It's been such a great week in the promised land of the PPM. Too many
fun times and emotional spiritual experiences to really count but I'll
certainly do my best to remember!
So Tuesday, we went to a specialized training up in Clarks Summit
which is near Scranton. It was neat to be trained by President and
Sister Randall as well as the Assistants on using Facebook and talk a
lot about different Christlike attributes like Virtue and digging deep
into Alma 5. It was incredible all the inspiration we received. Elder
Neilson and I gave a training too on planning which went pretty well.
It was funny because the Assistants were running a little late so
President asked if Elder Neilson could conduct the meeting until they
got there (Next Assistant apparently, just kidding). Later that day,
we went on exchanges and I was with Elder Dennis, a Spanish Elder here
in Hazleton. It was awesome because Elder Dennis was a fireball
committing and teaching in unity to all of our investigators. We ended
up getting two baptismal commitments and a couple of church
invitations for the coming weeks.
Wednesday was another exchange day as I travelled down south to
Pottsville. It was great because I was with Elder Shumway, who is from
Gilbert and we found so many miracles for their area. We contacted 3
referrals and they all set up return appointments which was
incredible. They're all now being actively taught and hopefully being
committed to baptism in the near future!
Thursday, we swapped back at District Meeting and it was lame to see
almost half the District was sick. Even my amazing, diligent companion
caught the bug that was flying around. I was blessed since I didn't
catch it at all, the Lord knew I had my fight with being sick last
month so I'm grateful he didn't give me that trial again. It was fun
though, at around 6 we got picked up by the Scranton Zone Leaders to
go to a meeting for Friday at Broomall (mission HQ). The Scranton Zone
Leaders were so much fun the whole 3 hour drive down. Then we got to
spend the night at the Assistants' apartment which was a blast.
Friday was incredible. At the beginning of the month, we have a
meeting called MLC where all the Zone Leaders, Sister Training
Leaders, the Assistants, and President and Sister Randall all come
together. The Spirit was so strong as we were trained on how we can
better lead the mission. We spent an entire hour having a discussion
on the first few verses of 2nd Nephi 2! To come together as leaders,
where everyone is so spiritually mature and strong was amazing. At the
end we had a testimony meeting and I bore my testimony on the Savior
and how much I loved the MLC. It's so true because I got to see so
many of my old Zone Leaders, District Leaders, and missionaries I have
worked around. I said it was like a family to me, which it is.
Probably the most unexpected experience I have had and will continue
to have is the love I have for the missionaries. I just didn't think
I'd come out here and make so many friends, not just for the mission,
but for eternity. Friends in the mission are true to the end, I felt
that during the whole meeting. Probably the most powerful moment of
that meeting was the Assistant Elder Weisler bearing his testimony at
the end. It was his final MLC as a missionary (he's been to MLC for 16
months on his mission) and he just poured out the love he had for each
and every one of us. He also bore such a powerful testimony on the
Savior and how we make a difference. He mentioned we talk and discuss
things that 19 and 20 year olds don't ever talk about in the world. He
said a mission is the time and the place for that. Through it all, I
was just overloaded on the Spirit. We sang the mission song and
everybody was bawling. I couldn't keep it together during the closing
prayer, it's safe to say that was a defining day in my mission.
Saturday and Sunday we walked all over Hazleton and found a lot of
cool people. We heard so much reggaetone music in so many cars (the
Dominican Music that makes the speakers blare super loud). But we saw
a few miracles, we found a woman named Fuquannah who is pretty solid
and cries every time we come over. Bob and Alice also did not get
baptized because Bob took a few puffs of cigarettes. But the baptism
should be happening this week! I love my mission so much, there are
testimony builders left and right everyday it seems. I am so grateful
for this time in my life, to really know how I can be a better
Disciple of Jesus Christ. It is my hope all of us have these sacred
and special experiences as well. I know they will come as we seek for
them. I hope all of you are well and have a great Labor Day!
Love from The Golden City of Hazleton
Elder Cortes
Hazleton, PA
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