The Fourth Watch

Alright I am just going to be honest with you. I type really slow and we do not have that much time so I am going to share an incredible miracle that we had this weekend!

Saturday night, we had a our 8-o'clock appointment fall through and the Conroe 1st Elders called us right then. They asked us where we were because they wanted to come check our apartment for their mileage logbook for their car. We have to track our mileage in our cars everyday, and we all keep the credit card in there for fuel. They needed to get gas because they were on empty and they didn't want to get gas on Sunday. They thought it might be at our apartment because they come over a lot. We searched our entire apartment high and low and it was nowhere to be found. We then went out to their car to help them look. Their car was a mess; most missionaries cars are (except ours). So we took everything out and completely searched everywhere and it was nowhere to be found. I said, "Have you guys said a prayer?" They said they had.  I felt like we needed to pray again, but I didn't want them to think I thought their prayer wasn't sufficient or something, so I didn't say anything. It was right then that Elder Elsberry was like, "Lets just say another prayer. It is not going to hurt anything!" I was thinking to myself, "YES!" 

After the prayer we searched all of the boxes in the car and still nothing! They left to go look in their apartment and as they drove away I said to Elder Myers, "Should we just go help them look?" He was fine with it so we called them and they said, "Yes, come."  We followed them over and took everything out of the car into their apartment. It was nowhere to be found. We stopped searching for a bit and were just talking and then I was like, "I am searching this apartment."  I don't give up without putting up a fight. Never. In most cases that does more harm than good, but this time it had a good turn out. I searched their apartment like a German Shepherd searching for paraphernalia! I did not find it anywhere. Finally I was like, "Okay, I am going to the car to look again."  Elder Myers came with me and I felt like checking the glove box again, so I did. I emptied it and nothing was in there. Right then I felt prompted to take the glove box out of the car. Most people don"t know this, but in most cars the glove box comes out really easily. You just disconnect it and pops it right out. I removed the glove box, and there was the logbook jammed into the dash. I grabbed it and showed Elder Myers and he was like, "Way to go Elder DeLuca!" 

Being the goof I am, I tucked the logbook in my belt behind my back like I was packin' some heat and then we walked back in and I was like, "Sorry guys.  We couldn't find it, but we have to go."  I asked them how much they loved me.  Then I asked them to turn around and then I pulled it out and I was just smiling waiting for them to turn around and see the logbook. It was pretty cool. They were shocked! They were like, "What did you do!?!?!"  They had been searching for this for days. 

There is a talk by S. Michael Wilcox titled "The Fourth Watch." I would encourage you all to watch or listen to it. This is a real principle. The Lord does not come right out when it gets tough. He comes after the trial of our faith. If we would had given up when we were searching at our apartment they would have never found it. If we would have given up at their apartment, they would have never found it. That prompting to remove the glove box wouldn't have come to me if I didn't listen to the first prompting to go back to the car even though we searched it thoroughly 2 or 3 times. It was neat for me to see the Lord working through all of us that night. The Lord is with His missionaries. I know that. May we all listen to the still small voice of the Spirit of God. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.  

I bought a couple of hats this week. These type of hats look good on bald guys, so I got a couple. Stihl is the best chainsaw ever made! 

Here is my companion when we were changing the oil in a silly John Deere. They shoulda bought a CAT! 

​"Well she ain't into cars or pickup trucks, but if it runs like a Deere, man her eyes light uuuupp..." I loved changing the oil in this tractor. I miss wrenching on my car and dirt bike! 

Fasting and My Calling

Alright, well we had another great week. Last Sunday, we were both fasting to find a new family to teach and guess what? We found one this week. I cannot stress the power that comes from fasting. I know this is a true principle and, because of that, I fast very frequently. I like food, but I love the miracles that the Lord pours out upon us as we are faithful and pay a generous fast offering. Some people have forgotten the true order of a proper fast. 1. Always start with a prayer. If not, you are just starving yourself; 2. Skip two consecutive meals or go 24 hours without food or drink; and 3. Always pay a generous fast offering. If we do these things we are promised that the Lord will "Open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." Malachi 3:10. I am aware that this is applying to the law of the tithe, but if you look closely in verse 8 it is talking about tithes AND offerings. These are not just temporal blessings, but rather spiritual as well.  In my opinion, the spiritual outweighs the temporal. If we understood this, we would be crazy not to fast.

