March 23, 2015 Transfers!

March 23, 2015

Transfers!

Sooo... I am staying in Las Villas with Elder V! It looks like he will be finishing his mission this transfer, so I could be here a while; I am excited for the chance that I will have to see a few of the baptisms that are coming up. When I got here, the area was really bad off. However, with lots of trial and error and work and work, we have really made a lot of progress.

C and V are a lot better this week: C got his job, and has been a lot happier when we pass by. We had a great talk this week; we talked a lot about the conversion, and how members will probably offend them in the future, about how they are going to have lots of trials and difficulties, but that they will need to hold on to their testimonies and have sufficient conversion to get by them. They said that they don't care what the members say, or what their family says; they want to be converted to the Lord.

On Tuesday, we had a multi-zone conference with the President, and we talked a lot about how we can help the Ward Council and also about the Book of Mormon. I learned a lot, and remembered a lot, and I saw a few more things that I can change in the way that I teach and the way that I serve. I know that we have inspired leaders that strive to listen to the Spirit to help us to be more successful missionaries.

On Wednesday, Brother P had his birthday, so as a present, we 4 missionaries all put in money so he could make some Peruvian food (he is Peruvian). So he made some ceviche, which is pretty much spicy raw fish, it was fantastic! It is one of the best families that I have come to know here in the mission, and I will miss them when I go.

On Sunday, we went to church with a group of 6 investigators (The Walton Rodriguez family, Marly and Leidy, and Christian Rodriguez, a young man that has been going to church recently), and 4 others were there waiting when we arrived, along with 2 of the less actives that we have visited. It was fantastic to see them all there. In the Priesthood class, we were talking about how some members end up growing with "tares" in their conversion, and that is when they start to drift from the church. Cristhian raised his hand and asked the Elder´s quorum president how he could help his less-active uncle that stopped going because of his work. Cristhian saw money as one of the tares that enters in our fields, and expressed his disposition to never let his new job get between him and the Lord. It has been great to see how much they have progressed.

Elder Wageman, one of the missionaries from the district, is going home this week! Today, we woke up early to say goodbye and drop him off with the zone leaders. It was great to have him here in Las Villas, and we had a great time together.

After he left, Elder Vega, Elder Otsuka and I went to the church building to start a ward activity! We had planned it without help from the church leaders (they don't do much), and it is one of the perks of always having the building keys. We played micro soccer, volleyball, and then micro again, from 10am to 2pm. I didn't put sunscreen on my arms, so I am pretty burned haha. The Walton Rodriguez family came, and it was super cool to be able to share with them.

It was a great week, and I know that this week will be a great one too. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, and while reading it I have felt the Spirit time and time again. Have a great week!

Love,

Elder Toombs