Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Colin arrived in San Salvador on Sept. 15, at 5am. This is from his first e-mail...

9/21/09
"Everything is going well. My companion is Elder Rosado and he is on his last transfer, but he is a hard worker and the people love him, so he is a good example. I am in Apopa zone and it is the biggest in the East mission.
I wish I could have an 80 degree day of California weather! Oh my goodness, I sweat all the time. It is crazy and I am not lying, I am sweating ALL THE TIME!! I sweat through ties, everything. I have to drink a ton.
The people are all nice, but I am so sad when I don't know what they are saying to me. I feel bad and silly, I hope I will be able to pick up the language soon, it is so mentally draining that by the end of the day I am dead
. Elder Rosado has me do the door approach, and I think the people feel sorry for this white boy sweating all over the place, so they let us in and Elder Rosado teaches the lesson.
Thank you for all your prayers, I know that is what is helping me so much! Please pray for me that I will learn the language."
-
9/28/2009













"Well, everything is going great. There are a billion dogs just running around and it is crazy. I got my first offer for someone's daughter to be my girlfriend, so I just tried to think in Spanish as fast as I could what to say, and the first thing that came to me was "gracias, pero ya tengo una novia", which is "thanks, but I already have a girlfriend" hahaha! After our appointment with that family, Elder Rosado said that my face was as red as an apple! but it was pretty funny.
Hopefully we will have 2 baptisms by October 10 and hopefully a few more by the end of the October, so that is going good."

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Elder Price has left the country!

The day finally came, Elder Price finished up at the MTC and has departed for El Salvador. He had a 2 1/2 hour lay over at LAX on Monday night, ( yes LAX!!! but per missionary rules, we did not go see him, even though the thought did cross our minds:-)) and was allowed to call his family during this time. What a joy it was to hear his voice. Colin was upbeat, and excited, and sounded like a real missionary. He loved the MTC, but after 8 weeks was very anxious to get out and start the real work. Colin was able to call Lindsey, Mike, us and of course Grandma Collene and Grandpa Mike. The flight lasted through the night, leaving LA at midnight and landing in San Salvador at 5 am. We are certain he arrived safely (no calls from the mission President!) and are anxiously awaiting word about his first assignment. We will let you know as soon as we hear from him.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

A visit from Elder Scott


"On Tuesday, Richard G. Scott came and talked to us and that was awesome!!! He said that he would like to do something that only and apostle can do and that was to invoke the blessing of the Gift of Tongues upon us, that the language would come easily, and that we will be able to learn it.

"In a change of course, Elder Scott said that he was going to talk about other stuff that he felt that we needed to hear. He then went on to talk about all the helps the spirit can be to us.
-Sometimes promptings come when we don't think we need them.
-They are always when we need them.
-Be careful to not just cast them off.
-Sometimes we get them even if we don't understand the reason.
-It takes skill to listen to the promptings of the Holy Ghost.
-Practice listening.
-He can prompt us when others might need help.
-We have all that is needed to be successful as we allow the spirit to guide.
-The spirit will prompt you of danger.

Elder Scott told us of a time he was driving in South America in a sandstorm and he felt prompted to stop the car and just wait until the morning to continue. When he woke up he saw that in front of his car was a huge cliff that he would have driven off of had he not listened to the promptings of the spirit.

After this he blessed us again, but with something that he doesn't normally do. Elder Scott said, "I am going to invoke a blessing of safety. According to good judgement and following the spirit, I invoke it upon you." So tell grandma not to worry, but that I have the blessing of an apostle that I will be safe. So yes, that was the crowning part of the week!

Our TRC appointment went well. All in Spanish again. I have been studying a lot and after 19 years, I am finally starting to get a glimpse of how amazing this gospel is."