Saying Goodbyes and Starting Transfer #2!

Hey Family and Friends!

Wow, it doesn't even feel like it's been a week. That's one thing

about the mission, you do so much work and the day is over before you

know it. But it's alright! I'm just loving it out here!

So to start off, on Tuesday, Elder Hendricks went on an exchange to

Pennsauken (Camden pretty much) while Elder Froc and I stayed in the

area with Elder Cornelius. What really stuck out to me was that this

is what it's going to be like when Elder Hendricks goes home. But it

went very well, we taught a less active member, Dr. Z (Brother

Madueke). Dr. Z is a very successful doctor Sent from my iPad

Wednesday, oh boy, what a day. So many miracles happened in one day,

it was so special. After we picked up Elder Hendricks, we went to see

a less active member, Brother Lopata. Now let me say, Brother Lopata

is not like any man I have met before. The second we walked in his

door, it reeked of cigarette smoke. We came into his kitchen, and beer

cans were all over the kitchen. It was pretty nice getting to know

him. He loves making jokes and loves NASCAR, but it's been tough for

him. He started smoking because of stressful things happening like his

dad's health. It's gotten to the point where if he quits, it's

hazardous to his health, because his body is so addicted to nicotine.

He has a life expectancy of four years..... But he keeps going, he

tries to be a good person and he isn't worried of what will happen.

But it was really tough to see this man, who made that baptismal

covenant but has just fallen into a life of smoking, drinking, and

cursing. But even with all that, I had the prompting to give him a

blessing. So Elder Hendricks anointed him with oil (because he had

pneumonia) and I gave him a blessing. It was great because he told us

it was years since he received a blessing and he didn't know Elders

could do that. We also invited him to church, and he said he was going

to do all he could to make it. He told us he has never said that to

any missionaries before, it was so great. Even though he was doing all

these things, I still hoped for him, I still had a great love for him.

But it's amazing to see what happened after we gave him that blessing

(it happened on Friday). We also taught a new investigator named

Anthony. Anthony is a little slow, but he can read and pretty much

understands what we teach him. It was so great because in the middle

of our lesson, he asked when he could be baptized. It was so

unexpected! But we were all so glad that it happened. All of it, the

day just didn't seem real. It was like there was a spiritual presence

with us wherever we went. I'm trying so hard, to make everyday like

that because it's so hard to describe. There was peace and a feeling

of love in our hearts.

Thursday was a pretty spiritual day as well. We started the day off

with District Meeting and the topic was on the atonement. It was just

really powerful to hear the testimonies of other Elders on the

atonement. Just knowing that our brother, Jesus Christ, died for us so

that we can rise from the dead and that all of us have the opportunity

to live with our Father in Heaven again means everything to me. Not

only that, but Christ can lift us from our trials and tribulations

because He  understands anything we will ever go through. It was a

good start to the day, because right after I went on an exchange to

Cherry Hill with one of my Zone Leaders, Elder MacArthur. What was

really great was I found out was the Zone Leaders were in a Zebra

Companionship (one Spanish Elder and one English Elder). So we only

taught one Spanish lesson and the rest of the lessons were English.

The whole day was great, the best part was we taught a man named

Michael, who is confided to a wheelchair. This man has given up

drinking, friends who were a bad influence, and just reads the Book of

Mormon. Teaching him the restoration was so great because he just

wanted to know more. Exchanges are pretty nice, it just gives you a

chance to see other people and how the work progresses in all the

areas you visit. I'm also so grateful for Elder MacArthur, who just

took care of me. He made me breakfast and talked to me about anything

and everything on my mind. He really is a cool Elder, and I'm just

thankful for his love for me.

