Christmas in the Mission!

Hey everyone!

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas! It really was a special day and

I was so grateful for the spirit that was there.

Zone Conference was so great! It was this past Wednesday and it was so

fun seeing a lot of old friends, President and Sister Anderson, and

Ephraim's Rescue (movie about the pioneers). There was also a great

talent show and there were so many skits, great music, and a lot of

good jokes. We also got our gifts, which of course, was really

exciting!  We also had a lot of great meals from members and gifts we

weren't even expecting.

Christmas was just so special in so many ways. In the morning we

opened up all of our gifts which was really exciting! Elder Harris and

I had a great time with all the gifts we opened. I even received a box

of oranges at our doorstep! In the afternoon, we talked to our

families and let me

just say, I was so grateful for that one hour. I felt right at home,

and it was so great to catch up with my family. Just to hear how

everyone was doing really brought me a lot of happiness. But the day

didn't end there. We saw a couple named the Walchs. They were baptized

a little over a year ago and asked if we could give them blessings.

They were sick and we're going to have us over for dinner, but were

too sick to make anything. But I'm so thankful, on such a special day,

that I was able to exercise the power of God to help others. I truly

am thankful for such a blessing. We also met with a less active

brother named brother Orsi at the end of the night who was stressed

out and just not having a good day. It was so great to talk about the

Savior and why He was so important on Christmas. Doing missionary work

is so special on Christmas. You just get an additional confirmation

what you are doing is right.

But, this is the last week of 2015! To really look back on this year,

I'm grateful what I have went through and what is in store for 2016.

This is also the last week of the transfer, so I find out Friday if I

get transferred or not. We'll see...... Anyway, have a Happy New Year!

I hope the best for all of you!

Elder Cortes

Christmas with a change of location

Hey everybody!!!!

Wow, I can't believe it's almost Christmas! I also can't believe have

been out for almost 6 months! It's so strange how time has flown. But

it's just really exciting all around.

So for my week, it has just been busy all around during the Christmas

time. We have had 12 referrals all in the past week, which is  a lot

for a week in our mission. So throughout the week, we have just been

delivering Bibles to people throughout our area. It's been really

great to see how the Mormon.org Christmas initiative has really been

getting out there. It's been really great to see!

Wednesday, we went to a lesson to a less named Sister Punchello. It

was really great because we taught her for the first time in a few

months and talked about how Christ has changed her life. She really

was receptive and just talked about how she needs to come back to

church. What was a little plus was she let me borrow her daughter's

trumpet. Because...... I am playing a Christmas song for Zone

Conference! It's been to practice here and there for it. I can't wait

to perform after it's been so long!

Friday, all we did was street contact sharing the "A Savior is Born"

with our Zone Leaders. It was really great to share the video with

people. Their hearts just get softened after watching that. There's a

reason why missionaries say Christmas is the best time to be out

serving.

We also had our Christmas program this past week as well. It was so

great. There were so many songs and narrations, it really did invite

the spirit. Also, David Garduno, who we have given the sacrament every

week to, came to church for the first time since I have been here! It

was really exciting. He is on the way to getting a temple recommend!

He really is one of my favorite people to teach. All in all, just a

really humble guy.

Well, the weather has been the same, pretty warm. Christmas it is

supposed to be 70, which I am really excited about. It'll feel like I

never left Arizona. Just kidding! But to just leave you with

something, I am excited for Christmas to come. Throughout my studies,

I always come back to the Book of Mormon reading with Samuel the

Lamanite and his prophesies of the Holy Messiah's birth. Also, in 3rd

Nephi 1, where the believers' lives are literally on the line

depending on the Savior's coming. I ponder how much faith would we

have if we were in that same position. May we "watch steadfastly" as

the Nephites did on our Lord. Not just at this time, but at all times.

If we do so, we will have reason to "lift up our heads and be of good

cheer" as the Savior told Nephi. I pray you all have a special, safe,

Merry Christmas. There is reason to celebrate in our hearts and in our

lives. He was born so we can be born again. I testify of this as a

representative of Him.

Happy Holidays!

Elder Cortes

Mid-December

Hey everybody!

I hope everything is going well for all of you! It's getting really

busy here during the Christmas season, but that's how it should be!

