Christmas Gifts that will Forever be Cherished

Hey guys! 

Merry Day after Christmas! I had to say, this had to have been one of the most memorable Christmas I have ever had. Especially some of the events that led up to it was incredible. The Lord truly is good to us and his hand of mercy is extended to each one of us. My testimony in that principle was strengthened when we met a man who has changed our lives, Miguel Gomez. Miguel was a Bible Referral and when we first taught him, we got to know him and he told us he was trying to find truth and he's tried so many different times to be involved in church but he's never had the necessary fellowship to help him get to church or understand his relationship with God. As we testified of the Restoration, his eyes just lit up with so much interest and life in his eyes, as if he knew instantly that this is what was going to help him. The next day we taught him the Plan of Salvation and we invited him to baptism and he accepted right away. He told us we changed his life coming to teach and it was such a tender moment in my mission. I'm thankful the Lord blessed me to me a man as incredible as Miguel.

We also met with the Pierre Louis family (the Haitian Family) a few times this week and we found out Mariline (the Mom) was spending Christmas by herself while all the kids were going to New York to go visit their Dad. So we hopped on the opportunity to invite her to church and throughout the whole week she was on the fence about going. But finally, Saturday night, she said she wanted to come. So we figured out the ride situation right away and we got all set for Christmas by singing carols on Christmas Eve and the day before that. It was so fun to sing with 8 other Elders in the streets of Reading and to members of the Spanish ward. It was such a blessing to hear people tell us we were doing the Lord's work and light just came from our caroling. It was a ton of fun to provide such a memorable act of service..

Then Christmas Day came! We first went to church and saw Miguel and Mariline both at church. I sat with Mariline while Elder Baker sat with Miguel. By the end of the service, I asked Mariline if she felt the Spirit and she smiled and nodded. It was incredible because Mariline has had a hard time while we have been with her recognizing the Spirit testify what was true. And for us, we thought it was a huge breakthrough for her. Miguel also enjoyed it so much, it was a miracle for them to feel the Christmas Spirit. Later that day, I had the blessing of talking to my family. It was so great being able to just spend time with them. Every time I talk to them, it's such a special hour to just be with them. It makes me want to work even harder after talking with them. We also had great dinners at our Bishop's house and the Maldanado house too to close the night. I just have to say,  I'm so thankful for every blessing I received this Christmas season out here. These gifts are what will last me a lifetime. I'm thankful to my Heavenly Father for changing my life and continues to through His Son Jesus Christ, who is the greatest gift of all. It's my hope and prayer we may receive our King on a daily basis and let Him make something more than we could ever do to ourselves. I love my Savior and my Heavenly Father, I love this Gospel, and it's such a privilege to be part of this great work. Have a great week looking toward an even brighter future in 2017!

Elder Cortes

Reading, PA

Christmas: The Best Time to be a Missionary!

Hey everyone! 

It's been a pretty great week here in the PPM where the Christmas season is in full swing in Reading. We had a couple incredible miracles happen this first week of the transfer that just really renewed my testimony that God never ceases to provide miracles to those who diligently seek after them.

We did a good amount of finding this week even though the average outside was 30 in the past week (one day it was 15 degrees)! But we had faith we would find the elect and the Lord provided. We found this guy named Julio who just came out of his door to smoke a cigarette. We had a great conversation which led him to invite us in and we met his wife, Wanda, as well. It was so neat because they said they were looking for a church together to go to and missionaries talked to them before. They just didn't understand clearly what the Restoration was. So we retaught it to them and it all just clicked for them. They were excited to read the Book of Mormon and to go to church too! We also found a single mom named Iris who has been going through a lot of trials right now. But when we showed the Christmas video and testified of the Atonement of Christ, she really felt uplifted and wanted us to come back! 

It was so great to just see how we were answers to others' prayers during this Christmas season, whether it's members or investigators, it really is a humbling experience to just represent the Lord and teach to their needs.  It's also inspiring to see this happen with other missionaries in the Zone. On Friday, I went up to Pottsville and we taught one of their investigators, who comes to church every week and reads everyday from the Book of Mormon, but didn't want to quit smoking until Easter, but after we taught her, she felt so inspired to decide to quit smoking on the 6th of January and has a baptismal date for January 14th! It was a miracle she just changed it just like that. The Lord is just blessing all of the diligent Elders here in the Reading Zone as well as the PPM. It is just incredible. 

Doing this service for the Lord really reminds me daily of the true meaning of Christmas. I'm grateful for the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. I'm thankful we have this time to celebrate his birth and that His light that is extended to each one of us and we are able to receive Him at all times. I'm thankful for you all and the examples you are to me. The true meaning of Christmas is to come unto Christ, and we all have the opportunity to help each other achieve this worthy goal. May the Lord bless you all this Christmas season to give and to receive the most important gift of all. Thank you for everything you do, you all #LightmyWorld (Too much? Probably, but it's okay, it gets the word out).

