Crazy in Hazy!

Hey everybody! 

It's been some week that's for sure, there were a lot of monumental events that happened this week and I still can't get over it. The Temple Dedication was wonderful, and we also got transfer calls as well. We found out they are closing our Zone due to logistical stuff regarding stake boundaries. So Elder Neilson and I are doubling out of Hazleton! We head out tomorrow to our new areas, but the cool thing is that we already know where we are going since President told us our zone was closing. I found out I will be in Reading Zone serving in the Exeter Ward (but really it's Reading). It's exciting because I will be able to go back to Kutztown since it is a part of the Reading Zone. I never really thought this would happen to me on my mission, to be in an area for one transfer, but it's the Lord's will!

Since I have to pack and get everything ready for the new Elders to come in, this entry will be pretty short. But I do want to talk about the special experience I had with the Temple Dedication. It was incredible to see some of my favorite examples in the Gospel, Elder Christofferson and President Eyring, clothed in pure white in the Celestial Room. They both gave amazing talks, along with the Temple President and the Temple Matron. It was like watching a mini General Conference. Elder Christofferson testified that it isn't enough to just be in the Temple just like it isn't enough to be in a chapel for church. Like it says in 3 Nephi 9:19, Christ desires no more of animal sacrifices, but of us. When we go to the Temple we are the sacrifice to the Lord, who we are right now. Because all of us are flawed and imperfect, we should be willing to sacrifice those parts of ourselves and be willing to be instructed by the Lord in His Holy House. What touched me so much is that he bore witness that the sins that are alluring, attractive, and that so easily beset us will be come less desirable, and eventually, abhorrent. It's just so true, because as we go to the Temple, we become the celestial men and women God plans for us to be, little by little. He testified that Jesus Christ is the master builder of these men and women, that He is the Cornerstone of everything we do. President Eyring gave an exceptional talk as well explaining that instruction in the Temple is so individual and personal that God does know exactly where we are and what we need to do to progress. He humble spoke of our very natures being changed as we observe Temple covenants on a daily basis. Being a part of the Dedication was without a doubt, one of my favorite highlights of my mission. The music, the Cornerstone Ceremony, and the Hosannah Shout were incredible. The Dedicatory Prayer President Eyring offered was solemn and powerful. He blessed the surrounding area, the freedoms we have, the sealings and endowments that will take place, the city of Philadelphia, and so much more. I know for myself, that Temples truly are essential for our salvation. I remember when I went for my endowment and I left the Temple with a sense of enduring peace. I was with many of those I love, and I was especially with my Father in Heaven. It felt as though I was out of the world for the rest of the day. That's truly what the Temple is for, it is for us to change and become better men and women. It is to redeem the dead who did not get an opportunity to accept the Gospel but who would do anything for it, just like the Founding Fathers of our country, who created the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. They humbly asked a prophet of God to be redeemed, and they were, along with their loved ones. I'm grateful for my family and the covenant we are sealed under. As President Eyring prayed for the families to be sealed, I just thought of how great God's plan is for us as families. 

Well, I have to get going on my packing, I hope all of you have a wonderful week!

Elder Cortes

Hazleton, PA

Reggaetone in the Streets of Hazy

Hey everyone!

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

"I Love to See the Temple"

Hey everybody!

It's been such a great week here in Hazleton. We have seen so many
miracles and had too many great miracles to count. Elder Neilson and I
have been so blessed as we continue to just work hard for the Lord and
for all the missionaries we serve.

A really cool experience was that Elder Neilson and I went to the
Temple Open House again with a few investigators. Our Senior Couple
Drove us down with two investigators, Bob and Alice, who are going to
be baptized this Sunday! It was amazing to see the temple again and to
just take in how magnificent this Holy House of the Lord is. Elder
Neilson and I were also able to see members from past areas and also a
few Sisters we have worked with in the past. But it was incredible,
Bob and Alice both loved the temple and want to go back to do
baptisms! It was worth driving a total of 5 hours for them to really
feel the Spirit and love of God.

