Wooow it's been a hot minute

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 April 8, 2024

So I may have disappeared for a few months and a lot has happened. I'm back in Medford working in the Spanish Branch! My very first area, it's awesome seeing all the wonderful members again. I follow up trained an awesome Elder named Elder Wirth. He's a total goob and he headed off to Mexico a few weeks ago. My new companion is Elder Kalama, he's from Hawai'i and plays football, speaks Spanish way better than I did. In fact he can hold his own about equally with me, so awesome. Also this is his first few weeks in the mission field so that's wild.

As for the cool stuff one of our friends got baptized a few months ago he is so awesome. He calls us his Valiant Little Warriors (in Spanish of course). He has a beautiful testimony of the Savior and he has some family that are in the Church and he's been working with them to get them going again.

On top of that we are teaching a bunch of people, facing the usual struggle of setting things up with them being so busy but we have had a ton of good lessons, met a boat load of really good people, and we've been bashed a few times but it is what it is.

As for what I've been learning, I've been working really hard on actually loving people. For my whole mission I was definitely enjoying the work, but I did it out of duty. I know I have to go and share the gospel to make God proud and help others but I wasn't sharing because I loved those I was talking to. I'm trying to do better at using people's names (for those of you who know me well you know I can barely remember your name so it's a lucha), get to know them, help them see how the Gospel can help them in their struggles but also that we are here for them. Elder Kalama has been a huge help in talking to others more naturally because I'm definitely weird.

Another thing I have learned is the importance of knowing God's plan for us. Knowing that we were once with God and we chose to come here and do life is huge. Our trials become opportunities. Knowing that God trusts us enough to allow us to make decisions, however ill-informed shows a lot about his love for us. The fact that Christ did what he did and does what he does means when we make those wrong choices we can be healed, others can be healed, and we can have the strength to overcome our own weaknesses. Knowing about the spirit world helps us understand that God is merciful and always provides us with an opportunity to serve Him. The Resurrection helps us understand the importance of our bodies, our relationship to God and the fact that we can become more like Him. Judgement gives us accountability for our actions, it means we have to do something with the saving grace Jesus provides us with to change and become perfect like God and Jesus Christ some day. The 3 kingdoms of glory also provide us with greater knowledge of God's love and respect, we will end up where we want to be and where we will be most comfortable and happy because of what we have done and who we have become.

The mission is flying by, the end is way closer than I'd prefer. But I hope all of you had a wonderful few months, I hope you are doing well, and I hope Easter and General Conference weekend was super epic. I love you all, and I know that God loves you a tad bit more than I can 😉

Pictures:
1) me and Elder Wirth playing the coolest card game


2) Texas exchange (he's from fort worth booo)


3) we went bowling and I'm literally a pro, don't mind the first game




4) mini golf (I'm also a pro at that...kinda)


5) Elder Wirth and I at the temple


6) Elder Kalama!!!


7) some "dogs" with afros


8) I'm also super fast on a bike, gotta stay safe


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