Merry Christmas with Love,

Elder Cortes

Reading, PA

The Crane Flew West for the Winter

Hey everybody!

A lot has been going on this past week from transfer plans to tearful goodbyes to great experiences in the promised land of Reading. All in all, it's been a blessing to be in the Lord's service.

A pretty neat experience that we had was at our Christmas party this past Saturday because the Pierre-Louis family came and they all really enjoyed the Spirit they felt with the music, the decorations, and the solid fellowship from the ward.

We also found out this weekend that Elder Baker and I will be staying together for another transfer. So he will only be my third companion I have had that I will have been with for two transfers. It's going to be a blast being able to celebrate Christmas here in Reading. We have a young Zone coming into this next transfer but I know the Lord is going to bless and sustain all of us as we are obedient and as we rely on the Lord to guide each one of us. That's what's pretty neat about the Gospel, no matter the circumstances or the time in our lives, the solution is always the same.

Which brings me now to today. It's been a roller coaster of a morning. It kind of hit me last night that two great missionaries, two men that have taught me so much, are heading home tomorrow. As we said our goodbyes, I really thought about how much their mission meant to them, and how much my mission has meant to me. Now, Elder Crane is my fourth missionary I have sent home, but it's been more of an emotional time this round. Probably because I understand it more than I ever have what it means to be on a mission. I probably won't really fully know what it means until I'm in their shoes, but I'm so thankful in my heart for my mission. It makes me so thankful for everyone I have met in these past 17 months. 

It can be a scary thought to really realize how much time you really do have as a missionary. But I know that the Lord will bless and sustain me these next 7 months as he has these past 17 months. I'm thankful for Elder Crane and his example he has shown me these past three months. It was such an unexpected blessing to have him be my companion for three weeks, but we needed it so much. He is one of the most Christlike people I have ever met in my life. His charity and love for others can't even be described. His testimony and determination to serve to the end was just so influential. Besides my trainer, I'm thankful for how determined he was to serve to the very last day of his mission with everything he had. I'm also thankful for Elder Holden and the great leader and friend he has been to me this past year. It's a crazy coincidence (but we all know coincidences don't happen) that when we served in the same zone, it was always in the Reading Zone. He is a true disciple of Christ who knows how to minister with love at any given moment. I'm thankful for all of our examples in our lives, because when we look up to them, we look up to Christ. 

It'll be a great next transfer here in the Reading Zone! I hope all of you are doing well and are having a great time prepping for Christmas!

Elder Cortes

Reading, PA

Turning 20 in the Mission!

Hey everybody!

It's been a great week being trained and taught by the Lord and His servants here in the blessed city of Reading as well as in Philadelphia!

It all started on Tuesday which was a really great birthday. The morning started with my two amazing companions making me a special Hawaiian meal of spam, eggs, and rice. Later, I went to my good friend, Elder Jensen's district meeting which was really insightful about how we need to communicate as companions in all different phases of the work. Then for the rest of the day, I went on an exchange with one of the sets of Spanish Elders in Reading. So I went with the seasoned Elder Wasden (he goes home in 4 weeks) in his area. It was pretty fun being able to share the new Christmas video the church put out and to really feel the Spirit enter into people's home. I couldn't have really asked for a better birthday present than sharing the Gospel through the Christmas season. Probably the funniest part of the Exchange was a member told me I look 16 instead of 20. So rather than looking on the downside of it, I'm definitely looking forward to seeing how young I look when I'm in my 50's or so.

Thursday was a blast being able to work back and forth between Pottstown and Reading and then later we had interviews with President Randall. Interviews with President has to be one of my favorite parts of my mission. We both had a great time to learn about the Savior and His Atonement. It was so amazing! 

The next day, we had MLC at the Vine Chapel across the Temple which was an incredible meeting. We had the Temple President of the Philadelphia Temple expounding on principles of the Pre-earth life and how the temple connects. Elder Crane also gave his last MLC testimony which really touched me and how I can never take my time in the MLC, or my time as a missionary, for granted. He is such a solid and consecrated Elder. I'm definitely going to miss him when he goes home next week. That's another hard realization is that Elder Crane will be headed home to Idaho. But we are definitely going to make the most of the time we have together with him. That is without question!

Sunday, we had an amazing miracle happen. We fasted and prayed for the Pierre-Louis family to come to church. They are a Haitian family we have been working with for two months, and they came to church for the first time. They all enjoyed it so much and it was such a blessing being able to sit with them and sing Christmas songs together in sacrament. 

The Lord has blessed us abundantly here in Reading. I have such a firm testimony in Fasting and Prayer, the Lord does hear our pleadings. If there is anything we are concerned with, we can always turn to the Almighty for strength and guidance. It's the last week of the transfer, so we will see what happens if I stay another here in Reading or if I'm heading off to a new area to harvest. A lot of Zone Leaders are planning on being called to train this upcoming transfer so anything can happen. I know whatever happens, the Lord will be with me always! I hope all of you have a great start to this Christmas season!

Elder Cortes

Reading, PA