Monday, January 25, 2016

Week 70: 8/4/2 Trabajando Duro!

Buenos Días a todos!

Bueno, esta semana fue lo máximo! A lot has happened this week and Elder Sandoval and I have been able to see a lot of miracles and the conversion of many people. There are a lot of things that I want to talk about today. 

First of all, Saturday was Juana and Jairo's baptism and it was an incredible experience! We ended up doing a combined baptism with the Magnolias Ward and the Spirit was definitely there testifying of the reality of the covenant. Juana has made so many sacrifices to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ. The day of her baptism all of her brothers and sisters tried convincing her not to get baptized but she was firm in her decision to follow the Savior. Her confirmation was also really great on Sunday. 

This week we also had 8 of our investigators come to church, Elder Sandoval and I have been working super hard and have turned into a good team. 

So last week I believe I wrote a little bit about Lady and Ruben, and about how awesome they are... well, they are even greater than we thought! They came to church again this week by themselves and Ruben was interviewed (Lady wasn't able to be interviewed because they had to leave), but they have a baptismal date for the 6 of Febrero. Also, they are already married! It is super, super, super strange to find a family that is married here in Lima! We had a great lesson with them on Tuesday about the Plan of Salvation. The Spirit was definitely there testifying of what we were saying. 

We had an awesome experience on Saturday night as well. Our appointment with Lady and Ruben had fallen through (which was really weird because they are very punctual), and our plan B, C, and D had fallen through as well, so we started contacting along the main road. We felt that we should contact this man as we were approaching him and as we started talking with him he told us that he had always wanted to talk with us and was hoping that we would talk to him. It was really cool. And what made it even cooler is that it just turned out to be Rubens older brother! It was totally a miracle that we found him. We invited him to church because it was getting late, and when we went to pick him up in the morning he was ready and came! Sunday night we taught him and his wife and 3 kids the Restoration and the Spirit was there super strong, they felt it and we felt it. And guess what....they are also married! His whole family is going to come to church this Sunday, were super excited to start teaching them!

The goal for the mission, or "la norma de excelencia", in our mission is to have 8 progressing investigators, 4 people baptized and of the 4 that are baptized there should be 2 families. Were very excited for Febrero to start because we have the potential to do and "8/4/2". Hermana Hurd and Hermana Aguilera also have the potential to do an "8/4/2" in February. 

There was a ton of other great things that happened this week but if I write it all right now this email will be 5 pages, so Ill have to tell you all a little more next week!

¡Que tengan una buena semana! 

Love, 
Elder Potter
 
Juana and Jairo's Baptism
Elder Potter and Jairo (Mom note: I think this is the cutest picture ever!)
Elder Sandoval made this for breakfast - rice, fried egg, and fried platanos
 
 
 

Monday, January 18, 2016

Week 69: Bendiciones! (Blessings)

Buenos Días a todos,

Esta semana fue excelente! This last week was great! As a district, were working super, super hard! A while back President Erickson set a goal for the mission to receive 15 referrals every week and we've really been able to see the blessings of reaching that goal. Hermana Aguilera and Hermana Hurd and 2 baptisms last Saturday and this week Elder Sandoval are going to have 2. 

On Saturday Juana and her son, Jairo, are going to be baptized and on Sunday, confirmed. Its going to be a great week! Ive been able to see many times in my mission that it doesn't matter what the circumstances are, if we live the gospel, we will be blessed. Juana and her family have been incredibly blessed. Shes stopped working Sundays and has been very, very blessed for it. 

We also found this great new family, Lady and Reuben Alvarez, last week and we taught them and they came to church! They are already reading the Book of Mormon and are excited to keep learning. It was a real blessing to find them! 

Well, I'm sorry the email is so short this week! It'll be more detailed next week! 

Que tengan una buena semana!

Elder Potter

Monday, January 11, 2016

Week 68: Empezando bien el año nuevo!

Buenos dias todos!

So this week has been super great! Elder Sandoval and I have been working super hard! Hermana Aguilera and Hermana Hurd also worked super hard this last week and as a district were looking super good for this month! We are all super excited to keep working and bringing people to Christ. 

As of right now, Elder Sandoval and I have 3 people to be baptized and confirmed this month. Juana Obregon and her son, Jairo, have progressed so much. They have really surprised me by their sincere desire to follow Christ and be baptized. They are so, so, so humble and are going to be great converts. They have a baptismal date for the 23. We also have a newer investigator, Rigoberto, who has a baptismal date for the 30 of this month. We are super excited! The sisters also have a few people that are going to be baptized this month. 

Well, I'm running low on time to write, but I hope that you all have a fantastic week! 
I will send some pictures next week! Cuídense. 

Elder Potter

Monday, January 4, 2016

Week 67: ¡Feliz año nuevo!

Buenos días a todos!

Well, another great week has passed by! I know I say something like that every week but I say it because it is true! 

I hope that you could all set some goals for this 2016 and that you were all able to set a game plan to reach those goals. Something that Ive learned on my mission and from Predicad mi Evangelio (Preach my Gospel) is how important it really is to set good goals that push you to reach your full potential. There is a real difference between those that never set goals and those that are continually setting goals. It is impossible to reach our full potential and develop talents if we never set goals. 

This month my district and I have a goal to have 6 baptisms and rescue 6 less actives. We have a ton of potential and were super excited to work this month! Yesterday our investigator Juana was interviewed as well as her son Jairo. Her other son, Manuel, wasn't able to come but he is going to be interviewed this week. It has been great being able to work with them. They are so humble. I've never known anyone else like them. They are progressing really quickly too. Elder Sandoval and I had a cool experience a week ago when we taught Juana about tithing and fasting. She really doesn't have anything but she is excited to be able to pay tithing when she works. She has a lot of faith. All of the members love her and her 3 kids. 

Were also starting off this month super good with the less actives that were teaching. About 6 months ago, President Erickson told us that when it comes to rescuing less actives we should be focusing on the ex-missionaries that have gone inactive. So right now we are teaching a brother, his name is Jose, and his wife and son, Luz and Daniel. They have started to come to church again and starting to remember why the church and gospel is so important in their lives. It is great being able to see the Atonement work in peoples lives. 
 
Well, that is all for this week! Feliz año nuevo! (Happy New Year!)

Elder Potter