(No Subject)

This week had some downs but some ups too. The familia Vásquez is super fuerte, and Hermano S decided that he really did want to get baptized, so his baptismal date for August went from trivial to substantial! La familia V is going to start doing FHEs and the Hermana wants to read the Book of Mormon an hour a day. Fantastic! We mostly just want to find more positive families, because that hasn't been coming along well, and you can only teach a given family so much. We're going to try to find a bunch of old investigators and explore neighbourhoods that I've never worked in.

Elder W taught me a bit about photography. I'm feeling pretty good about a Math Major and study Logic and CS in addition. But there are always too many good things to study :> Maybe I'll just have to audit a ton of classes or be a professor and just convince everyone to let me into their classes. Learning and not knowing yet but coming to know is the best. He got registered for BYU last week.

I decided that my goal for the rest of the mission is behaving and thinking and doing like Christ. So I'm going to study PMG 6 a good and healthy bit. I feel like PMG 6 is mission success, so if I focus on it constantly, I find it improbable that I should fail.

But yeah. That's my life! Tell me if you find out anything cool (Scriptures, books, art, whatever)! Truth is the best :> . D&C 136:32-33! Live for glory!

¡Nos veeeeeeeeeeeeemos! ¡Edifiquen Sión!

Elder Newman

PS. We decided that we love geckos and we killed a rat in our house with the whiteboard.

Elder Nigman, Elder Nelman, Elder Winters, Elder Winners‏

(I figure the above title are all the names he and his companions have been called instead of their real names, as the members try to pronounce their gringo names :) )

So, changes! Elder V is in my old area in San Marcos, so I sent some letters with him (another Elder in the Zone went to my area in Usulután, so more letters!).

My new companion is Elder W (gringo número 3). He's from Ohio. The members find it kind of funny that I just have a bunch of companions coming in and going out as if it were a revolving door and I the attendant. And it's worse because Elder W goes home in 3.5 weeks (he'll leave before the transfers meeting so that he can go to BYU). That means 100% chance of emergency transfers yeaaaaah. But we have way too much in common. He did LD debate too and I remembered everything about social contract and deontology and all that jazz. We talk a bit too much about art and moral philosophy. He also likes Regina Spektor and everything and later today I'm going to help him choose classes for BYU since he got permission and has never done it. My reading list for when I get home has grown in size, especially since my companion is a Kant junkie and I always liked the summaries of Kant that I've heretofore studied. But we, being debaters, have our ridiculous sense of humors come out way easily (lengua del corazón--language of the heart),

One of the sons of Hermano V read half the Book of Mormon last week so that's good, plus they're committed to get married and everything. The whole family is fascinated by the Book because they all have studied it with real intent and it is just different from everything else. We have two investigators that went to Church asked for copies of the Liahona to read and we saw one of them in the afternoon sitting outside his house with it. :> This area is kind of hard and sometimes has the most negative people I've ever known (a reference made up an address, a phone number, and an appointment why do you try so hard :y ), but there are some fantastic, fantastic, people always.

But yeah, that's the week. Things feel pretty good and we have some good goals. I want to memorize a scripture a day and we both plan on doing exercise.

But yeah, nos veeeeeeeeemos! Echen fuego! Edifiquemos Sión!!!!!!! (We are going! Throw fire! Let us build Zion!)

Elder Newman

In which the 4th of the July was celebrated‏

This week was kind of slow because Elder V was suffering severe body pain from the waist down. So in that respect, not too much happened. I wrote a ton of letters to converts, read a lot of the Teachings of the Prophets, etc. The 4th of July passed without import.

Yesterday we had a good activity in the Stake. I finally received my birthday present from the Church, es decir (that is to say), I finally saw all of Meet the Mormons (which came out my last birthday). One of the important pieces of doctrine I got out of it is that it doesn't matter so much what you do as how you do it. God doesn't have one life planned out neatly for you- you can do many things and equally please God. There isn't just one career that is a perfect match, because you'll be able to build the kingdom in whatever path you choose. (the same principle I believe applies to marriage. There is no soulmate, rather, you have many options and being married under the laws of eternity, the spouse gradually becomes your soulmate).

I have ingrown toenails again :> And we cleaned the house this morning and I read the entire book of Revelation. You can do a lot before 10 AM.

Elder V received notice that he has transfers last night. So Wednesday, I'll be receiving a new companion. This is only the 2nd time that I'll spend so much time in 1 area. I suppose that there's still bastante que hacer (enough to do).

So yeah, that's the week I guess. La vida es buena (Life is good), we're here to be happy, and as such, happiness is never out of our reach. Let us be saved!

Glory to the Good God who reigns!

Elder Newman

And so a week happened‏

All is well. We invite pretty much everyone to baptism. Not all of them are really serious about it, but they usually say yes. There are about 6 people who are super positive, la Familia R, V, C U, and C, who could be baptized in a relatively short order. We continue looking.

We had some good exchanges Friday. I learned the true interpretation of Matthew 16 (Peter is blessed because he received revelation, which is contrasted with the lack of revelation on the part of the masses, who did not search it. Thus the Lord blessed Peter and taught the disciples that the Church founded on revelation would never fail. Thus the commandment- tell no one that the Lord was Christ for the people needed to seek their answers from God, not man. Plus, the Church couldn't be founded on Peter given that Peter gives into temptation within 5 verses and is named Satan by Christ). But yeah, revelation is super super important, because without it, man is left alone.

I have more than 1 year in El Salvador now, since Wednesday.

We went bowling with President today but I'm still terrible at bowling. Throwing gutterballs can only be so entertaining. But it was cool and we saw a ton of other missionaries.

