Week 31: Mi Compañero es un Niño

Bueeenas Días Todos!

This week was great as usual! It was also a little bit crazy. This past Tuesday were changes and I got changed to the ward Los Manzanos in the Zona Conto Chico in San Juan de Lurigancho with Elder Niño, or, Elder Little Kid jaja. Im really liking the area and Elder Niño and I get along well and were working hard. Los Manzanos and La Habana are super different. In my new area its a lot greener, in La Habana there was almost no trees, but here it's fairly green. Also, there are not very many hills here, the majority of the area and the zone is all flat. It actually lines up with la mision Lima Central. But it's a great area and were going to see a lot of success here! We had 8 investigators at church and 15 recent converts. I'll write a little more about the area next week. 

Well, sorry for the short email, but that's all I got for this week!

¡Que tengan un excelente semana!

Con mucho amor, 

Elder Potter

Elder Potter and Agusto

Elder Potter and Jordan Family

Baptisms in new area

Week 30: Una de las semanas mas Espiritual de mi Mision

Buenas Días Familia!

This week has been incredible. I have really felt the love that my Heavenly Father and His son, Jesus Christ, have for me and for all of His children. I had some great experiences with the Familia Jordan this week (Suli, Fernando, Fiorela, y Fabiola). We visited them this past Monday and we began to talk a little bit about baptism and why it's important. We asked them if they were able to pray about Joseph Smith and if he was called by God to be a prophet and if they should be baptized. Well, Fernando began to tell us his experience. He told us that in his prayer he asked Heavenly Father if baptism in the "Mormon" church is correct and if he should be baptized and if Heavenly Father is really there for him. When he ended his prayer he opened up his Book of Mormon to a random page, to Mormon 8:25 and 26 that explain the first steps to repentance and how to keep all of the commandments, and that the only way to keep all of the commandments and have eternal life is through baptism. He received a solid answer to his prayer. It was a really spiritual moment for all of us and a testimony that Heavenly Father listens, thinks, and answers our prayers and helps us come to the truth. He has a set baptismal date for the 2 of May. 

We had an experience very similar with Fernando's mom, Suli, also. We visited her yesterday and she felt impressed to let us know about some of the challenges that she has had in the past with family and other things. She began to cry as she explained to us a little about some of her struggles. To help her out we let her know that she a is a daughter of God, that He Lives and loves her very much. After that, I felt impressed to share with here DyC 121:1 through 9 where Joseph Smith was in Liberty Jail and felt like he was completely alone and asked God where He was. In the middle of his prayer, the voice of the Lord came to him and gave him comfort that he would soon rest from his afflictions, that God loved him, and that he had many friends that he could count on to help him. After Suli heard and read these scriptures she began to cry even more, knowing that she really does have a Heavenly Father and that he loves here. After the lesson she told us that when she read this scripture she felt as though Heavenly Father was talking to her face to face. It was an incredibly spiritual experience. Her and her family have grown to be great friends and I'm excited for what they are going to achieve as a family. Its an amazing thing when someone receives a strong testimony that God loves them. It's something really beautiful. 

Also this week we were able to do a little bit of service for Osmar and Yessenia around their house; moving dirt, etc. It was a great time and I felt and continue to feel very blessed to have been able to know this family and to be their friend and that they are my friends too. Osmar told us that they are going to pass through an interview with Obispo Ramirez this Tuesday for their patriarchal blessings and so that Osmar can receive the Melchizidek Priesthood to bless his family. It was great to hear all the great news and to know that I was able to be an instrument in the Lords hands to help this great family. But what was even better was when Osmar told us that they have set a solid goal to be sealed in the temple for ever as soon as Yessenia finishes one year as a member this December. I'm super excited and happy for what they have done for their family, their awesome. Oh yeah, after the service project, Yessenia and her sister, Ani (she was baptized back in October and preparing to serve a mission later this year), prepared lunch for us, with fresh bacon! It was one of the best things I've ever had, it was pretty awesome.

The second picture of me with family is the family Osorio de Cardenas. My first lunch in the field was with them and they have grown to be some of my best friends. They have had a few struggles these past few months but we've been able to strengthen them a lot, their great! 

Well, that's all I got for today and hope you all have a great day and a fantastic week! 

