Monday, July 27, 2015

07-21-15 to 07-27-15 VALLE GRANDE 2!‏

So this week has been pretty good! 
Tuesday all our appointments fell which was a bummer.  But we started contacting way more!  We just talked with people all over the place, and knocked doors!  At the end of the day, though the appointments fell, I felt pretty good because we contacted lots of people!  That night we got back to the house and we had no power because we forgot to pay haha woops!  nothing wrong with a little cold shower and candle light planning, right? 

Wednesday was what you call a bad/rad day.  Bad because for a 2nd day in a row, we found ZERO lessons.  Rad because we discovered a new area in my area!  It's a little neighborhood of a couple hundred people.  It has dirt roads and it's super poor.  Houses of sheet metal and bamboo.  To the people that live there, its called "La Playita" (The little beach) to people that dont live there it's called "La Invasión" (the invasion).  But man, the people are SO humble and kind there!  We contacted 3 full families in an hour without a problem!  While we were there, about 10 motorcycle cops (2 police for every 10 motorcycles) came with machine guns and staked out the road.  I guess La Playita is an escape route to the river for criminals.  It was exciting haha.  After about 10 min they all left. 

Thursday morning our mission leader had us over to his house to watch a talk by Elder Holland.  It talked about how salvation leads through Gethsemane and how as disciples of Christ, we may be required to suffer.  So when the work is hard, we must lean on Christ.  To be discouraged in the mission is real and normal honestly.  We just need to rely on Him.  It also talked about teaching people to help them with their lives, not just for the cookie cutter mission lessons.  We put it into practice visiting a new investigator in La Playita!  She told us she was feeling sad because her mom was in the hospital and she was worried because shes getting old.  To give her peace we taught the Plan of Salvation.  It was a good moment.  Also, Fern has a 9 year old daughter and she is amazing! Every time ive seen her, she has a bible in hand reading it!  We hope we can baptize them and get her to be a misisonary one day haha.  It was fun to be a Preach My Gospel missionary. 

Friday was a good day.  As of new i starting studying Preach My Gospel as part of my personal study.  Im not sure why i havent always done it!  I felt way more excited to work that day!  That night we had the activity (same one we had the last wednesday) and it went really well.  We did a treasure hunt with simple gospel doctrines, then shared a lesson on the Book of Mormon and how its the keystone of our religion. The activity was named "In Search of the Treasure: The Book of Mormon".  Only problems we had were that we hardly had time and almost nobody came. 

Saturday we had a good day!  In La Playita we talked with a family name the Solartes.  I love the little 4 year old girl, she is so direct and always yells "Mis Amigos!!" when she sees  us in the streets, and when we're leaving says " are you going to school?" hahah.  We shared a bit about how the Book of Mormon can help answer their lifes biggest questions.  I honestly just love teaching big happy families that live in humble situations.  During the lesson, the little girl was showing me her Princess notebook and she said i could have it if i wanted haha.  So adorable. 

Sunday was very eventful!  We went again to La Playita to search out a member, and while searching we ran into one of our contacts named Hernan from the church of the Israelites.  He was with another older gentleman from his congregation and they were teaching a guy named Fran.  They invited us in to discuss something from the Bible.  The Israelites believe in the Bible SO literally that they believe a large part of the law of Moses and also in the law of Christ.  They have big beards, have the Sabbath on Saturday etc etc.  It was an interesting lesson that ended up taking a LOT of time!  They kept going off on how Sunday being the Sabbath was created by man because the Bible doesnt clearly state it.  Pffft.  it was interesting.  But they were also kind and funny.  Just a little contentious.  I enjoyed myself haha, 

Last night we also had TRANSFERS!  I got transferred to the zone Villa Colombia in the area Valle Grande 2!  I'm gonna train a new Elder named Elder Chaeña, i'm District leader and i'm opening area!  Lot's of responsibility!!  But i'm honestly super excited!  Only problem is that today I had to be at the terminal at 8am.  I didnt get to say bye to anyone not even Abner.  i'm super sad about that honestly. But here i am in Cali!  Im with Elder Ludwig and his comp in trio (we live in the same house) until my comp comes Wednesday!  It should be fun!  I know the Lord has prepared me with hard times and experiences so i can help raise a good missionary.  I'M A DAD!  hahaha!  love you all!

Elder Welch


"My new house!  less sucky than the last but still sucky haha"







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