Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.
Matthew 28:19-20

Thursday, October 31, 2013

New area is GREAT

Hey mom!
 
Well we had a great week this week! We've got 4 baptismal dates set! Hopefully we'll be able to have some more this week. My companion and I are working hard and we're united. Couldn't ask for anything better. The area that I'm in is extremely dangerous. There was an 18 year old girl shot on Saturday. We hear gunshots almost every night. The truth is, I really don't care. I have a direct promise from God that we will have angels on our siniestra and diniestra (right and left hand?) The area is great, though. people here are way more humble than my last area. I still miss it, though. O well.I feel extremely blessed to be in the mission. Temptation is trying to make me drop the diligence because I have such little time left. I've been blocking it out and just working, and it's been great.
 
Elder L. left for Uruguay last week. He was the other missionary in the trio. Great guy.
 
Answer 1. No we don't have ways to make cookies.
            2. It would be 10 times easier for me to just get an umbrella here. I also need a cheapo watch and alarm and an umbrella all of which would just be way easier to buy here. This will be my last Christmas in the mission. I don't need a lot of stuff. Just body wash! If anything it would be better to just send something for my companion and some candy from the states. That's pretty much all I need. I think we'll be taking out money Thursday or Friday.If  you would like you could put it in then. Thanks for everything.
 
I'm sorry to here about your concussion. I hated having it. I had a hard enough time studying, but you're a secretary! You're the busy bee. I'll be praying for you this week.  The driver was drunk wasn't he? I know we need to have patience and love but he needs to learn something so he doesn't go out and do it again. O well, I'm not the judge.
 
I really appreciated your advice about how to deal with the disobedience here. I just need to worry about being an example and working as hard as I can. You always have been my best mentor!
 
That's crazy that it's already snowing! We have big plans for something good for Christmas!
 
Please pray for J. and C., E., and J.. They're our 4 fechas for November. You know what to pray for!
 
I'm so glad the ward has so many missionaries! I always feel sad for how much of a chambon I was for not helping out the missionaries more. You can promise them, a favor de mi, that I'll help them when I get home!

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Change is in the air

Hey mom!

Well we had some surprising news last night, Elder B. and I are both leaving the area! I don't know why. We haven't been lazy or disobedient at all. I think they might put sisters in our area because it's relatively safe. I'm super sad, though. We had an investigator that finally accepted a baptismal date for the end of the month. Now the both of us are going! O well, God ways and thoughts are higher than ours. Even though the past 6 months have been extremely difficult, I'm still extremely, even eternally grateful for the opportunity that I had to serve in Venezuela [name of the community]. Now I'll start one of the last chapters in the story of my mission. Hopefully everything goes well. I'm so thankful that I was able to train Elder Bailey. He's a winner. He's a way better missionary than me, and that's  the goal of any trainer.

President Z's quote and insights really do make sense. They receive revelation for the stake, and if you think about it, in Ohio there are very few latter day saints. We will have to stand for our beliefs, but I thank God that He found me worthy to come and preach the gospel so that I'll be able to defend my faith in the future.

Christmas things: 1. Body Wash 2. American candy. That's about it. I would really appreciate it if you could send me some money because I need a new umbrella and watch, both of which broke in the last week. This mission doesn't give us a lot of money for extra costs and things like that, ex: umbrella. I would really appreciate that. I never like asking because I feel like I'm adding an extra burden. I'm sorry.  

Hey, anybody else that wants to write can.

I wonder where I'm going to go. In this mission President doesn't do interviews for missionaries who are going to go up to another leadership position here, so you really are just left completely speculating where you'll go. O well, I'll enjoy it while I can. 

I'll send some pictures next week from Elder B. and I saying goodbye to everyone. I love you a ton and am eternally grateful for all the sacrifices that you have made and are making for me. I just hope there's some way that I can pay it all back in the future. Love you guys!