Friday was a little bit of a struggle. We couldn't use the shower in

Cherry Hill, so after studies we went back to Moorestown and showered

which took about an hour and a half total. By the time we were done it

was about noon. The only problem was we still needed to do weekly

planning, which takes about 2-3 hours. So it was a little frustrating

having more than half of the day shot. But what was so special was

Brother Lopata called us and told us the blessing was exactly he

needed. He said he just felt happier and his pneumonia was gone. It

felt so good to just know, our priesthood power healed and comforted

this man. It was awesome!

Sunday, Elder Hendricks last full day with us. There was a lot of

special moments that happened yesterday. Sara and Amanda were

confirmed members of the church and I got to be a part of that for the

first time ever. It was so great being a part of that confirmation and

to hear Elder Froc and Elder Hendricks give special blessings along

with the confirmations. Also Brother Kpalie and Dr. Z both came to

church! It was so great! I'm just so thankful Elder Hendricks had a

great last day before we dropped him off today. We ended the night at

the Davis home with Amanda having Enchiladas and Cake. It was so nice

to see how happy and content all of us were with the night.

So I guess that brings me to today.... We just dropped off Elder

Hendricks at 9:30 this morning. It's really tough to say goodbye to

such an amazing missionary. Elder Hendricks taught me so much and was

so patient when I would slip up. It was kind of a bittersweet feeling

when we left the mission office. I really wish he was still here to

finish my training the next six weeks, or just to see him around. But

he's going back home to Draper, Utah. I'm not worried though, I

already know Elder Froc and I are staying in Moorsetown this next

transfer and we are going to be a trio again! So we will meet our new

companion at exchanges on Wednesday! I'm excited for the next six

weeks. There's still a lot of teaching to be done and people to find.

But I'm ready to work! It'll be a great transfer, I can feel it!

I hope all you are doing well, my hope is that you are all happy and

doing well in life. If anything is ever a struggle, never forget that

Christ will be there, with His hand outstretched to us. He know our

hearts and our minds, and through Him we can overcome anything that

comes to pass. It is my testimony that Jesus Christ is our Savior, and

through Him, we can be happy in his life and the next. Never forget.

Never give up. He will make up the difference when we fall short.

Don't worry about me, I'm just doing all He asks of me. I will not

stop working with all I have. It is my hope that others know of this

glad message God has given to all who will receive it. Take care and

be safe, that is my humble prayer.

Elder Cortes

Second Exchange

Hey everyone!

First of all, I hope all of you are doing well. I know I might not say

it a lot in the general email, but I care about all of you and you're

all important to me. I really do feel the love back home, it's so

awesome!

This week.....let me just say, the spiritual experiences I receive

every week are so strong, I'm exhausted by the end of the night

because of them. It's always great looking back on the week, seeing

the Lord's hand everyday in all things.

So to start off, we did another exchange with the Camden Elders on

Tuesday. Elder Knuth came to Moorsetown while Elder Froc went to

Camden. Now, I'll be honest, at the start of the day I wasn't

motivated to really talk to people. Elder Hendricks and Elder Knuth

are probably two of the most talkative Elders in the mission, so I was

just feeling like I didn't need to talk as much. But I knew that was

the wrong thing to think so I prayed and asked Heavenly Father for

help to just be motivated to talk to people on the street or when we

were knocking on doors. After that, I just had the feeling to tell the

Elders what was on Sent from my iPad

The next day, Elder Froc came back to Moorsetown and we went right to

work. We taught 4 lessons that day, and the lesson that really stuck

out to me was a man who met with us named Roger. He was raised

Catholic but didn't believe in it. He was kind of skeptical about

Joseph Smith and wondered how he could have restored the church. It

was great to see his whole outlook on the church change as we taught

that God called a prophet again to bring back His gospel to the world.

He said he would definitely read and pray to know if the Book of

Mormon is true.

Thursday, after district meeting, a member took my companions and I to

a fancy Chinese Restaurant, where I had sushi for the first time. It's

so good! Apparently it's just what we needed because we went straight

to work, teaching and finding and we found a lot of success and

received 2 new investigators by the end of the night. But really, I'm

just glad Heavenly Father blessed us with all the good work we're

doing.

