August 1, 2016

Buenas Dias ‏

So how has it been in the land of the people of Oregon, South Carolina, Rhode Island, nueve Mexico, Utah and anywhere else I happen to have forgotten? Good? Well I hope it has been good. As for us it has been one of a busy week, but also slow at times as such it proved tedious in parts.

This whole week has been very hot and humid. Which is fine the only problem is that I am my fathers son which means that while I get a rather attractive tan rather than just a solid burn like dad does, I do happen to sweat quite profusely. But that is just a minor inconvenience. Tracted we did and we found quite a myriad of different people.

With having a greenie it proves interesting with door contacts in Spanish. For example we knocked on a door where a nice man answered. Elder Hernandez began only to be interrupted where the man explained he didn't believe anything he was saying. To which Elder Hernandez responded in Spanish "Si oh perfecto, es exactemente como asi" which is roughly "oh yes perfect, it is exactly like that". From that point the man began to bash on us so I interrupted and talked with him for a while till it was obvious he was not interested. After we left, Elder Hernandez asked me what happened (he had the impression he was super interested, which he wasn't) and I explained. But a lot of fun experiences like that happen, which reminds me of my good old days of being trained as well.

One of the cool experiences we had was finding a young women who has about 8 kids all together, like a village. But she was super nice and we talked about the church only to find out her family in Chicago are members and that she had gone to church several times but her husband had been against her going. But we have schedule to swing back to her house this week.

We now have set up service at the ymca every Tuesday and Fridays, which is great because that will keep us busy.

But other than that not much else has been happening of super significance.

This week we will have interviews with the mission president which will be fun.

But that is all on the eastern front. Now I end this letter with my love to you all.

July 25, 2016

Padres, amigos, o otros personas ‏

Well week one with the new greenie, verde, or kid seeing that I have almost 3 years on him. Boy I am getting old. But this was a fantastic week with all sorts of fun tracting, visiting members, and hunting down less actives.

But I will start with how we began Tuesday when I met my current companion and also my last companion. We left early in the morning around 7 just to get to our meetings on time. When we got there we had several meetings getting us ready for our new trainees and then we met, for the very first time. We had some lunch later and then went to visit some people, and then that was the day. So now here is some background on Elder Hernandez.

He was born in Guatemala but grew up in several different places till finally settling down in Alaska where he grew up the vast majority of his life. And he is as of right now trying to learn Spanish. So far doing not too bad for his first week but we got a lot to work on.

We have been working pretty hard this week. The tracting has been pretty rough with how hot it is and the heat which makes it nasty. But on the positive we met a ton of people and had decent success.

Over the weekend to our big surprise we had a awesome branch activity with food salsa tortillas and drinks so ya it was awesome. Then we had church where we both gave our testimonies and several of the members came up to me afterward to thank me very much and explained how much they enjoyed it which was very nice.

Then we had dinner last night with the Fierros who are one of my favorite families in the entire branch they are awesome where we laughed, and help make the meal. Though to be fare I distracted the kids and Elder Hernandez helped more with making the bread. But either way it was awesome.

That was the week, it was fun and busy and I am excited for what comes next.

July 5, 2016

FELIZ DIA DE LIBERTAD POR LOS ESTADO UNIDOS (because I dont know what to call the 4th of july in spanish, is it just the Cuatro de julio o algo no se) ‏

Well this is going to be quick we have a early appointment today and so I am writing as swiftly as possible. Though with my writing capabilities that is not saying much.

So this week we had a few exciting things happening. The first might be the funniest so I gonna kick off with a service we did on Tuesday.

So our branch president told us about a man by the name of Doctor Will Miller who was moving his office out of his Baptist church to another across the river at the college who could use some help with moving. I volunteered us right away and called and talked with him over the phone and through text to get it set up. I also enlisted a couple of our fellow elders to help with moving some of the furniture. Here is the kicker. Dr. Miller is a world renown speaker, and comedian who use to do stand up comedy with a bunch of nobodies like Jerry Seinfeld, Brian Regan, Robin Williams, and a slew people like that who he keeps on a regular correspondence. So we were dealing and helping out with a kind of a big deal guy if you know what I mean. But we get there and the first thing he does is walk up to I and start hugging me and joking with me and telling me stories like I was some long lost friend. Truly a humble, kind, and gracious man. And boy he is funny, he left the comedy job several years ago but he still has a few jabs that will get ya. So we helped take stuff down and moved it to his house where we met his wife who is one of the sweetest ladies you could meet in Lafayette. We took a half hour break of just talking and eating donuts before we went to his sisters house to drop off a couch and afterward he took us out to lunch to this very good country style restaurant. Truly the best compliment I can give and one he rightfully deserves is a good man full of faith in our Savior. He was also very kind to give us a book called "Refrigerator Rights" which I have read a chunk and it is a rather good analysis on the new social behavior of the world and socialization.

Truly a blessed opportunity to meet a wonderful child of God. And get this before we had even done the service he had gone before his congregation and his Facebook to thank the LDS missionaries for their generosity in helping him. Truly a humble and cool guy.

