No Snow Yet, But it Still Pours

Hey everybody!

I hope you all have been doing well, getting ready for the holiday

season! We definitely have been.

Throughout the week, we have been sharing the video "A Savior is Born"

to people on the street and have given the pass along cards that go

along with it. It's been an effective way to talk to people on the

street. But it also helps us understand more and more what the true

meaning of Christmas is all about and what it means to have a Savior.

Wednesday I went up to Cherry Hill with Elder Bowman, my zone leader,

for an exchange. It was really good! Elder Bowman is.....not afraid to

be himself. But he is a spiritual giant. It was great to work with him

because you know how much he cares about his great work. Although it

was pouring, we still got a lot done in his area. We met with his

woman who has a son who is pretty much restricted to his bed and can't

talk. But it's so great to see her faith even through all her

hardships, she still presses on and shares the gospel in every way she

can.

Thursday, we had Zone Training! It was great to hear all the trainings

from the Zone Leaders and the Sister Training Leaders. We also gave a

training ourselves, which was a lot of fun and very spiritual! Later

that day we had an appointment with this woman whose name is Amy. Amy

is the only member in her family, but her husband and son were

interested in hearing about the Restoration. It was so great, her son,

Nick, told us how everything we were teaching sounded so true. I was

so glad being able to see this young man (he's 14), be open and say

what we were teaching is true. We're hoping we can set him with a date

in January, so I might not be here when he gets baptized, if I get

transferred, but it'd still be great to see Nick, and his dad, Chris

accept the gospel.

Sunday, we had stake conference, which was very spiritual. It was

great to hear from the Stake Presidency, members of the D.C. temple

presidency, and special testimonies given by two returned sister

missionaries. One of the missionaries came home after three weeks in

the mtc because she had cancer. Her address was very emotional. You

knew how badly she wanted to stay out in the mission field. It really

made me ponder how this time is so important for me,mot be out here on

a mission. I really just want to look back at my service and say I did

all the Lord asked me to do, because not everyone gets this chance

like I do, and I have to do my absolute best. Like it says in Alma

34:32, this time is to prepare to meet God. It is my hope and prayer

all of us are doing what we can to prepare to meet our Father in

Heaven at the last day. I'm grateful to be out here, especially during

the Holidays. I hope all of you have a great week! I know finals are

either here or coming up, but after that, you can just take a step

back and remember the Savior even more. I know I have as I have been

in His service everyday.

Elder Cortes

Almost the End of September

Wow, it's almost the end of September??? Let me tell you all, that

when everyone says a mission flies by, it is so true. I guess I get so

ingrained in the work, I really don't pay attention to time.

But I'm so glad I get this time to write to you guys! Because you're

all important to me and I really do care how you all are and it's the

same Sent from my iPad

It was a little tough this week, we heard some rough news from a few

of our investigators. Just different things with serious sickness,

death in the family, different things that really do break your heart.

That's what is really tough on me, is that these are people I care

about, not just an investigator. One thing I never really imagined was

the true fellowship I have with the people, the ward and those I

taught. It is such a blessing for me to have so much love for so many

different people, it really does make you think how Christ loves all

of us. Thankfully, they're all doing better and we have been able to

help out. With Norma, she told us how grateful she was we stopped by

twice to see her, even though she was struggling. She told us how she

felt stronger spiritually when we were around, it was just so special

to hear that. It just makes you want to work even more, even though

it's 95 degrees outside, and the sun is in your face. Those things

just go away, the work just seems easier.

One of the things that have really stuck out to me is teaching Carmen.

Angela and Emmanuel moved to North Philadelphia, so it's Rodrigo and

Carmen now. Carmen has told us how much she wants to quit smoking and

how she wants to change for her kids. It's just been great to talk

about the atonement and how she really can change through it. We're

teaching her the Word of Wisdom this week so I'm pretty excited for

that!

We also had an exchange with the Zone Leaders on Wednesday. I stayed

in Moorestown and Elder Riley came from Cherry Hill. I was a little

anxious because this was the first exchange where it was just me

taking over the area (in the trio, two Elders stayed in the area). But

everything worked out perfectly, we taught all three lessons we

planned on and they all went so well, Elder Riley was so great to work

with too. I learned so much from him in one day, it was such a great

experience.

Thursday, we went into Sewell and another part of Cherry Hill to do

some work for the Sisters since we don't do exchanges with them. It

was a long day all around, but it was so great. We were able to give a

sister a blessing after district meeting and I was just so happy to

give that service for her, to use that special Priesthood Power I have

been given.

Saturday, let me tell you, it was pretty busy. We started the day off

by doing a couple hours of yard work for Brother Madueke trimming his

bushes, avoiding bees, just a lot work. Then, we went to Bob and

Joanna's wedding reception (they we're sealed in the Salt Lake Temple

3 weeks ago) and it's so special for me to be received by the ward. I

mean, I'm not afraid to call the Moorestown Ward a second home ward.