Friday we had another exchange where Elder Hendricks went to

Pennsauken (which is pretty much East Camden) while we got Elder

Fowers, who is another golden. It was great to just do the work with

Elder Fowers and the highlight of the night was seeing Brother Kpale.

Now, Brother Kpale is in his mid 30's and went on a mission to Africa

in Ghana. But he's less active and has not gone to church in over a

year. None of us have ever met Brother Kpale, only Elder Hendricks who

was gone. But the spirit was so strong when we were talking to him.

And it was so awesome just telling him Christ still loves him and that

he wants him to be happy. And that it'll bless him coming back to

church and renewing that baptismal covenant he made through the

sacrament. By the end of the lesson we both were just in tears and he

told us next week he would go to church, even if it meant losing his

job. It was something I can't even describe, I remember walking out

his house just thinking "what just happened" because the spirit just

took over. I just remember praying to God thanking for all he did for

me in that lesson, that I developed such a great love for a man who I

never knew. I definitely won't forget this anytime soon.

We also were blessed to have another baptism yesterday. This was

Amanda's friend Sara Davis, who is so cool. She's so great because she

has a 17 year son and she said she treats me like her son. Which I

thought was so nice. But it's so inspiring to see, she's a mom to 6

kids and she was a huge example to her kids and her husband. It was so

awesome being one of the two witnesses to the baptism and seeing all

the sweet young kids up front to the baptism.

It was just an awesome week all around. So much work was done and

there's still so much to do. It's Elder Hendricks last week, so we are

going to make the most of the time we have left of the transfer. Just

always remember as we put in our all to serve the Lord and have

continual faith in Him, He will bless us. I know it's a simple

principle, but I see it everyday. Always remember He loves you and

wants you to be happy.

Hope all is well,

Elder Cortes

Walking, Learning & Baptizing!

Hola a todos!

You can probably guess I went on a Spanish exchange this week! But

wow, so many crazy things happened this week that's just one of many.

So first of, I just want to say how happy I am to be here, everyday.

It might not click all the time, there have been days where all of our

appointments fell through, or where we are just dead tired, but every

time we keep going the Lord blesses us for our dedication, for

willingness to serve Him.

So to start of the exciting week, it rained twice on Tuesday. Now

that's not a problem....except when we were caught in the middle of

both storms. One was in the afternoon and another was at the end of

the night. You'd think that'd be a downer, but really, they were both

pick me ups. By the end of the second storm, we were all laughing for

ten minutes straight because of how soaked we were and how crazy the

storm was. I felt like a young boy again, just some 9 year old who

loved to play in the rain no matter how soaked I got. That experience

truly just showed me Heavenly Father does care, because He just let me

have that time to just enjoy the rain, to have fun driving home after

the end of the night.

Also, later that night Elder Hendricks (who is the district leader)

told me " Elder Cortes you're going on your first exchange tomorrow".

So I got all excited and packed for the day (for an exchange you spend

an entire day in another missionaries' area). So I had the privilege

to go to Camden, New Jersey with Elder Knuth on Wednesday, sometime

around 11 ish. Camden is a Spanish area, it's also a walking area, so

it was a little crazy, but not as bad as I thought it would be. I will

say, it is something else running for four blocks to catch a bus or

running down the stairs to catch the subway before it takes off. There

was one time where we were looking for a bus and I saw it and I turned

to Elder Knuth and he already took off! That's the great thing about

walking areas, you're always moving. It really does help you move from

appointment to appointment. We also had dinner at the Bishops' house,

and I'm not kidding, he was blown away that I was Mexican. I was

laughing so hard on the inside because it just goes to show, some

things don't change wherever I am. We were able to teach a family at

the end of the night. The parents spoke Spanish, but the kids spoke

English. So while Elder Knuth was talking to the parents, I was having

a great time talking to the three kids (one who is old enough to be

baptized!). When we taught the lesson, it was tough. I couldn't keep

up with the conversation and I was just wanting to say something on

the inside so badly. I did get my chance though. I looked the father

in the eye and told him "Hablo poco Espanol, pero yo se El Libro De

Mormon es verdad". It was so great, I just felt the sprit as I tried

to bear my testimony on the Book of Mormon and he was receptive to it!

