Week 13 - Part 2, Transfer

Transfers were moved to today because of the Brazilian soccer game. I’m staying in Monumento but my companion, Elder Faustino, is leaving.

My new companion is Elder Villca.  Elder Villca is Bolivian.  His mission will soon be over and this will be his last transfer.  This means the next transfer I’ll most likely stay here too.

I am pretty nervous because he doesn’t speak any English.  I’m suppose to show him around and I don’t even know the names of the streets...  I understand almost everything he says so far but when it comes to planning and teaching it’s going to be a different story...  Elder Faustino helped me a lot with that.

A Chinese bank.

Week 13 - The rescue

At stake conference [an area meeting of several congregations] the stake president [area priesthood leader] showed a video from the news about this man that was stranded at sea.   A boat passed by and tried to throw him a float attached to a rope. The man was so weak he wasn’t able to grab it. The boat tried two more times but since the man never grabbed it the boat went on its way.  The man was found dead two days later.

I think it’s an amazing teaching story! The man is like a less active church member or an investigator.  The life float is like the gospel. When we see that someone needs help we try to do something.   Sometimes less active members or investigators are dealing with so much they are too weak and can’t grab the life float.  When we see this we have a choice to make. Either we realize we need to do more -- like jump in and swim to them helping them grab onto the life float or we can say they aren’t going to grab it and continue on.

The boat is like exaltation [Returning to live with our Heavenly Father]. We need to realize that it might be inconvenient at times but it is the person’s welfare or soul we are talking about.  What are we willing to do to help them? Are we willing to jump in the water or are we going to continue on and let them die?

As a missionary, I’m striving to help people grab onto the gospel so together we can return to our Father in Heaven.  I want to do all I can to help.

Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth

Week 12 - Baptism!

This week was way awesome! I HAD MY FIRST BAPTISM THIS WEEK! An amazing eleven year-old girl we taught was baptized. It was the most beautiful baptism I have ever seen! Everyone was crying! Her mom and dad were so touch by the baptism! Her mom came up to Elder Faustino and I and just started bawling and thanking us for being a part of her conversion. It was the best feeling ever and the most sincere thank you I have ever seen and heard in my life!

Everyone in my district had a baptism! It was a miracle! I don’t know how to really describe all of my week. It was just amazing! I had a lot of personal revelation and we had a lot of success! Elder Faustino and I are getting along so well! Transfers are next Wednesday and I have no idea what’s going to happen.