July 28, 2015

So we were doing our cleaning and studying and we got a call from the Zone Leaders. We were not expecting this call for transfers because we both just got put into this area. Well, They told us that they had some news. Unfortunately, Elder Medina got transferred. He is going to open up a new area in a city called Galvez. So then I was like "well fetch, what am I going to be doing, who is my new comp!?!" They first said, Salinas, you´re training. What? are you serious? Then they said no. How rude was that. But they did have some good news to give me. They told me that I am with Elder Tovalino (he is from my group). The other companionship here also has another elder from my Group. So three of the four of us only have 3 transfers under our belt, the other only has 2. Well the really good and exciting news is that I am the new District Leader. I am a little bit worried that I am going to do something to mess up. haha but this is just proof that the Lord calls the weak and humble to do his work. If any of you have any advice to give me, please send it my way!

So last night we got back to the apartment and finished our planning, I started reading some talks and my companion layed on his bed and was waiting for 10:30 to come. (He is super quiet and really closed off. He was crying pretty good when his trainer got transferred.) A little bit later I could hear him sleeping. I figured he had had a hard day so I wasn´t going to bother him. Well then the phone started to ring. I looked at it. President Zanni. My blood pressure goes up and I start thinking, Great, what did I do wrong on my first day as district leader. I answer, Hola Elder Salinas, is your companion there? I'm thinking, oh crap, he is asleep. So I cover the microphone and I go into the room, Elder!! Elder!! Get up! President is on the phone. He takes it and puts it on speaker, "Hello", he says in a tired voice. Then President and his family start singing to him. I didn´t quite understand all of the words but the tune was very familiar. Oh crap! Today is his birthday!!! So we made him a little cake type thing today.

Elder Tovalino is from Peru also. He turned 19 yesterday and has 5 months in the mission. One month more than me because he was only in the MTC for 2 weeks. Very quiet and doesn´t like much. So in a way, the zone leaders were right, I am training. At least, that is what it feels like.

This was a super hard transfer however, Elder Reidhead, the other missionary that was here, finished his mission. Even though I wasnt companions with him, we were all always together and I got to know him really well. He taught me so much. He is from Oakley Utah. Super great guy who is going to do great things with his life. He was a QB in high school, hurt his shoulder, and wants to be an orthopedic surgeon. We have a lot in common.

So that is how this week went here in Cañada de Gomez. If any of you have anything you would like to tell me, or advice you could graciously give to me, It would be greatly appreciated.

Also, right now we have 2 Investigators that will get baptized almost for sure this transfer. and a family that is now 100% reactivated.

July 20, 2015

Not a whole lot happened this week. An investigator had a baptisimal interview with the District Leader. But he needed to have another interview with President Zanni for some other things that need to be resolved. So President came all the way out to our area (1:30hrs) with his family and his brother in law and family on Sunday morning to interview this guy. Also, it was his birthday!! He sacrifices so much to be a great mission president. The truth, I love him, We call him a mini Elder Holland. Super profound and just very humble and worthy. He is a great example for me. We also had our other investigator and her family (less actives) at church.

We have done a lot of service for the members here and we have been having a buch of sleepovers with the other two elders here. Elder Reidhead ends his mission next week and has been a little sad lately so we try and do a lot together to help him out.

I became a missionary Saturday afternoon. There is only one real way to do it, it involves losing a pair of pants. That is all that I am going to say.

I can´t believe that this is the last week of this transfer! It is just flying by! Very likely that in one week I will be training. But we will see how things go haha.

Not much else that I can think of to share with ya.

Keep sendin the emails my way. I love to hear from everyone.


With love,


Elder Salinas

July 13, 2015

This week went by super fast as well.

We have some great investigators. Rocio is the daughter in a less active family. She is really excited for her baptism the 25th of July. We have had a bunch of lessons with her and her family. They are finally coming to church now. We had to go and pick them up with a member but hey, they came. The next investigator is Gabriel. He is great. A huge shmoozer but hey, he`s doin good. He has told us that God told him he needs to be in the church and get baptized. So that is sweet!! He wants to know when we have more activities so that he can come to those too. He also had a baptism date for the 25th. The other two investigators that we have are Jesus and Sandra. They are a couple from Bolivia and have two kids. They own a clothing store and are open on Sundays so it makes it super hard to attend church. But during Priesthood yesterday he walked in! I was pumped about that! We need to teach them Tithing and get them to accept a baptismal date. Also, we have had a bunch of less actives coming back! So all in all the week was good. However, we had an interesting encounter one night when we got back to the apartment. Elder Medina and I found an ATM reciept under our door. I was about to throw it away when I saw there was something written on the back. There is another person that lives in the apartment building who has been watching us these past few weeks. He noticed that we live together and likes it. Then he asked us to come up to his apartment and experiment with him on an adventure. Wow...Martiposo!! Ask Taylor what that means. It suits this guy. So besides that, the week was great!! I hope you all have a great week in McCall! I love the pictures of the Cars from Dad. How lucky Grandpa and Grandma.