This past Tuesday, it was getting late but we still had like 10 minutes before it was 9 so we were like, "Let's go by someone." We scanned the new member list and went by the Smiths. For some reason, their name really stood out as I scanned down the list. This was odd because she was the head of the household on the paper, meaning there most likely was not a male there. We were just going by to introduce ourselves and say hi. We weren't planning on going in. Sister Smith answered the door and was like, "Hey Elders! Come in!" We asked if a male was there and she opened the door up a little more and there her husband Mark stood. We came in and talked for a few minutes and then asked if we could come back the next day. They said yes! 

Wednesday, after dinner with the Beans, my boy Lofton and I went back over there and Elder Myers went to see the Saenz family with Brother Douglas. We went in and came to find out that Mark was a non-member and none of her children were baptized. She has three children and they are awesome. We taught about the Book of Mormon and the importance of this holy book of scripture. The lesson went well and we scheduled a return appointment for Friday. When we came back, they hadn't read and I literally wanted to cry. We were planning to teach the Restoration, but we didn't dare teach if they hadn't read. We told them what our plan was, "but that because you haven't read, we are not going to share that message and we will read with you today instead." Yes, I am that bold. I don't mess around anymore. People need to know how serious this really is. When we read, ponder and pray about the Book of Mormon we know that this really is the Lord's church and can then be baptized by proper priesthood authority and be liberated from our sins. Page 2 of Preach My Gospel states, "You are called to represent Jesus Christ in helping people become clean from their sins." I am just now realizing how sacred my calling is. I am just now becoming a good teacher. I am just now having the best studies of my entire life. I am just now starting to understand how the Spirit works. The Lord does something to us. Right when we are feeling like we got it down, it's almost time to go home. My Mamma was quick to let me know that she received a call from our mission office in regards to my return home and my flight information. Oh my gosh. Don't even talk to me about that! I still have so much to do. I made a commitment last night to have 5 more baptisms before I go home. I will achieve it or die trying! 

Some people are just not prepared right now and that is okay. I am here to find the elect. For example, Horace from Tomball drove ALL the way out here to Conroe to take us to lunch this past week and I did literally everything in my power to set a baptismal date with him and he would not budge. I literally debunked all of his concerns and he just would not set a baptismal date. It is a real thing when Nephi said, "There are many that harden their hearts against the Holy Spirit, they cast many things away which are written and esteem them as things of naught." 2 Nephi 33:2. I didn't even eat my lunch because I was talking the entire time and going to different scriptures. I had to get a to-go box because everyone was done eating and I hadn't even touched my food. That's another thing. Food is good, but the gospel is the best. I was running a little late to one of my studies this past week, so I hurried and showered and got dressed and skipped breakfast because I didn't want to be late to my studies. Those of you that know me well, you know how I like my food. There is always a good, better, and a best. The gospel is always the best. Period! 

Sundays are the best. That is where the rubber meets the road or in more spiritual terms, that is where everything that we do as missionaries comes together. Last Sunday, we had zero investigators in sacrament meeting and this week we had four. That is a huge improvement. Raj came and stayed all three hours. He is the 11 year old that only likes to stay for Sacrament. I may or may not have bought him a Reese's candy bar if he stayed the whole time. Let's focus on what matters more. HE STAYED!! :) The Smiths came as well and they too stayed for all of church and then we went to the temple ground tours that night with them. 

You guys, the Lord is blessing us so much and I always wonder why He does this to me. Why does He let me be a part in this? I stand all amazed as Elder Rasband would say. Just this morning I contacted a referral Brother Martinez gave us last night and I talked to her old landlord and he told me that he was thinking about joining your church. Are you kidding me!?! Investigators are popping up like a bunch of hermit crabs. The Lord is just dropping them into our hands. We are going over there tonight to at least meet him, but I'm gonna talk about the Book of Mormon too. :) My testimony of the Book of Mormon is so strong. I could literally go on and on about how this book has literally changed my life. I wish you could join our companionship studies and I could share the insight that comes to me each and every day. I have a mini composition book that I keep with me when I study. It is called Elder DeLuca's Book of Revelation. There is so much in the Book of Mormon. I absolutely love it! If anyone claims to have read, pondered and prayed about the Book of Mormon and says that it is not true, I'd love to talk to them. There is absolutely no way this book was made up by one who had an inferior 3rd grade level education. People have tried to prove that this book if false for over 180 years, and it still stands today. I know that this is a holy scripture just as the Bible is. I love the Bible and I know that it is the word of God. I know the Book of Mormon to be the word of God as well and they, together, open our minds and in lies the fullness of the gospel. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen. 