Another cool experience was that the Assistants to the President
doubled in and we went on exchanges with them. They came from a
funeral so it was more of a 3 hour exchange, but it was probably the
one of the best exchange I have had on my mission. I was with Elder
Oldroyd and it's his first transfer being an Assistant, but I gotta
say, he's such a strong leader. I learned so much and felt the Spirit
in abundance throughout the time we had together. We taught a less
active member, Brother Hornick, who only comes to sacrament meeting.
But we taught with such unity and testimony it must have really
touched him because he came to Sunday School for the first time since
Elder Neilson or I have been here! I learn so much on exchanges, but I
especially learned from this one in a special way. We even talked
about what we saw. Elder Oldroyd and I never looked at weaknesses or
flaws, but how we can learn and improve from one another. That, I
believe, is a true sign of unity. When you and your companion or
leader are striving to learn and apply the best that you have, that is
when we are one. That is when we strive to become like the Savior
Jesus Christ. I love the Assistants so much, Elder Weisler, the other
Assistant, was so great too. All of us had such great conversations at
the end of the night. It was so real and mature, I just was on
overload with the Spirit that day. It was awesome! I know without a
doubt the PPM has the best leaders in the world. My Mission President,
the Assistants, my companion, all the missionaries I serve with, all
of them are leaders in the Gospel. How grateful I am to be led
personally by such great examples. It makes me think how grateful I am
for the Prophet and Apostles of the church, they are incredible
leaders ordained by the Priesthood of God. I know as we follow our
modern day leaders in the Gospel, we will never be lost. I know that
without doubt or uncertainty.

One last thing, this past Sunday was so great. We had 50 people come
to our tiny strip mall building which was awesome! When I first came
here, there were 30 people, but now we have had 4 less actives, two
investigators, and a new family that moved into the ward coming. Elder
Neilson and I are just so excited for the work that is moving forward
here in Hazy! The Lord is sustaining us as we go, it's incredible to
see how much He does for us daily in our missions. I realized now,
that the mission is my way of life. It's always been that way, but I
just see the blesses that come from living and serving as a
representative of Jesus Christ. I have been set apart to help others
strengthen their faith and come closer to God, which I have seen
countless times on my mission. Truly there is no greater cause to be a
part of. It the "Cause of Christians" (Alma 48:10) that makes this
work divine. There is no other calling I love more than being a
missionary. It is who I am and who I will always be. For that, I'm
grateful to my Father in Heaven and the Lord Jesus Christ who bless me
and strengthen me to be the disciple I need to be. May we all remember
what cause we are in and press forward against any opposition that
would come our way. I'm thankful for my family and for my friends,
both at home and in the mission. I love each and every one of them,
these relationships are for the eternities which I will always cherish
forever. May the Lord bless us all this coming week!

Elder Cortes

Hazleton, PA

Learning How to Find a Wife in Elders Quorum...

Hey everybody!

It's been a great week here in Hazleton! Elder Neilson and I have been
busy going to meetings, conducting exchanges, and getting work done in
our area.

On Tuesday, we had a leadership meeting with three of the other Zones
(us, Scranton, Lehigh Valley, and Reading). So all the District
Leaders, Zone Leaders, and the Assistants all did a huge round table
discussion. It was such a great training on how to be a leader and
really know how to communicate with people in general. It was life
lessons pretty much on how to really strengthen people. Probably what
stuck the most was that President Randall gave his trainings with a
lot of emotion. You can really tell how much he loves every single
missionary and that he would do anything for us. I'm grateful for such
a fantastic Mission President.

Wednesday and Thursday, we did a two day exchange with Elders in
Stroudsburg as well as Lehighton. It was bittersweet because I was out
of Hazleton for two days, but I was with two really great Elders. I
went to Stroudburg first with Elder DeGarmo, who goes home next
transfer. It was a blast because everything to him is so simple. He's
from California (or as he says "Calibronia") but he taught me so much.
He really knows how to teach by the Spirit and the whole day we had a
blast. He covers two wards,an English and a Spanish. Probably the best
part of the exchange we taught a Spanish lady and in the middle of the
lesson he just stops talking and looks at me to keep going. I was a
little surprised but I winged it and Elder DeGarmo backed me up, which
I was pretty glad about. The next day I was with an Elder named Elder
Wilko in Lehighton, who came out with me. It was so much fun catching
up and just getting work done. We did some service and I got to chop
wood and drive one of those grass cutter things. It was pretty fun. I
know now, if I have to go backwoods, I'd maybe survive.

