Week 38: "I Know What I Have to Do, But I Don't Know if I Have the Strength to Do it"

Monday, June 23, 2025   10:14pm

Ayy!! A lot of stuff happened today and I seem to have forgotten to write anything! 

First of all, we had a good last week of the transfer! Still a little rough to find people to teach, but that's nothing new. 

Our friend Diana was baptized on Saturday! The drain of the font was having problems closing all the way, so we had to help fill the font with bowls and the sinks in the kitchen, haha. Made it a day to remember. The baptism was full of the spirit, and as soon as Diana rose from the water, she had a huge smile on her face. 

Seeing people that happy is one of the reasons I keep doing what I do. God knows how to keep me going. He keeps filling me with love and charity for these people I barely just met, and it's the best thing ever. 

Had to say goodbye to Elder Nicaragua this afternoon! He stays the night in the mission home with all the other missionaries who are going and leaves to the airport tomorrow morning! He's an awesome guy, super funny, a great teacher and example and I'm gonna miss him. 

I spent the rest of today with other elders in my district, and got to eat dinner with the Durango family, members I haven't seen since my first area! Hermano Durango hugged me so tight I still have a headache. I love them so much, haha. 

My new comp will be Elder Stentzel. Not a Latino this time, and he has less time in the mission than me, so it'll be interesting. 

I'm pretty excited for the next transfer! I know that the Lord has a lot of things in mind for me, primarily that I am supposed to grow a lot. And have a lot of trials. This is how He will prepare me for harder things in the future and roles I must fill. Opportunities to serve others and represent the Savior. 

Love you guys! Keep reading the Book of Mormon and growing your foundations in Jesus Christ! 

Byeeeee👋👋👋

Gratis, quien lo quiere??

BAPTISM AHHHH🌊🌊🌊

Awaiting transfer news in style

Week 37: 7 Days To Die

Monday, June 16, 2025 

Heyyy, how's it going everybody?? 

Only a few things to note on...

Struggled a lot this week to find or teach anyone, haha. Most of our friends haven't been answering doors, texts, calls, or anything. But the work goes on...

Our friend Diana is still super excited to be baptized this Saturday! She seems so much happier too after having made the decision! She had her baptism interview this past week and is all ready to go! 

We had Zone Conference, which is always helpful when you feel like your efforts aren't producing results. 

A lot of the focus was going back to the basics; reading and studying the Book of Mormon and Preach My Gospel. They want us to have a "PHD in PMG," as they said it. The better we know these powerful sources, the better prepared we'll be in our callings. I've seen that many times throughout my mission, but ah, I really need to work on that. 

Today was my companion's last p-day before he goes home on transfer day next week. For whatever reason, we went on a hike in the morning. I stayed behind with one elder to help him, but then we forgot which trail we were supposed to follow. So uh, we went on kind of a dangerous path with a lot of rocks and cliffs and stuff, but we made it to a very pretty lake at the end, so I guess it was worth it. 

On Sunday, the member who is supposed to teach the youth didn't show up to church so we ended up having to teach their class. In the come follow me for this week, it talks about some elders of the early church who were afraid to use their talents and preach the gospel. 

In D&C 60:2, the Lord addresses them, saying, "But with some I am not well pleased, for they will not open their mouths, but they hide the talent which I have given unto them, because of the fear of man. Wo unto such, for mine anger is kindled against them." 

This reminds me of the parable of the talents. The foolish servant who buried his talent didn't gain anything and his talent was taken away. 

God gives us talents because He knows our potential, and wants us to grow and help others with the use of our talents. 

Is a testimony any different? We receive a testimony from God when we seek to gain one. However, if we do not use our testimony and strengthen it, like any talent it will be taken away. 

This is why the Prophet and so many general authorities have urged us to deepen our foundation in the gospel as well as share the gospel in normal and natural ways. 

If we go to the basic sources like the Book of Mormon to strengthen our foundation, we will be prepared for the moment and open to the promptings of the Spirit whenever a opportunity to share the gospel comes. 

Seeya, guys! Love you! Enjoy your week! 

Sudando un poco

Disc golf and some snow, I guess

Lake Mary

Here's that cool lake we found. Also, Elder Rivera says hi. If anyone can tell me why there was still snow up there on the mountain, I would appreciate that. 

Week 36: Divine Visitations

Monday, June 9, 2025   10:33pm 

Hello, how's it going? 

Lots of cool stuff happened this week. 

We've been kind of struggling to find new friends recently, but miracles exist and God knows what he's doing. 

Tuesday, we taught the only progressing friend we had, Diana. She's staying 6 months with her aunt and uncle who are recent converts. We came with the intention to teach the Plan of Salvation and give her a baptismal date, but some doubts were stopping her from accepting. 

Then, her uncle and aunt bore their testimonys as prompted by the spirit of their own baptism, the doubts they had, and the reason they made the decision. Diana started to cry. She was experiencing the same things they did! The spirit was incredibly strong! 

After that, we asked if she wanted to be baptized and she said yes without the smallest moment of hesitation! Then she and her aunt excitedly began to plan the baptism program! It was incredible to see the change! 

Later in the week, we were blessed to find a dad and his 10 year old son with interest in learning more about the gospel! The son is particularly excited! We gave them a tour of the church on Saturday and they also came on Sunday! Teaching them could be difficult because the father's work schedule, but if he truly has the desire, it won't be a problem. 

