Barberena -Week 73

Hello!

2 craziest news of the week: the massacre in Connecticut. And Val is not only married, but living in our ward! crazy!

So last Monday, I got probably the best gift that I have gotten in my whole life. Hermana Elizabeth wrote me. In the card, she included a picture of us at the temple, a card made for me, her first two talks that she has given in sacrament meeting, her conversion story, list of special dates including: baptism, confirmation, patriarchal blessing, her callings, and the date she took out her endowments. The letter and conversion story brought tears to my eyes. I was so blessed to be able to even know her, let alone teach her and baptize her. Best Christmas gift ever.

So there is a whole bunch of new rules on skype. But I will either call or skype on Christmas day between 3 and 4 pm my time. I hope we can skype!

This week I woke up in the middle of the night to a cockroach on my face. Ask me about it on Christmas. So I put up a mosquito net on my bed.. hence the photos... I think I washed my face about a million and a half times. jaja.

We were teaching our neighbor this week and we challenged him for baptism. He accepted and is preparing a progressing. We talked to him the next morning and he told us that he had been talking with his wife last night and now she wants to listen to us,to the missionaries! She didn't want anything to do with us before, but we have our first cita with them as a family tonight. I am very excited. He actually reads the assignments we give him and tries to apply it to his life and he is really progressing spiritually. I love his attitude.

This week we went to the presidents house for a Christmas party. That was awesome. I forwarded fotos. There is a lot of Glazier traditions that I want to adopt in my family

 

Its going a lot better with my comp. I am starting to have fun with him:)

There is a family in our ward that are so awesome. We ate dinner with them like 4 times this week. They treat us like their family. They don't have any kids yet. They are a newlywed couple and both are returned missionaries. They told us basically. "look if you are hungry or need to use the bathroom during the day, we hide the key here and you can get in to the house and take whatever you want to eat." It is super fun being with them... if all goes well, I will talk to you from their house:) I will definitely be like that with the missionaries when I am big.

"The best teachers are not made by what they say... but that they live what they teach" quote of the day:)

Mum, thanks for the nice letter and the gifts that I am starting to open. You are pretty awesome. I love you and I will talk to you on Tuesday!

Dad, your missionary opportunity was awesome! Write your testimony in the Book of Mormon and a passalong card for mormon.org. Saw your pineapple! I read this scripture this morning and it would probably help: Romans 5:3 to 5. its a good one! Thanks for being a great dad. I love you.

Austin, I loved you're experience and the willingness that you had to fulfill your promise that you made to the Lord. You are pretty awesome. Everyone said that you did awesome in your talk! And tell Val hi as well:)

Ellie, you have homework this week. read Luke 2 and focus on what is important this time of year. Its easy to get distracted with the things of this world. But do it to it!

Brynn, I was really surprised that you would pick a country like El Salvador for a country report! That's super cool and I will try to answer all the questions I can:)

I love you all and I cant wait to talk to you on Tuesday,. Remember that I wont be writing on Monday but on Wednesday.

SALU!

 

Barberena-Week 72

HELLO!
This week has been interesting. I know that the Lord wants to teach me something and wants me in this place, but for my whole mission I have trained.  I am not ZL anymore but I am DL... which is cool:) I am in a zone called Layco in an area called Barberena. should be good??? Its like smack dab in the middle of Santa Tecla, Zacamil and Ilopanogo.

Elder A is my new comp. He tries so hard. He really does. President talked to me before the changes and warned me for what was going to happen and gave me a few instructions.... He gets nervous when talking with people and doesn't know what to say. But he tries so hard. He knows that he has trouble remembering and he prays for help very fervently. At first, I was a little frustrated, but then as I was praying, I felt the love that God has for me, and also for elder A So, since then, I have felt a lot different and looked at him differently. I need to repent for being so prideful and just accept the Lord´s will. At times it is difficult. I apologize for my pride. I hope that I will be able to help him this change.

My last day in Asturias, we visited the volcano and tried to find some new investigators. Successfully done. From where we were, I could see all the areas of my mission... I tried to take a video, but the day was not clear enough... but you know, whatever..jaja.. That night, we visited the familia interiano.. supposedly, the mom and the daughter got baptized this weekend, we were going to wait for the husband to get his Parkinson's under control.. that family is that of the attached fotos...(totally realized i translated that sentence from Spanish to English...JAJA!) the father wasn't in it.

I finished the Book of Mormon this week again this week. I started it again and plan to finish it in April before general conference to conform with a challenge made by the area president... I will just read 4 pages a night before bed. So I can focus on other studies. I love the Book of Mormon. It is so powerful and it really changes lives. I have had so many cool experiences with investigators and the Book of Mormon. Especially the ones that have gotten baptized.

I have started to study preach my gospel in depth. I am marking them in cool ways and its all sacred to me now... I will do it in Spanish and English before the next change. (studying the little ones;)) only because they opened by themselves in the package! don't get mad! That's the only thing opened!

President wanted me to ask for the address of the bishop and the stake president to write them a letter... can you do that for me? Please and thank yous.

My new area has the place where lots of missionaries go before they finish to get a bunch of tourist stuff... I let you all in on the scoop of what they all have:)

We have already been offered a place to skype on Christmas.. So that will be awesome.. That week of Christmas, Monday the 24 will not be p day.. I will call on the 25 and the 26 I will be going to the temple and it will be pday.. so I will write the 26 in that week.

So here is some big news: the change in February has been shortened by one week.. so that means that the change I go home on will be one week earlier. So I would be coming on the 16 of may... so there should be no problem anymore with Austin's graduation and what not.. right? cool beans:)

I love this gospel and the joy it brings to families. Hopefully we can give a gift to Christ the Christmas and get someone baptized. I have been doing some nasty jam on lessons and it has turned out to be awesome.

Teancum newsletter:
Welcome Teancumites!
Remember that Teancum and his army were an elite group. That is what we want to be for this mission. This email is set up to share successful ideas on how to find, teach, and baptize. Let me brief you on existing projects:
bungee: shorter lessons
Rip tear: have them imagine they only have a week to live and tell the to write something to their loved ones... then rip them up... get them to feel it.
Bomb: an attempt to explode the excitement of the ward en cuanto a missionary work.. it has many sub projects as well.
jump-roids: presidents idea to leave blessings on peoples houses. The bungee on steroids
Jam on (dazzle fest) Just Answer My Only Need. Teaching people not lessons on a whole new level. And, a la vez, dazzling them with the spirit. Send ideas and all you have on Jam on dazzle fest.
simp swip whip grip: showing a movie about small and simple things to members. Giving them a BoM and telling them to write their testimonies in them to give to others.
Jump on it??: a mix between jump roids and jam on?
sky fall: this one is in the works. Preach my gospel has 5 lessons to help investigators become converts. We want to have 3-4 lessons to transform a member into a missionary... lesson ideas?
Anyway, hopefully we can become more effective missionaries with this email! Enjoy and go baptize!

Dad, I got a talk for you by Elder Holland: "within the clasp of your arms" thanks for being a great dad!  I love you!
Mum, Thanks for everything you are a pretty cool mum.
Austin,sounds like you are still a huge stud! keep shufflin!
Ellie, sounds like everything is good with you as well! learn to shuffle
Brynn, sounds like you are starting to get the hang of the crutches and stuff:) and it looks like you ate really expensive pupusas!!!! jaja... I hope everything is going great and I hope that the Aphrodite things works out.

Santa Tecla- Weel 71

Hellos! So big news..... again... I have changes.... again. Can you believe it? Two times in a row.... but, I am a lot less bummed about being changed this time than last time... but still... it kinda sucks.. We had the familia Interiano ready for baptism this week. So that has happened two times in my mission... getting changed the week of the baptism..but whateves...

So early this week, a member from the volcano took us around the volcano in his car for 3 hours. He was showing us where everyone lives and how many people actually live up there. There are 10,000 people that live up there. And they are so much more humble and loving than the people in Santa Tecla. I was really excited to be able to work up there.. but.. now I have changes... jajaja..

got my Christmas packages!!!

I went to the foot doctor again to see how my toenail has been doing... She said it is looking good minus the fungus.. jaja... But she said it would probably be a good idea to go to her to check it out about once a month. And she said she would give me some stuff to get the fungus away when the nail starts getting better:)

This week I saw a little bit of The Who playing... and also, Paul from the Beatles.. it was super sick and it makes me want to play in a band..jaja.

