Missions are Meant to be Cherished

Hey Everyone! 

I hope all of you have been doing well so far in this great year of 2017. We have had ups and downs, days turned inside and out, but through it all, our testimonies of Jesus Christ and His work have never been stronger. How it should be for a missionary!

Throughout the week, we helped out Elders with sicknesses, car accidents, you name it, we faced opposition left and right. But the work still continued to progress. We continue to teach Miguel who is doing incredible. He is now trying to gain a testimony of President Monson which is so exciting to just see him strive to learn what is true as we teach him. We are really praying and hoping Miguel is able to be baptized next weekend! It would be the perfect end to a great transfer here in Reading.

We also have a special experience to go with a recent convert for her endowment this Saturday. She was baptized in the Exeter ward the same time I came to Kutztown a year ago. It's going to be so exciting for her and for all of us. Elder Holden (Kaleb) will be coming back from Utah and spending the weekend here which we are so for! It will also be special for me because I haven't done an endowment session in the temple in 18 months, so I know it will be a life changing experience for me which I am excited beyond measure for. So to let everyone know, my P-day will be this Saturday instead of next Monday since I'm going to the temple. It'll just be a one time thing. 

But I have a testimony of facing opposition with hope and patience. It is because of our faith in Christ that makes it even possible for us to hope for a better world, for a better day. I know everything will work out for the best because Jesus Christ lives, and that is the knowledge which I cherish most in my life. I love my mission, it really is indescribable to learn and develop new feelings of the Gospel. I'm thankful Heavenly Father watches over all of us in our time of need. You know, I know I don't have the most time left on my mission, but I'm thankful for everyday Heavenly Father gives me to be a Missionary. It really is a life changing experience. 

Elder Cortes

Reading, PA

The Crane Flew West for the Winter

Hey everybody!

A lot has been going on this past week from transfer plans to tearful goodbyes to great experiences in the promised land of Reading. All in all, it's been a blessing to be in the Lord's service.

A pretty neat experience that we had was at our Christmas party this past Saturday because the Pierre-Louis family came and they all really enjoyed the Spirit they felt with the music, the decorations, and the solid fellowship from the ward.

We also found out this weekend that Elder Baker and I will be staying together for another transfer. So he will only be my third companion I have had that I will have been with for two transfers. It's going to be a blast being able to celebrate Christmas here in Reading. We have a young Zone coming into this next transfer but I know the Lord is going to bless and sustain all of us as we are obedient and as we rely on the Lord to guide each one of us. That's what's pretty neat about the Gospel, no matter the circumstances or the time in our lives, the solution is always the same.

Which brings me now to today. It's been a roller coaster of a morning. It kind of hit me last night that two great missionaries, two men that have taught me so much, are heading home tomorrow. As we said our goodbyes, I really thought about how much their mission meant to them, and how much my mission has meant to me. Now, Elder Crane is my fourth missionary I have sent home, but it's been more of an emotional time this round. Probably because I understand it more than I ever have what it means to be on a mission. I probably won't really fully know what it means until I'm in their shoes, but I'm so thankful in my heart for my mission. It makes me so thankful for everyone I have met in these past 17 months. 

It can be a scary thought to really realize how much time you really do have as a missionary. But I know that the Lord will bless and sustain me these next 7 months as he has these past 17 months. I'm thankful for Elder Crane and his example he has shown me these past three months. It was such an unexpected blessing to have him be my companion for three weeks, but we needed it so much. He is one of the most Christlike people I have ever met in my life. His charity and love for others can't even be described. His testimony and determination to serve to the end was just so influential. Besides my trainer, I'm thankful for how determined he was to serve to the very last day of his mission with everything he had. I'm also thankful for Elder Holden and the great leader and friend he has been to me this past year. It's a crazy coincidence (but we all know coincidences don't happen) that when we served in the same zone, it was always in the Reading Zone. He is a true disciple of Christ who knows how to minister with love at any given moment. I'm thankful for all of our examples in our lives, because when we look up to them, we look up to Christ. 

It'll be a great next transfer here in the Reading Zone! I hope all of you are doing well and are having a great time prepping for Christmas!

Elder Cortes

Reading, PA

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

The Reading Roller Coaster

Hey everyone!

It's been such a busy week here in the one and only city of Reading. We laughed, we cried, we saw miracles. So pretty much the usual here in the mission field.

It was actually pretty interesting, Elder Martinez got sick two weeks ago which made us move an exchange. So we had three back to back exchanges and I happened to leave the area each time. I went to north Reading, Pottsville, and Pottstown. With such incredible missionaries. I first went with Elder Weisler and Elder Holden since they are in a trio. They are two of the oldest missionaries in the mission and I was so blessed to learn from these two seasoned missionaries. I also went with an Elder named Elder Crane in Pottstown who is also another old missionary. Probably the most loving man I have ever met. It was incredible, I learned so much about charity just by being with Elder Crane for a day. I loved it!