Friday, Elder Neilson and I found this family and taught the
Restoration right in front of their home. It was pretty cool because I
hadn't taught kids in a while, but it was a blast. Throughout the
whole weekend, Elder Neilson and I had so many great miracles happen
to us. Most of our appointments fell through throughout the week, but
the weekend just exploded with people to teach. It was so great to see
the Lord blessed us with so many people to teach even though we were
so busy with meetings and hours of driving. It was really good though.
The highlight of the week without question was that in Elder's Quorum,
we had a lesson on marriage and the teacher pretty much focused on us,
the only two single guys in the branch. It was funny because he just
made continual eye contact on how to find a wife and when anyone made
a comment, they would look at us when they spoke. I don't know what
the Lord is trying to tell us, but I should be all set when I get home
getting instruction from the greatest branch in the world!

Hazleton is a blast. I see the blessings everyday working here. Im
excited for the week to come. I will be taking over Hazleton for the
first time 3 times in a row for exchanges. One of them will be with
the Assistants which will be a blast for sure! I hope all of you are
doing well, it's been such a blessed month for me. It is my hope all
of you have had one as well. Keep trying even when things are
frustrating. The Lord will have it all work out in the end. I am a
firm witness of that. Love from the Golden City of Hazy!

Elder Cortes

Hazleton, PA

Good Ol' Hazy, a Brand New Experience

Bienvenidos!

I hope all of you have been doing well! It's been great over here in
Pennsylvania! A lot of changes and new experiences. Also, my emails
may be a bit shorter since I have a ton to do, but I will do my best.

So Tuesday (aka transfer day) we drove up to Broomall to see where I
would go. And I went to Hazleton PA! It's around Scranton which is
pretty north. We are about 3 hours away from Philadelphia, but it's so
great here. Hazleton is full of Dominicans. So much that there are two
Spanish companionships working here along with us, who are the English
missionaries. But we pretty much have to speak Spanish everyday. It's
a blast. In all of my past areas, I have been in farmland and rural
area for the most part. Here in Hazleton, it is not the case. It's
super city and we pretty much street contact people all day. It's such
a blast.

My new companion is Elder Neilson. He came out a transfer after me, so
he's been out 14 months. He's a fairly new Zone Leader (2 transfers),
so we are pretty much figuring everything out as we go. He's probably
been my hardest working companion I have ever had. He's from Orem,
Utah. He's also the biggest hipster I have ever met. He told me he's
wearing cut off slacks, fuzzy socks, and his hipster hat he bought at
a garage sale we were at. He's hilarious. He's been showing me the
ropes on how to do things here in Hazy and how to be a Zone Leader.
It's been great to work with someone who is willing to be patient with
me. It's awesome.

The Zone is great as well! We have 6 companionships, the smallest Zone
in the mission, but they are all wonderful. We range from old
missionaries, to a brand new golden, to some who are in between.
Hazleton is also a branch, which is smaller than a ward. We meet in a
small building that is part of a strip mall. It's such a blast. They
are short handed, so we gave talks and taught priesthood as well. We
also share the building with the Spanish branch so we see the other
two companionships all the time. Not much to report on for this week,
it's been a lot of trial and error as well as getting to know the
people. All I know is that my Spanish is being tried and tested
everyday, I wish my brother in law was here to coach me. But that's
alright, I learn somehow someway.

I hope all of you have a great week! Just remember it's up to you to
choose to be happy, no matter what circumstance you are in. I love the
Savior Jesus Christ and I know He is strengthening me as I go, which I
am forever grateful.

Tengo buen noche! (Elder Neilson's favorite Spanish phrase)

Elder Cortes

Hazleton, PA