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

Week 27: Baptisms and HE Lives

Familia mio,

I'm not gonna have much time today to email because the server was down, so this might be a pretty quick email....

This week a great and a little bit of a stressful week. Agusto was confirmed and received the gift of the Holy Ghost on Tuesday and it was awesome. He's really come a long ways and is only going to get better. 

We also baptized Bianca Caerampoma, one of the daughters of Rosa y Abel, because there isn't a record of her baptism or confirmation so the ordinance had to be performed again. What isn't sealed and recorded here on the earth isn't going to be sealed or recorded in the heavens. It was a weird situation but now her baptism and confirmation will be recorded in the heavens and that is what counts. 

Also, I was able to read one of President Monson's talks from the last conference this past week, if I remember right it's called "Ponder The Path Of Thy Feet", something like that. It's a great and very inspired piece of modern day scripture from our prophet. President Monson explains to us that CHRIST has walked every path of life. The path of pain, sadness, and all other feelings so that we can be happy in this life. Its my testimony that CHRIST really did overcome all the terrible things of this world so that we can become life the Father. He paid the price of sin so that we overcome it. He paid the price of temporal and spiritual sadness so that we can be happy. He paid the price of temporal and spiritual pain so that we don't need to feel it. I know that CHRIST was chosen to be our Savior and Redeemer before this life, that He came to the world to make it possible for our eternal progression, and I know that He continues to live and that we will find eternal life only through Him. I'm super excited to hear the words of modern day prophets this week and to celebrate the life of CHRIST this week too, because He lives. 

Que tengan un excelente semana!

Con mucho amor, 

Elder Potter

The last picture is of this dog at a members house that lays down like a person haha, it's pretty funny and I laugh every time I see it.

Elder Potter, Agusto, and Elder Jesus

Baptism of Bianca

Dog that lays down like a person!

Week 26: ¡Agusto se bautizó!

Buen Día Familia,

This week was a great week and full of miracles. This Wednesday we had a training with Elder Godoy of the 70 and presidencia of the area. He was great! He spoke about 4 traps that many missionaries fall into often that makes them become ineffective missionaries...

1. Activities vs. Results

2. Lessons vs. Learning

3. Friends vs. the chosen, prepared

4. Visiting teachers vs. Missionaries

He talked about each one of these four things, the last thing listed in each point is the best thing that we can do, but many times missionaries find themselves teaching a very kind and friendly person that listens the gospel, but that never progresses. This would be an example of teaching "friends" and not those that have been prepared to accept the gospel in its fulness. It was a great training and an eye opener to me in many things. President Erickson also spoke about the importance of obedience in the small things, the the Carpeta de Area, area book in English I think. A lot of missionaries don't actualize the area book a lot, but this is a problem because when we dont keep track of progress, there is no progress! I'm happy that my companions and I have kept a good area book. President gave an example of what happens when we stop doing these "small" things as many people put it. He talked about David, David and Goliath, and we all know what happened to David. He ended up committing two of the most serious sins, adultery and murder in a way. But how could this once incredible man and prophet fall? If we read in 1 Sam. 11:1, I believe, it says that when it was time to war he stayed in the city and not into the war with his troops, he stopped fulfilling all of his DUTIES as a king. The moment that stop doing our DUTIES, Satan can begin winding flax and chord around us and drag us speedily down to hell as Nefi in the Book of Mormon tells us. I hope that we can all fulfill our duties as children of God. 

Also, it was Agustos baptism! He was baptized on Saturday and it was an incredibly spiritual moment for me and for Agusto, I couldn't stop smiling all day! And then Sunday came. There will always be a challenge before every great spiritual moment, a trial of our faith you could say. And Sunday was the trial. We got a call from Agusto at about 10:30 in the morning right before the reunion sacramental and he informed us that he wouldn't be able to attend church and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost because he drank the night before, Saturday night. After his baptism his happiness led him to be with some friends, and these friends invited him to drink a little bit. He wasn't in a very good state to receive the Holy Ghost on Sunday, but he needs to receive it ASAP for his baptism to be complete and to overcome these difficulties. Tomorrow were going to confirm him the gift and he will be sustained sacrament meeting this coming Sunday. It pained me to the soul to hear about this from Agusto because he has changed so much, and because he feels really bad because he has a testimony and knows why this church is true and important for him. I know he is going to come off conqueror. I know that the scriptures in DyC 18:13 to 17 are true, if you can, read these scriptures. There is great joy in the salvation of souls. Grandpa Page once told me that the "salvation of souls isn't easy" and this is true, but the joy that you feel when some one is truly repenting and coming the CHRIST is incredible as you see the miracle of forgiveness in the person through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. 

So, a little bit more about my companion, Elder Jesus. Hes pretty cool! Hes from Huanuco, Peru... La eterna primavera, or the eternal spring. It's perfect whether all the time and it's always super green, hes shown my some pictures and its a pretty sweet place! He played at a semi professional level in fútbol for Alianza Huanuco for a few years before the mission. Only him and his 4 sisters are members of the church, his 3 brothers and parents aren't. Hes a super hard worker and were really seeing the fruits of our labors, in only 2 weeks! When he got to the mission he knew close to nothing about the church but through diligence and obedience he has become a great missionary and knows that Book of Mormon very well. We have really enjoyed the pkg. that you sent, thanks for that! And if you could, it would be awesome if you all could write him a letter, he speaks good English so you can write him in English. Hope can draw a picture or something, E' Jesus thought Hopes picture in the pkg. was pretty sweet. 

Well, that's about all for this week! Hope you all have a fantastic week! 

Con mucho amor,

Elder Potter

Oh yeah, I heard about the Davis boys team and girls at nationals, that's sweet! Hard work really pays off!

I'll send more pictures of the baptism next week, no tengo tiempo ahora.

Elder Potter and Agusto

Week 25: New Companion, Ups and Downs

Familia y Amigos,

This week was really good and also a little trying. I got a great new companion, Elder Jesus, he is a recent convert of a little bit more than a year and is a really hard worker and I'm really excited for the success that we are going to see in this change. 

This week was a bit tough because we found out the the partidas, or birth certificate, wasn't found in the system for 2 couples that we were going to marry this month, one of them we were going to baptize too on the 28 of this month. But, we just gotta keep up the hard work so they can get married in Abril. I'm happy for the "fruits" that I've been able to see with these two families the Pacheco y Rivera (Paico) families. 

But I also got some really great news! This Saturday A____ is going to get baptized! We've worked really hard with him and through the Book of Mormon and a lot of prayer he has been able to change his life and come to the knowledge of what happiness really is and that it comes through obediencia a los commandments and the Book of Mormon. He's been prepared to take this first step towards his salvation and I am really happy for him and the blessings he is going to see from baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Oh yeah, the foto with a bunch of flour in my face was a from a noche de hogar, family night, that we had with a bunch of leaders from the ward the night before Elder Guerra left. We had a pile of flour with a coin on top and we had to carve away the edges of the sugar but make sure the coin was still standing, if the flour and coin collapsed we had to pick it up with our mouth...And it fell...jaja. 

Well this is about it for the week for me! Hope all of you have a great week!

Con mucho amor,

Elder Potter

Elder Potter retrieving a penny from a plate of flour!

Elder Potter and new companion Elder Jesus