If the whole paramedic thing doesn't work out, maybe I could just be an EMT and work in an ambulance.???

this week I had divisions with Elder De leon.. from Guatemala. That was super fun. We played this game called pictureka that night..jajaj! 

Today we had the spectacular Moroni´s de Oro meeting... I took about a twenty minute video of it all.. I will have to explain to you what it is sometime:) I won the best guara espalda.

There have been some weird days up on the volcano..jaja... people are sometimes super funny..jaja!

We were thinking about starting a Teancumite newsletter.. but we will see where that idea goes..jaja!

We got to watch the Christmas devotional last night from the first presidency. That was super spiritual and super awesome:) I was only able to see it in Spanish, but you know, whatever... I love hearing the voice of the prophets:)

This week we were looking for this guy that we have been teaching that lives near the cemetery..some guys told us that he was in the cemetery so we went for a look.. as we were searching, a guy comes up and starts talking to us in English. And he starts telling us about a bunch of stories of the people buried there.. Latin cemeteries are a lot different than American ones by the way..jaja!

Last story of the week: we had a lesson in the house of a member with the familia Interiano. We asked them first, what they would say to Christ if he were in the room with us. Then they started with the answers, then I asked them how they might feel. and more answers... then we asked them to close their eyes as we read 3 nephi 11 8-14 very slowly with a lot of feeling... Then I told them how I might feel in his presence. Knowing how unworthy I am of his presence and the many sins that I have, I would probably ask for forgiveness.. then we went to chapter 27:20-21 And talked about what he wants us to do.. He wants us to repent and use his marvelous gift of the atonement... when I looked into their eyes, I saw tears in 3 sets of them.. it was super powerful and I am super grateful for the gift of the atonement.

I love you all! thank you so much for everything!

TTT

austin, happy birthday! i cant beleive your 18! that is so awesome. thinking of myself at that age makes me realize how really awesome you are. When nephi and lehi (brothers) are preaching in the book of helaman, it says that lehi was not behind lehi one bit concerning righteousness... i try to be like lehi trying to be like nephi, in other words, you. thank you for being such a great example to me. love ya bro and happy birthday:)

Santa Tecla-Week 70

HELLO!

Thanks for all your letters and stuff... you guys are pretty cool:)

So this week I had divisions with Elder Scurr, so that was pretty cool and pretty interesting. He came to do some interviews for some people that we were supposed to baptize this month.. The mother and the daughter passed. But the father has Parkinson's and is not really ready... so we are going to try to wait for him to be ready.... we will see what happens there.. super cool family.. There is a new rule that if we don't baptize once a month, we have to write Elder Martino and tell him why... so I will probably have to write him for November. But its cool, cuz we are buds. jaja...

We had a few opportunities for service. My grandma salvadoreña wanted us to sand and paint this Disney ponochio thing.... I basically did it because I had a little bit of knowledge in painting from art class in high school... there was a lot of detail and I would not have known how to do it... I just think that it is really cool that sometimes stuff from high school or college helps me out in the mission.  

I get stressed when we don't really have investigators.... gotta do something about that!

Presidency of the area wants all the members to read the Book of Mormon before April... I guess their personal conversion is something that is pretty important right now.. We are having a special broadcast next Sunday from the presidency of the area to all the stakes in Central America... should be interesting.

 

So I got to 18 months yesterday, I got a new and last toothbrush of the mish.. I am starting to get a little scared about the real world.. and me looking back on these past 18 months thinking, (have I done everything I thought I would do? Have I become the person I wanted to become?.... deep questions like that.. That scare you! yikes!

We started a secret combination of righteousness in the mission.. Members: me, Elder Graves, Elder Mehr, and Elder King. We are called: the band of Teancum.. its like an underground missionary group and we like brainstorm ideas and stuff... we have been talking a lot about jam on. We also talked with a psychologist from my ward about it... The trick is to try and teach something that is going to help people receive the gospel in a way that is meaningful to them. So we have been talking about the culture of the country and its actually pretty sad.. something that you guys probably don't know is that this country is filled with sin and wickedness. Everyone says they believe in God, but don't pray, read, and at times, don't go to church. This country is filled with deceit. Satan has such a huge hold on the hearts of the people here, to the point that they think that they have enough and don't need anymore.. The people that do go to church think that they just have to accept Christ and that's all they have to do.. so they sin and do whatever they want. Satan uses peculiar ways to keep people away from the truth. 2 Nephi 28:8-9 is so true in this country. Like you wouldn't believe. Sometimes I feel like Alma and the sons of Mosiah when they said they wished that they were angels so that they could speak with the voice of a trump declaring this gospel.. wickedness is so strong here... this country doesn't prosper because it doesn't follow any commandments. No one wants to invest in this country in any business because of the distrust. No one trusts in anyone. Its super sad. People say that their families are important but they have no family bonds or ties. Family dinner is nonexistent. I have only met one or two families that are even close to the way that we are as a family. Where my best friends are Dad and Austin, how I consider them my best friends and we do everything together. So we are trying to figure some stuff out there... we`ll see.

Mum, thanks for everything... green eyes is a super awesome song... picture of my agenda was for today. Because I am vivienda la vida today:) thanks for everything! I love you! (I think I am going to start figuring out some school stuff today, FYI)

Dad, thanks for your letter, I hope everything goes well with the business. Get back on the bike! or your December race will be hard! love ya pops! Nice girl dog you guys are getting!

Austin, I hope everything is going great! Sounds like life is awesome! have fun in Mexico buey! (don't say that or you will be in trouble down there in Mexico)Jajaja... WHOOP!

Ellie, just keep shuffling! don't worry about getting hit in the face a lot jaja.!

Brynn, stay happy! love ya!

gracias por todo!!!!

SALU

TTT

Santa Tecla- Week 69

HELLO!

This week was absolutely incredible. Thanksgiving feast was pretty non existent, but you know, still thankful for tons of stuff.

So last Monday, we went to a members house that lives in an American community. (BTW, my area is the second richest of the mission.) Anyway, it was a mom and a daughter, both salvadoreñas... and the mom looks absolutely gringa... like super gringa... like, I thought she was a gringa because her hair is so blond and her skin is so white... but that's not even the crazy part, she talks like our cousin. jajajaja... so you can only imagine that we were there for a while just listening to her... jajaja!.

On Tuesday, we had divisions with the assistants. I went with Elder Naylor, a fellow cyclist, and it was awesome... I actually hosted him in the MTC when he came. Their area is the area of the temple, so we got to teach at the temple which was awesome. We also walked inside the temple to drop some stuff off at the front desk and guess who I find........ Frank Wall. It was so awesome to see him.. and he was super excited about it all. and me too. Basically on Tuesday, I learned that I have so much to learn. Elder Naylor is an awesome missionary. Also on Tuesday, a powerful convert from my ward left for his mission to Argentina. He is a super cool guy and is the only person who I have met that knows who the bands are that I like:) he also gave me a few to look up:The cribs, the libertines, the national, and Interpol. never heard of them...jaja.

We also had multizonas this week. A huge part was on faith. I really learned a lot. Its kinda funny how the Lord prepares you for things like multizonas. For the past week or two, I have been thinking about my faith, and what I can do to increase my faith and baptize. I have always believed that the culture of the mission should not determine success, but there is absolutely no excuse to not baptize every month. I could say that I have done all I can do, but if that were true, I would be baptizing a lot more.

The last couple weeks, I have really been realizing the responsibility that I have as a leader in the mission. Before, I didn't really think much of it. But about a month ago, it all hit me like a rock. It is a huge part of my responsibility to help the zone baptize. And that may sound obvious, but when it actually enters your heart, its a lot different. At times I feel really incapable at times, not only to be a representative of the Lord, but to be a leader in the mission. At times I don't know what to do, but that's where the power of prayer comes in. We have been trying to help them with their accountability to the Lord. So we have thought up a number of questions to ask themselves at the end of each day.. and to put them on their pillow before their prayers every night.

Also, I am super grateful for having Elder Graves as a companion. I have really learned urgency from him. The urgency of the work. And I feel that through him, I have become a little more converted to being a witness of Jesus Christ, of being a missionary. I know that it is the work of the Lord. And it has become my life and my conviction.