There were two cameras, but I was looking at mine! This is the Smiths at the temple!! 

Here is Horace when we had lunch! I did my best! 

Service and General Conference

This past Tuesday, we had mission leadership council (MLC) so I went with Elder Mikesell down to the TC Jester building. We were there from 8:30 in the morning to 3:30 in the afternoon and I still wonder why I lose so much hair. Keeping Elder DeLuca focused for 7 hours can be a challenge, but President Mortensen seems to do very well every time. He is called by God and I know that. I know that he is one of the reasons why I was called to the Texas Houston Mission. It was here at this meeting that we received the training that we were to take and teach to our zones on Friday. When I dropped Elder Myers off to stay with Elder Mikesell's companion, Elder Elsberry, I felt like I was a daddy dropping off my child for their first day of school. It was sad for me to leave him for that long, but good that he was able to be with Elder Elsberry. Plus he probably wanted a break from me. ;) 

Wednesday, we went to help Brother Stringer cut down some trees, but this time I was cutting. Back home, Jim would cut and then just yell at me to run when it started to fall! Haha!! I always wanted to run the chainsaw, but he never let me. Now I know why. It is so dangerous! Holy cow....I never realized how hard it was and how scary it can be! This leads me to my next topic, "Don't be so quick to judge the barrier, it is the only thing keeping you from being devoured by the sharks" or, in this case, the chainsaw. 

Yesterday morning, in my prayer before my personal study I asked Heavenly Father to help prepare me for this last session of General Conference. Earlier in the week, we saw Brother Ure from Tomball. He was up here running errands for a member so we went and talked to him for a little. He told us about a talk called "The Challenge to Become" by Dallin H. Oaks in October of 2000. I had forgotten about this talk, but yesterday after I prayed, I had a strong impression to go back and read it. After a few minutes of searching for it, I found it and read it. I marked it all up and shared what I learned in our companion study as well as what I learned in the talk "Fatherhood - Our Eternal Destiny" by Larry M. Gibson from this past session in April of this year. I also shared some insight that came as I read the Book of Mormon. Read 1 Nephi 2:16 through 1 Nephi 4:31 with this question in mind: "What does it take to become a man?" Its awesome. 

Anyways, this is the cool part about General Conference for me. Elder Von G. Keetch was the one who was talking about not being quick to judge the barrier. I'm just going to be honest, at first his voice kind of annoyed me and I was listening to him but I wasn't that engaged. Then I heard him make reference to the talk by Dallin H. Oaks in October of 2000 THAT I READ THAT MORNING! I went from sitting slouched back like a congressman who has been in the same seat for hours on end to a little boy on the edge of his seat with his hand raised as high as he can to answer a question in class. It changed everything! It was at this very moment that the Spirit told me, "This was what Heavenly Father was preparing you for this morning in your study." How cool is that!? There are few people, if any, that read that talk, "The Challenge to Become," yesterday morning and had the experience that I did. It amazes me how the Spirit works, and I am now just beginning to understand how it does.  

Heavenly Father knows each of individually. He knows our potential and He sees things in us that we cannot always see. The adversary is well aware of this and he and his followers will do all that they can to blur the vision which is available to us as we communicate with our Heavenly Father daily and make and keep sacred covenants. Elder Dallin H. Oaks said, "The commandments, ordinances, and covenants of the gospel are not a list of deposits required to be made in some heavenly account. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become." How beautiful is that? I know that we are spiritual beings simply wrapped in a physical body and that our potential is endless as we seek to do what our Heavenly Father would have us do. May we all seek His will and keep His commandments, that we may see into the future and see the things that our Father in Heaven has prepared for us. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen. 

