trial! We should try each and everyday to follow the impressions of the spirit! He so wants us to be blessed! I know that Jesus Christ is directing this great work! I know that the lord is preparing his children to recive the Gosple! I love you guys soo much! I pray that youo guys will try each day to be worhty to have the spirit! He will give you the comfort that you guys need! I know that this church is true! I know that this work is true! I know that if i stay strong and steady and work as hard as i can to finish my mission the lord will bless me. Love you all!

Elder Westenskow

hey family this past few weeks have past by soo fast! I seems that i dont have time for everything that i need or want to do! I am sorry mom for last week! I didnt have enough time to write you! Yesterday we didnt have time to write you but thats ok, i have a few minutes to write! Not much is going on really happening right now with our area! We are thinking about having a baptism this month his name is Manuel he is really sweet and has such a great desire to follow Jesus Christ! He has gone through soo much! the minaya family is progressing and we are think that in July they will be baptized! I love this work soo much! Sorry this carta is going to be soo short but i dont have a lot of time! I am going to take time to send pictures! love you guys soo much!!

Elder Westenskow

 

 

Hey family! So today has been pretty hard day because I was transfered out of my area. I was told yesterday that I would be leaving! It was such a suprise! I left a lot of people who I loved so dearly! This was probably my favorite area! Franklin was not happy but promised me that he would keep going. His mom is coming to Licey to see us and to thank us but I wont be there to see and talk to her. Marielis was pretty down about it as well! I really feel blessed that the Lord gave me that time in Licey! But Anyway I was transfered to TIERRA ALTA and it is one of the strongest areas! The members work very hard and this area has a lot of success! The wierd part about it all is that im a ZONE LEADER!!! Im soo nervous! There 14 other missionaries in my zone! My new comps name is Elder Hurtado! He is from Mexico! He is one of my friends when I first started the mission! He is soo humble and works really hard! I loved General Conferencia and all the talks that were given! They really focused on the Family! I only want to say to those people that I WILL SUSTAIN MY PROPHET! He is truly a man of god! These people have the right to voice there word, but they will not stop the work of the lord from moving forward! I love him and i Sustain him! Mom just for you Elder Nielson talked about that family member coming back to church and i know that one day mom All the family will be together in the church! I LOVE EACH AND EVERYONE OF YOU! tHIS WORK IS TRUE! Mom i love you and hope that you can get better! At first I was worried that you wanted to move to St. George but now i really think it will be good! I will be glad that Jordan will be there too! And it's a good place for my work! I still want to be a firefighter! And mom, I want you to be healthy! Mom i love you! I could always go to school at Dixie with Ryan! It would be fun to hang out with my bro and friend!!! I know that everything will work out! I love and miss you mom! And I'm happy you finally went to the Dr. Let me know what you hear! I just want to thank you for everything that you have done for me! Mothers day is coming fast and i cant wait to talk to you guys! Grandma I don't know if you read a few weeks ago but i would love to learn to play the Piano! My mission is coming to a close and im starting to get really nervous to come home because i dont want to finish! I love my savior! I love my Father in Heaven! This is their work.

Love Elder Mitch

Hey Family! First i want to start off saying congrats for Mckay on his mission call! That means i wont be able to see him for a long time! Tell him i love him and hope that everything works out! I have really had a great week! Im kind of tired but thats the misión Well family think has been really spirtual for me! I had one thing happen to me and my comp that stood out to me to share! 2 weeks or so a Man named Franklin contacted us in the street he stopped on his motorcycle and invited us to his house. So we have been visting him for a little bit now and he went to church last week! He is a member of the church but in active member...but he told us that he needed to hear our message again! As we got to know him a little bit more he told us that he had gotten deported form the United States! He got into some trouble in the states but his mom is a La presidenta de la Sociedad de Socorro en Philidelphia! Franklin me permitió llamar su mama hablamos un poco ella y yo! Ella empezó a gritar "OH GRACIAS SEÑOR OH GRACIAS SEÑOR!" y lloraba un poco también! Esta es la felicidad eterna que trae El Evangelio en nuestras vidas! El quiere cambiar su vida y fortalecer su testimonio y fe en Jesucristo! Las Familias pueden ser eternas! Ahora estamos enseñando toda la familia aquí. 8 personas de esta familia ahora ellos están sintiendo el espíritu mas fuerte en sus vidas!  Nos Dijeron ellos que van a ir a la conferencia general! El tiene su esposa y una Hija aya en los estados! El me dijo que ellas están fuertes en la iglesia! Yo amo mi misión. yo amo mi salvador. yo amo mi familia. Gracias familia por todo que han hecho por mi! Yo les amo muchísimo! 