Marion G Romney said, "I always know when I am talking by the holy ghost, because I always learn something from what I say." I have definitely and a few of those moments this week and its awesome.

There is a guy in my ward that has the same posture as Austin when he was like ten and put his shoulder up`and put his ear next to it..jajajaja.

band of teancum is growing stronger. members count: 5

We have had a lot of opportunities for service this week. We helped build a house on the volcano and painted a house in the valley... cool beans!

there was a relief society activity on Saturday where I saw a lot of people from my ward in Nuevo Lourdes.:) Then yesterday there was a special conference from the area president, Elder Martino. Last night, I saw people from every one of my areas. One person from Zacamil, one from Valle Nuevo, a bunch from Nuevo Lourdes. And one from San Vicente. They were from that one family that I told you about that is just awesome. Alejandra and her mom. They gave us lunch on Sundays and were basically my family in San Vicente. I was super super excited to see her and it made my week. awesome stuff:)

We had an interesting experience with someone that we are teaching. Its that guy that has Parkinson's, He really wanted to go to church and he told his wife that if he doesn't feel good, he might take something to kill himself.. so we talked with my tia of this area who happens to be a psychologist, and she gave us some advice, We had a good lesson with him last night. I think that he gets how important he is to his family and to the Lord now:)

So today you guys get a long letter because I copied and pasted a few things that I wrote to president:) hope you enjoy!

SALU PUE

Elder Thornton.

Santa Tecla-Week 68

HELLO FAMILIA!

HELLO FAMILIA! SO this week was filled with news of usurping power from the Mormons.... jajaja... so Obama won... but really, its probably better that way... just think about it, if something were to go wrong in the presidency, people would start to think its because he is Mormon and as a result, not want to know anything about the church. I know that everything happens for the wise purposes of the Lord. BTW, the whole presidency race is just like the Book of Mormon and the chief judge and stuff:)

I heard hurts like heaven this week... it was awesome:)

So yesterday and today I have been a mute. I have lost my voice. And I am sick. Sick whips. Its funny when you are sick and its noticeable because everyone and their dog starts telling you about all their little family heirloom remedies. So I got a few of those yesterday. Its kinda funny:)...and scary!

So the volcano is in our area.. and as a result, we have been going up there a few times a week. It would be super awesome road ride. Killer climb. Yesterday when we were up there, I saw some downhillers start bombing down a trail with some big hit specialized bikes. It brought back some memories. One day I will have three bikes... mountain, road and downhill or free ride,, sick whips.  And its really cold up there as well... there's not running water up there so they have like these huge tanks under the ground... and they have to bring water up from the city when they need water.. in the winter they just use rain water. This one member has a tank that can fill 800 of those blue barrels on the side of our house... CRAZY DEEP! 

This week I had the wonderful opportunity to go on divisions with elder De Leon. I learned a lot from his optimism and the way he is working with members. And that led me to some more ideas for the bomb. (aka working with members.) We taught a member family a powerful lesson on the power of small and simple things bringing to pass great things. And there is a small video that goes along with it (20min) Then we gave them a Book of Mormon and asked them to write their testimony in it. Then to pray for inspiration to know who to give it to. Something that he focused on was the revelation part. That we may think that we know who to give it to but that may not be what the Lord was. Elder Graves and I tried that yesterday and it was a very cool experience. I call it simp swip whip grip. another project:) (simp=simple)

We had no news this week. This week has been filled with a bit of repentance. There is not really much I can say about that, only that we are going to work a lot harder this week. Just keep shufflin.

I finished the book of Mormon this week. I found out that I loved the Book of Mormon so much that I coudn't wait until Christmas to finish. I started again this week and I plan to also finish it in Spanish before the end of the year. I love the Book of Mormon. That copy of the book of Mormon is a prized possession of mine. As I got on my knees to try Moroni's promise again, I felt the spirit of the Lord, once again testifying to me of its truthfulness.

So we have been trying to think of some good jam on lessons... and try to think about the salvy culture and make lessons that would be important to salvys.... so one thing that is super important to the people here is their social image... so we have been trying to develop a lesson for people like them.. we starting some based on scriptures.. like Moroni 8:26- and ask people how their lives would be different if they had a perfect love and a hope. How it would help their families.. and then try and get them scheduled in for another month of lessons. Should be good!!! jaja.. just gotta find some people to teach first.

Mum, thanks for everything! Your pretty much awesome.. I hope everything goes well this week.. I suppose you are right... I should just enjoy this area and keep shufflin. Btw, new rule! If we go a month without baptizing, we have to write Elder Martino and tell him why and what we are going to do so that we baptize in the coming months. Its cool cuz Elder Martino and I are buds:)  The spongebob blanket is from the emergency kit that the mission gives you.. we'll see what we can do for thanksgiving:)love ya mum!

Dad, thanks for your advice. Its true, everyone needs the gospel. My toe is better... they only took the half that was ingrown out. ... I wont ever buy a pair of crocks again.. jaja... Hope everything is going good on the bike! Cant wait to get on it as well:) love ya!

Austin... stay happy! hope everything is going great!

Ellie, sounds like you are happy! Stay that way!

Brynn, igual, Stay super happy and learn how to shuffle:)

I'm trying to be like Jesus, I'm following in his ways. I'm trying to love as he did in all that I do and say. At times I am tempted to make a wrong choice, but I try to listen as the still small voice whispers love one another as Jesus loves you, try to show kindness in all that you do. Be gentle and loving in deed and in thought and these are the things Jesus taught.

"I would that ye would seek this Jesus of whom the prophets have testified." Ether 12:41

TTT

Santa Tecla- Week 67

HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!

Thanks for all your letters and stuff! This week started kinda baggy for San Vicente again.. ( its not like baggy to go home, its like baggy to go work in San Vicente) but it ended a lot better than it started. On thursday, we had a zone leader council in the casa de Pres whips. It was super awesome. He talked about the age change on the misions a little bit. He said that it was to start to speed up the work . I guess President Monsons new focus is on rescue. Rescuing less active members. Then in central america, it is on rescuing jovenes. In the church as a whole, Only 46% of kids that get baptized at 8 are ordained deacons. Only 20% ordained Elders. And only 10 % serve missions.. so the church is kind focusing on that... because if you save one youth, you save generations. I always learn a ton frrom president. Then on Friday, we had our zone conference meeting that we organized. It went well! Part of the meeting on Thursday was on how to stay motivated. Hermana glazier did that part. She emailed us a couple weeks ago to see what we do to stay motivated. I told her that I try to shuffle every morning.... so.... naturally, she made me do the presentation in the zone leader meeting:) jaja.. but also, on Friday, we taught it to the zone:) So now the zone motto is JUST KEEP SHUFFLIN.:)

My comp Elder Graves is from Idaho. He is a good guy.. he definitely tries to do whats right. But yeah Mum, totally think he is set for Christmas:)

We have a family with a fecha baptismal for this month! They are really cool and the wife is like a Mrs Puff. Just the nicest lady in the world. She makes sure she has lemonade, or horchata every time we go to their house. She reminds me a lot of Grandma Skelton and Grandma Thornton, with a Mrs Puff voice:) jajajaja

I used to have a passion for knocking doors, but here, I have lost that passion big time. It used to be like a game for me. But here, the people dont even give you the time of day.. it is a pretty affluent area.. but you know, whatever.. jaja

We helped someone move out of this place called Finca de Asturias. Its pretty much America.. I would consider getting a house there someday... it was sick. Anyway, the family was super cool.. familia Ayala... I want a family like theirs when I am big. They are super spontaneos and fun. Like they are the type that do funny things no matter where they are and they don't care about what anyone else thinks:) They slightly remind of the Cowleys... but maybe thats because they have 7 kids:) jajaja...

Its super cold in the mornings here and the water is even colder!!.... I study with a blanket on... see picture:)

So, because Nuevo Lourdes is remodeling their chapel, they had to come up here to Santa Tecla to have a baptism. So we had to fill the font and stuff. Then we kinda start studying and stuff.. then people from there start coming in!!! whoop! so I got to see some more people from my old ward:) and then the baptismal cantidate came in... and it was Brenda! I taught her with Elder Ventura for about a month and then I left.. it was super awesome to see her all prepared for baptism!!.. so I gave a talk at the baptism. After the baptism, I congratulated her and then she was like, "thank you for finding me... thank you for knocking on my door. Le agradezco mucho!" it was super satisfying... (btw, I was closer to seeing Stanly and Ruth and Tito in San Vicente... another adavantage:))

Mum, I really don't have any problem with mosquitos.. So dont worry about that... mosquito season is pretty much over anyway. My toe is doing better, I blew a hole through those crocs in about five days.. a hole in the bottom of both of them... yep... never buying a pair of those again in my life.. jajaja! love ya mum!