Changes are next week.

And the 171st anniversary of the martyrdom of Joseph Smith was Saturday.

Have a week full of revelation! Revelation can be a constant process! And it makes you happy!

Be obedient and diligent in all your duties to God!

Elder Newman

La Buena Vida‏

This week was pretty good. The work went well (we achieved the Standards of Excellence in the mission), and we had some great exchanges with Apopa 2. It was the second time I've worked with Elder Schmidt.

I'm trying to depend on the Spirit a lot, a lot, a lot more. He makes everything good!

I thought  a lot about doctrine and a few things I learned were that depression is essentially an addiction to negative thinking (incredulity would be the same to doubt). Therefore, like an addiction, it is superable, but very difficult to do so, requiring much prayer and fasting. I was also somewhat more converted to the common missionary ideal of getting sealed soon after the mission. More than anything, those blessings are just super super important.

Last PDay, we went to some waterfalls in Quezaltepeque. It was the first time I've done a nature hike since forever. The country is super beautiful. Just that the gangs hang out in most of the coolest places (rude).

Jeremiah 7:7-10 (I think those are the verses) is a really clear exposition on why you have to do more than superficially accept the Savior, and D&C 82:8-9 define what a commandment is super bonita. (I also like how in another section, it describes one of the blessings of the just as that they will receive "commandments, not a few." Commandments are fantastic. Like, if you want to live life well, God has told us how to do it. When we have a job, we want more instructions so as to be able to do it better and know what we're doing. Life is infinitely more complicated and we need wisdom divine that much more).

Also estoy bien feliz (I am very happy) because I remembered the first time I read the Book of Mormon. When Pres. Hinckley issued the Book of Mormon challenge, I was 9, and it was the first time I read it on my own. I'll admit I cheated a little, since I started from Jacob (since we were at Jacob in our family reading), but I think that was when I started my habit of bringing the Book of Mormon to school to read after finishing my work. I had been praying to remember it, so that I could testify to the people about my experience, so I'm really happy to have remembered. :> (plus, it doesn't only teach the importance of reading the Book of Mormon, but I can teach Seguir al Profeta a la vez. [Follow the Prophet all the time.] Poderoso! [Powerful!])

Have the best week! You people are importantísimos! Make sure the Spirit is with you! He'll make you happy! Keep your covenants, and make more with God. (and pray to ask that He helps you do it!!!!)

Elder Newman

PS, for those who speak Spanish: ¿Por qué fue José Smith a la Iglesia con su camisa no planchada?

Porque Moroni se le llevó las planchas.

 

(Why did Joseph Smith go to church without ironing his shirt? Because Moroni took the plates. Only makes sense in Spanish!)

:y

I don't use machetes that much. But if it's a touristy machete, with a leather sheath that says El Salvador or something they let you bring it but I'm not that interested. Also guns are way too common here. Don't want to bring one home.

Good moooooooooooooorning‏

So this week was good. Not too terribly eventful, but good.

We cut some trees back with machetes and cut up the wood to make fireword on Saturday.

We organized with the Ward Council 5 FHEs per week to bring investigator families to.

It's  very important to be humble even as dust. Dust is a very good role model. Also, we have to pray all the time that we might endure to the end and keep our covenants. Also, pray for the leaders of the Church. For example, they all need our prayers that the Spirit might guide them in choosing the next Apostle.

3 Nefi 7 is a very good chapter. This Nephi was effectively the American Elias, preparing the way for the Lord and baptizing many. Where it says of most that they taught with power and authority, he is described as teaching with power and great authority, such that no man could deny his words.

It would be very good to meet him.

Elder Newman Salvadoreño

All is tranquilo.

One of the few things about the temple that I feel here- one learns its value when one can't ever go except under certain conditions. I wish I could just be a Temple Worker, do Family History, everything, but it's not available. There is just no way to enter into the presence of God in the last day without getting familiar with it in this current life. Further, how does the frequency of our temple visits and our attitude that we take there reflect our love for that presence? If we are indifferent to it now, we won't be able to enjoy the Celestial Kingdom. If we prepare, look forward to, and revolve our lives around our temple assistence, rather than adjusting our temple visits to our worldly lives, then we have a much more celestial spirit. We only go as a mission like 2 times a year.

Vaya pues

During exchanges, we talked with a pair of excommunicated Jehovah's Witnesses, and my companion talked with the woman and I with the man, but he's super, super prepared to hear the Gospel. He came to Church, has the Gospel Library downloaded, participates in Church, con todos los poderes (with all the powers). But that's not my area :>

On my side, we found for the second time after a few weeks the Familia V, who have felt a strong spiritual urge to learn about the Restauration. Even though we'd only had one lesson with them over 2 weeks before, they almost came to Church (but the dad's boss called him to work because another worker got sick. Rude). We found them again at night and they're super interested. Another is A A, who is super cool. Reads the Book of Mormon without difficulties, but he'll need to get married and make some changes to come to Church, but allí vamos. We also found some old investigators who had come to Church for 8 months and were married by the help of the missionaries, but never got baptized. Started off on a good foot with a mix of the Plan of Salvation and how the Restauration allows us to know which is the true plan of God.

We visited a place called Nexapa to take out a birth certificate. There's a market owned by the Spanish monarchy there and they have a festival twice a year where they throw balls of fire at each other to celebrate when the original Nexapa was destroyed by a volcanic eruption. Ok.

And I've been thinking that maybe a degree in Math Education would be cool. Something to research in the future!

So yeah, that's the week! Build Zion and look forward to the presence of the Father!

Elder Newman