Sept. 3, 2012


"Hola, quiero agradecerles por todo lo que me han enseñado. Sé que es poco, pero para mí es valioso. Hoy fue el día más feliz que he tenido en mi vida. Hoy volví a nacer y me esforzaré por seguir el camino correcto. Gracias. Hasta pronto… Att. “Andy” " This was the text we got from Andrea. She got baptized yesterday. It was one of the best baptismal services i've seen. All of the missionaries in the zone got togethor and we had a stake baptismal service. It was really cool. We had five people ready for baptism, but with a death of a family member, marital problems, and one that just lacked faith we dropped to one, all in the space of a few hours before the baptismal service. We got there and the ward mission leader called us saying he had passed by for andrea but she said she couldn't come, something happened, and wasn't going to get baptized either. We were pretty depressed. And then she called us to confirm that she couldn't come because of an "enormous" problem. We were just about to leave (we felt awful, we worked like dogs this week to get everything ready and it all fell through), when Andrea and the ward mission leader showed up and said, "just kidding". We were so relieved we managed not to get mad at the ward mission leader (his idea). It turned out to be an incredible experience. And then she sent us the text after telling us how this was the happiest day of her life, that she was born again, and how much it means to her. She is a single mother with 24 years, and is really great. Her sister wants go get baptized too, but she has to get married and her husband has some drinking and atheist problems. But yesterday was one of the coolest days we've had. And now we have transfers. Elder Carrillo ya se va, and i am going to train a new missionary.I'm really excited and terrified. One more cool story. There is a blind man and a man that is crippled and confined to a wheel chair in the ward. The blind man is led by is dog to the house of the man in the wheel chair. The blind man then pushes the man in the wheel chair to the church as the man in the wheel chair tells him where to go. Talk about faith. Two awesome old men who found a way to come even in those conditions. If they can make it, we can wake up in the morning to make it to church on time. I thought that was an awesome example. Out of time, love you all! Next week I'll let you know who my new comp is and where he is from. ¡Cuidense mucho! hasta luego, Elder West

August 27, 2012

¡Hola todos! Dios conteste oraciones, y conteste aun más cuando ayunas.   Turns out i can't pray in english. I've prayed in spanish since almost the beginning of the mtc and now i really struggle with it. They asked me to pray in the english classes and it really took me a while to get through it. I think they just thought i was speaking slowly so they would have a better chance to understand... This week we had another baptism!!! Irving! His brother is a member, but his whole family  is extremely catholic. The thing that did it was the Book of Mormon. He had been reading on his own as we taught him, and he recieved a testimony of the Book of Mormon, and the rest fell into place. He's awesome. We are also teaching two sisters and their kids, they rock. They were very against coming to church, but we did an open house thing for them and i think that really helped them get over their fears of coming, and they really felt the spirit. The only problem there is that one of the husbands refuses to talk to us and now his wife (he came back drunk one night and they fought). It's really cool to see that even though they are catholic and Jehovah's witness, they really have recieved a testimony by coming to church, they can feel a 'peace there that is stronger than any other place they have been.' The funny part was they both thought i am between 30 and 32 years old, and my comp 27.  Today we brought the mail from the zone to the offices, and while there, the assistants told me I am going to train! I'm excited. ANd really nervous. Transfers aren't for another week, but i am really excited. It's been quite a week, and I really know the Lord knows us and gives us the trials that are perfect for us to help smooth the rough edges. I strengthened my testimony of fasting. It works, and it really helps you feel closer  to God. ¡Les amo a todos! ¡Cuidense mucho! Elder West