Going out with a bang!

This week definitely flew by! We had a visit from an Apostle, Elder Stevenson and the baptism service of Bengina. This was one of the greatest weeks I have had in the mission. Time is getting short, but we are going to keep focused on finding new people and teaching the investigators we have. Have a great week everybody, see you all next week! 

Baptism of Benigna

The Good River Bridge

lake Lago Ranco 

Elder Ballard feeding a horse 

Never knock pink houses

We had a fun experience yesterday while leaving with a member. I think during my whole mission I have never met anyone normal who lives in a pink house. I have nothing against pink, nor the people that live in houses that are pink, but my observation is that they are usually pretty strange. Yesterday we knocked a door and a man comes out smiling with his mom. He asks if we had come to preach the word. He was in luck, we were knocking his door for that very purpose. The man then went guns blazing with bible bashing.

As missionaries we don't fight other religions. We state our testimonies firmly with the conviction that we know in our hearts it is true. The man decided to leave us with a prayer. He put his hands on my chest and begged the Lord to save my soul. My companion and the member who came out with us bit their tongues as the man raised his voice in prayer. 

I know why I left on a mission. I know that the church has been restored. I know it, I know that God knows it, and I know that it is true. 

Photos: 

We went to New Port beach (Puerto Nuevo) to do a BBQ with Elder Ballard and Elder Cabrera. 

We caught a crab

This really purple smoothie I made using a berry that is called Maqui, its a native berry that is only found in this part of south america. It turns everything bright purple. 

Caupolibakan

Alright, this sector may just be the coolest yet.

I wanted to update everyone about the people we are teaching. This week we spent a bunch of time tracting, trying to find new people. Contact after contact, door after door, we weren't finding anybody. We had all kinds of teaching appointments planned, but one by one they all fell. We were feeling pretty defeated, we had left with so many members, but we weren't really seeing any fruits from our works. Like it says in the scriptures, only after the trial of our faith does the Lord bless us. So we planned some really spiritual lessons to share with the members, and it worked. We got two members who invited their friends to church, and they came! 

I am really reminded of how I got to know the church. It wasn't because the missionaries had knocked my door, it was a member who invited me. Members are the best source of finding new people because their simple example of living the gospel calls so much attention. Have a great week everybody, here are some photos of Elder Merhcen and I! 

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Elder Haddad

A normal size lunch with the mamita...

In front of the church

Elder Merchen and I in Puerto Nuevo (there is also a Newport Beach here in La Union)

Photo updates for the new year

A recent convert family from Regional

Me, Elder Boggs, and Elder Jackman

Fireworks from our house

Picture from our zone conference with President!