Staying positive...plus dogs, cats and a goat

Hi guys! :)
" Well, this week has been pretty busy (as usual) we did a lot of service which was fun because it lets you take your mind off of the regular stress of Missionary work. The weather has been pretty nice, it cooled down quite a bit and we had some good breezy days. Of course right as we trade the car off with Parson's it becomes super hot ha ha. Parsons is the area next closest to us so we are with them quite a bit...  A lot of our investigators have moved away so we were pretty sad but we picked up as many as we had so that was a nice blessing. On Saturday we were tracting and I was like, "Let's go to the guy's house with the goat." ha (So this house has a white goat outside that lives in a dog house and there is a guy that always yells something we can't understand at us every time we pass so we figured hey why not? Let's go see what happens) We knock on the door and out comes a guy who says, "hey I've been wanting a Book of Mormon." We talk for a little and invite him to church too. Guess what? He came! Woot! It was funny we had barely taught him anything and during the sacrament he tells us loudly "hey look at these trays, how convenient!" we shush him laughing ha ha. Hopefully we can teach him more but it was fun to have an investigator at church with us. It's interesting there are so many different churches in this area but so many people who don't see the need for church. Friday we had interviews with President Merkley! He is amazing and it is sad to see him and Sister Merkley go. But I know President and Sister Shumway will be great! It was a real boost because I was getting down again. This mission has a lot of challenges and sometimes they weigh you down! So you have to find ways to stay positive. :) I try to wave really excitedly at the cars that drive by and give them a real cheesy smile ha ha that always lightens my mood. Or I'll pretend I don't know how to ride a bike ha ha people look at you so funny. Our nerdy helmets are the icing on the cake. Missionaries have to be the only bikers who wear helmets. Heavenly Father's always there though, when you're feeling down, I don't think he sent us on missions to endure them but to enjoy them. How great is it that 19 - 21 year old boys are helping the Lord bring in the fruit! We are his harvesters :) It isn't supposed to be easy but it isn't supposed to bring you down either. Learn to rejoice in the smallest of victories. That is the key... Every dog out here wants to bite me it seems. Occasionally there are nice boxers to pet. There are cats all over this place. One street there was an old lady sitting on her porch and I think I counted 8 cats lying around her yard, one was lounging on the top of a car ha ha."

Spiritual thought:
"Brothers and sisters, the most powerful Being in the universe is the Father of your spirit. He knows you. He loves you with a perfect love," he said. "God sees you not only as a mortal being on a small planet who lives for a brief season. He sees you as His child. He sees you as the being you are capable and designed to become. He wants you to know that you matter to Him." --- Dieter F. Uchtdorf

I love that quote...

Have a great week!
Love,

Elder Blackburn