Elder Westenskow

So family another week closer to being home i guess! This week has been really good! We had to investigadores in sacrement meeting! Nothing really special but i feel like its getting hotter everyday! So i bought that tablet and its has been such a huge blessing! We now can share videos and talks from the profetas! We have had a normal week but i would like to share just one of my experiences! So we have this investigadora named Marielis and she is soo amzing! She is a young mom! We Asked her to get baptized and she said she would next month sometime! This girl has gone through soo much! Her mom doesnt support her in anything and she cant find a Job! I love her so much because she has such a strong testemony about this gosple! On Monday we shared a video about the Family and we talked with the mom and her about their responsabilidades como padres y Hijos! They really tried to listen and talk about their dificulties! But i felt the impression and i hope its ok Alyssa a share your story of how the Gosple can bless ones life even after they had made a mistake! I realized in this moment that Alyssa and her had a lot in common! I told her how Alyssa and Gentry recieved through the process of repentance a Loving Husband and Father! I told her how much happier she was while living the Gosple standards! She told me she was thankful that she hadnt been the only person to go through this! Alyssa i love you for your example and for great testimony! I love you and so does this Girl! Next week i will send a picture of this cute baby and Marielis!! Well family this is my letter GRANDMA I HOPE YOU HAVE A HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I LOVE AND MISS YOU SOO MUCH!!!

Elder Westenskow  

Well family this week has been really good! So something interesting about my area is that in the last year it has had only 5 baptisms in the last year and a half! It isnt hard to have investigadores but its really hard to them progressing! I love this work! I feel really tired but i couldnt feel any better! I have felt the spirit really strongly! This place is really special and i know that president and the savior are very proud of me! I love these people! They are always telling me that they want me to finish my mission here! They really are just soo loving! So we have been going to the gym like everyday and we have been doing a lot more service! So this last week we shared with the guy named Julio and he has been a member for the church for 20 and some years but he has a lot of health problems and forgets a lot of stuff! The doctor told him that he only had three months to live so its pretty hard! I have gotton to close to him! And so its been really difficult for me! It makes me think of grandma and im not sure why! We share with him every friday because he siad he doesnt want to lose his testimony! I love these people with all my heart! I love this work! I know that it is true! We have been so blessed in this life! The Gosple of Jesus Cristo is true and blesses those who are faithful to his commandments! I challenge each of you to make the changes that you may need to change! Through out my mission i have felt soo close to my savior and the spirit! I want you guys to feel that same peace! Mom this is for you now! I love you sooo much and hope that you can feel better! I want you  to know that you have been a wonderful example for us kids! You are the best mom in the world and miss you more than you can imagine! The lord loves you soooo much!! 

Alyssa I hope that you had a great birthday and that you can have another great year! I love you soo much! Please stay strong in everything that you do! I want to be able to have the entire family there in the celestial kingdom!

Elder Westenskow!

So family this week has been a lot better! Me and my comp are getting better as well! I really have to be calm and loving in order for him to wrok! He has the desire to work but his problem is that he doesnt like change! No one likes change! He is from Guatemala and his name is Elder Gutierrez! He has had a tough life and just needs a lot of love! Mom to answer some of your questions...every morning i get up at 5 with another Elder That lives with us and go to the Gym and we work out and stuff and then i go home and shower and study! My new area is really pretty and the people are so amable. They love the Lord and this Gosple! We are not really close to the beach but we are really close to Santiago! I really do love this work and the blessings and teachings that i recive every day! Im not a perfect missionary and maybe i still have a lot to learn but i feel that the Lord is happy with me and the work that i ahev done! I still cant believe how fast the time flies by! It seems like yesterday we talked por skype! I Love you guys soo much! I love your prayers that i feel everyday! I pray for your guys all the time and hope that you guys can feel Gods love and goodness! Keep moving and pushing forward Mom in everything that you do! You wont have to work the rest of your life! The Gosple gives us the strength we need to go forward! Please keep reading and praying and going to church because thats when the blessings come!! OH ya Grandma I would like to learn how to play the Piano when i get home if thats ok^!  Well family thats my letter!

