Some Pictures July 20, 2015

July 20, 2015

So before anything else the apartment of ours has finally been deemed fit to be finished as a abode for missionaries. Interesting enough most consider it the worst in the whole mission. So we will be moving to some apartments that are about 3 or 5 minutes away depending. I don't have the exact address yet but I promise to get it out. So the exact day of the move is Friday, as such any letters or boxes of that sort should be saved just in case they don't arrive in time.

Sorry about the late notice but they told us last week and we were never near a computer for me to send a quick email.

But now lets talk about the week. We have been working hard and I am tired every night. We have been pretty busy with talking with people and trying to get the new investigators. I will focus solely on three stories this week as they were the most significant.

The first is about are lovely 70 year old investigator named Cenovia or Choba.
One cool experience happened this Sunday with the announcements of the temple open house and the invitation for all to go. We had Cenovia there who had attended last Sunday special open house, and a less active family. The Larks were a little hesitant to commit to going, when the Cenovia turned around to them and went on a huge discussion why the temple is so important, the beauty, and the spiritual high. In the end our investigator was trying to get a commitment out of the Larks to go, and partly succeeded.

The next involves getting our mission coordinator a job. So we had gone around the local tiendas "stores" and has set up signs, and other stuff to get the attention of the locals. We stopped by a small Spanish tax firm where a man named Jose (owner) said it was alright for us to set up stuff, he then began to ask questions about the church and we set up a appointment. Later that week as we were talking with him he mentioned how he wanted a to hire someone for secretarial work who could speak both English and Spanish. We brought up we knew someone, and he said if he came by they would talk. A hour later our ward mission leader went there talked for about 15 minutes, and got hired. He has been having a rough time trying to find work (hes a Returned Missionary of like 7 months), and so there was a nice blessing for him.

The last involves a very nice black lady named Latrice. As we had just left a lesson we were getting ready to go take a break when a lady pulled up and asked us what we did/who we are. I explained we are missionaries from the Church and asked her how she was doing. At that moment she began to get emotional, and began to cry. She explained she was in the area looking for a church to pray in. She went on that she has been going through a divorce, and she had concerns for her children, and with the news of the world deteriorating it all became just to much for her. I talked with her for a little bit, and explained that while we could not imagine what she was going through we had had are own experiences of sadness and grief. But through Jesus Christ our burdens are made light. I asked about her children, ages, names, and then pointed out the joy they bring her. And explained this is God's show of love for her. I talked with her a little about life and then had a good laugh about teenagers being punks. I got her number and promised her that some missionaries would be coming to help her (she wasn't from our area". She drove away with a smile on her face.

July 13, 2015

Well here we are another week has passed. I wont bore you with to many details because most of the details are pretty standard nothing of to great significance. I do have two stories which I will share with you later but for now know that I am well. And am alive and breathing.

But lets see what else. Oh yes as I have heard are explorers of the Motherland have returned victoriously. Which is very exciting though sad also to hear that the adventure is over. But I hope it was a excellent adventure and that plenty of pictures have beeen taken.

Wow so many awesome things have been going on. I am glad to hear that all is well with the families and that everyone is safe.

Oh these are the two stories that I want to share with you guys about whats happened with me this week.

Now because I don't like to drag on with letters with just the usual I wish to share the story of how we met the very nice lady who came with us this Sunday. This occured about 2 weeks ago the first week I started in fact. We had just finished teaching a man and were getting ready to leave when he came back out of his house and asked if we were hungry. Though we weren't very particularly hungry we said yes and entered the house. No sooner than doing so a small, old lady came telling us Elders to please sit, and how we were doing, if we would like something to drink etc. We would later find out this little old lady has a sister currently in Mexico who is a member of the church. When we mentioned temples she went crazy for a moment explaining she knew what they were and that she had seen the Mexico City temple, and that her sister had performed all the ordinances for her parents such as baptisms for the dead, and sealings. As such she was very enthusiastic about the idea of entering the temple, and she did this last Sunday.

One last funny story, but also another testament of the Lord preparing people was with a young man from Honduras. He has just recently entered the United States less than 6 months ago. He has been in contact with the missionaries off and on for some time and is interested in learning English, and a little more about the gospel. Near the end of the Restoration lesson as we were about to leave he brought up something very interesting. He said he remembered a time that he had been denied access to one of the church buildings because he wasn't a member. The way he described it confused us into thinking that it was probably a different church or perhaps the Stake building. We were not sure. Then we shared a temple invitation card with him where he exclaimed saying it had the exact same "golden guy" on the top of it. Apparently he was denied access to the Honduras Temple. Now while he was not able to come this most recent Sunday to the open house he has a desire to go if he can during the next three weeks of the open house.

Well nothing much else left to report. Only that the work keeps going forth. 

Oh I should talk about the temple visit a little. It was fantastic. Them Indianapolis temple is fairly big. The beauty is quite breathtaking. They use several of the standard pictures we see but also several new ones that are quite inspiring. It was pretty amazing to walk in, though it wasn't dedicated Heavenly Father's presence was there.

I will send pictures when I get of hold of some.

But my time is near its end so I want to close by saying I love you all, and miss you all. Siempre estan en mi oraciones. Por sin mi familia yo tengo nada.

July 6, 2015

Well another transfer another change of place. I hate packing.

So just so its clear on whats going on I am in Elkhart.

1019 W Wolf Ave

Elkhart, IN 46516

But here is the catch, we might be moving in the next couple of weeks but we should get a heads up before then so I can change the address. We are moving because the floor occasionally gives a warning that it will break, the fridge has died, and they have carpet in the bathroom but wood floor for the rest of the house? Its not bad but for mission standards its pretty bad. Still in the end its a place to sleep so its all good.

Elkhart is held by most of the Spanish missionaries to be ok though not one of the greatest areas to be in. I don't know, I kind of like it.

Its a small town with a healthy Hispanic population though the branch is usually around 20 to 30 people (active members). The members are very nice and we do get to eat fairly often.

We share a partime car so I get to wipe the dust off the bike and get pedaling. Which is some pretty good exercise.

So my companion name is Elder Cruz. He was born in Mexico but then moved to Chicago five years ago to help his sister. His family are all members. He is fluent in Spanish, and has fairly good English though we have plans for me to teach him a few things. He has been out for about 6 months maybe more. Probably because President Cleveland told him he will go to a strip area after this transfer leaving me here to hold down the fort. So I want to try to nail down or at least get fairly confident in my Spanish before he leaves.

He is a very nice guy who sincerely seeks to work hard, to help me with the language, and to learn more English. I like him a lot, the only thing I can think of for him is that he needs to relax a little. He is very stressed about certain things when its okay. But aren't we all.

So this sunday we have a special day set apart for only investigators to go and visit the temple at 4 to 7. Its a chance so that they can all get a tour before the official open house and stuff so its pretty exciting. We have a few people lined up to go so we shall see.

Oh so funny enough I am the designated driver for our companionship. Which is good and bad. We will be making several trips down to the temple this month which is a good 2 or 3 hour drive only to work and then head home for another 2 or three hour drive, as such it can be a little tiring at the end of the day. But luckily I have had many years of experience with 11 to 13 hour drives to Utah. So that's all good.

But not much else is happening so I will end by saying, I love you all and miss you all. I hope you have a fantastic rest of the day and week. You guys are always in my prayers