Dad, sounds like the 12 hour race thing was super sick! I seriously cant wait to be able to get back on the bike again. But its going by fast! I hope America can choose a good President... reading the Book of Mormon really connects the dots from that era to this one... pretty darn similar.. anyway, love ya pops!

Austin, sounds like you are getting things all figured out! Just make sure to take it all up to the Lord when you have your plans put together.. thats what we do ever night.. and many times , a change in plans is necessay. Just be humble enough to take the answer you get and dont throw a fit!!!! love ya bro!

Ellie, sounds like everything is going great! love ya!

Brynn, igual!! I love you! Stay happy!!!!

TTT SALU!

Santa Tecla-Week 66

So yep... I got changed to Santa Tecla... it is in the same stake as when I was in Nuevo Lourdes... I am still ZL... with an Elder named Graves. (and he looks like Harry Potter) I was super bummed to leave...I have been a little disanimated this week just a bit.  San Vicente was definitely my favorite area so far in my mission... and to only be there for one change really sucked. But I guess life goes splendidly. Our house here is cool though.. it was a seventy members old house and it is pretty American.

So surgery on my toe was super super painful! Even with the anesthetics... so I have been walking around in crocs for a few days... jajaja... I guess I was just joining the club.

I got the halloween package!!! Thank you! thank you! thank you !thank you!!!!!! that was super nice of you all:)  the tie was sick, candy corn epic, Austins letter just about made me cry.. jaja

So at changes meeting, we found out an interesting fact! Before the announcement of the age drop for missionaries, the average mumber of applicants was 400 missionaries/week.... the week after conference, it shot up to 4000 with more than half sister missionaries... I think now that I would most definitely like to marry a returned missionary now that they have the oppurtunity to go at 19:) And our mission has a capacity of 190 missionaries right now... in about three months, it will shoot up to 250.

Elder Scurr is in my zone again! We left San Vicente together to come here again. also, side note, the hermanas that came out with me are leaving to go home this change.... HOW CRAZY IS THAT???

Hermana Elizabeth got endowed last week:) Nothing could make me feel happier.

Since I got here, I have been seeing people from my first and third area.. considering they are pretty close. It is super cool to see people and just know people:)

STILL BAGGY FOR SAN VICENTE! FREAK!

So we were teaching the plan of salvation this week and it just hit me... I have such a desire to be exalted... I want to be like Heavenly Father. But I also realized that it is going to take a lot more than what I am doing... I dont think that having a valid temple reccomend is going to get you to the highest grade of the celestial kingdom.. but it will get you in there I think... but probably wont be able to be exalted.

We taught a lesson about family history last night and I got all excited to do my own family history! Its super weird what you get excited for as a missionary.. jaja...

Teaching an investigator and it was the first time a non member recognized me as a representative of Jesus Christ.. She said, "I can see the purity in your faces... you are good representatives of Jesus Christ." it was a very cool experience.. sometimes you need experiences like that when youre baggy for your last area... jajaja...

Last week on Thursday, we had a mission conference... first one of my mission... it was with the entire mission... usually when that happens, its with both missions.. but I guess Pres just wanted to do something different! But it was really really cool... it was on the importance of the atonement.. and the doctrine about talking with everyone. And the concept of talking with people instead of talking to people... I feel like I have good people skills in Spanish.. but its a whole other ball game in English... I might try working a least a little bit with a job that works with people to try and develop that skill..

Speaking of work... I would like to try and get the EMT by the end of July... then I could work for a month in Flagstaff before school starts and as I am going to school.. get the paramedic thing... the reason I would like to do it online is because I want to get it done a lot faster than going to class for a semester or two.. and if it so be that I have to take our a loan to do it... so be it! jaja... but from what I understand, you have to get and EMT basic first... then you can go to the paramedic level.. so.... yeah... but thanks for continuing to check up on that:) I guess i could talk to you more in detail on Christmas:)

I love you all and thanks for everything! Pray for me to go back to San Vicente.. jaja!

SALU

La Torre- Week 65

So, a very uninteresting week. I went to the toe Doctor on Tuesday and she said my toe was bad... so I had to wait a week and take a bunch of antibiotics. But she also said to stay inside all week. There was another Elder in my zone that also had an ingrown so basically we just chilled all week in the house... the week went by super fast.. we just studied and played monopoly all week.. jaja! But it was fun to live as four missionaries for a week. Tomorrow we are going into San Salvador for them to take it out... should be pretty interesting:) jaja but for that reason of being in the house all week, my letter may or may not be a little short:)

 

We had a baptism on Saturday! It was the Doctor. She was so excited. And now she has been bringing her son to church as well so that he can be baptized. The branch president baptized her:) It was very rewarding and I was very happy for her. She has almost finished the book of Mormon for the second time... she will be an excellent asset for this branch.

I finished the Isaiah chapters of the book of Mormon this week... it was a lot easier to understand after studying Isaiah  for about a month... great are the words of Isaiah!!!!

The other family in the picture is the familia Corleto. They used to be a happy family in the church. But the gangs killed the father and set one of  the two sons on fire. The two sons are pretty wayward, but the daughter is super faithful and reminds me a lot of Ashlyn(in case you don't know what that means, that means incredibly awesome) and the mom hasn't been coming to Church for the past month.. They love the missionaries and treat them like their own family.They feed us every Sunday and they are actually taking us out for Boston ice cream tonight. We had a short lesson yesterday and I feel like we helped the mom out a lot... she said that she doesn't have the desire to go to church anymore and she wants more than anything to actually have that desire again. It was days like yesterday during that lesson that remind me of how much I love to do what I do.. helping people. Being a missionary. I love it!

I guess I'll bear my testimony or something... jaja...

Jesus Christ is my King and my Savior. He is my friend, My best friend. My teacher, my advocate. My strength as I pass through this life of probation. I bow to Him continually, especially every morning and night. I worship Him. It is through Him that I may have the gift of Eternal life. I feel his amazing grace every day and I love and serve him. Oh sweet the joy this sentence gives: I know that my Redeemer lives. I add my testimony to many others that have been given of Him: "I testify that He is the Son of the Living God, who was crucified for the sins of the world. He is our Lord, our God and our King. This I know of myself, independent of any other person. I am one of His witnesses and in the coming day, I shall feel the nail marks in His hands and in His feet and shall wet His feet with my tears. and I shall not know any better then, than I know now that He is God´s Almighty Son, That he is our Savior and Redeemer and that salvation comes in and through His atoning love and in no other way" I love Him. and I know that as we begin to understand the atonement, we will use that awesome gift more and more to be made clean. For through Him, that miracle is made possible. In His Holy name, amen.

Mum, I love you and thank you for everything. You are really awesome and I am lucky to have been raised by you.. I love you!

Dad, sounds like the week went a little not according to plan, but that's how life is I guess... trial after trial after trial.. I love you and thank you for being you.

Austin, I had a thought this week that may or may not help you... my comp told me about an 80 year old lady that got baptized and received her patriarchal blessing. It said that she was supposed to have received the gospel 50 years earlier but the missionary that was supposed to find her did not go on a mission. We will be held accountable for what we promised to do in the pre earth life... which led me to start to think about the times that we go on our mission. The age was obviously changed for a reason. And if one doesn't go when they should, think of all the families that they would be missing.. obviously they would be picking up more at the end of the mission, but they could be missing... just a thought:) I love ya bro:)

Ellie, keep on keeping on! always do the right things. And act as if Jesus Christ were at your side everyday.

Brynn, stay super happy all the time! I shuffle every day to stay happy:)

I love you all! SALU!

TTT

La Torre- Week 63

HELLO!!!!

This week went by so freaking fast. Monday, p day. Tuesday, ZL meeting at pres house all day. Wednesday, divisions with assistants, Thursday, zone meeting conference thing. Friday, normal... Saturday and Sunday CONFERENCE!