Con mucho amor, 

Elder Potter

Elder Potter and Osorio Family - check out the mini missionary bobblehead Kimball is holding.  It looks like him :0)

Yessena and Osmar with Elder Jesus and Elder Potter after a service project the red stuff they are eating is fresh bacon!  Apparently it is the best stuff ever!

Week 29: Una semana mas en La Habana

¡Hola Todos!

Well, this week has been another great one here in La Habana, but I'm almost 99% positive that I'm going to have a transfer this upcoming Monday because Ive got 6 months here in La Habana. This area definitely has its challenges but its been a great blessing to be able to see the progress and all of the people that are ready for baptism now. I'll be a little sad to leave the area because there are some awesome, awesome families, members, and investigators here; but I'm also excited for the opportunity that I'm going to have to work with new people and with a new ward and be able to progress more as a servant of the Lord. 

This week we had 4 of our investigators come to church this week which was awesome! 2 of them have a baptismal date ready too! Elizabeth Salazar has a date for the 25 and Fernando Jordan has a date for the 2 of Mayo. We've been working a lot with Elizabeth lately and been resolving some of her doubts that shes had for baptism. She has come to church 3 times now and will be ready for the 25. Fernando is 17 years old and he is great. He really keeps his compromisos (assignments or something like that in English) and has the desires to progress and be baptized. It was his first time at church and he was participating in the lessons and all that good stuff. His 2 sisters, Fieorela and Fabiola, and his mom, Suli, are the same too. I've never had investigators that are really actually worried for the salvation and have the desires to find the truth in its fulness. It has been awesome to see their progress. 

We also had Presidente Erickson and Hermana Erickson in sacrament meeting this week which was really cool too. They haven't come to visit La Habana in more than a year, so it was a cool experience to be able to have them here. Presidente Erickson bore his testimony at the end of the meeting about the Book of Mormon and the Spirit was really there testifying to all who were present that it is true and the a man really will get closer to God by reading the Book of Mormon. It is a great blessing to have the Book of Mormon in so many different languages so all can participate in the blessings that come from reading it. I was able to finish it in Spanish for the first time this past week and I know that it is true. It is inspired by God for the benefit of His children, and as members of the church we have a responsibility to share the message of the restoration with all people, so this week really make an effort to share a part of the gospel with someone. A friend, less active, family member, it doesn't matter! It only matters that you do it and help others come unto CHRIST. If you do you will be blessed immediately.

Well, that's about all for this week!¡Que pasa un excelente semana!

Elder Potter

Week 28: ¡Conferencia General!

Hola Familia y Amigos!

This week has been really great! It's been filled with a lot of spiritual experiences and some good times on the mission. Right now we have one investigator with a set date for baptism, Elizabeth Salazar, for the 25 of this month, but we are going to try and move it down for the 18th depending on if she continues to progress. Shes 33 years old but has never married and doesn't have any kids. She was a reference from her sister Vanessa that was baptized about 3 years ago but became inactive really soon after her baptism. We've been teaching her a lot and she's made a lot of progress. She even watched both conferences on Saturday!  It was great. 

Also these past few weeks we've been focusing on this great family, la familia Jordan. They understand the gospel how it is and accept it so well. They haven't been able to come to church yet but have been reading the Book of Mormon and have been praying everyday. The mom, Suli, told us that she has always been in search for the right church and that when we visit her and her family she feels peace and comfort in what we share. We then explained to her that it's the Holy Ghost that is telling her that this is right, that the real happiness comes through this message. It's a miracle when investigators begin to recognize the Holy Ghost in their lives because if they can recognize it before baptism, they will do all they can to have him as their constant companion. We finally got to teach her husband, Jorge, this week too. He works a lot but about 18 years ago for 3 years attended our church but then left it never being baptized. But he's very interested now and it is a great opportunity. Their 3 teenage kids are also progressing and recognizing the Spirit and the light of Christ in their lives. Fernando,17, Fierela,15, and Fabiola,13, are all progressing too. The only problem though is that Suli and Jorge arent married, but well fix that. I' m really excited for the progress they're making!

Were also still working on getting los partids, basically birth certificates, for Idaura and Maximo so they can get married and baptized. They were also able to watch a little bit of conference! 

Bueno, esta semana ha sido lo máximo y estoy muy animado por las cosas que van a pasar aquí en La Habana, en la viña del Señor.

Que tenga un excelente día!

Elder Potter