But on to the next business which happened Wednesday where I had to travel again to do another baptismal interview (my goodness it seems half the time I do interviews) to this lovely lady. I wont mention her by name and I did ask if I could share this story with my family. So during her preparations to be baptized she needed to quit smoking so she and the sisters decided to fast, and she received a blessing to strengthen her. Part of her blessing included that her choice to follow the savior would bring blessings to her family. Well that night she had a dream with her father laying in a bed (her father had passed away years ago) and a room full of people she could not recognize. She came to the side of her fathers bed and her father asked her to help him. That was it. She woke up the next morning and called the sister missionaries to tell them her experience. Several weeks before this she had learned about baptisms for the dead and had a funny feeling about it. And then with her dream she understood immediately and she said that was her answer that she was on the right path. Her and I had a special moment when we talked about those other people in her dream the ones she didn't recognize but didn't feel bad feelings about. I told her that while I don't know for a certainty I felt impressed that those were her family, her ancestors, those on the other side who have been waiting for her to choose the gospel of Jesus Christ so that she could do the work for them and her father. A very spiritual moment where we finished the interview with her crying and the sister missionaries wondering what was going on and ya just a great moment.

This Monday with the 4th of July we had the great privilege of going to a town called Walton with the sisters of Logansport and a family that I had taught a little during my brief stint in Logansport. It was surprisingly well done, afterwards we traveled around the various booths and stuff they had set up ate some popcorn and got some funnel bread some good stuff. After that we traveled with the Sisters to a members house where we ate some rocking chili. If you remember from previous emails Sister Sheppard, her son Ryan, and boyfriend Stoney the southern redneck. It was awesome they are some of my favorite people in Indiana, especially Stoney we hit it off so much. But after that we headed back to Lafayette and went to bed with fireworks going off, and ya a pretty nice 4th of July.

And that is the week. Full of fun, spiritual and nice times.

I hope you have all had a wonderful week and a excellent 4th of July. And you all better of blown something up since I cant.

June 27, 2016

Estamos Aqui ‏

Well many fun and exciting things happened this week and it kept us fairly busy.

We had the opportunity to visit with a less active this week specifically this week who was fairly surprise to see us. After talking with him for several minutes he explained that he was moving to Ohio and didn't know how to find the church there. So we took his computer and search for the nearest Spanish congregation in relation to his house and were very happy to see one that is only 5 minutes away from his house. So that was very cool, and since I had his address I am going to send a email with some of his info to the local elders so we wont lose them.

So that was pretty cool.

This last Wednesday we had a lot of meetings and interviews I needed to do. We first traveled to Lebanon where I interviewed two people for baptism. One was a young man who is in the army reserves, very nice guy and very well prepared. The other was a wife to a active member who was actually fairly nervous about the interview. But she is also someone who was very well prepared and a delight to talk to. They both passed so fear not. After all these interviews we traveled back and had a meeting with President Cramer and his councilors about some of the less actives and prospective elders. So a busy day.

With the two people I interviewed being baptized on Saturday I decided to bump our district meeting to Saturday so that as a whole the district could stay and watch their baptisms. D meet went very well, I made it more of a get to know each other and then finished with a couple goals and a spiritual thought. Then we went to get lunch (Wendy's) and came back to help set up the baptism. The baptisms went very well and everyone felt the spirit so strongly. After all this fun stuff it was late so we went home swung by a couple people and then finished with dinner that night. I was tired after all that and had a wonderful nights sleep.

Sunday was also very nice nothing super crazy we had church, and had dinner with our branch president which was fun. And then the day ended. I collected all the numbers for the district and called the Zone leaders made fun of them for a couple minutes gave them the numbers and finished the night with a piece a cake that was given to us by the members.

So all in all a good week.

But that is the news of the week, as always I love you guys and miss you and hope all is going great. I love you guys.

June 20, 2016

feliz dia de padres ‏

So we had a final fare thee well to our beloved President Cleveland and Sister Cleveland. It was labeled as a zone conference but in reality it was the fare well. It was a day of mixed emotions as we said goodbye. He gave a wonderful talk about honor and "returning home with honor." Very emotional very spiritual just a very nice day. It happened on tuesday, and we finished with some snacks and then went home.

But yep the end of a era has begun and a whole new one begins with President Carlson. Both exciting and interesting times till we see what happens.

This week was good with some of the lessons and meetings we had. We had the opportunity to meet a less active whose husband is not a member (his name is Russolfo) and had a chance to talk with him and get a feel for where he is at. Its interesting with him since he comes to church almost every Sunday so we will see.

We tried to get into contact with a handful of less actives but this week we didn't have as much success. Though we did have one minor success with getting in contact with a single sister through a surprising medium, Walmart. We went there to pick up something or other (I don't remember) and we bump into this sister where at first I was like hmmm she looks very familiar but then like oh I know you. It was pretty funny and we worked out times when we could come and visit so that was awesome.