We´ll start from the top:) Tuesday we had the meeting with the president in his house.. it was super spiritual and changed a lot of what I have been doing. First off, my first kid Brose is a ZL now as well so that was really cool to see him. He is doing great:) I also saw Elder Mehr which was awesome. They gave us breakfast, lunch and desert.... Americanized.. I think I went to heaven that day.. strawberry cheesecake. An unheard luxury in this country. jajaja! The subject was many. A lot of it was about the atonement. We cannot teach people with the hope that they will understand if we do not understand at least a fraction of that principle, or better said, experienced the atonement. So we worked on our invitations touching and bearing solemn testimony of the atonement. It changed a lot. Also, another possible unstated topic was bettering our relationship with God. Something that I have tried to do to better my relationship with God or to know him better (john 17:3) , is to pray to Him as if He were in the room and I were talking with my best friend. Because that is exactly what He is to me. My best friend. Changed a lot... and it has made all the difference this week especially before conference.

So we have changed JAM ON. to an acronym: Just answer my only need. Its basically a huge attempt to answer peoples question: "why do I give a crap about your message?" We as missionaries always hear the phrase: "teach people, not lessons" but it makes it a lot different when you internalize that principle. To try and answer that only need, we try to answer three questions with the investigators: 1. Who is God? 2. What does He do?(his purpose?) 3. And Why does he love me? It hopefully will have some good results

so I received a bunch of letters! WHOOP! Definitely have a bunch to write.. jaja...

also, I have started a dream book in result to Richard G Scott's last conference address in April. I figure if I write them down, I will receive more revelation through my dreams.. So far, I have only received two dreams with revelation... but it has been really cool! in the first, I realized that it was a revelation for JAM ON! it was way cool:)

I traded Elder Mehr for a moleskine pocket notebook.. the ones that I wanted.. I´ll send you pics so you know what its all about:)

Also, something from the presidents meeting, was a new project that I like to call Jump-Roids. where does the name come from? Because it is like a bungee jump lesson... on steroids. Hence the name jump roids. Basically, we go in and bless houses and people and leave. So that they can feel "the power of godliness". Which is the atonement... people can experience the atonement through participating in ordinances. This jump roids comes as a result of DyC 84:21. It has been awesome these past couple days.

So now we have the bomb, bungee, rip tear, jump roids, and jam on... I love them all:) and they all have good results.

Divisions with the assistants... I went with Elder Boj from Guatemala. The other assistant is Elder Naylor that also does cycling.. and I hosted him in the mtc (greeted him out of the car) yup, we have a bond... jaja! But basically what I was able to learn from Elder Boj, is that I have so much to learn. He is awesome.. and he is going home in December. I have so much to learn.

Zone meeting... awesome. I thought I was getting over my tears when I speak of the gospel.. or maybe I thought that I was immune in Spanish.. but they came out for the first time in a long time this time.. mostly when I talked about making Heavenly Father your best friend.

You have undoubtedly heard the incredible news of this conference. Basically I had some tears again.. jaja. This conference was so good. I always love Elder Holland, even though I have heard him give that talk before and I have it on dvd!.. the story is a little bit more powerful when he talks to missionaries.. but then the end of his talk in conference was way more powerful. I loved Pres Eyring´s, Elder Bednars, and Pres Uchtdorf. Very very powerful.. how blessed we are to have the knowledge that there is a prophet. And that God still speaks to his children through them. The news about the change in the missionary age was something seriously spectacular. Austin can leave right when I am back! What an amazing blessing. It would have been so much easier for me to have left right after high school. The missionary age change for women was even more shocking! jaja!.  I love conference and I am so grateful for a prophet.

Mum, thanks for everything! You are so awesome and a wonderful mother. Thanks for everything. I love you!

Dad, thanks for everything and I hope everything is going great! Sounds like it is anyway.. sounds like you are going to be busy for the next couple months with all those races:) love ya pops.. make sure you are doing the small and simple things that I told you about... don't miss a week going to the temple or a day reading the scriptures.. starting today.

Austin, can you believe the news? what a huge blessing...you should put your availability date for may 27.. its a Monday. Get out as fast as you can! and it is so awesome that you know why you have had all of these trials lately.. they were to prepare you to be an awesome missionary. I am sorry I wont be able to call you, even if I really want to... it would be worth more to you if I don't call, something that I would do now would be a few: It will take some sacrifice, but its all necessary; read the book of Mormon at least 15 min a day, study the preach my gospel for at least 15 min a day... that would be 30 min of study a day... no matter how many times you start and finish and start and finish, do that until the day you leave... start the day and end it with a prayer, as if Heavenly Father were in the room. If you can get into mission prep, do it. Don't let anything get you out of your focus. You sure make me proud! Thanks for the nice things that you have written in my letter.. basically almost cried. Theres definitely a lot of stuff that is dear to me. love ya bro.

Ellie, can you believe it? crazy stuff! I am glad that you have loved conference so much and thank you for your example. You are really becoming spiritually mature. Always read you scrips. And pray as if God was in the room:)

Brynn, I am glad that you liked conference so much! And that you are all ready for Halloween! love ya!

Elder TTT

SALU

La Torre-Week 64

 

This week flew by like most other weeks... its crazy how fast everything goes.. this week went alright, it started off not so good at all, but then got a lot better towards the end:) looks like I´ll just jump right into this thing!

It started off bad because of this, last Sunday night, we went to visit an investigator that didn't come to church. She is the one that lives with the less active and was drinking coffee. We get to the house to find out that she wasn't there but the less active girl was there.. then she invited us in and started crying to us about how she didn't have money to get on a bus to get to the district center. And she cried about a million other problems (mostly financial) and we decided that we would talk about tithing.. because if someone is having financial problems, the most important commandment for them is the law of tithing, so we read Mal 3:8-10 and talk about the blessings of tithing. She got really defensive saying that she always pays her tithing, when we left we said a prayer and promised her the  blessings were real. We went back on Tuesday to visit the investigator. We get there and she tells us that we had called the less active cursed because she didn't pay tithing... totally putting words in our mouth right? Definitely not the case, she just took the scripture and directed it towards herself... then we had a 2 Nephi 9:40 reaction. whoops! So long story short, the investigator said that she was going to try to get to the states anyway and she decided that she wasn't going to get baptized and she didn't want us to come over anymore... kind of a series of unfortunate events... but life goes on splendidly!

So we know a father from the catholic church talking about a family where the mother died and left her kids.... said that the mother had to be lost because she wasn't baptized... its such a blessing to know the real plan of salvation.. We are going to see what we can do to teach the family the REAL TRUE gospel of Jesus Christ and that her mother is not lost.

We are teaching a person named prudence... he is an old guy that lives by himself and just super super humble and recognizes the spirit.. we taught him the word of wisdom last week and went to visit him this week that he had kept the word of wisdom completely. A lifetime of drinking it and stopped just like that! He said that he wasn't doing it to be obedient to us, but to God. Just how it should be..

We had interviews with the president. It was awesome. He macheted but with a ton of love. He told me that I was a great missionary and I was going to be a great father, and husband and church leader... I sure hope so, because those things sound like hard jobs.. but it really was awesome. Pres whips is awesome.

After the interview, we had a lesson with the doctor. But we decided that it would be awesome to have the presidents wife to be in on the lesson as well.. it turned out awesome and Hna Glazier was amazed at the doctor and what she has been doing:)

we have been doing jump-roids in Apastapeque... a place where lots of missionaries don't go.... and it has been awesome... we have only knocked two streets and gotten like a bunch of references from it... its like every time we knock a door, they tell us to come in! Prepared people... hopefully

Remember when my toenail fell out like 8 months ago? Yeah it grew back with a bunch of deformities and so I tried to fix it by putting cotton under it... bad idea... got a bad in grown now.. nurse is getting me set up for some surgery... yikes.

We got to do some service this week and help this guy at a quinceñera.. He was a cook in the states and speaks pretty good English... we eat with him about 3 or 4 times a week... something about service that I and my comp have learned is that when we serve, we understand more about the Atonement... its not just academical and reading the BoM.... but John 17:3 to   Mosiah 5:13 to Mosiah 2:17..... connect the dots:)

 

We are doing the BoM challenge that Pres Hinckley gave a few years back to read the BoM before the end of the year.. if we read nine pages a day, we will finish it before the end of the year... we are doing it.. I have started in English and putting where I was in Spanish on hold... I am marking in a new BoM where it mentions Christ, promises, where Christ talks, and atonement. It is pretty awesome and I am really stoked! I am learning so much and I feel like I am learning a lot more about the Savior.