I had to get a couple cavities filled.. Aww! I was so upset!! I NEVER got cavities back home. That's what 20 months of no dentist will do to you. Oh well, they are fixed but my retainers didn't fit as well so the dentist made me new ones for free! He is a member and he did all of the work for free. What a blessing that is. Don't worry, I got him a salad from Chick-fil-a today because that is worth a couple grand! :) 

​We always forget to take pictures, so all we have are these awkward ones. Hope you enjoy! 

President Threw a Quick One on Me!

Well this week was crazy!! On Tuesday, we brought Elder French to his new area because that was transfer day and he left us. We were sad to see him go, but he will do great things in the Windrose area. Its actually in the Klein Stake, "my stake" as I would say after serving 10 and a half months there! 

After we dropped him off, we had to go get out brakes checked on our car. Okay, get this. Two weeks ago, we went to Pep Boys to get our oil changes and our alignment done, and I asked them to check the brakes because I knew they were bad. I knew it. When the car was finished the guy who gave me the papers said the brakes are fine. I said, "Are you sure because they are making a bad noise and I am pretty sure they are bad". He said, "If the brakes were bad, that is money in our pocket, so we would fix them." This statement is true.  However, if it was just the pads that were bad, it would have only been like 40 bucks, but if they let the pads wear down to the rotors, it would be over 300 dollars. That was exactly what they were doing and I knew it. I was furious! I cannot stand being lied to. I should have told him to read 2 Nephi 9:34. I told our vehicle coordinator and he told me us to take it to this other place which was owned by members. Sure enough, the pads were shot and we had to get new rotors as well. I know my cars, and I know when I am being lied to. Not cool. I must have had steam coming out my ears! I wanted to go bad to Pep Boys and talk to the guy (who was a manager) who told me they were fine, but that would not have gone anywhere good. I just had to bite my tongue, and I am getting very good at that being a missionary. Long story short, DO NOT go to Pep-Boys. EVER! 

Here is where it gets a little crazy. Thursday morning, we did our usual get up early and go hard in the gym. Then we came home. I was just about to take a shower but felt like I needed to go check the phone. There was one missed call and a new voice mail from President Mortensen. He said call me ASAP in the voice mail. Uh oh, what did I do now!? Haha, just kidding! I called back and he said, "Hey I need you to put the phone on speaker. "  So I did. Elder Edwards and I were looking at each other thinking, "What in the world is he going to say!?" He said I felt like I need to make some changes last night, but I ignored them because of the inconvenience it would have been but I need to make them. He said Elder Edwards I need you to pack up and Elder DeLuca I need you to be at the training meeting at 9:30 because I need you to train. He said I was going to have another missionary train him, but that is not going to happen anymore. He packed up quick and we took showers and headed down to the meeting. There was a bad accident on the freeway so we texted President and told him that we were going to be there around 9:45. He said no worries. Little did I know he was waiting to start the meeting until I got there! The prelude music was still playing and then, right when I walked in, the sister stopped playing the piano and the assistants started the meeting. I felt like a V.I.P. .... haha. We had a opening hymn and prayer then President came up and said something interesting. He said, "I want you all to know that the Lord is very involved in the selecting of trainers with the trainees. I was going to make some changes last night but I ignored them because of the inconvenience it would have been. I woke up in the middle of the night with the impression that I had to make the change, so I did this morning." No one in the audience except me knew what he was talking about and Sister Mortensen looked at me with the biggest smile when he said that. I felt the Spirit so strongly when he said that and I knew that I was supposed to be there. 

I am now serving with Elder Myers in Conroe! He is from Springville Utah. It is interesting for me to train a new missionary because of how faithful they are. It is so neat. They have no limitations on the possibilities that could come because they haven't been brainwashed by other missionaries about how the work is, in some areas. When I introduced our area at the training meeting, I said I hope you like to get pneumonia because we are going to be soaking wet from being in the baptismal font all the time. :) I am staying really optimistic about our area with him because I want this to be the best 3 months of his mission. My goal is to be able to have him prepared enough to train a new missionary in 12 weeks if need be. This is such a sacred trust and responsibility from the Lord and from President Mortensen. I am so stoked!  

