Strengthen Thy Brethren

Hey everybody!

It's been another great week here in the beautiful PPM. So much to tell and not enough time. But I will certainly do my best.

Tuesday we had Zone Conference and it was a blast. President Randall wanted a Zone Leader to conduct the meeting rather than the Assistants and I just happened to be picked to do it. It was pretty...different conducting the meeting but I had so much fun with it. What stuck out the most to me was the dying testimonies that were borne that day for the missionaries going home the next two transfers.  Missionaries like Elder Davenport, Elder Weisler, Elder Holden, and Elder Crane, such great examples to me, just touched my heart with their love of their missions and their change they have experienced. It just motivated me to be better and to continue to be that disciple of Christ other need in their lives. These missionaries have trained, taught, and loved me. They have helped me see how I can come closer to Christ through their example. One of my favorite things about the mission is the friendship and the brotherhood that is founded here in the PPM. I don't know how many missionaries I will keep in touch after my mission, but their friendship for me will last throughout the eternities. It was a pretty emotional meeting for me, but I'm so grateful, I experienced it.

We also found so many new investigators we were able to set with baptismal dates. We found four people from part member families and their excitement to accept baptism and to make a change in their life was just amazing. I felt the Spirit so strong every time they accepted to be baptized. We also have four baptisms coming up which I am so excited for this Saturday. It's not even about saying I have four baptisms, but the work we put into these people and how they have progress is such a testimony builder to me that the Gospel is true. I'm so grateful for my mission, I have learned more than I ever thought I would and it hasn't stopped yet. God truly is good to all of us. May we always be grateful to him.

Elder Cortes

Reading, PA

Another Transfer in the Books, and a new assignment in Jersey

Hey everyone!

It's been such a fantastic week working with a lot of Elders I love
and people who are progressing through the power of the Gospel. I
couldn't ask for anything better.

It all started on Tuesday night when we met up with Elders in Delaware
so Elder Yeates and another missionary going home can drive up to the
mission home to go to the temple the next day. So as a result, I got
to bring Elder Maynard to Woodstown for the whole day Wednesday! We
had such a blast.

We started the day out with going to a town called Salem, which is
probably the most ghetto part of our area. But we saw a countless
number of miracles just talking to people on the street.
The best part of the day is when Elder Yeates got home from the DC
temple because we had a great lesson with Jeremy and Stacey to end the
night because we committed Stacey to a date in August! We may have to
push it back because they still need to get married, but she's made so
much progress since I first met her. She has come to church the past 3
weeks in a row and she's reading the Book of Mormon 5 chapters a day.
It's such a blessing for sure.

Thursday we had our final district meeting by our great District
Leader Elder Nebeker. He's getting transferred, which is lame, because
he has been one of my favorite district leaders for sure. I also went
on an exchange right after with Elder Davenport, my Zone Leader! It
went so well because we taught 5 lessons. We got to see my favorite
member we are working with, Wayne Hoglund. We had such a powerful
lesson on how hardships and trials are a part of life. We testified of
the power of the Atonement which will strengthen us through our
hardships. It's also sad, but Elder Davenport is leaving the Zone as
well. But it's been such a blast working with such great Elders for
only 5 weeks.

Friday and Saturday were crazy with Elder Yeates wrapping up sending
stuff home, visiting a good number of members and investigators, and
who knows what else. However, Sunday we ended the transfer so strong
teaching 6 lessons. We ended the night at the Whitfields', and Deborah
is doing so well. She is reading the Book of Mormon and loves it! She
believes it to be the word of God. She's on track for baptism at the
end of next month, which I am so excited for.
I also found out that night I will be the District Leader for this
upcoming transfer, and it's going to be a 7 week transfer with
President Randall coming into the mission. I'm excited to see my new
District and to see the work just grow here in South Jersey. It truly
has become a special place to me. Lot of exciting stuff happening
tomorrow! I will meet my new companion and we are going to hit the
pavement for sure! May the Lord bless you in all that you do. I'm
seeing the blessings from serving and I just keep giving it my all.
This mission truly is changing my life. I hope all of you have a great
week in this heat!

Elder Cortes

Woodstown, NJ