Love Elder Westenskow

 

 

Hey family!! This week has been great i really love it here! The members have a huge desire to work and to give us references! My comp is very intersting and im sure if i will want o be his comp for very much longer! I will just have be patient! So this week i have just been gettign know our investigadores and they are really good! We have a parcial family and the Dad is a member of the church and the rest of the family are not members! We have a goal to get them married and to get them baptized on the 28th! So pray that they will! I really feel like i have grown a lot in my mission! I know im still not perfect in all things but i feel like i have made my Heavenly Father Proud! I know that he loves us and wants us to be happy! I know that this is the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ! This work is true and i know that he expects soo much but because of his love he will lift our load and he will do it forever! Sorry but i dont have any more time so i will talkto you guys next week!!

Love ya guys! 

Elder Westenskow

 

 

dont have a lot of time to write this week because of transfers but i have a lot of photos to send so i think that will make up for it! This saturday went really great! She was soo nervous but really happy! Her name was Carla! So anyway family i got trasfered out of my area and now im in LICEY and its really cool here! The ward is really strong but the only problem is that they dont work with us!! President told me that he needed me here because its like my other area! They just need a lot of love and a little push to move just a little more forward! My companion is from Guatemala and he is really funny! He finishes the mission in two transfers and so i think i will be his last comp! I feel really good! My health is getting better as well! I feel like i can concentrate a little more! Well family this my letter this week sorry but i will be sure to write more next week!!!

Well family this week has been really good! We have some trails but we have been so blessed! I had no idea what i was going to talk about but when i read grandpas letter i felt impressed to talk about the spirit! No solo por los misioneros pero como seres humanos rogamos nosotros tener El Espíritu! El Espíritu Santo es nuestro consolador y nos guía en nuestras decisiones! Yo se que sin El no podemos mantener firmes en el evangelio! El Espíritu Santo es un mensajero de Dios con la misión o comisión a llevar a cabo la inmortalidad de los hombres! No podemos permitirnos a perder El Espíritu! Nosotros necesitamos invitarle con nosotros por guardando los mandamientos! El Libro De Mormón nos dice que El nos mostrara la verdad de todas las cosas! Les exhorto que escuchen y actúen con los susurro del Espíritu. Lunes tuvimos una charla con Juanito un investigador y fuimos con El presidente de la rama y hablábamos de Jesucristo! Esta fue la mejor charla que yo he tenido en mi misión! El Espíritu nos testificaba de la veracidad de nuestro mensaje y Juanito se sentía El Espíritu guiando nuestras y las palabras de el! Well family i love you guys and hope that you guys are trying to each and every day to feel the spirit and to act on the promptings! The lord loves us and expects us to be atent to his teachings!!

Elder Westenskow!      

               

I don't have a lot of time to write this week because of transfers but i have a lot of photos to send so i think that will make up for it! This Saturday went really great! She was soo nervous but really happy! Her name was Carla! So anyway family i got transferred out of my area and now I'm in LICEY and its really cool here! The ward is really strong but the only problem is that they don't work with us!! President told me that he needed me here because its like my other area! They just need a lot of love and a little push to move just a little more forward! My companion is from Guatemala and he is really funny! He finishes the mission in two transfers and so I think i will be his last comp! I feel really good! My health is getting better as well! I feel like i can concentrate a little more! Well family this my letter this week sorry but I will be sure to write more next week!!!