I was hesitant to share this last week because I didn't want to put my Dad on the spot, but I am going to do it anyway. Some of you may know that my Dad is a devoted Catholic. If not, now you do. Last Sunday, I was fasting that he would be able to go to a sacrament meeting with my Mamma and my little sissy Bailley. I remember stating in my prayer when I opened my fast, "Heavenly Father, I have faith sufficient to know that he will go, but please make sure people reach out to him and are friendly to him when he goes." Last Monday, my little sister Bailley sent me a picture of my dad all dressed up driving her and my Mamma to church. Tears were flowing down my face out of pure happiness. Bailley said, "Miracles do happen." I just wanted to publicly thank you, Dad, for doing that. Despite your devotion to your church, you took the time to attend church with Bailley and Mom. I love you so much, Daddy, and I hope you have a great birthday this Wednesday! You should note that my Dad told me, "The people were really friendly there." I know that the power of fasting is real. I would invite you to read about the doctrine of the true fast found in Isaiah 58. It is wonderful, and it is real. I know that and because of this knowledge I fast pretty frequently. Once a month doesn't cut it for me, especially as a missionary. Remember why the sons of Mosiah were so effective? They had searched the scriptures diligently and they had given themselves to "MUCH prayer and fasting" and they taught with "power and authority from God." (Alma 17:2-3). 

The Lord continues to bless me every day. I am learning so much from being a missionary! This was the best decision I could have ever made in order to prepare for my future. My life is forever changed and I am so grateful for the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. May we all keep and open heart and an open mind as we listen to our beloved Prophet and the other General Authorities this coming weekend. I am so excited!! 

Love, 

Elder DeLuca 

Sorry I only took one picture, but this is my new companion Elder Myers! Elder Mikesell in the back is my zone leader companion and he serves in the Conroe 1st Ward!

Lots of Lessons

Editor's note - I was sick last week and didn't get this posted.  This post is actually from Elder DeLuca's September 14, 2015 letter.  My bad!

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Alright, well this week went by really fast and I have to hurry because we are going to the mission office soon! 

The Saenz are progressing really well. This past Monday, we taught them the Word of Wisdom lesson and Alice and Chris had been drinking coffee. It was interesting to see them change so quickly though because of the things that they know are true. It is not a matter if the commandment of the word of wisdom came from God, but rather if the Book of Mormon is true. If you know that the Book of Mormon is true, then you know that Joseph Smith was a prophet called by God and that this commandment came from Heavenly Father. Alice was like, "Well I am done drinking it." And Chris has been slowing down a lot. He drinks a lot of coffee and tea, but he has slowed down so much! 

Tuesday, we did a lot of service! We were helping a Brother in the ward put sheet metal on top of some 2 x 4's for a little storage shed he was building. We also had a lesson with Luke and the Saenz again. 

Wednesday, we helped a guy unload some hay. We were sweating pretty bad!  Haha. After that we went to the mission office to pick up Elder French. He is going to be staying with us for the remainder of the transfer. We had a lesson with Justin and we planned on setting a baptismal date with him, but it didn't go as planned. He was not ready to make that commitment. He also had some questions about the coming forth of the Pearl of Great Price. He heard some common misconceptions that we addressed. Bishop and I came back on Friday, answered all of his questions and explained what really happened. If you are going to by a Ferrari, you don't go to the Honda dealer to learn about the specifications. Likewise, if you have questions about our beliefs and our doctrine, you don't just google it. There has been persecution on the church for over 150 years. There are plenty of sources online that are not true doctrine. If you have questions or concerns you need to go to LDS.org to find real answers. We also saw the Saenz after that. The lesson went really well!

Thursday, we saw Luke and Amber. We talked with both of them about why we have commandments and the blessings that come as we obey. 

Friday, we had a good district meeting and then we went on exchanges. Elder Beck came to Conroe with Elder French and I and then Elder Edwards went to their area with his companion Elder Hansen. We had a really good exchange. When I was in the lesson with Bishop, they went finding together and found a new investigator named Haley. 