I've been here a little over two months and they treat me here like

I've lived here my whole life.

Sunday though,was probably the icing on the cake for me. We started

teaching a less active named David Garduno on Sunday night. David has

lost part of his foot and is extremely diabetic. He asked us last week

if we could bring him the sacrament and we got permission to. Last

night was the first week of us giving him the sacrament, and let me

just say, blessing the sacrament is probably one of my favorite things

to ever do. Everyone in the 18th Ward knows that. But it's been about

3 months since I have blessed it and it was just a comforting feeling.

This might be a little....out of the ordinary. But it felt like there

was a hand on my shoulder. I just felt so much peace and joy in my

heart. Even though I was in a little care center room, it felt as

though I was inside a chapel. It was completely silent, it was

peaceful. It goes to show, anywhere you are, you can feel the Spirit

of the Lord. Just keep your ears and your heart open for it. I promise

it is there, you can receive it if you are willing to let the Lord in.

Hope you all have a great week!

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

Week 1 in the Mission Field!

Wow! What a week

Thank you everyone for all the support while I've gone to Philly! It's

been a roller coaster of a week. So where to start.... Probably the

beginning. So I leave the mtc  at 4 in the morning dead tired and flew

out at 9. I got here at 4 in the afternoon and was welcomed by

President Andersen and his wife along with the AP's (assistants). All

of the, treated us very kindly and with so much love. All 29 of us,

two missionaries away from breaking the record of most missionaries

coming into Philly.

Wednesday, unfortunately, I came down with a bad cold. A quarter of

the missionaries were sick and got a few more of us sick when we

stayed over at the mission home. So let's just say driving to the

multi stake center where transfers were happening wasn't exactly easy.

The whole day was tough in a way because of just being sick. But it's

ok! Because I met my companions. That's right, companions! Some of you

thought I had one, but I am in a trio (when does that happen for the

first time right????)

The first is Elder Hendricks, he is from Draper Utah. This is his last

transfer, so he has 6 weeks to go. I'm so grateful to be with a pro

like him but it's weird, I'm his last companion and he's my trainer.

He is also the district leader and really, he is a great teacher. He

is teaching me everything I need to know how to be a missionary with

his almost two year experience.

But I can't forget about THE Elder Froc. Born and raised from

Saskatchewan, Canada. He is also 21. So my first companion is FOREIGN

;) He has been out for 9 months and has killed off 5 missionaries

including Elder Hendricks (that means he was a missionary's last

companion 5 times). He is so intellectual in the gospel and I have

learned so many principles from his insights. But really, he just has

jokes that never end. What a loving companion.

All 3 of us get along perfectly. It's different being in a trio, but

we are working it out just fine. There's never a dull moment and we

just have so many laughs together. I'm so grateful for my companions,

they really are angels sent from God. I love them both so much.

So the work, my first area is the Cherry Hill Zone in New Jersey. The

main towns are Moorestown and Riverside along with Delran, cinamanson,

Mt. Laurel and so many more. For the most part, it's been nothing but

good things. Getting home from transfers, we had a dinner appointment.

But we also ended up teaching the restoration to guests of the members

who had us over for dinner. Apparently that never happens and it's

because I'm working my golden magic according to my companions (golden

means new elder). Thursday we did straight up street contacting. It

was tough to see Elder Hendricks get shot down a lot, but he told me

that's just how missionary work is sometimes. I had a little bit of

that, but for the most part, people were listening to the message I

was bringing. They seemed interested, I was just like whoa! I'm

grateful the Lord is helping me be an instrument in His work.

But the best was Saturday. I invited Bob Jameson to be baptized who

has met with the missionaries for 10 years and loves and feeds the

missionaries all the time. He said our discussion was one of the best

in 10 years and he said if he knew it was true then he would. Talk

about a miracle! I also invited Kevin, a mMuslim and he said the same

thing. Two invitations with no rejections! I know this is the Lord

helping me out. I'm grateful He watches over me.

Sunday I met the ward. It's very small, only 3 active young men and

tiny Sunday schools and priesthood. But the people are so kind and

have fellow shipped me like I have always been in the ward. It's a

tender mercy to have the love of the ward. We get fed every other day

and have the best time with investigators and members. Everyone speaks

their mind, that's for sure. But it's so awesome! I'm still trying to

get over the sickness but I received a blessing and it isn't as bad as

Wednesday.

I love it here, the weather is just so nice and it already feels like

home. I'm grateful to be out here! The spirit is strong always, and I

love it. Best wishes for everyone, let us all be like Christ and serve

each other, never turning anyone away. Because the Lord has been here

for all of us. Thank you all for everything you do for me, it means a

lot.

Elder Cortes