Happy Anniversary this Wednesday!

Still no news on your mail for me.

Love,

Grant

July 6, 2015

This week we had a Family Home Evening with a less active family. (In my area there are two sets of elders) The other elders prepared a lesson to share with this family on the Atonement. They had a cake prepared and went around asking all of us who would like a piece. My companion and I raised our hands of course not knowing what the lesson was yet. All of the kids raised their hands and were getting super excited. One elder counted how many people were in the room with their hands in the air. Then he looked at his comp. and asked, "Will you do 10 push ups so that Sister Martinez can eat her piece of cake?" "Yeah sure, no problem!" Joyfully replied the other elder. "Mari, do you want your piece of cake still?" "Not if he has to do push ups for it." "Alright, Elder, Will you do 10 push ups so that Mari doesn´t eat her piece of cake?" With a displeased look on his face, he got down and started to do the push ups. We went of with everyone else at the tabgle and by the end of the night, this elder was dying. Sweating from everywhere and just in pain. The point of this lesson is to obviously show the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made for us. When we choose not to except what he did for us, he gets a little sad because he still had to suffer for each ad everyone of us. During the entire lesson I could remember very cleary a devotional from Seminary that was about a boy who had to do the exact thing for donuts and his seminary class. We have been trying to teach and share a lot about the Atonement these last few weeks and I love it. I can feel the spirit so strongly when we testify of what Jesus Christ did for us.

I have a strong testimony of the Atonement of Christ and I love my savior. I know that he loves me too.

This 4th of July was way different. We did the best we could to make it the same though. Elder Medina, Reidhead, Rivarola, and I had an asado. It was super good. Beef and chicken!!!

We found a statue of someone that looks a lot like a mythical creature from Paraguay. I turned to Elder Rivarola (from Paraguay) and was like, "Hey man look, its Kuripi" he just about died laughing. Pretty similar I guess.

Tell Grandma that she is in my prayers. And also, keep President Zanni in your prayers. He is having surgery tomorrow and it is a pretty risky one. To the point of him telling us to help his wife and family return to their Home town if he doesnt make it.

I love you all!

June 29, 2015

It is crazy to believe that another week has already gone by here in Cañada de Gomez. I am feeling a lot better now health wise, but I still have a cold. Nothing too big though. It is crazy how cold it actually gets here. These past coulple days have been warmer but holy cow, I could see my breath constantly the last few weeks.

We found a new investigator and she has a baptism date but I am not too sure on how sucessful it will be. I don´t know how to explain it. She just likes it when we come over and talk to her. For all of you missionaries or returned missionaries, she is kind of a snake. Pero, que vas a hacer. We are still trying to find out where the investigators live that the other Sister missionaries left for us. I finally found out why they got taken out and we were moved in. Apparently there was someone that sprayed pepper spray in the eyes of one of them. That is awesome to hear. Luckily I am a good sized guy, So I don´t think we will have any problems.

We got a new branch presidency. It is awesome because the new president is a stud. He is about 24, recently returned missionary, recently married, and is expecting a child. The only bad thing is that he was our Mission Leader. Always would go on visits with us, always had a meeting with him. But now he is the branch president so We need to find someone new to go with us. Hopefully the new mission leader will be active.

Alright, a few questions and ideas for stuff that you can put in packages. :)
Q. Is Sister Hales going to come back? There were a few people that asked me the other day so I was wondering about that.
S. A little book with good ideas for games and lessons for FHE. I am sure McCall would love to do that and it would probably be a young womens thing.
S. A bottle of on guard and peppermint.
S. Mann Family Calender. (When we get the new one.)
S. SD Card from the MTC. You can also put new pictures on the card of the family and friends and stuff like that.
S. Starburst or other types of candy that are hot. (Hot tomales, Cinnamons)
I guess there was more stuff than questions. Just some ideas that were rolling around in my head.



I love you all, good luck McCall in Orlando!


Love,


Grant