Had a super funny lesson with one sister and two brothers... who were like 70 years old.... and they have lived together for that long as well... it was SUPER funny.. they were like a bunch of kids arguing with one another as brothers and sisters do at times:) but they were all super happy. Happy is a close family.

 

 Mum, I am always in need of like benzoyle peroxide... thanks for sending the package whips! you are awesome and thanks for everything you do for me! I love you!

Dad, stay fresh on the bike! sounds like the vacation was fun! don't gain weight! I love you too!

Austin, Alma 37:37 and James 1:5 will never let you down! use it up! love ya

Ellie, boys have cooties! whoop whoop!

Brynn, Halloween is coming up! have loads of fun!

I love you all}

SALU

TTT 

La Torre- Week 62

Hello family!
So, all I read this morning is that everyone is all fetched off because I supposedly didn't write a letter last week! Throw me a freaking bone! Its like the ms gang is hunting me down now... cuz I didn't write a letter... but little did you all know, I DID WRITE A LETTER! I just forgot to put it in the right address.... whoops!.. SORRY!.. but anyway... come what may and love it, right?
So I guess I´ll just start with my letter for this week..
Elder Scurr is a district leader in our zone and he always has such a great attitude about everything! Even though his area is a little hard and the members live in apostasy... and he is really good at shuffling.. so he tells me and many others that whenever your down, shuffle... everyday, when your down whenever... just keep shuffling! so I try to shuffle every day for a little bit:)
I really like my comp a lot! he kinda seems like he thinks that he knows a lot , I have a lot of fun with him... one, he is experienced, and he knows how to work and he knows how to laugh. The time has been going so much faster since I got put with him, maybe because I don't have to worry about what my comp is doing or something like that, because he already knows what to do! And he is really smart and knows the doctrine:)
So we have been working in a small city called Apastapeque. And it is super golden! We knock like one street and have like 8 new investigators! Its super awesome! So we travel to that area about once or twice a week:) The thing is that at night, there are no more buses that go into San Vicente, so we do a little hitch hiking into the city... its pretty fun:) Lots of people at NAU would hitchhike from the resort, to the campus. super hippie:) Remember when I went to school without shoes for like two months? yep, awesome.. Loved that school.
Speaking of school, one of these days, maybe like in December, you guys will have to talk to NAU so I can get permish to sign up for class from here.. just a heads up.. I was thinking I was going to change my major and still do the pre-med requirements.... I was kinda thinking Spanish, or music production (producing music)... can you look into that please? at least the majors? Please and thank you.
WE HAD A BAPTISM ON FRIDAY! ... he wanted me to baptize him and I was very honored. He has been ready for baptism for a long time, but the president of the branch wanted to wait for a little extra preparation for him for who knows what, but he is very cool and is a teacher in the Aaronic priesthood now:)
For Christmas, definitely don't need socks, shirts, or pants... just so you know:) but I would like the things that I described in my last letter that y'all didn't get... plus, my Debussy piano book porfa:)
So the bomb took a phase two yesterday because we had the third hour of the 5th Sunday of the month. Ít was off the hook! First, we did a bungee lesson.. I think I explained what a bungee lesson was a long time ago, it is basically a short lesson filled with testimony.. So we did a practice with the branch pres (as if he were an inv.) in front of the branch to show them all how we teach as missionaries. Then, the classic RIP TEAR. you know all about that. That has my trademark on it. Then we came with a new little project called JAM ON. (Jam on lee!) Jam on is getting the members to do something.. so we gave them all folletos with a sticky note on it so that they could give the folleto to one of their friends and write the address and name of the person on the sticky and give the sticky to us. We already got one! So I think that I received a little revelation... maybe there are some people that have references ( like the branch pres in this case) that wont give us references unless we ask. Just like God sometimes doesn't give us blessings unless we ask. anyway... JAM ON! Also, DON'T STOP TILL YOU GET E-NUFF. Meaning, you got to follow up with the members and make sure they DON'T STOP. (Also, Elder Cook came up with that to have us always fight for families) But we changed it to fit the bomb.,. so the BOMB is the overall project, but has sub projects to help it... such as the BUNGEE, RIP TEAR, JAM ON, and DON'T STOP TIL YOU GET E-NUFF. So yeah... hope we see some progress there!
I like my area! Its one of the coolest areas I have had for working.. The members, good ... I think Valle Nuevo will be the best in that sense... but also Nuevo Lourdes had the bomb take off! So that makes a little competition... but as for working and cool stuff in our area? This is by far the coolest:)
Mum, I love you and thanks for all you do for me! Thanks for the letter and sorry mine didn't get to you last week:) my bad Thanks for everything!
Dad, sounds like that trip was way legit! Glad you had fun! I hope all goes well with the meeting tomorrow,.,. if the bright family wouldn't have had a son that doesn't know how to type, maybe my advice would have helped! jajajaja... oh well... love ya pops!
Austin,,, to help you with your question, you can read 2 Nephi 4.. its my favorite chapter.. from like vs 15 to the end... take into account that Nephi had seen everything that John the revelator saw and a boatload of things that Isaiah saw.. and he still felt inferior.. basically if you are feeling that, you are felling what you call Godly sorrow, a necessary step for repentance... and it doesn't matter who you are... Everyone will always have a need for repentance. That chapter will help ya I think:) love ya!
Ellie and Brynn, holy crap, when I saw the fotos of your guys, I almost flew out of my chair.. you guys have gotten BIG! Ellie's almost as tall as Austin and Austin is taller than me! holy moly! Definitely haven't seen a picture of you guys in like 6 months! Both of you are huge! Congrats. anyway, love ya!! come what may and love it! (sick talk I read this morning... his last talk before he died)
I love you all and I hope you are not too distraught with the no letter last week:) jaja.. have a good week!
SALU

La Torre- Week 61

HELLO,

Wow this week flew like a mother... I am really shocked that it is Monday again, but I am so grateful for it!!! jajajaja. So first on the docket, HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRIM!!!.. don't know how I remembered that one... I got sick one day this week where I felt like throwing up all day, and I did just a little and it was gross, so I stayed in the house for a few hours and slept:) but now I am good! sick whips gone. I had a dream when I was sleeping that day that I was home. I woke up and thought, I CANT GO HOME! I LOVE THE PEOPLE TOO MUCH! The thing about the mission is weird. Like, we pay to work where other jobs, we work to get paid... but nothing could be more rewarding than missionary work! crazy.

Apostasy of the week: "Jesus Christ came and changed the law of moses because it was too strict and now we are all saved by grace."

This area is really cool.. it kinda has that small town feel, like the last Saturday of the month the whole city has this party thing. Weird stuff like that. I like my comp.. I finally got a comp that actually is experienced and knows how to teach. so BONUS! Our house is cool... we have a washing machine that's broken. We Wash our clothes by hand.. which is actually a lot easier than what one would think. I like our house a lot.. its a little older but it is one of the better houses I have lived in in my mission:) The area is covered with catholics, something unique in this area... I call it catholic town:) And theres some tranvesties... I don't like to walk by them,... they always say something stupid to me.

Theres a guy in my area who is 126 years old. wow!

So that Doctor that I told you all about last week has read the book of Mormon once already. And is reading for the second time... she is super smart! She doesn't like TV even... she read the book in about a month. crazy.. some people are just ready.. most members don't even read like that... an investigator should have a spiritual experience every day... and most members don't have that???? what the??? Even a lot of missionaries don't have that.

We had a lesson with a part member family.. They just got married and the husband lives in the states but comes to visit.. He is trying to get her papers ready so that she can head up north. His dad was the first member in San Vicente and he is still a member of the branch where I am currently serving. Anyway, we starting teaching her this week and we taught the first lesson. We got to the point about the first vision and she just stared at the picture. Then we sat in silence for whet seemed like minutes, then we asked what she was feeling and she started crying. She couldn't answer but we knew that she knew. We do not fear silence. We teach with it, and the spirit uses it.

We found a pastor this week.. he wants us to come over tomorrow so we can spend all day talking about doctrine... we´ll see about that--- its cool though because he is a humble pastor.. he actually listens to us and understands where we are coming from.