One of the benefits of serving in Salt Lake City, Utah is that general authorities happen to pass by sometimes. And uh, our favorite British apostle just decided to pop in on us on Thursday. Yeah, we got visited by Elder and Sister Kearon. 

Elder Kearon seems to have certain topics he loves to speak about, because I've studied his talks recently and he mentioned a lot of the same topics. Things like showing our joy, refugees, repentance, divine gifts, among other things. 

Of course, this was all focused on being missionaries. So these things showed up in the form of matching our message, starting our morning right, and things like that. I've heard a lot of this kind of stuff before, but he definitely gave me a better perspective on it all and renewed my desire to strive to become better! 

If I sound dismissive or ungrateful, I don't mean to! It was amazing, I really did learn so much and I loved it! The spirit that was present as soon as he walked into the room was indescribable! 

He was also quite humorous had us all laughing often!(He mentioned that he had a bit of jet lag from his recent trip to the Philippines and that we should not start our day like he did that morning.) We all got the chance to shake his hand which was pretty cool. 

One of the things that stuck with me the most that I think we all can benefit from is their insight on trials. 

Borh Elder and Sister Kearon talked to us about our trials. Why do we have them? Well, what would our existence be like without them? There would be no point to be here on the earth and we would return to our God in the same state we left Him. 

God puts us to the test not to give us a grade, but for the process that strengthens us.

They have experienced a ridiculous amount of trials in their lives, but have you ever seen them look even a little upset? I haven't. Elder Kearon is known for joy, after all. What's the secret to joy in the face of sorrow? 

Sister Kearon shared D&C 59:7, which reads, "Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things." She really emphasized 'all things.' By gratitude, we can have true joy. All those who are grateful are joyful. Those who are not grateful are not joyful either. 

It is a very hard thing to be grateful when we have a trial and we usually would never hope that something hard happens to us. But we can be grateful because there is always something to be learned, something to be gained from every difficulty. If there is no resistance, there is no growth. 

I'm so grateful for the things I've had to go through. Even though I did not enjoy them, I wouldn't change them because of what I have learned. My challenges have helped me to become so much more like my Savior, and have as well given me many more opportunities to minister to and understand the difficulties of others. 

Be grateful for everything and I know that you can receive a bounty of joy and much more! 

No idea what other pictures worthy of putting in my email this week, so if you are still hungry, you can have these, but they're  all I've got so you can't be picky! 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/dEhoAJNmHVi7gFQa9

Okay, well, sleep is good, and I'm in need of that particular good thing. Adios! 

Comp needed the honey bucket

Car wash

Darth Vader showed up during our car wash

Elder Kearon and our entire mission (Where's Elder Montgomery?)

NOOOOO LITTLE CHEF

Exchanges with Elder Arnold

Lazer Tag

Week 35: I Love To See The Temple

Monday, June 2, 2025   10:09pm

Wow, May is already over, and we're close to the second half of the year. 🤯 Crazy. 

We've been knocking a lot of doors lately, talking to everyone outside, meeting a lot of... interesting characters. (West Valley is weird. And smelly.) We are only teaching one person at the moment, and they can't meet that often so most of our day is devoted to finding new people. 

We still haven't found anybody quite yet, but there are a lot of people that will be ready to receive the gospel soon, so that's good, I guess. But we need to find new friends soon, because the only one we've got is gonna be baptized soon. 

The one friend we are teaching, cousin to a family of recent converts, was able to go to Temple Square with us this week, which is really helpful to explain the Restoration, church organization, the purpose of the temple, and the story in the Book of Mormon. And it's probably nice for her to be taught by some sisters for a change. 

It's a little funny, we aren't allowed to teach in temple square if we don't have the sister missionaries that work there with us. The sisters are supposed to do most of the teaching anyways. So we just kinda follow behind. It's fair, though, it's nice for them to have more teaching opportunities. 

I also got chastised by a senior sister missionary that was there because we didn't call ahead to schedule a tour. (Oops.) 

But, yeah, our friend enjoyed it. And she came to church yesterday. Her baptism date was moved to this coming Saturday, and we are confident that she will feel ready. 

Besides that, we didn't do much. Not too long ago today, as we were walking to a potential lesson, an old dude rides up to us on his bike, tells us that he wrote a song and sent it to the church hoping it will be put in the hymnbook... then proceeded to sing it for us, and play it on his harmonica. 

Then because we were so eager for an a

encore(we were not), he sang us his parody of 'High on a Mountain Top' about his Mountain Dew addiction. Then he was so kind as to go home and bring us each a copy of the sheet music. Awesome. 

Something I've noticed about my companion, is that he really knows the scriptures well. I admire the way he is able to bring up a specific scripture in the precise moment that we need it. From the Book of Mormon, or the Bible, he's got it. 

And guys, I really can't emphasize enough the importance of a personal study of the scriptures. There have been several cases where I've had a doubt or a question, and it has been responded because of something I studied earlier that comes to my head. I dunno why it works like that for me, but that's just how it is. 

You don't need to wait until you have a question to go to the scriptures! Strengthen your foundation constantly! You don't grow a healthy tree by waiting to water it until it looks like it's dying! 

Just as the Lord has done for me, I promise you that as you prayerfully and diligently study, you will receive knowledge and comfort when you need it, and not just as you read. 

That is all. Love you!

The hardest part of baking: The baking part.

🤩I baked something!!

Temple Square! 

🥲My friends from my previous ward getting baptized without me!! 🥹

The amazing songs that old guy wrote! ✨️✨️🎶😍