Monday, November 23rd

Hello from Zapata! What a surprise! I REALLY did not expect
to get transferred...but here I am.

Zapata is a really small town. We have a little branch that is
struggling. Yesterday at church we had 8 of us, that's with the
missionaries, and the branch president...who has to travel an
hour down here every Sunday. We had 4 members from the
area come. It's small, but I'm excited to be here and to help
out. I really feel like this is where the Lord wants me.

So, the closest missionaries to my companion and I are an
hour away. It will definitely be a unique challenge, but I'm
looking forward to it.

My companion's name is Elder Mauricio Velez. This is his s
econd transfer. He's from Whittier, California. So, it's a really
small world. Apparently, Royal Meservy was their stake
patriarch. He helped Elder Velez' parents get settled in the
states. They really love the Meservy's... so...here's to hoping
I don't mess up the good family name :)

Well, I do enjoy things here in Zapata. I will probably be in
this area for quite awhile. We'll see though. I really can't
wait to keep working here. It should be a great opportunity.

Well, I love you all, and I appreciate all of your love and
concern for me.

Love,
Elder John

Transferred

Elder Meservy was transferred:
P.O. Box 14991 Zapata, TX 78076

Monday, November 16th

Hello once again from the great state of Texas! It's hard to
believe another week has come and gone once again.

First off, I'm glad to hear Hyrum is home and doing well.

Next, I hear that some pictures of me taken by a member have
been circling around.... I hope they didn't disappoint. I hear
Lydia misses me a lot. (At least that's what the member tells
me she says.) It's fun to talk with someone that has close
contact with the family.

Well, things are cold and windy here right now. We should be
getting some rain today.

It's definitely been getting colder. I've had to use my jacket
quite a few times...yes...in 80 degree weather. I know most
of you would love to have that.

Well, I guess it's now time to talk a little bit about this last
week's adventures with the missionary work. We had a really
good week. Yesterday we had a really good lesson with a lady
name Maria Barron. Her husband and son are both inactive
members. Well, we set a baptismal date with her. She loves
the Book of Mormon, and understands it well. During the
lesson, she said, "I don't understand it." We asked her what
she didn't understand, to which she replied, "That people
don't believe in the Book of Mormon. If you believed the
bible you would believe in the Book of Mormon. It just
makes sense." We were SO excited. She seems to understand
the authority and everything.

Well, I'm trying to think about anything else that's new or
exciting, but I can't seem to think of anything at the moment.
I trust you all are doing well. I love you all.

-Elder John

P.S. Transfers are coming up this Wednesday, but I'm
pretty sure I'll be staying here in Harlingen, but who
knows. (Letters can still be sent to my Harlingen address
if you have it.)

Monday, November 9th

I have now been in the field for over a year. That's weird. The
time is going so incredibly fast. I really cannot believe that it's
already November.

As I write this, it's drizzling outside. It's cooled down a lot
here recently. It's even been cold...I guess if I can call 80
degrees cold... I really have gotten used to Texas heat.

Well, I'm doing well. This last week we had interviews with
President Miller. It was a good interview. I was able to learn
a bit more about the things I can do to continually become
better.

We had some great lessons with investigators this last week.
Several of them have really amazed me at their
understanding. Myeshia came to church again yesterday
(that was her second time). She loves church, and loves
learning more about God. It's fun to see the excitement in
others.

Tonight we'll be having Family Home Evening with the
Hawkins (member family) and Angie (one of our
investigators). We're excited for Angie to meet more people
in the ward, and we're grateful for the members' help in the
missionary work.

Well, I love you all, and I'm so grateful that Hyrum is
doing better.

I was looking at a picture of the family (the one taken
the summer before I came out), and realized how different
everyone must look. So, I'm sending you all a request. I
want pictures of you and your families. Whether taken as
the whole family, or individual pictures. Thanks!

Well, I love you all

-Elder John

Monday, November 1st

Wow! I can't believe it's already November! How crazy.

We've had a really good week. One of our investigators that
we've been working with for quite a while now bore his
testimony yesterday at church. It was really an amazing,
heartfelt testimony, and it's been amazing to see the changes
that he's made in his life. We're waiting for him and his
girlfriend to get married (she needs to get a divorce first...)

We've been working with another lady that has a couple of
kids. Well, she's made leaps and bounds in progress in the
few short weeks we've been meeting with her. From the first
time meeting her drinking her Bud Light, and asking us
ridiculous questions, to her quitting drinking now is really
amazing. She loves having us over, and we've had some
really great experiences there. She told us during a prayer
once that she felt as though there were angels lifting her
up. What an incredible experience! We're hoping to be able
to set a baptismal date with her here shortly.

What an amazing opportunity to be out here in South Texas
serving the Lord. Tomorrow is my 14 month mark. I cannot
believe how fast the time goes!

Well, I love you all

-Elder John