Hey family this week has gone by soo fast! The weeks seem to be days and the months seem to be weeks! So ya its confirmed that i will be leaving this area! Im really excited to start all over again and with a new comp. So this week i kind of felt like crap but i went to the clinic and now im gettign better! I had rumptured my ear drumb...and had the flu and a infection in my ears and eyes! But these last few days i have felt really good because im now on medication! So this week we didnt have a lot of things happen but it really seems that each and every week we have more success with the investigadores that we do have! Carla and Rosmeri are happy for their baptisms on the 21st. They love the gospel and have really tried hard to get a testimonio about things! They read the book and mormon and pray and they have some great questions every lesson! They are progressing very rapidly! I will be here for their baptism so that will be good! I had called this week of few of my converts from Puerto Plata and they completed 1 year and 3 months!!!! They are so firm in the church! When i hear that people that i have baptized are strong and going to church every week, i feel the real joy of this world! Seeing someone baptized is always special but knowing that they are active members of the church makes all the mission and my work count for something! I feel that my mission has changed me in soo many different ways! I have seen miracles here and i continue seeing them daily! I know that this work is true and that we are his diciples and his istruments on bringing people unto him! We as members of the church have the responsability to reach out to others and share this wonderful gospel! We need to be prepared by reading the scriptures and fasting and prayer! The area that im in is great, i really blessed to be and to have work here for 6 months! I know that sometimes we cant do everything that we hoped but i really feel like the lord would be proud of the work that i have done here! Now when i get transfered i will have to even work harder in order to bless and help the next area! Well family this is my short letter this week! But the next week i will yhave fotos i promise! But know that i love each and everyone of you and that i pray for you everyday! Love you guys! 

Love Elder Westenskow!

Family i want to apologize for what i said in my last letter!! I really need to focus on the work... but that doesn't mean that you cant have more children.. I'm sorry. (Just missing home)
So Joselo didn't get baptized because he has to fix a few things in his life before he can be eligible! On the 21st we should have two baptisms.. Carla y Rosmeri! They are wonderful. They have such a great spirit to them. I think that these will be my last two baptisms in this area! As i talked to the presidente de la misión el me dijo que hay un otro lugar preparado por mi! Yo voy a extrañar mucho mi área!! yo realmente he amado villa vasquez, y todas las personas que he conocido y me han ayudado! Yo no quiero terminar mi misión. Yo se que esta es la iglesia de Dios y que el libro de mormón es verdadero y que contiene la plenitud del evangelio de Jesucristo! Cuando leemos este libro nos acercamos mas a Dios y su Hijo Jesucristo. Es la clave de nuestra religión! I know i havent writen much but i dont have any more time but i love you guys soo much and hope that you guys can be watched over!!

Elder Westenskow 

Elder Westenskow has had some events happen this month that have been really hard for him to miss!  But I am grateful that he is so strong in testimony and spirit.  He still struggled not being home, but working hard to deal.  Love him so much!   A new nephew Beckham was born...perfect!!  And we lost Grandma Westenskow this month.  One of the hardest things was to make that phone call to our Missionary!! 

Hey family! This week has been really tough but we finally will have a baptism this Saturday! I am really tired but this week we have really walked and looked for new people to teach! So this week we have had the blessing of teaching Joselo who will be baptized on Saturday! I feel so happy that he chose me to baptize him! I really feel blessed to be here in the mission! The blessings are so great and the sorrow so little! I really feel like that this is the true Gospel Of Jesus Christ! The Gospel gives us that peace and joy that we seek each and everyday! We can pass soo many difficulties, but the Gospel is the way to overcome everything! I wish i would have been a better brother,son, and friend before the mission! I have realized that through diligence in the scriptures and fervent prayers! I love the peace and teachings that i have learned here on the mission! This the preparation to be the Dad and Husband that i will need to be! I have been down this past week having health problems and being a little down about the work! I have felt down because of soo much that is happening at home! I know i need to be here, but family stop having kids and random things because i cant handle anymore! I love my savior and his teachings! I love his atonement and for the peace that i feel by his prophets. I have now less then 8 months in the mission! This will be the time where i will need to work harder than i ever had! I Love you guys sooo much!! I pray about you guys daily!

