This is the new motto of our zone, of which I am still a part of, haha. Let me start this email by saying that this week was not very productive, as normal with changes week, wondering whether or not Elder Bradford was leaving, because he was finishing up his 2nd change here in Veracruz and normally president only keeps the missionaries there for 2 changes. We went around on Tuesday, the day before basically saying goodbye to everyone for him, just on the chance that he would be leaving, which was pretty high odds, and he didn't want to leave without saying goodbye to all these converts and some members and investigators. Get to the house on Tuesday night, and they said they would call us at like 9:00 to see if we had changes or not...we get the call...and what do you know, neither one of us had changes, we both stayed in Veracruz! Really weird, he was super excited though, likes this area, and there is a lot of area for improvement here for sure.
I think I've told you all already, but we just have a branch here, and with how many inactives and less actives there are here, normally we only get about 35 people in church, which I'm sorry, sucks. So I told Bradford before changes, if he was staying and I was too, we were going to whip people into shape and get a lot more people active, and set a goal for the change to have 70 people in Sacrament. And not just one week of that then back to normal, that continuously, because we really need more priesthood holders in our branch, because we as missionaries always have to pass the sacrament because there just aren't enough people that show up. There are tons of young adults and jovenes that have the priesthood in our branch, they're just all inactive. We need to look around at the list and try to visit these people in their houses and get them to come back to church. Bradford and I have a lot of plans to get all these people to come back and rekindle their testimonies that have been placed aside gathering dust hace mucho tiempo.
First comp that I've had for 2 changes now, he´s a cool guy though, we'll see how these next 5 weeks go, because I want to have more success in this area. But it really seems to me that without missionaries here, the whole branch with the little members that show up, would just dissolve and fall apart without us. It's like the members trust in us more that they do in the branch president, which really isn't how it should be. We´re here to strengthen the ward, not to baby and coddle it. This week we actually got more people into church though, with about 54. So well on our way to the goal. We actually had to pull out more chairs for people we invited to come this week who showed up, that made me really happy. It just isn't very organized. Like the 2nd counselor tells us about 2 minutes before starting that one of us needs to give a talk because the other person didn't show up. Wow, thanks for the prep time! But since we're missionaries, we´re "always prepared"! I said I would do it. Actually turned out pretty well I thought, about 10 minutes on why we need to be obedient and walk uprightly in the ways of the Lord, reading about Nephi's obedience to build a boat to sail to the Americas. The branch is just super unorganized and it's like they rely on us to do everything. We ended up teaching the next 2 classes also without any preparation. The last one was a train wreck, ended with 2 investigators arguing with each other. It was just sad to see it all fall apart like that. We will revitalize this area, like I said, I have a lot of hope for here.
As far as moving houses goes, still looking, haven't found one yet so we may just tough it out where we are and stay here. There are just so many reasons to move though.
I want you all to know back home that I'm working hard. This is what the mission is all about, struggling and getting up and rising again, and finding the people that the Lord has placed in our path; like our dream man, Victor. He is so positive, and really wants to talk to us. He's just a super busy man with work, but we're setting up a cita for this Wednesday to talk more with him.
Interesting week for sure, now on to my 4th change here in the mission, all in Panama Zone, haha, super strange. I am now the veteran of the zone. No one has been in it longer than me consecutively, so I say the ZLs answer to me! Mwuahaha.
Scripture for you all for this week is about the importance of a celestial marriage. (Almost done with Doctrine and Covenants.) D&C 131:2-3. In verse 3, it's so straightforward for the attainment of exaltation, haha, it's great.
Love you all, have a wonderful week, happy Earth Day yesterday I believe.
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