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