At the end of the lesson he asked us to give him a blessing. So Elder

Knuth gave him a blessing in Spanish which I though was pretty cool

too. So we went back to our apartment and just talked about how it

went. I was so happy to go to Camden, it really was a good experience.

They have a gym on the top floor with a perfect view of Philadelphia.

I'm definitely sending a picture of that perfect view next time I'm in

Camden.

Speaking of Pennsylvania, I was able to go back there for retraining

on Friday! Retraining is for all the Goldens and trainers and just

talk about how it's been so far in the mission. I was so happy to see

all the missionaries I came out with, especially Elder Maynard, my mtc

companion. We had the opportunity to bear our testimonies of our first

month out in the mission. Let me just say it was so spiritual to hear

all the Goldens bear their testimonies of their struggles, their

accomplishments, and their faith in Jesus Christ. Everyone has grown

and I can see it with myself as well. We were taught so many

principles by President Andersen and Sister Andersen, we played

mission jeopardy, we were taught how to better teach to people's

needs. I want to work harder than ever, I want to stay focused on the

work. It was the boost we needed to keep pressing forward in the great

work we are called to do.

Sunday, however, was the highlight of the week. I had my first baptism

yesterday! Amanda Curley. Wow, she was a handful to start teaching

when I got here. She had already been taught some lessons by other

Elders the past two months, but had so many questions when I first met

her. But to see her understand, follow commitments like give up

coffee, and enter in this special covenant with the Lord, was just a

miracle and a blessing to watch. I also had the privilege to speak at

her baptism about baptism. I testified of the Savior being baptized

not because He needed to be, but because He was the example. He showed

us, how essential we need to enter into this covenant, to have the

Holy Ghost guide and warn us as we go about this life. As I watched

this baptism, I thought back to mine when I was 8. I remember how

strong I felt the Lord's love and God's love for me that I was in

tears . I remember seeing my parents and how much I loved them and

still love them. I'm thankful my Dad was able to baptize me and that I

was, and still am, a member of the Church of Jesus of Latter Day

Saints. Seeing Amanda baptized just reminded me how special this work

is. Bringing people to know the Gospel is true and just helping others

all the time just makes me so glad in my heart. I sincerely hope all

of you are well and that God is watching over you. You all are truly

are important to me. My hope is that you are well at all times. When

it's to hard to stand, kneel in prayer to ask for help.

Wishing all the best,

Elder Cortes

Hope On, Carry On - Week 3

Hola! (Just kidding, I didn't go on he Spanish exchange, I'll explain

later in the email)

Wow, I can't believe it's been over a month on the mission. It's

weird, I can remember being dropped off at the mtc so clearly. But I

can just say I am so grateful for all the fun, the laughs, and the

spiritual experiences I have had so far. I'm also so thankful for this

P-day because it's my little sister's birthday. Happy Birthday Annie!

Elder Hendricks went to the D.C. temple on Tuesday since he's going

home on Sept. 1st. All the missionaries going home have the

opportunity to go to the temple before the leave the mission. He said

it was a special experience and I was so glad for him because he's

served so faithfully the past two years. I am so privileged to be

trained by a successful, spiritual missionary like him. Definitely

cherishing he last 3 weeks with him.

Tuesday was just a very spiritual day, for the most part we did

finding. It happened because a few appointments fell through so we

just went around the area contacting referrals and contacting old

investigators. For the most part, we didn't have any success in our

finding but it was special, I felt like the Savior was walking right

behind Elder Froc and I. Anytime it was just difficult, I wanted to

keep going. I wanted to keep trying to share the gospel. I just felt

so happy to be out as a missionary.

