12/03/14
Well I’m sorry that I am only writing you today. Our P-day was moved because we went to
the temple.
Guess where I am at now? You cannot believe it! I came back to Alameda, Zone Alameda
Paraiso 2. It is the same area I
was in 8 months ago (was only there for 2 weeks though), the same house, the
same ward, the same members.
What? Is this for real?...
haha. When I heard that, my heart
just dropped and I was kinda salty. I was thinking before changes,
"I am okay going anywhere, except for Alameda", and the Lord saw fit
to send me back. There must be a
reason why I have to come back here.
I am training again.
My companion is named Elder R from Honduras. The elders that were
here before us were both going home so they did not find or leave much for us
to work with. So this past week
was just finding investigators to teach. It was hard to change areas, and
especially to come back to Alameda, but we found a few promising people.
The second time back here was a little better, I can feel that I have matured
and am able to change since the first time I was here. After leaving Palencia I was basically
in depression. But the members are great! The first few days they
all said "Have I met you before?" Haha yeah I was here a while back but only for 2 weeks.
All in all, it’s a good week. I can see the difference
how the days go by, and how the work moves forward if we are working
hard. I am also the District Leader. The missionaries are great and
I really like being a DL. I get to help other missionaries with their
areas, and difficulties.
Well, have a good week. Nothing much to say.
I love you guys... back to the concrete jungle! Have fun, and talk to you next week!
Elder R.
12/08/14
Hey there! This
past week was kind of hectic and full of stuff. On Monday and Tuesday we worked
the usual routine. Then on
Wednesday we went to Zone 15 to assist in the Temple. It was good and we
had a lot of fun as a zone. When we were there, the lights went out
halfway through and so we were sitting there until they got it up running
again.
It feels weird being one of the older missionary in the
zone. Not in age but time in the mission. I see all these new
missionaries coming in and it reminded me that I was like them a few months ago,
new and learning how things work in the mission. I feel privileged to be
able to help other missionaries on their journey in the mission.
My district is doing good. We put a goal to find 18
new investigators this week for each area, and we all found 18 and more.
It is very good.
I am adjusting well and loving the area. The members are super cool and
loving. I’m very happy how things are turning out here. Everything is just going well.
We had interviews with president, his wife, and the assistants
this past Friday. It is always
refreshing to see them. I feel like each of my presidents have different
attributes and ways of running things, and I am just loving the mission right
now.
Right now we are finding and trying to get the cycle
rolling. It is like an electric elevator and escalator. We find
people to teach, focus on them, and then they either get baptized or some just seem
to be not interested to listen so we go back to the cycle of finding new people
to teach. But we have been trying
to work on an escalator approach where we are constantly finding, and helping
those that we find to reach the top.
This past week it has been really foggy. Sometimes you
can’t even see 25 yards in front of you especially in the morning.
This week, I was reading Lehi’s dream in 1 Nephi chapter 8. It talks about the mists of darkness,
temptation, etc. And so I was thinking about the mists of darkness that
Lehi saw. If we think about it, a mist can enter everywhere. It can enter under the doors, in the windows,
and can even enter in through the smallest cracks. It can enter in our
lungs and body when we breathe it in. Well, Satan is like the mists, that
if we are not careful, we can easily let him in our houses, and our being. Satan is always ready to temp us or
lure us into bad things. Then if
we let Satan in, the room to fall is everywhere. But it is up to us to be
strong and not follow or let the mist (Satan) get to us. The gospel of
Jesus Christ is our spiritual Gas masks.
The gas mask filters the mist to help us remain strong and healthy. The gas mask help us to not give in to
Satan’s temptations.
I reread the talk by Ballard about the boat, life vest, and
holding on, and I know that that is true.
I am grateful for the gospel and the opportunity to be on a mission. I am so happy.
Have a good week, I love you guys! Stay strong, and
use your Gas mask! :)
12/15/14
Wow, sounds like you had a really great week.
This past week was great and we got a lot of work done. We
are working our hardest here trying to get things up and running. Our hard work paid off! We reported numbers that I have not
reported in a long time. We had 24 lessons with members, 18 new
investigators, and a baptism! (I forgot to bring the memory from the
camera, so you will have to wait until next week for the pictures)
The baptism was this past Saturday for a guy named JP.
He is 15 years old and we found him the first week I was here in the
area. He has a really broken family, and grew up all his life without a
father. His mom and the rest of the family are alcoholics, but he has a cousin
that is a member. He really have great desire to change and he wants to
be the example for his family. The baptismal service was really great and
spiritual. The family assisted and they told us they wanted us to stop by
this week, so we will see how that goes.
I feel really satisfied. I don't know why, but I am at
peace right now. The mission is so amazing and I love every bit of it. I continue to grow and learn
everyday. I get satisfaction knowing that we get to help a lot of people
all the time.
Yesterday we were working and not really having
success. We put the goal of 5 new baptismal dates with the investigators
for the week, and we had only 4. It was already getting dark, and so we
were scrambling to make the goal. We sat and thought, and we decided to
go visit an investigator that was not progressing, smokes and has a whole bunch
of problems. We got to his house, and when he opened the door, he had a
huge scab on the side of his face. Come to find out he was beaten up, and
robbed. So we start teaching, and had a really spiritual lesson. We
told him if he wants change and to come closer to God he needed to be
baptized. And he accepted. I love this work and I know that there
are people, brothers and sisters of ours waiting and ready for this message.
Christmas is coming and everyone is busy preparing.
There are lights outs and I can hardly believe that about a year ago, I was
fresh out of the box as a missionary.
Haha Elijah is using my jersey, sleeve, bat... haha just
kidding, you look good Elijah. (I can't believe that helmet still fits
you...) and First chair! You must be pretty good :) I have a photo in a
Santa suit too... I just forgot the camera today. I will send it next week.
Well I love you guys, have a great week!