LOVE ELDER WESTENSKOW

Hey family this week has passed rapidly!! I have been soo busy it seems i dont have even 10 minutes to sit down! Well anyway we ended not having the baptism saturday because he got really sick and was sent to Santiago in the Hospital but on the 24th he will be baptized with another man as well! The work is great here and we just transfers and im going to be here for one more transfer!! I have been soo bessed in my mission and i have many miracles happen! I have had a good few tranfers here and im glad that i can stay onee more!! Today i really want to about something today! I prayed this morning to know what i should say but really i thought of what we taught one of our invetigadores yesterday! We talked about repentance, she was touched by the spirit as we shared a scripture in Alma 5:26 Which says " Y ahora os digo, hermanos míos, si habéis experimentado un cambio en el corazón, y si habéis sentido el deseo de cantar la canción del amor que redime, quisiera preguntaros: ¿Podéis sentir esto ahora?" I really love this scripture!! We really need to ask ourselves if we have had experience a change of heart? Its a really important step in the repentance process! As we have that change of heat we will lose that desire to sin!! When we sin and keep sinning trying to justify our sins we cant feel that love God in our liives!! The spirit doesnt dwell in unclean places!! And we finally know something is wrong and we continually fall to the temptation we arent experiencing that change of heart! Someone who has experienced that change heart is a person who though tempted will not have that desire to keep sinnig! I know its hard but thats why lord has given the Scriptures and prayer and The Sacrament!!! His atoneing sacrifice of our Savior is the key to have that change of heart and to know that we can be forgiven for whatever we have done!! The sacrament is the way to recieve that remission of our sins every week but if we dont go to church that sin is still with us! Family i love my Savior!! He has comforted me in these last few weeks!! I am grateful that through him i can experience that change of heart and lose that desire to sin!! I love you guys soooooo  much!! This is the work of the lord!! I KNOW IT!!

Elder Westenskow   

Well family i dont know where to start.... but this week has been hard not being with you guys and to comfort each and everyone of you!! I really hope that the each and one of you can feel the presence of the savior in this time of sadness!! This week i was trying to think of what i was going to do, and so that very night i prayed and it wasnt a normal prayer that i normally do, but this time i prayed that i could feel his love and comfort and that he could shed his love and care over each and everyone of you guys as well! I prayed to know that everything would be ok, and in that very instant i felt the presence of my savior and the comfort of his spirit that everything would be alright and that Grandma is in a place of peace and now is watching over each and everyone of us! This week i have tried to get lost in the work and i havent ever felt this close to my savior and the power of his great work before! Jesus Christ really is our savior!! He is the Prince Of Peace! I know that through his example and through the price that he paid we as his brothers and sisters can be blessed and he will help us overcome any trail that we may face in this life!! I love him, and I am grateful to say that i know him! This is the true Gosple of Jesus Christ!! We will through obedience can be strengthened and hubmbled! The Church is true! I would not be here in the mission if i didnt know these things!! Grandma will be with us again I KNOW IT!! She is now watching and taking care of us with Grandpa again!! If she were here she would tell us these things!! On Saturday we will have another baptism!! His name is Joselo and im soo happy for him!! wel family this is my letter!!!

Love 

Elder Westenskow    

well family this week was good because i was able to baptize one one of my investigadores!! well really i dont know what to say.. this letter is tough..

                                      Grandma Westenskow! 

So who is my Grandma Westenskow? She is my best friend! She was my hugger and i was hers!! i loved the hugs that she shared with me throughout my life! As i sat the truck today waiting to return to my area i thought of all the times we had! I remember the times she went to Disneyland and played and had fun with the whole family!! i rememeber during those trips she would get mad at grandpa for buying another hat!! I also remember and cherish all those times when i slept over at her house after grandpa died!! We would cook and we would watch a movie or something and then just talk!! i would sleep over and when i woke up we would eat breakfast together while she talked about her walking!! She just was a loving, and charitable person! Her voice was always smooth and by the way she talked to you you could feel her love for that person!! She was a faithful wife and mother and Grandmother!! She was an active member of the church! She had a huge testimony about the Gospel! We at this time feel sad maybe a little heart broken but as members of this wonderful church WE KNOW THAT WE WILL SEE HER AGAIN!!! As we meet here to see her funeral she too is having a reunion with her beloved husband and son Mike! she is right now with her brothers and parents!! Like before she will always be watching over us!! She is now in a place of peace and Joy! I love her soo very much! Im grateful to have had a Grandma like her in my life!! She will ever be in my heart! I know as we think and ponder of the life of the this GREAT daughter of God i know that she is quoting 2 Timothy 4:12 Which reads HE PELEADO LA BUENA BATALLA, HE ACABADO LA CARRERA, HE GUARDADO LA FE. I so testify that our heavenly father loves each and every one of us!! he knows that we are not perfect but that is why he sent his beloved son Jesus Christ to give up his life so that we can live and become perfected through him!! I know that this is the true church if god!! that we have a living prophet today! I know like God said to Joesph Smith in Doctrine in Covenents is true!! Paz a tu alma hijo mio tus aflicciones y adversidades serán por un breve momento!! I know this to be true and i so testify in the name of our savior even Jesus Christ Amen  