But let me just say, it did not get easier the next day. Every single

appointment fell through except for one and when we went finding we

weren't exactly treated with....the kindest words. But what I

recognized, was the peace and the feeling of Christ being with me

didn't leave me. It was just like someone was telling me in my head

it'll be alright. I said there was one appointment that held, it was

at the end of the night with a less active member named Sister

Punchello. She had all these concerns about being a member of the

church and just being afraid of people knowing she was LDS. It was

just so great to talk and to bear our testimonies on being a light to

other people who may need it. By the end of the lesson, she just felt

so calm and you could tell the spirit touched her heart. That one

lesson, made the whole day worth it. It didn't matter how difficult

the day was, because all I can remember is that lesson. I was just so

glad Heavenly Father blessed us for our efforts of just trying and not

giving up. He blessed us and it was just proved to me having faith in

God and Christ is not in vain. The Lord will bless us as we are

faithful to Him.

Thursday, I didn't go on the exchange because the Zone Leaders caught

some nasty stomach bug. Let's just say they spent a lot of time in

their apartment. They only had enough energy to conduct Zone

Conference. So the Spanish exchange will be in 2 weeks. Zone

conference! Such a great meeting. Pretty much it's 15 missionaries

just having a meeting on how to improve. They talked about a lot of

ways to be better missionaries, but what really stuck out was how we

talk. It was interesting because they mentioned we pray to God and

speak in church very sincerely. In those times, people can feel the

spirit in what we say. But it can also work on the flip side. If we

joke around or are very sarcastic, it's possible someone could take it

the wrong way. The same voice we use to worship God and support others

can be used to bring down or hurt someone. It's my hope that all of us

are mindful in what we say, because it can either help or hurt someone

we know. But the spirit was just so strong, it just felt so natural

being in a meeting with everyone just have the same purpose, in

serving our Heavenly Father. The elders and sisters in the zone are

just awesome. They all really do have a testimony and have a desire to

do the work.

Friday and Saturday we met with Sara and Amanda, two investigators 

that are getting baptized! Amanda is being baptized this Sunday and

Sara will be baptized the following week. It's just such a blessing to

see how these best friends have a strong desire to follow the Lord and

be baptized. Just seeing the spirit they have and to hear what they

have felt is just so cool. I'm glad Heavenly Father is blessing me, in

my first area, to see two investigators take that big step. We are

also teaching an investigator named Kevin who is just so smart and a

very caring guy. He's married to a less active member and they have a

two month old girl named Aubrey. We invited him and his family to

church and they came! I'm really hoping I can help him get to that

road to baptism. Because he's such a great man who loves his family. I

know the gospel can bless him and his family.

But really, there's never a dull moment in the mission. This week it

just felt so natural to be in New Jersey. I'm just so glad to be here

sharing what I believe and giving people that opportunity to hear. The

Lord has been helping me, whenever there's a struggle I pray to God

for aid through Christ's atonement. And every time the load seems

lighter, I feel there's someone right behind my shoulder. And I know

there is. Elder Holland said hold on to the faith you have, in any

situation, hold on. I bear my witness God hears every single prayer we

say, and He will bless us if we continue to have that faith. It might

not always be the way we want it, but He gives us aid. Even if it's

peace of mind after a prayer. I promise He loves us individually. We

are His children, never lose that faith. Thank you for the prayers and

love. I know it's there back home. I pray for everyone at home as

well, that you are all well. Don't worry about me, I'm just working!

And I wouldn't want it any other way.

Elder Cortes

Week 2

Hey everyone!

There's so much to talk about with my first week in the mission field.

Miracles, tender mercies, and so many good stories! But I'm getting

ahead of myself, I'll start with the beginning of the week.