Saturday, we went on splits and I went with Brother Morris to teach a family that we found earlier in the week. The father was studying to be some sort of a preacher so he thinks he knows the Bible really well.....yeah. We taught them the Restoration lesson and set up a return appointment for this evening. Then we saw the Saenz again that night and we taught them the Law of Chastity and then Elder Mikesell came over to have their baptismal interview with them. They passed with flying colors. :) 

One thing I have learned from working with people is that investigators progress so much more when one. they read from the Book of Mormon daily and two, you meet with them frequently. It is so much more beneficial to have frequent 30-45 minute lessons as opposed to seeing them for an hour once a week. I love being a missionary so much. My time is going too fast!! I love you all and I hope you have a great week. Thanks for all you do! 

Love, 

Elder DeLuca 

One day I'll be as big as Elder Edwards! 

The Saenz and The Sabbath Day

I honestly do not understand how my weeks go by so fast!! We have been in a trio companionship so we goof around a lot more and maybe that's why! 

We had some lessons with the Saenz to make sure we covered everything before their baptism this week!  I have never met a family so prepared as they were. The Lord knows each of us and our lives perfectly and He worked it all out in the perfect time, as He always does. It was a miracle that we even found them because we were not planning on going back to that street that particular day, but we prayed about where we should go and then ended up knocking into them. They have told us things like, "We have been searching for this our entire lives, and you guys brought it to us." and, "I have been looking for a church home that I can take my family to and I have finally found it." The Spirit is very real and, as the scriptures teach us, that is what does the conversion....The Holy Ghost, not the missionaries. We are simply an instrument in the Lord's hands. The Holy Ghost is what carries the message to their hearts. 2 Nephi 33:1. 

Their baptism went really well. They know a lot of people from the ward and many people showed up to support them. The room where the baptismal font is didn't have enough room for everyone so we had to go to the Relief Society room and it was entirely full. I stay in contact with some members from Tomball and I told Dale Ure about this incredible family.  He drove all the way out here to be at their baptism. It was awesome. He and I went to the grocery store after the service while a member took my companions out to dinner. I sacrificed not having dinner to spend some time with Brother Ure. He is like another grandpa to me, who I can literally talk about anything with. We all need people like that in our lives. 

I have been studying more about the Sabbath Day and the principles that I have learned are important to me. To the world, the Sabbath is just another day but, to me, it is the Lord's Day. We are to rest from our labors and work, including making other people work. What is interesting to me is that the Bible is very clear about this in Exodus 20:8-11. Interestingly enough, that one commandment takes 4 verses to explain when all of the others 9 commandments are explained simply in 1 verse. Hence, this is important to the Lord. It is His day. Our modern-day prophets and apostles give us great council and caution on things pertaining to the Sabbath day. I have been pondering things I can do differently in order to truly do my best to keep it holy and sacred. I have made some changes in this process. There can even be conflict between me and companions at times, but when I explain things to them they tend to agree with me. For example, I have a companion who was going about to do his laundry last night and I said to him "Hey, do you mind just doing that tomorrowmorning?" At first he was like, "What's the big deal? I am only putting clothes in the washer." I said, "Yeah, I know but there is no reason why you cannot just do it in the morning. I am trying to keep the Sabbath holy and I have made a lot of changes as well. I'll let you wash everything you need to first, and then I will do mine. He was like, "Yeah, you're right. Ill just do it in the morning." By small and simple things are great things come to pass. 

I am grateful for my companions and their dedication to serving the Lord. Nowhere else in this world do you see 18-26 year old guys doing what we do. It is hard work, but it is so worth it. On Sunday morning, when all three of the Saenz were confirmed members of the church and received the Holy Ghost, I had an overwhelming amount peace fill my entire body. Everything that we do is for the salvation of others, and it is really tough at times, but when you find the elect, it makes it all worth it. We are not here to convert everyone. We are here to find the elect. The Lord is preparing people all across the world, it is just a matter of finding them! 

May we all do our best in loving and serving others that stand in need of love and service and may we all remember the Sabbath Day, and to keep it holy.  These are some of my greatest desires. I couldn't do what I do without the help of all of you and I certainly couldn't do it without the help of the Lord. He sustains me physically, mentally, and spiritually. 

Love, 

Elder DeLuca 

This is our district!

It snowed in Conroe this past Saturday! :) This is the Saenz Family!

