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