Temple Recommends, a New Companion and Baptismal Interviews

I have a new companion now, Elder Alvarado, from Perú. He has 4 months in the mission so is still getting used to mission life. His trainer was my current Zone leader, and a good friend, and so he is very obedient. He's gonna be a big help to the area for us.

We have a group of youth who we have begun teaching at least once a week.  It consists of our 2 recent converts Norma and Yessenia, their best friend Paty (who was baptised a year ago), and 2 recently reactivated members who were each inactive for many years.  The ward is very pleased, and each one of them is now a temple recommend holder, all hold callings, and are each going to the temple on Wednesday with us to do baptisms. It is nice watching your converts turn from converts to active members in the ward.

Here is an entry from my journal about my first baptismal interview I conducted:

"30 Abril 2014

...

Today I'll end with good news. We have 4 set baptisms for this Saturday in Las Cuadras from the district!  When the elders told me, the first thing I realized was that I'd end up doing all 4 interviews.  The entire family is getting baptised. 2 parents, and 2 kids. The youngest will turn 8 in a few months and also be baptised. This is especially cool because they are having their wedding on Friday, and their baptisms all on Saturday.  So back to the Entrevistas: I arrived at the capilla nervous. I guess that's natural, the first time you do anything, but I prayed in the trufi for comfort and I felt better when I arrived.  The first interview I had was with the dad. The family lives by very humble means, so I wasn't expecting any deep doctrine questions, but he asked me some very interesting ones about Joseph Smith and church history. It seemed like he has been doing a bit of internet research on the church. I was able to resolve all of his doubts though. I came to realize that he was way more nervous than I was during that interview, so it was nice knowing I wasn't the only one.  The mom's was next and hers was more simple. After one interview, the rest seemed to flow nicely, and they all passed.  It's amazing talking to people who are really changing their lives completely. Each one of them has a spirit to them that is indescribable and strong."

Elder Potts III

jacob.potts@myldsmail.net

Bolivia Cochabamba Mission

Baptisms!

Another week has passed and the days are flying by.  

This week has been good. I found out a whole family was baptised in my old area that we found a few months before I left.  All of the baptisms that have happened in my first area have come from our finds while there.  It's nice to feel like I did some good, even if I didn't end up dunking them.

We have also successfully reactivated 2 of the inactives in the ward here.  They now have temple recommends and callings, and attend regularly.

Write me soon familia. Les quiero mucho. ¡Siempre están en mis oraciones!  

Elder Potts III

jacob.potts@myldsmail.net

Bolivia Cochabamba Mission

Kioskos in the City!

Last night was transfer night. The same as every 6 weeks here. After waiting up super last for the call to come in, it turns out, I'll be staying here a bit longer, and with my companion too. Nothing is changing for us, but the whole zone is getting transfers.  I'm happy though. We have a few more people here preparing for baptism, so it would be a shame if one of us was transferred out right now.

One of the new methods of missionary work is geared more towards the upper middle class, or the upper class.  This way of contacting these types of people is hard too, but it's just a test for south America to see if it's productive or not.  We set out big kiosks and passed out mormon.org cards. They even have those square smart phone things, where you take a picture and it links you to the page. So, that was pretty cool.  My turn was on Friday, right around 5-6.  All of the working class left their jobs, and there we were, in the biggest plaza in Cochabamba with swarms of them passing by.  We assumed it would be busy so we had 4 elders there, instead of the normal 2 elders.  It actually turned out super successful, and at one time we had all 4 elders talking to different people.  We ended the day with about 10 references, and easily over 100 cards passed out.

So, remember the curly haired new convert, Jessenia? She has not only attends every activity and meeting we have had since her baptism, she has also successfully reactivated one of her friends.  Her name is cecilia, and has been inactive for 2 years.  She also being a med student, has just focused on her studies and basically forgot about the church.  The first Sunday she came back, she cried through all of sacrament meeting, but told us afterward she felt right at home in the capilla again. It was amazing to see the spirit touch her like that!

All in all, I have about 10 months left here in the mission.  It sounds like a lot, but honestly, the first 14 months have passed in a flash, so, in probably 40 emails or so, I'll be back in America! Tell me about your week everyone!

Elder Potts III

jacob.potts@myldsmail.net

Bolivia Cochabamba Mission

Investigators Teaching Us!

It has been a very busy week here in the mission! Saturday we have 3 that are ready for baptism, and 3 more the following week!I know this will be a good transfer here in the mission.

Here's a little bit about one of our investigators who has a baptismal date for in 2 weeks. Her name is Norma, and this is coming straight from my journal:

Norma is the prima of Patty, who is a member of about 3 years.  Both of them are here in Cochabamba studying medicine, but originally come from Peru.  Now, I don't know if it's because they educated, or if Patty just helps her understand the importance of the gospel, but she is just a golden investigator.  Every bit of tarea we give her she always comes back with good questions, verses highlighted, and ready to learn more.  Patty is the only member, but we are teaching Norma and Jisinia, her prima and friend. Anyways, today we taught Norma the Evangelio of Jesucristo. She came very prepared as always with 2 Nep 31, almost to the point to where she could teach us a little something about it. She already has a testimony and knows it's true.  She already knows she wants to be baptised, and that's the direction she should be headed. Her only fear is of her family, especially her dad. Although she is over 18, she wants his approval before she does it.  Her father is apparently very catholic and would not handle it well if she was baptized right now. Patty shared her conversion story and of her baptism, and the spirit was so strong.  After, I felt prompted to tell Norma "you know what you should do."  We asked Norma to give the closing prayer for us and she accepted.  While asking the Lord to soften the heart of her father about her baptism, tears began to fall.  She whispered to patty she couldn't finish the prayer. but Patty helped her through it.  I know and she knows what she should do. Patty did not have her family with her on the day of her baptism either, as they didn't accept it, but that hasn't stopped her from being a great member, and even sharing it with all of her friends.

I have more stories, but not enough time to write them all! I will probably save them for another time!

Elder Potts III

jacob.potts@myldsmail.net

Bolivia Cochabamba Mission

Conference and Confidence

Well,  my time has almost run out here at internet, so I'll try to make this one good, but quick!

 

I don't know if it's just because I'm a missionary, but man, I love conference! I always feel like I have questions that need to be answered, and they always get answered in the exact way that I need.  I have struggled recently with a few things. I'll try not to make these too personal, but I think possibly every male can relate.  Confidence is a great thing to have. But there is such a fine line between confidence, and pride, that sometimes the line can be crossed.  As a missionary, you have to be confident. You cannot have fear of speaking to strangers, or teaching them, or anything of that nature. But often times, orgullo, as it is in spanish, can get the best of you.  My main question was how to serve as a missionary being as humble as possible.  President Monson's talk on love may have been a life changing talk for me.  I now view the work differently than I did just a few days ago.

 

Just a quick update on the youth that are preparing for baptism: We have obtained permission for 3 of the 4 guys to be baptized! That means there should be some baptisms coming here in just about 2 weeks.

 

Last bit of news for the week: The last district leader, Elder Gonzalez has been transferred to another area, and they have called me to take his place! So I will be teaching a class to missionaries each week, taking numbers, going on splits, etc. I guess that is good news.

 

 

 

 

Elder Potts III

jacob.potts@myldsmail.net

Bolivia Cochabamba Mission