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