3-Year-Old Insults

Last Monday, we went to the Saenz's house for birthday cake with Chris and it was super yummy. After that we went to the Douglas' home for dinner. Brother Douglas is our Ward Mission Leader and he has a great family! All three of his girls are age 5 and under and they are so cute. Get this. As we were leaving, his 3-year-old daughter looked at me and said to her mom, "He has the same hair as daddy!" Brother Douglas is balding! hahaha!!!! It was SO funny. You know you are going bald when a 3 year old tells you. Little children don't lie. Its all good; it happens to the best of us. :) 

Tuesday, we had MLC all day and a large portion of our discussion was on getting investigators to church. We had a couple of role plays that we practiced and I learned a lot! That evening, we practiced what we learned with Caleb. We taught him the first half of the restoration and then we left really fast after he said the closing prayer. We wanted to leave when the Spirit was strongest and take it with us. Caleb ended up telling us later during the week that he was not wanting to become a Mormon and he didn't want to waste our time. I personally think he just like bashing with us but when we came out on top with answer, he didn't like it. 2 Nephi 9:40.  The truth hurts the wicked. 

Wednesday, we had a good lesson with Luke and we taught him the Gospel of Jesus Christ lesson. After that, we went over to the Saenz's and has a nice lesson with them. Seriously, they are so prepared. 

Thursday was our weekly planning and then we went back to the Saenz's that evening to teach them about temples and family history. When we taught them about the spirit world and baptisms for the dead from the Bible, they were astonished. When Alice realized that she could do work for her mother in the temple she said "This is it. That is what was missing. It all just clicked for me." How cool is that? Robert felt very similar about his father and loved ones that have passed. Brother Brown who came with us told us after we left that he was so surprised on how well they received that lesson. I was not surprised, though. 

Friday, we had zone meeting and it went really well! I talked about our mission standards of excellence, having 3 gators at church, 5 member-present lessons, and 2 new gators each week. Then, Elder Edwards and I both taught about why it is so important to get our gators to church and how to do it. We felt like the training went well. We had a ten-minute break and I made cake pops for everyone so they were super excited about that. I didn't eat one, though, because I am having a weight-loss competition with Brother Douglas. Whoever loses the most weight in September gets a free ice cream from this place called Marble Slab. It is so good!! After zone meeting, we went on exchanges and Elder Harris came to Conroe with me. He is a stud! He goes home in two weeks. We went to lunch at Luby's with the Saenz and I thought of my Nana, then had a lesson with Luke, and then a lesson with the Saenz in the Pew's home. It was a great lesson! I posed the question "What it the importance of getting baptized at an age where you are making the decision, as opposed to having someone make that choice for you?" Chris had a lot to say to that, but then he said something profound. He said "When you are baptized you get a new heart, a new mind, a new soul, and new eyes." WOW! I saw Elder Harris write that down during the lesson. It was incredible. We had angel food cake with strawberries and whipped cream after and it was super yummy. Not as rich as a cake pops! haha. Plus, Sister Pew made it, so I was not going to pass. We left during the dessert portion to leave them there to build a friendship without us. We do not want them becoming attached to us, but it is already happening. We are so close with them! I love them so much. 

Saturday morning, after we worked out we came and got all cleaned up and we were getting dressed and then got a call for help with unloading a storage unit. We changed back into normal people clothes and hurried over. It was nice to help them out. Then we helped Brother Lane unload some plywood for a lady that he home teaches. 

Sunday was sweet! We had 5 investigators at church. Instead of going to ward council after our missionary correlation meeting, we went to make sure our gators were planning on coming to church. The ones that we weren't certain about. It helps to do that! We were asked to give a couple of blessings. What a blessing it is to have the priesthood restored to the earth today. Then we went finding and found a new investigator named Clifford. When he introduced himself I immediately thought of the "Big Red Dog." Haha :) He was super nice to us. We will go back next week when he is back from a business trip. 

Things are going great here in Conroe! The Saenz family have their baptisms of the 19th and then Luke's is on the 26th of this month. Thank you for all of your prayers. They really do help us! 

Love, 

Elder DeLuca  

​My companion was lifting weights in here. He is funny! 

Here is Elder Harris. He is a stud!