We also tried to visit with a recent convert by the name of Miguel to help him prepare his talk but unfortunately he was busy with work. So instead I talked with him from the phone during a lunch break to go over some things and found he honestly really didn't need any help hahahaha. He has been a member for about 4 months and he was better prepared than most of the members who have years as a member. So Sunday came and we got to listen to his talk which was fantastic (talks were all about Sundays dads). I wont lie I started to miss my old man, like on mothers day for mom, I had a moment of missing dad. Meh ya know he is a pretty cool guy so its natural for anyone to miss him, though he did sucker punch me almost everyday of my life and will undoubtedly continue to do so.

But Sunday ended with a lovely fathers day lunch activity where we had quite a lovely spread.

And I have just remembered something very big that happened as well. We got a call from one of our member who specifically asked to talk with me to tell me her father had just passed away. So we talked for a few minutes and then I worked out that we would go to her house to water the plants and take care of them while they go to Mexico for the funeral. So please keep the Carlos's in your prayers.

But and as a final thought I wish to express my gratitude to our heavenly father. He has the ability to care for all the world and yet the willingness to focus on the individual. This is accomplished through many ways but one of the keys is through our earthly fathers. So I wish to give a shout out to the old man Gary (that's weird his name is dad) for all that he has done for his daughters and his random son in the mix. But on that note another shout out to mom for putting up with all us crazy people.

June 16, 2016

Hola ‏

Well some interesting things some less than interesting things happened this week. Some highs and some lows but meh that's life.

This last Tuesday we had the Transfer meeting. But before we left for that a pair of sisters asked if I could give them a blessing which we had to do early because we had the meeting so it was looking like the beginning of a long day. But it was good and we left on our merry way to Indianapolis where I had a district leader meeting where they just discussed our new responsibilities of work. Then we had the transfer meeting where we got a emotional farewell from President Cleveland since this was his very last transfer meetings. We are going to have one final farewell with him later this week and so I will let ya know how that is. But after the meeting we hooked up with our friend Elder Baird since he was going home, we grabbed lunch and then hung out till it was time for him to go. After all that we went to visit a guy by the name of Uncle Buck who is a crippled veteran non member guy who the missionaries found. He is pretty cool and fun to talk too. After that we made the long journey back to Lafayette and then got some dinner and went out to try to visit some people.

Boy we were tired after all that fun stuff.

So we discovered a couple things with less actives and part member families. So the elders quorum president mother is a fairly active member but her husband is not a member. His name is Rudolfo and as far as we know he has never been taught by the missionaries. So we are going to see what we can do and work with him. He comes to church almost every time with his wife so there could be something.

We also have a family who originally left the church because they were offended over a stupid thing but now may be the time where we can get in with them and try to figure out how to help them so we are very excited for that.

We got a referral from one of our members of a lovely lady by the name of Maria who has talked with missionaries before but never had anything super solid. We are going to start working with her starting tomorrow.

This last Sunday was really a good sacrament meeting. President Cramer gave a wonderfully funny and spiritual talk. It was really good.

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2014-07-006-the-hope-of-gods-light?lang=eng

June 6, 2016

Hola VOY TENER 6 SEMAMAS MAS AQUI EN LAFAYETTE ‏

Well lets start off with some good news I have another six weeks in Lafayette with elder ryan. We got the calls Saturday and we were both fairly sure we would both be kick out but then we thought about it more and it made sense for us to stay one more time. So we are both very excited to have one more to go.

And that is not all. I am now a district leader. I started laughing when President told me that and then it sort of died after I realized he was serious. Elder Ryan and me had a pretty good laugh about it. So now I am in charge of helping people in Lebanon (sisters) and Crawfordsville elders.

But that is still not all we recieved more news about how we will finish the last 12 weeks of our missions. By training new Spanish missionaries! While I would of like to have avoided it, it has unfortunately happened that I will train funny enough a replacement for me. Some what excited somewhat nervous and confident, not a bad way to go out. Now Pres Cleveland made it sound like I might train here which would be a long time for anyone to be in an area which also means I would finish up here in Lafayette which isn't a terrible option its just a long time. But that could change.

Sooooo knowledge of how I am finishing my mission and where I might finish, training a greenie, and going into leadership. Lots of fun stuff.

This week has been pretty good, been staying busy.

One of the major highlights was when this Sunday we saw a former investigator by the name of Daniel come to church. It was great to talk with him and reconnect. and now we are working with him to have a time to visit.

We also had a ton of less actives show up which was great to go talk to them and visit.

We had the great privilege to also go in search for a hospital that I couldn't remember where it was exactly to give a blessing to the daughter of one of the members (gall bladder problems if I translated correctly). But it was very special often we go months without the opportunity and so its always special to have that chance.

Unexpectedly we got called on to teach elders quorum cause the elders quorum president just kind of disappeared hahahaha, so we had that great honor. We focused on the restoration and what it meant or why it was significant in there lifes. It got very spiritual and I think it went very well.

https://www.lds.org/liahona/2016/06/our-father-our-mentor?cid=HP_WE_1-6-2016_dPFD_fLHNA_xLIDyL1-A_&lang=eng