Tuesday, for the afternoon, we went to interviews with President

Andersen and his wife. We got there around 1 and it went for about two

and a half hours because we are the only companionship with a car. So

we picked up the other two companionships at a train stop. While we

were waiting, the Zone Leaders let us know I'll be going on an

exchange this Thursday, (an exchange is just swapping companions for

an entire day and you sleep over there and everything). The funny

thing is that the Zone Leaders are Spanish speaking, so I'm hoping my

Espanol will be good enough for the day :P Anyway, the interviews! So

I met with President Andersen and his wife and honestly, they are

awesome. They just care about every missionary individually and I just

know they love and support me, which means a lot. I'm grateful for the

mission president I have, both him and his wife have a heart of gold

and are strong in the gospel. After interviews, we didn't have a lot

of success with finding and teaching but it's okay! We met with a

member couple, the Walches. They have great stories to tell and have

been members for a year, so they are going to receive their endowments

and be sealed this week in the Salt Lake Temple. It was great because

we had the privilege to talk to them about how special this was going

to be in their lives.

Wednesday was kind of the same thing. Not a lot of success finding and

a couple of appointments fell through. But what was so special about

the day was I had my first door rejection and then I had another one

to the house next door. So back to back door rejections.... It was so

cool! I didn't feel discouraged at all! I know the Lord is going to

put people in my path to teach who are ready to hear the gospel. I

just need to keep trying, he'll bless me. That whole experience just

made me want to work even harder.

Thursday was crazy. After district meeting at the church, we found a

bat right next to the chapel doors. Everyone was freaking out, even

the zone leaders and I was just like "this is so random" we caught it

and sent it outside. So, kind of a crazy start to the day. Later, I

got my first storm in the mission, and my first real amount of rain in

months. But it was just pouring. Elder Hendricks said it was drizzling

and I couldn't believe it. But the tender mercies were so obvious.

After we got out of the car, the rain stopped. When we got back in, it

poured. We were only able to contact one person and set up a return

appointment. But that's still such a blessing to us. Every little

thing God does for me, I always notice and am grateful for it.

Friday, we had such a great turnout with teaching and finding. A man

came up to us and said he wanted to join our church, just like that.

I'm so grateful, I knew something was going to happen and the day just

turned out to be one of the best. It just goes to show patience in the

Lord will bring great blessings who are faithful to Him.

Saturday had to be my best day though. I gave my first Priesthood

Blessing! It was to a 91 year old less active member named Jane

Thouer. The second she answered the door, she was frustrated, angry,

and in a lot of pain. She had some work done on her leg and hip, and

could barely walk. We tried helping her but she's very independent. We

asked her if she wanted a blessing and she pointed at me and said "I

don't know why I keep looking at you, but you do it". And I was

thinking "whoa, alright!" I gave the blessing and I'm not kidding, her

whole demeanor changed. She was happy and smiling and just thanking

Heavenly Father for giving her aid. She didn't mention her pain once

after that. Then she bore her testimony on the Book of Mormon and the

endless truth it holds. That whole day I just felt the Spirit, Brother

Phaire (the member we brought) told us that was just so great seeing

the priesthood power in action. Definitely something I won't ever

forget.

Okay, yesterday. So we taught in Young Women's and the Young Women

President gave us the choice to pick the topic out of the monthly

topics the have to teach. The topics were dating, living the law of

chastity, marriage, and THANKFULLY family (cause elders and dating

topics....). If family wasn't one of the topics, that would have been

pretty awkward. Other than that, we felt the spirit very strongly on

the sabbath.

I know this was like a daily report, but that probably won't happen

again, it's just something great happen everyday

I add my testimony to sister Thouer, that the Book of Mormon is true

and that the priesthood is here on the earth today. This mission has

taught me so much and the Lord is with me always. May we all continue

to follow the Master, Jesus Christ. As we do I know we will be blessed

for it.

I'm praying for you all, I am thankful for the support back home. I

feel it everyday.

Sincerely,

Elder Cortes