We also had Zone Training on Thursday, which was pretty exciting. President Randall was there and gave incredible comments. Since it was my second one, I had a few rolls off the tongue, but it is amazing how the Spirit just works through your weaknesses. It was one of the best Zone Trainings I was a part of. Elder Weisler gave his dying testimony and I was just bawling when we sang the mission hymn. It was incredible!

We also found two brand new people to set with baptismal dates. One was from a recent convert family and the other was from a less active. We are just so blessed with the Lord providing everyday. Probably one of the  best traits of Elder Martinez is his confidence in the Lord providing people for us to teach. I have not seen it so strong in a missionary like him. It is incredible. 

I'm so grateful to be here in Reading, miracles are happening left and right. I definitely won't forget my time here that's for sure! I love my mission, I love the Lord. I'm so thankful He has made it possible for me to be here now. I humbly pray and hope all of us may make the most of where we are in our lives. There is always a blessing, always!

Elder Cortes

Reading, PA

Travels in Reading and Easter in the Spring!

Hey everyone!

I hope you all had a great Easter! We had a great one doing this great
work. It was a really good week overall and we saw so many miracles.
I'm still a little exhausted after it all, but it goes to show you
know you're getting work done.

So to start the week, we had a great dinner with a member named
Brother Espinoza on Monday night. He was a little less active a few
months ago, but now he comes to church every week! He is such a funny
guy. He calls us dudes every time he sees us. But we had a great
dinner talking about his mission in Ecuador and he actually gave some
pretty good advice.

On Tuesday, we met with our investigator, Michelle. We brought Brother
Kirkland, our go to member. We bring him because he is really
persistent with people on keeping commitments, but he does it with a
lot of love, it's a real skill. With Michelle, she is really sweet,
but hasn't read from the Book of Mormon or has come to church. But we
got her to commit to reading from the Book of Mormon. We even
downloaded the app on her phone. So we will see what happens when we
visit with her again. But Brother Kirkland, he really pulled through
for us because he told about his wife's conversion story (Sister
Kirkland grew up Jewish) and that really touched Michelle. Members are
the best!

On Wednesday, I started my two day exchange in Reading! I was with my
District Leader, Elder Jones. It was a really productive day as we
shared the Easter Video the church put out to a number of people on
the street. We talked to a lot of Hispanics, which was really great! A
few of them laughed when I told them I am half Mexican, but it broke
the ice! Elder Jones and I have had a lot of fun working together the
past few months, he's probably going to leave Reading since he has
been there for 6 months but it was great to work with him again!

Thursday was a lot of fun too! We had District Meeting, so I was able
to reunite with Elder Thielen for a few hours. But after we got
Wendy's with the Zone Leaders, Elder Holden and I went to work on the
East part of Reading. Elder Holden is a lot of fun and we did a good
amount of walking up some steep streets, but it was so productive! We
taught 8 lessons in one day and we worked so well together. One of the
lessons we taught was a guy named John who was just sitting on the
street feeling pretty down. But after we taught him about Jesus Christ
and how he can find peace in his life, it seemed like he had a new
light in his eyes. It was really cool! Elder Holden even knew how to
respond to people who were telling us what we were doing was wrong and
not true. He always had an answer. Let me tell you, if there's any
missionary who has been a huge role model, it's gotta be Elder Holden.
At the end of the night we were playing catch with a tennis ball and I
got my head stuck in an empty package box they recently got. It was
fun no doubt.

After the exchange, Elder Holden and I drove up to Kutztown on a rainy
Friday morning. We had some good laughs when we met up with a Elder
Jewkes and Elder Thielen. But then we got right to work. Elder Thielen
set up 3 appointments while I was gone (what a great companion). We
taught Eleanor, who we are struggling with on being on the same page
as her. She really looks at scripture into great detail. Except there
are misconceptions she has about the scriptures (i.e. the 12 Apostles
weren't really apostles). We might have to drop her, but we are being
pretty persistent with her. We also saw Sister Donio, who we are
really working with to get her a temple recommend. She has been doing
so well! She has been keeping every commitment we have left her. At
the end of our lesson, she bore a very powerful testimony on how
excited and determined she is to go to the temple. She was even
telling us how much she appreciated us and what we were doing. The
spirit was so strong as we taught her. We ended the night when we
visited Corbin and Jenny. They are doing really well! We taught them
the end of the Plan of Salvation, which turned out pretty great! We
actually saw them Saturday, and Sunday too.

On Saturday, we did hours of finding in Kutztown. I was a little
frustrated because I just didn't feel well, so we sat on a curb for 10
minutes. But it's amazing how the Lord provides. We talked to 3 people
who walked by us for a good amount of time. By the time I got back up,
I was full of energy and I wanted to talk to more people. It was
really comforting to know the Lord was with me and visited me in my
time of weakness. That's what it's all about, as we submit ourselves
to the Master Healer, he can do so much with us than we could ever do
with ourselves. We also saw Jenny and Corbin, who weren't doing so
well. Jenny's daughter Atteah, was pretty sick. She was throwing up
pretty bad and was so exhausted. The worst thing was that her birthday
was on Easter. So we gave her a blessing and shared a message about
faith. It just seemed everyone was stressed out, but by the time we
ended our visit, you could really feel the mood change in the house.
The Holy Spirit really abided in that home. It was great.