Teaching another chosen one who lives in the same complex as a member.  We taught the word of wisdom and she asked the member, "WHY have you been giving me coffee every morning?! We HAVE to stop" so they have stopped:)

We had the temple activity this weekend! It was absolutely amazing, the first convert I saw was hna Elizabeth! She was so happy and so active! Then when we were about to leave, I saw Rosa and Veronica, two converts from my first area and I asked them if they were there for the activity, and they said, "no! we are here to make covenants in the temple" I was so happy. I cannot tell you the joy that comes to your heart when you see the people you taught: active and going to the temple. I could not even try to explain it. I also saw many other people from other wards that I have served in and it was awesome:)

I gave a talk in sacrament meeting. The branch Pres asked me like 5 min before sacrament started... nice.. but it turned out OK... I looked at it as if I were disassembling their bomb shelter to get ready for the BOMB!

We visited a family in the ward this week that had a family member that had had an accident that very day. We asked if we could do anything and they asked me to offer a prayer.. I felt that when I started the prayer that it wasn't in the Lords plans to keep him living.. so I gave a prayer of comfort and we left.. the next day, We found out that he had died and we had a service for him yesterday. I love the way the spirit works.

This week I prayed for pops and what to say to him so that he could have some added guidance with the business this week.. I got an answer and thought that I would remember it in the morning and write it down to write to him.. yeah.. didn't remember at all about what revelation I had received.. so I asked the same question the next night and realized that I received the same answer as the night before,,, so, when you receive revelation, write it down, or you will forget it. So this is the revelation that I received of what I could write to you pops: The best thing that you can do is pray morning and night and read the scriptures every day... not just read them but study them for AT LEAST 15 MIN. and go to the temple once a week with prayer and ask God for direction. Do it to it pops, I know that I cant receive revelation for you, but that's what I received of what I could write to you to help you out... :)

So a weird story: So after the funeral service yesterday, we walked a member of our ward home, because its dangerous for a woman to walk alone in the dark in El salvy.. so we got within like two blocks of her house and she was like.. well thanks! I can make it from here... so we left and we went to one of our lessons.., about twenty min after we said bye to that girl, she called us crying and told something had happened and my comp asked her where she was and then the call dropped.. so we were like, sorry but we gotta go.. so we left and started booking it towards her house.. thinking like the worst right? like rape, kidnapped.. beat up, everything is going through my head. We finally found her a block and a half from her house and told us that her drunk brother came in and started fighting with everyone in the house and knocked his brother out.. so she left crying and didn't know what to do.. she was telling us what was going on and we just listened and she cried. So we prayed and said bye...she may or may not have cried a little on my shoulder which was really uncomfortable as a missionary. But what was I going to do? jaja

 Mum, love ya and thanks for the letter! I have a small Christmas list now... is that weird? I would like a pair of brown leather Sperry's.. probably size nine.. my skinny RVCA green cords, a skinny tie, and another moleskine notebook but smaller than the ones you gave me:) like a pocket size:) I love you to the moon and back mum! I hope all goes well this week! BTW, started a dream book this week because I had a super vivid dream.. and Richard G Scott said last conference that dreams a a good source of revelation! So if I write all my dreams down, I will show God that it is important to me and therefore receive more revelation! WHOOP!. I love you so very much! If the Christmas list is too much to ask for then don't worry:) I just thought I would tell you now because last year you sent it super early:) I love you!

BROTHERS AND SISTERS: I LOVE YOU ALL! HAVE A GREAT WEEK!

SALU!

TTT

Philippians 4:13

La Torre- Week 60

WHATS UP WHATS UP WHATS HAPPENING??

SO, biggest news of the week.... I got changed! yup.. definitely not happy..... Elder Ventura is still in Nuevo but I am in the department of San Vicente in an area called La Torre.. its in the department of San Vicente in the city of San Vicente... freak changes right? So my new comp is Elder Garner from Las Vegas.. and.... wait for it..........I am a zone leader now.... so that's kinda cool... now we get a cell phone which makes things a lot more convenient. but anyway... pretty ordinary:)

I was really bummed to have to leave my old area... the bomb was having tons of success.. and I left 5 baptisms for yesterday in that area and another 2 for the end of the month and two families for Oct.... stupid... but changes are made through inspiration. So its not like you can go ask president to ask the Lord again... Just look at Joseph Smith and Martin Harris right??

So saying goodbye was hard even though I was only there for about 3 months.. The familia Ramos was awesome... where I ripped my pants (btw, didn't get that pair skinnied... those where original from the states!... but she fixed them perfect... the thing I like about El Salvador is how cheap the labor is... i skinnied and fixed two of my broken pants and it was only two bucks... jajaja) The familia Franco has always been super super nice.. they said that if I ever come back that I could stay with them and they would take me to all the beautiful places of the country. They said that one of the reasons they let us in was because I was such a smiley guy..jaja.. "you can win a crowd with a smile"... the familia Recinos was my cooks familia.. and the bishop was good:) I sent pics of all those families. Saying goodbye is sodding hard... had the death cab song stuck in my head "you may tire of me, but our December sun is setting.... on the back of a motorbike, with your arms outstretched trying to take flight..." don't know why... good song...

This week we had the 15 of Sept! it is the independence day of El Salvador:) lots of parades and stuff:)

Being ZL is pretty cool, there is just a bunch of chores to do that aren't very fun...

GOT MY PACKAGE!! THANKS YOUS!! very cool:)

So my new area is a branch... its not a ward.. But its about as big as the last ward I was in.. It seems like it will be a good branch.. There is someone in the branch that looks exactly like brother McDonald's granddaughter.. remember her? Katherine Elizabeth McDonald.. or Katie McDonald... like, i don't think you understand how much she looks like her... like I thought that it was really her and I was going to ask her what she was doing here???.. it was incredible... ..... ... ...... .. .. . . . . ... wonder what she is doing? married? figure it out for me:) then tell her to write me;) everyone forgets about you! jajajaja.. but I am happy.

We are teaching a Doctor in this new area and she is bien pilas, we taught the word of wisdom and she is already living it.. Something that is very unusual in El Salvador.. Especially when everyone and their dog drinks coffee because it is so sodding cheap... The Lord prepares people in ways you wouldn't believe

Mum, thanks for your letter and the package and everything that you do for me! You are very awesome and I am lucky to have such a great mum like you:) I already read Lectures on Faith... very cool book! Thanks mum! love ya!

Dad, hope hunting went well! Sounds like the week went well! So actually Elder Scurr is in my zone and told me about that whole freak bike accident.. I got your email this morning... I have been thinking about it.. and I will continue to think about it.. but its kinda the same thing as any other passion we have had.. They have always been dangerous.. but we have always done them.. I don't think I would live inside on a couch with my head under a blanket... yeah its a dangerous sport and lots of things could happen... but I´ll keep thinking about it... I mean, that turned into my passion in college. but I´ll think some more.. I love ya dad! I hope all goes well this week with all business changes... I´ll keep praying.

Austin.. keep it real... love ya

Ellie.. véase arriba

Brynn... que seas muy muy feliz siempre! que tengas una buena semana!!!

LOVE YA ALL FAM WHIPS!

TTT

Versalle- Week 59

HELLO!!!! HOW JUAR YOU?

So this week went awesome as normal... I got a lot of notes written down to tell you guys so I´ll just start with my list of stuff:)

SO with the Familia Franco, we are still working with them about once a week even though the husband is only there every two weeks... we started talking about temples with them.. They are very curious and it all works out because we have a temple activity for the mission in about two weeks where we will be able to take investigators to the temple to visit and get a tour of the chapel a la par. so... cool beans!

I had an interview to do in Ciudad Arce... about an hour away.. we weren´t very prepared and we got wet... then we didn´t know that the transportation from Arce to Colòn stopped at 7... so we got stuck our there... we slept in the street and in the rain last night.... nope... that was a joke... we slept over at the ZL`s house:)

Had someone saythis week that the plan of salvation was super deep and just couldn´t handle it... that was a first.. keep in mind that we teach like we teach children.. really simply...jajaja

I have started to get really impatient with evangelical women.. they ask you questions and then they never let you answer their doubt... a little frustrating..

I started studying Isaiah.. holy sod that's hard... especially in Spanish. When president Eyring came for the dedication of the temple last year, he said, "There is something special about Isaiah" So I am figuring out the special stuff.. or trying to anyway... jaja!