Well family we are one week out from Skyping!!!! Im sooo excited to see and talk to you guys!! still i dont have the time for the 25th because its really hard to find a place open this christmas!! Anyway i will get it taken care of! So this week we recieved a ton of new references!! this christmas season is soo great! Im miss you guys so much but i wouldnt trade this for anything!! some of the things that happened this week was that we recieved 3 references this week and they all said that they had the desire to be baptized so the next month they will be baptized!!! we are seeing miracles here!! the names are Bienvenido, Joselo, Angelica! they are soo special!! they have some really tough lives!! Bienvenido is really poor but soo happy, even though his family doesnt talk to him! He is an inspiración of hope for me because he keeps a positive attitude about everything! He loves his savior Jesucristo! the 27th of this month we will two more people get baptized!! There names are Estrella y Mario!! they are great and are soo excited for this date!! I feel sooo blessed.... This really is the work of the lord!! I know that the Savior loves each and everyone of us!! El desea que seamos felices en esta navidad!! El es la Dádiva!! Una Dádiva muy valeroso que tiene precio!! El es el primer regalo! yo les voy extrañar cada uno de ustedes pero yo se que mientras mis sacrificios ustedes serán grandemente bendecidos!! i will give the time on the 24th!! love you guys sooo much and i will see you next week!   

hey family!! so this week has been great!!! we are seeing a huge growth in the work! Our goal for this new year is to recieve 5 references a week from the members and investigadores!! we recieve one or two references a day now and im seeing miracles happen!! me and my companion are getting along and he is learning really fast!! he speaks italiano y portugueses! its pretty sweet if you ask me!! its been fun having more responsabilidad here in the mission! i feel like i have grown soo much!! on the 27th we will be having two more baptisms! Estrella and Mario!! they are great!! they have such a great disire to learn and follow their savior Jesucristo! Estrella tiene 20 años y Mario tiene 22 años! they are soo excited to be baptized! this week we have been talking a lot to our menos activos y nuestros investigadores about the real reason we celebrate Navidad! Really growing up i knew why we celerated navidad but i believe i did focus in his birth! im grateful for my savior and redeemer!! His love is unfailing! the atonement of Jesus Christ is the part most important to the plan of god! I love his teachings and his councils! I know that through him we can be blessed in all things and that he is the key to have peace in this life and complete joy for the eternidad! yo amo mi salvador! El es mi mejor amigo! le doy gracias por todo que hizo por mi! El libro de mormón es verdadero y contiene la plenitud del evangelio eterno! Se que Jesucristo vive y nos ama y que el es la cabeza de esta maravillosa iglesia! Se que profeta Thomas S. Monson es un profeta de Dios y esta recibiendo la dirección de Dios! i love you guys sooo much and pray that we can all remember the real reason why we celebrate christmas!! talk to you guys in two weeks!

Love Elder Westenskow 

Hola familia yo espero que todo esta bien!!! me alegres que cada uno de ustedes están bien en sus cartas!! primeramente GO PACK GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!! this week has been really great!! soo saturday i was feeling just fine and so i went to the baptisms and baptized Maria in the beach!! and Elisabeth was baptized by my compa!! im really happy excited for them because they are soo special and they have such a great testimonio de su salvador!! they are soo happy and are wanting to work with us now!! i have pictures but lets see if they can load!! well today i recieved my son or my new companion!!! His name is Elder Cardoso!!! He is form Uruguay!! He speaks really really fast in spanish and has a cool accent!! He asked presidente to have a companion that knows spanish and ingles in order to learn ingles!! He is sooo smart and has a great desire to serve!! these next few months we will work hard and i have a feelng that we make a huge diffrence here in Villa Vasquez!!! my health is better so dont worry family!! i have energy and strength!! i just need to be more better with the repelente!!! the mosquito net makes it harder to sleep but we will see!!! family this is my letter and i hope you guys know that i love each and every one of you and cant wait to talk to on Christmas!!!! thanks for everything!!!

Love Elder Westenskow