Wedding #4

Hey everybody!

It's been such an amazing week here in the Lord's service. I can't even describe how it feels to know God just blesses you everyday while you're out on a mission. I'll forever be grateful for this time in the Lord's service. 

We started off the week by going on back to back exchanges Tuesday-Thursday. My first exchange I went with Elder Huber in the north part of Pennypack. It was our fourth exchange together and we had such a blast. We already knew how to work together and everything flowed so smoothly. We helped out one of their Recent Converts who was going through a lot of rough times. After we prayed in faith and shared an inspiring message, it was like her whole attitude changed. That's one of the biggest blessings I have seen in others, their whole attitude just changes into a more positive light. The Gospel certainly has power to calm the troubled storms of life.

The next day I went to the south side of Pennypack with my good friend Elder Libberton. Now, Elder Libberton came out with me, he's also served in Exeter and Moorestown. So, needless to say, we had plenty to talk about. Their area doesn't have a car, so they ride SEPTA, just because everything is so condensed and it's a little dangerous to be driving in the South Pennypack. But it was a pretty great exchange, we walked 10 miles and taught a good number of pretty humble people. One of the people was a woman named Denise who wants to be baptized, quit smoking, change her life around really. She got pretty excited as we taught the Restoration to her, of course it was the Spirit working through the Light of Christ she has. 

So after the exchange we swapped back late in the evening and had a lesson with Skylar to end the night. It was so awesome because we were going to set her with a baptismal date and she wants to be baptized the next Saturday! It was so amazing, Elder Morton and I couldn't believe it. We knew she wanted to be baptized we just got even more excited when she said how soon. So it's been a time of getting her clothes, scheduling the interview, and prep for the program. She asked if Elder Morton could baptize her and I could confirm her. It's going to be such a special time. This is Elder Morton's first baptism he's seen out in the field and I am beyond excited for Skylar. The Lord has blessed us beyond measure with the opportunity to work with such a special daughter of His.

Also on that high note, we went to a wedding for one of our less actives named Sister Bowes. She's been with her boyfriend Paul for 5 years and they tied the knot Saturday. It's pretty neat this is the fourth wedding I've been to on my mission. Apparently it's a lot because the other missionaries I've asked in the past week most say they've never been to a wedding on their mission. But it's always a sweet reminder of the importance of family when I go to a wedding. It makes me so thankful in my heart I have such a loving family now that I wouldn't trade for the world. 

We have a good amount coming up this week. Zone Conference, Skylar's baptism, and my 

last call home. It's going to be such a great week like every week in the service of the Lord. There's nothing like the mission that's for sure!

Elder Cortes

Doylestown, PA

General Conference, Temple, What More Could You Ask For?

Hey everybody!

It's so good to be able to touch base with you all again. The adventures don't stop here on the East Coast that's for sure. We were blessed with exchanges, meetings, and a great weekend of conference!

We went on exchanges with the Zone Leaders and I was with my good friend Elder Huber in Pennypack. It was pretty fun to talk to so many different people with different cultures. One lesson we had, the woman we were teaching sang an African song before we started with a prayer. I always love coming down to Pennypack, you just never know what you're going to see. 

Conference was also so great. It was nonstop going to members homes, having a great meal, then being able to see the Lord's servants speak to the world. We had our investigators, Eugene and Skylar, watch as well and they had many questions answered. Without a doubt, Conference is such a powerful missionary tool. Also, it was a blessing for me to be able to learn from the Lord and knowing very clearly what I need to do at this point in my mission as well as in my life. 

We also went to the temple today for our P-day, which has been such a blast. Riding SEPTA is always a fun time. You just never know what to really expect from it. We had an interesting talk with a man who was reading the Bible in Hebrew for a performance for his church. It was cool just because he was curious about the book of Mormon and our missions. Then we got into the city and I just felt so good being there. It's like it's become my home! Or even a part of me. Philadelphia will always have a special place in my heart. The Temple was also so good to just be inside of. It's hard to explain, but you feel so renewed after spending just a few minutes inside. I'm beyond grateful for the many blessings in which the Lord guides and directs us each day. It is a comforting feeling to know we are not alone. God is with us at all times and it is so apparent today, there's just no way God couldn't be there. It's the same thing with the Savior Jesus Christ. Because of His sacrifice, He will never leave us in our time of need. He will give us the strength to overcome any obstacle in life. It's pure knowledge I'll never forget and strive to show others. 

I have such a deep love for the mission. There's no other experience that can compare, you really learn who you are these two years. For that I'm forever grateful. 

Elder Cortes

Doylestown, PA

It Doesn't Matter How Cold It Gets, the Love of My Redeemer Warms My Heart

Hey everyone!

It's been a pretty adventurous week full of improvised planning throughout the week as well blessings from being in the service of the Lord. All I can really say is that you won't get any special experience like this anywhere else. 

Well, to start, we were snowed in all day Tuesday. It was tough because we couldn't go shovel until later because it was snowing pretty heavily until Tuesday night. So because of that, meetings had to get moved around left and right. For District Meeting, it was my call to determine if I wanted to do District Meeting over Skype or move it to a later time. Well, I thought it would be cool to think outside the box and have District Meeting in the evening. District Meeting usually is at 10:30 in the morning, but we had it at 6:30 that night. Turns out, I was the only District Leader who had their District Meeting later that evening. It was pretty cool, just because it was so different. It was such a great District Meeting, this transfer is turning out to be a pretty great one with such amazing missionaries all around. We have people from Nevada, to Nepal, to Ethiopia. Probably the best part for me this time around being a District Leader is to see how everyone works different, but how it all goes back to their purpose as missionaries to bring others closer to the Savior. 

