Nova Venecia - Penultimate!

Well, the week went by pretty well, I mean other than the freaking rain. It was miserable. Old shoes+water= wet socks from the moment you leave the house until you get back. Yeah. It's kinda terrible.

But other than that, we've been working hard. I'm trying to do my best. I've received news that just about all the other Elders from my group are "dead" already. haha It's hard but I'm still going strong, and now I'm on the last week! WOOO!

Um, this Sunday we got a reference who went to church, two brothers, one of them is living together with his to-be-wife. We taught them last night, and the brother who isn't living together we invited to be baptized this Sunday. He accepted. So, I should baptize, and I'm trying. That's my goal here. But, I don't know if I'm going to leave here on Saturday, or on Sunday, so I might not actually be around for the ordinance. =(

The other reference, Marcos, he's been working this week so we haven't made any progress with him. He couldn't go to church this week either which is really sad, but he'll get baptized after I leave.

We also had a scare with Dariana this week, the girl that we've been teaching. Like I said, she's really intelligent, and she already knows that it's true, but her activities in the Catholic church and her mom are holding her back. We ate lunch this week with the branch pres who knows her mom. He said that she called and didn't want us going by and teaching her anymore. Well, for 2 hours until we could go and talk to the mom, that was all I could think about. This was one of those people that I know God put in our way. I just couldn't accept that her mom would stop her progress. We were able to talk to her mom, and we resolved things. I don't think that she'll be baptized while I'm here either, but I know that she will be sometime.

This week we're going to work hard with this family preparing them (Antonio the brother that isn't "married") for baptism this Sunday,

Something cool that I learned in my study today, while reading the eternal marriage manual (trunky I know, but there's some good stuff) Elder Boyd K. Packer talked a bit about why it's important to wake up early. In the early morning of the day is when we are most likely to receive personal revelation because your mind isn't burdened with what happened during the day, your body is rested. He says it's the best time to ponder and reflect on many things. I thought it was cool. D&C 88:124  . . . cease to sleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated.

I really like that scripture

Anyway, that's about it.   Next week I'll be home. I want some Mexican food. And In n Out. Or 5 Guys, and I'm going to need some breakfast at Denny's that week as well. =D

As far as the young men go, I'll be able to help out when I get home. And they ALL should go on missions. Even if they don't have a really strong testimony because they'll gain it in the MTC. It's way spiritual. School and work can wait. We were talking about it this week and that's kinda why going with 18 was such a good idea from the prophet. That year from 18-19 is when a LOT happens in the life of a young man, and school, work and other good opportunities open up for them tempting them to not go on a mission, along with other temptations. But like the scriptures say, Seek ye first the kingdom of god, and ALL these things shall be added unto you. I believe what Christ said is true, and that's good enough for me.

Thanks for supporting me. Love you all, see you soon. =)

Nova Venecia - Week Four

Well, we had some trouble that we had to resolve this week with the other elders here, so now it's just me and my companion for the whole city. wweeeeeeeehhh.

Other than the few momentary setbacks that we had dealing with that, the week was pretty good. We did some great work here. We starting teaching a few member referrals, who are pretty awesome. One of them, is named Marcos, and the missionaries taught him a little while ago but never went back. We talked with him this week with his member friend and he told us that he has been reading the Book of Mormon by himself, and that he prayed and feels that it's true. He said that since he's been reading the Book of Mormon his life has changed, everything is just better, and he's making changes in his life. He wasn't able to go to church this week because he had to leave for work, but he promised that this week he will be there. We are going to invite him and his daughter who recently started living with him to be baptized when we visit them tomorrow.

We had another good referral from members this week as well. We showed up to visit the members and their neighbor was there, he had never been taught by the missionaries but had visited church once. We taught him a really cool lesson, and we marked to come back. It was very good.

Saturday was the branch activity, (Saturday was independence day here so there was literally nothing to do in the city) which was really cool, we left in the morning, and while we were there we played ball, had some barbecue, and the members (not the missionaries) swam in the river which was really nice. I wanted to but....oh well.

This is the river that cuts through the city.

Yeah.  I walked on the water.

Me and my companion and another member cut down some coconuts to drink/eat. Really good.

 My comp fell out of that coconut tree twice, and i fell out of it once.

All for a little coconut milk!

We played more ball, and then after a while we came back home. it was a good way to spend the day. There were a few investigators there so we made the best of it.

Sunday was pretty crazy. We had 29 non-members at church. The branch president is really working. He teaches a class at the police academy, and he invited his students to come to church. There were so many of them that we couldn't even get all their addresses! It was pretty good though,

But yeah, that was basically our week.

We are working hard, I don't really want to leave the area without a baptism here, so that's what we're working for. It's going to come pretty close...

Love you all, in a few days I'll be with you again!

Nova Venecia - Week Three

This week it was hot. Instead of having crazy weather, it was just hot. Like it is there. But the sun just burns! Literally! 

We waited for lunch. In the sun.

We traveled to Nanuque this week  for zone conference. it was in the middle of the week, so we had to leave on Thursday to get there. It was a 3-ish hour bus ride. And then we had 8 elders staying in the same house. 6 was our district. so, we had to share 3 mattresses. Woo!

Zone conference was pretty good. I liked it. It was a lot of the same stuff. It might be because I'm almost going home. Cool part: I reunited with one of my best friends! Elder Blackwelder! Yay! it was pretty great. We had time to hang out and catch up. Really awesome.

Other news this week.

This week was the first, and last time that I visited another church here. We visited a church really popular here called the Maranata church. It was lame. haha They sang for like half an hour, and the "preaching" was half a verse of the bible that didn't have any doctrinal substance to it.

Um, yesterday was my last fast and testimony meeting on the mission. So I bore my testimony.

Last night we also had a really good fireside about members and missionary work. It was really good, all 4 of the missionaries talked, and mine was really awesome. =) I talked about simple things that we can each do to be a member missionary.

We are finding some really good people to teach here, I'm really excited to finish out strong these last three weeks. And that about it.

Love you all.