On Saturday, there was a man and a woman preacher that were preaching right outside our door with a couple of megaphones.. I got a funny video of it... and then we went to go give a nice sharp machete with love. jaja.. I gave them the scriptures: Isa 42:1-2, 2Tim 2:24-5. and 1 cor 11:15 (because the lady was wearing a veil) so that was good.... gotta correct people with love right? jaja

We were eating Sat night with the familia ramos... and I was playing with a hula hoop... then I was telling the kids about what we would do in school with the hula hoop. We would roll it like a wheel and then we would jump through it... so I did that... and WHOOP! pants=ripped... so I call it the Hula hoop rip tear. It was huge! Like that one time mum wore ripped shorts in the mall and stuff.. jaja! but anyway, luckily they had a pair of pants in the house that were my size and hermana Ramos said that she could fix my pants:) it was funny when i saw the 14 year old kid in church the next day~ while i was at the piano:)jaja It was hard not to crack up!

Yesterday we also went into town for the interview of aquel bicho for baptism.. he passed! So with any luck, we`ll have some baptisms this weekend!!!

So, our last interview with the president, we talked about stuff that we can do to be a better teacher. One of my goals that I had was to be a better listener. I wanted to be a better listener for during the mission, but also afterwards. Mum wrote me a few months ago about how she thought that the skill of listening is becoming to be a lost art. So, I thought that I would work on that. Over these past couple months/weeks, I have come to find out that I like listening to people too much. That i love listening to peoples tangents from the lessons and I love listening to peoples stories. Now here`s the struggle, We need to teach the lesson, right? We need to keep control of the lesson. So that's my newest and latest problem that I have as a missionary. But if that's the worst of my problems, then I am doing pretty darn good!

So because the BOMB has really had some success, I started teaching my district about it a bit:) I use a talk from the liahona for my basis, it talks about how teachers can be better teachers.. it mostly is directed towards teachers in their classrooms.. but we apply it to a lot of stuff. It talks about how the lesson is already inside the learner. It has 4 points for teaching for conversion

1. conversion is the aim: inspire them to do something. Conversion is a life long process and it is not about mastering facts, but mastering discipleship.

2. love is the motive: sometimes we teach to "cover" the lesson, rather than teach according to the needs of the individuals. When we teach with love, it helps us teach like the Savior, and according to their needs.

3. Doctrine is the key: doctrine unlocks hearts and minds so that the spirit is poured out amongst all

4. The spirit is the teacher: we should not try to "cover" the lesson, but uncover the lesson that is already inside the learner. (totally true because I feel that I haven't done anything for my converts, they already knew it!) "if we want the spirit to be more evident in our lessons, we simply need to invite them to live a principle of the gospel more fully."

*potential of each learner: gospel learning and teaching is not about learning and mastering facts.. but mastering discipleship. When we begin to acknowledge the magnificent potential of each learner, we begin to see as God sees.

Mum, thanks for your letter! your pretty much awesome. Don't worry about Christmas.. Just get me a cool tie and save the money for when I`m back or for a rainy day.. :) I haven't got the package yet but I assume this week:) I love you!

Pops, Love ya pops! stay riding on the bike and have fun hunting!

Austin; you are such a stud. Way cool you homecoming king guy:) cool that you want the other kid to win and you put that in your slide show:) and what indy song did you use? are those bands cool? love ya bro! have fun!

Ellie; sounds like you are making the greatest decisions! keep making them and keep a mission as an option, if you don't get married really fast:) love ya!

Brynn. I want you to ALWAYS stay happy! just keep those sodding teeth showing all day long! you have such a good life! I love ya! SALU!

Thanks for everything fam! SALU!
Elder TTT

Versalle-Week 58

HELLO!!

SO this week went well! Even though we didn't baptize.. I went on divisions with one of our ZL`s......  he did the interviews (in a semi truck) and came out and told me that the investagtor needed an interview from the president.. crap... so the other two siblings didn`t want to be baptized without him, so we are waiting for an interview for him... he was supposed to do it yesterday but apparently couldn´t find the church... but you know... whatever.... so we have to wait a bit on those baptisms... they will for sure get baptized... I will just have to wait patiently.... jajaa. I was a bit frustrated with that situation yesterday... jajaja-

I got my papers renewed this week to be in the country... I walked into the booth to find a girl... then she was like, "whoa, vos hablàs como nosotros! no como los demas!".... jajaja... Translation for you gringos ,"whoa! you talk like us! not like the others.." jaja so that was kinda cool I guess... my comp says I have a french accent... that I don't talk gringo... so that was kinda cool... I like french... the band Phoenix is french:) Today I got my haircut in a place that cuts hair in like the same way that mum cuts hair.. it was nice because it was like a cosmos... not like a hole in the wall place... jajajajaja.. (i am trying something different cutting it short on the sides and leaving the top a lot longer... but she took too much off the top:)) anyway... there is a girl that's in there apprenticing the lady and she thought I was from Spain... nice... 

On Tuesday we had a training meeting with the Pres on planning and goal setting... it was way legit and I learned a lot and we are putting all that stuff in practice. I`ll have to tell you about that stuff some day:) jajaja

The Bomb (aka working with members) has really exploded. I mentioned to you last week that the ward has called a new mission leader and 10 new ward missionaries that are ready to work. They planned an activity for last Saturday that was fulfilled and had success. The object of the activity was to bring people who are not members to know a little bit more about the church and try and get less actives there to help them feel the spirit and get active again. All we had to do was show up with our investigators. We were able to bring two families that we are teaching and they really enjoyed the activity. But that's not even the crazy part. Our wards attendance normally sits around 80. Yesterday, we had 118 in Sacrament meeting. It was very cool to see and I hope that it lasts. I hope that people don't forget what they felt at the activity and that they realize the responsibility to fulfill the commandments of the Lord.

One family that came to the activity was the Familia Franco.. the husband is that guy that I told you about that has always wanted to talk to missionaries but they would never talk to him?... remember? anyway... he came and her daughter... they really enjoyed the activity and he said that he would like to come to Church one of these days... the young women of the ward came and took the daughter to do their mutual activities, which was awesome... sometimes people just say hi and don't include visitors.. but they did:) they are awesome:) But anyway... their daughter is freaking gorgeous. Probably the most beautiful I have seen in the country. (Unless I have the mission goggle effect...) just kidding.. shes 17 and already finishing up her first year in college in law... it was funny in the ward council because we were talking about that family and a few of the returned missionaries were talking about their plans to "fellowship" her... jajajaa-... hope all goes well with all that!

The picture with the flag is me with Hermano Ramos... or the Ramos family... They are definitely such a cool family. (they looked for me on facebook).. they are always willing to give us food and help us out... he has so many toys... from antique cameras to interface mix boards.. to.... other cool stuff... jaja... he said that he is going to get me a cool pair of fake ray bans and he said that if I want, he can get me a real pair for like 20 bucks!... so we`ll see about that... its something that would be cool... but its not really a necessity right?jaja..

One last story; so we have been teaching this lady(the one with the awesome questions) and we asked her how her prayers and reading has been going... she said good.. then we asked her if she had received an answer yet.. then she said "Yes, I must be true or I wouldn´t want to keep reading the book, right?"... very awesome... she came to church yesterday;)

Mum, sounds like Utah was cool! I wish I could get out of the heat for a few...minutes... jaja... I kinda got a little baggy seeing those fotos at the race... don't know why! one of these days I`ll be on the bike again:) you guys look great! I love you!

Dad, funny you should mention that you are using my account for my mission, because I had written down to tell you to use that because that's what it was for! So its good that you are using that up.. that new freedom kit is probably the sickest thing I have ever seen in my existence! jaja... it sounds like the race was way fun and I`m glad that you did so well in it! Sounds like it was a blast! keep riding the bike pops! love ya

Austin,,, keep on keeping on! sounds like you had it all under control last week;) hope the shoulders good! love ya

Ellie, freak you need to serve a mission... I am always amazed when I get you letters! they are freaking awesome! te quiero y salu!

Brynn, stay super super happy siempre! "don't worry, about a thing, cuz every little thing, is gonna be all right" love ya y salu!

I want you all to know that I know that its all true... that I am where I need to be. Thanks for everything and all of you prayers and support! It is well appreciated and needed!

SALU love ya all

btw... got some of my pants fixed and skinnied up:) legit:)

TTT