Also, it's been pretty warm over here. Everyday it's in the 60's or

70's..... It reminds me of home so much! But that's okay, I guess I

will have to wait for a cold, snowy Christmas next year. But still, it

was another good week!

Tuesday, we saw Brother Kpalie, a less active member in the ward. What

is so great is that he told us that he is going to be trying to get

back to the temple. I was so excited to hear that because he has come

a long way since I came to Moorestown. He didn't go to church in the

longest time, but here he is now, trying to get a temple recommend. I

probably won't be here when he goes back, but to see someone progress

over time is one of the greatest things to experience on your mission.

Wednesday, we saw Kevin, our investigator who is Muslim. It was so

great because he cooked us dinner, which comprised of seasoned

chicken, cooked green beans, and spaghetti with meat sauce. But the

best part about it was we showed him the Christmas website the church

set up for the holiday season. There was a video he watched called "A

world without a Savior" which really touched him. It just testified of

Jesus Christ which really brought the spirit into the house. All in

all, it was a great lesson on Jesus Christ!

On Friday, I unfortunately got sick with a cold. Needless to say, it

has not been fun the past few days. But the Zone Leaders did give me a

blessing, so I'm just waiting patiently, because I know I will get

over this soon! The work went a little slow that day, but we ended the

night very well because we were invited to a ward council Christmas

party. The next night we had our ward Christmas party as well! It was

great to spend time with the ward getting ready for the holiday

season. At the ward Christmas Party, Elder Harris played Jesus in a

Christmas story a woman in the ward put on.

It's been fun getting ready for the Christmas season. Less than two

weeks now! It'll be great to see the miracles come as Christmas comes

closer and closer. I hope you all are able to get ready for the

Christmas season! Just always remember what it's all really about.

Elder Cortes

No Snow Yet, But it Still Pours

Hey everybody!

I hope you all have been doing well, getting ready for the holiday

season! We definitely have been.

Throughout the week, we have been sharing the video "A Savior is Born"

to people on the street and have given the pass along cards that go

along with it. It's been an effective way to talk to people on the

street. But it also helps us understand more and more what the true

meaning of Christmas is all about and what it means to have a Savior.

Wednesday I went up to Cherry Hill with Elder Bowman, my zone leader,

for an exchange. It was really good! Elder Bowman is.....not afraid to

be himself. But he is a spiritual giant. It was great to work with him

because you know how much he cares about his great work. Although it

was pouring, we still got a lot done in his area. We met with his

woman who has a son who is pretty much restricted to his bed and can't

talk. But it's so great to see her faith even through all her

hardships, she still presses on and shares the gospel in every way she

can.

Thursday, we had Zone Training! It was great to hear all the trainings

from the Zone Leaders and the Sister Training Leaders. We also gave a

training ourselves, which was a lot of fun and very spiritual! Later

that day we had an appointment with this woman whose name is Amy. Amy

is the only member in her family, but her husband and son were

interested in hearing about the Restoration. It was so great, her son,

Nick, told us how everything we were teaching sounded so true. I was

so glad being able to see this young man (he's 14), be open and say

what we were teaching is true. We're hoping we can set him with a date

in January, so I might not be here when he gets baptized, if I get

transferred, but it'd still be great to see Nick, and his dad, Chris

accept the gospel.

Sunday, we had stake conference, which was very spiritual. It was

great to hear from the Stake Presidency, members of the D.C. temple

presidency, and special testimonies given by two returned sister

missionaries. One of the missionaries came home after three weeks in

the mtc because she had cancer. Her address was very emotional. You

knew how badly she wanted to stay out in the mission field. It really

made me ponder how this time is so important for me,mot be out here on

a mission. I really just want to look back at my service and say I did

all the Lord asked me to do, because not everyone gets this chance

like I do, and I have to do my absolute best. Like it says in Alma

34:32, this time is to prepare to meet God. It is my hope and prayer

all of us are doing what we can to prepare to meet our Father in

Heaven at the last day. I'm grateful to be out here, especially during

the Holidays. I hope all of you have a great week! I know finals are

either here or coming up, but after that, you can just take a step

back and remember the Savior even more. I know I have as I have been

in His service everyday.

Elder Cortes