On Easter Sunday, we had such a great day! We had 8 investigators come
to church which has been the most I have ever had on my mission. It
was great because all of church really focused on the Resurrection and
the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Later, we stopped at a member's house
named the Wills. A few other families were there as well and we had a
great Easter dinner. They wanted us to go for an egg hunt, but we ran
out of time because we wanted to see Jenny and Corbin. They actually
had a pre marital vow ceremony on Easter and Atteah was back to
perfect health. It was a great time to end the night. We were so
grateful for all the progress we have had since I have been here.
There's only one week left of the transfer, and it's possible Elder
Thielen or I might be leaving. But we will see! We are going to work
pretty hard to match the great week we had. We are also pretty excited
for general conference! It's going to be so great to hear from the
Prophet and Apostles again on my mission. Things are looking up here
in Kutztown. I hope it's the same for all of you back home! Just
remember, the Lord is with you if you let Him in. That is my sincere
testimony to you. As we are willing, just as the people in the Bible
and the Book of Mormon were, we will find unbreakable strength through
the everlasting Atonement. I hope and pray all of you may find
everlasting peace and comfort through the Lord.




Elder Cortes

Kutztown, PA

He will take upon Him the pains and sicknesses of His people

Hey everyone!

It has been a roller coaster of a week, but by the end of it, I have
learned a lot and have grown in my patience and love.

Tuesday was probably the busiest day of the week. We had a number of
appointments and had little time for finding, but that's a good thing!
Especially since it rained nonstop between Tuesday and Thursday.
Probably the best part of the day was after Sarah's lesson, she
invited us to come for dinner at her college cafeteria. It felt like I
was back in the mtc. But we had a great time! I guess I got just a
small taste of what college people are like.

Wednesday, we had hours and hours of finding set up. None of our
investigators or less actives could meet with us. However, we had an
appointment set up with an investigator named Katie. My Zone Leader,
Elder Holden, and I dropped a Bible off to her that she ordered. That
was a little over a month ago and we have tried to meet with her three
or four times, but she had to cancel for various reasons. However,
when we visited that night, it was great! She was open with us about
her struggles in life since graduating college. But as we shared the
message of the Restoration, she began to feel peace. It was one of
those things where you could just tell by their countenance. I even
asked her how she felt at the end of the lesson and she told us how
relieved she felt. It was a real powerful lesson, probably one of the
best lessons I have had on my mission. We even committed her to a date
to be baptized on Easter! However, there's more to her story later.

Thursday we had District Meeting and after that, we went on exchanges
with our District Leader, Elder Jones and his companion, Elder Wilson.
Elder Jones came with me to Kutztown. We spent a part of our day
talking to college kids near KU, although we didn't get any return
appointments, it was really good to get some practice with our
finding.

Friday was a little tough to be honest. Almost all of our appointments
fell through but we did have a great lesson with Noel. However, we had
to drop his date because he and his parents didn't agree with him
being baptized. It was a little hard to hear, but totally
understandable! He still wants to meet with us and has a sincere
desire to know if the church is true.

Saturday, we helped a family move in the ward. It was really awesome
because we talked to one of the daughter's boyfriends who helped with
the move. It's so great to do missionary work while giving service. He
seemed a little interested in the gospel, which was really exciting!
At the end of the day, we saw Sister Sherman to talk about missionary
work. It was a emotional topic for her because she is a convert to the
church and has done a lot of missionary work with people in her life.
It really got her excited to go to church the next day, which is what
we were going for!

Sunday had its ups and downs pretty all day. None of our investigators
came to church and later we received a text from Katie telling us that
this may not be the path she needs to take. It was a little
heartbreaking to receive that kind of message from her because she was
so prepared and had such a great experience the other night. I
couldn't believe how much I cared about Katie in less than a week of
knowing her.... It really does goes to show that a mission truly does
allow missionaries to see others in such a different way. You really
learn the value of the Gospel and how much it truly can change
people's lives. By the end of the night, I just felt sick with the
worst headache. I just thought of what Elder Thielen says with days
like this "don't worry about the hints you can't control, just worry
about the things you can control". All I could do at the end of the
night was ask for relief for my pains and ask for forgiveness with my
frustrations. This morning, my pains and my frustration were gone. It
was such a testimony to me that the Lord truly can take away the bad
in our lives. The only perfect being that has come down on this earth
suffered and sacrificed Himself for us. From studying Isaiah 53:3-5
and Alma 7:11-13, I know the Lord knows each one of us perfectly and
is waiting for us to come unto Him. We can change and be strengthened
beyond our own strength. All we need to do is have enough humility and
faith in the Holy Messiah, as we do, our lives will be enriched as I
have experienced for myself firsthand. It is my sincere hope and
prayer all of you may do the same. Have a great first week of March!
It is starting to feel like Spring over here! I'm excited for the days
to come.


Elder Cortes

Kutztown, PA