I also went on exchanges with my Zone Leader Elder Huber! It was such a blast to catch up from the Reading days. For a good amount of the day, we stopped by a few less actives from a list the bishop gave us. One of the people was a less active lady who was living with her active dad, brother Huber. Turns out, they're related, so we had a good conversation about that. Something Elder Huber is so good at is the ability to just relate to people and just be himself and tie it to the Gospel somehow. Whether it was knocking a few doors, or talking the people on the street, Elder Huber just went with it and played it very naturally. The Lord definitely blessed me to work with Elder Huber again, I have so much to learn from him!

It's been a bit slow trying to find this past week with the fact the streets were all covered in snow and everyone was staying inside and not even willing to open the door. But we did have a miracle happen in the weekend when we stopped by this older couple who the missionaries gave service to a few months ago and they were interested in having us back. It's pretty cool how the Lord always works by faith. Blessings never run out, they keep coming if we believe and expect something to happen eventually. Of course, tough times come to all of us, and it can be disappointing, but we can never let it lead to discouragement. Faith and doubt cannot coexist in the same person, at all times, we just have to fan the flame of faith. On Sunday, our investigator Eugene asked us if we could help shovel two of his neighbors out, one was sick and the other was older. Now, Eugene is a little bit old and has had back surgeries in the past, but he knows how to pack snow away like nobody's business. Not bad for being from California. But it was pretty neat to answer his questions about the church and the Gospel. It is one of the best feelings when you give service while teaching at the same time. You just know in your heart you are doing exactly what the Lord would want you to do. Well, later that day, he called us for like 2 minutes. This is how it went.

Eugene:"So hypothetically, if I got baptized in your church, would I have to wear a tie after I'm baptized ?"

Us: "No, you can dress however you want at church"

Eugene: "Okay, that's all I wanted to know. I'm not saying I'm getting baptized! I'm just saying if I did"

Us: "Okay Eugene, we gotcha"

The Lord is so good. I'm so thankful for all the people I have the privilege to work with. Really it seems I'm teaching investigators, but they also teach me. Just knowing the people I have helped work towards baptism or to the temple, whether they get there while I'm there or not, makes me want to be the best I can be. The Lord works through people all the time to help us along the path, I'm thankful for every single person that's done that for me. I love my Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. I know they love each one of us. No matter where we are at in the path of discipleship, the arm of mercy is extended to us at all times as it says in 3 Nephi 9:14. It really is true for me when I hear the phrase "Oh the joy this sentence gives, I know that my Redeemer lives". I will never let go of my relationship with Jesus Christ, it is my hope that none of us do, even when life is hard. He will pull us through sin and adversity and carry us home back to our Father in Heaven.

 Marching onward here in D-Town!

Elder Cortes

Doylestown, PA

So They're Calling for a Foot of Snow This Week....

Hey everyone! 

I'm glad I'm able to write you this week with a lot that happened to start the transfer off. 

Well, from the subject line, it's been pretty crazy with snow coming and the fact it has been unpredictable to figure out when it comes definitely makes life interesting. For example, on Friday we got about 6 inches of snow which was not in the forecast at all, but it was a pretty special experience for use. We didn't get a call that we needed to stay inside but we didn't think it would be the smartest idea to go use the car. So we decided to do a bit of tracting in the snow and it was actually pretty fun. Probably one of the biggest lessons I have learned on my mission is that you make the most of any situation you are put in. I was just excited to share the Gospel in a pretty unique set of circumstances and it was pretty cool to see people asking what in the world were two young guys going door to door while it was snowing pretty hard. It was definitely one of the best experiences I have had with the snow on my mission for sure. Unfortunately, they're calling for a bigger storm so we might unfortunately be having to stay inside a bit, but hey, this is probably the last experience I'll have with snow on my mission so I better make the most of it!

We also had a really great experience finding a new investigator named Tim through knocking doors, early last week. It was pretty special because we didn't find Tim until we had been finding for a few hours. We were on our last set of apartments right before we went to our dinner appointment and Tim let us right in to let us teach him the message of the Restoration. It really just makes me think of the sons of Mosiah, who didn't have immediate success in their personal ministries. Some of them were imprisoned, beaten, or cast out. But in the end, they were the instruments of bringing thousands of souls unto repentance. It just goes to show, the Lord will always fulfill His promises. It may not be on our timetable, or even the way we want it answered, but it will happen. 

 

The new transfer has been good so far. Although Elder Morton and I stayed together, we did have some pretty neat changes to the Zone. The biggest one I'm excited for is that Elder Huber, who was a District Leader in the Reading Zone, is my new Zone Leader. So it'll be pretty great to catch up and have a great time with him. The work is well, Skylar and Eugene are progressing slowly, but it's definitely getting there. I'm thankful for my mission, and for the Gospel. Serving a mission is the best decision I've ever made in my life and I will always look back and be grateful that I accepted the call to serve. Heavenly Father has blessed me more than I could have ever asked for while being out here. I'm excited to see what He is going to teach me these next four months. The work is good, the Gospel is true, and Jesus is the Christ. Everything else will fall into place. 

Elder Cortes

Doylestown, PA