Transfer Time!

"Well, I got transferred today. I am no longer in Villa Mariona, but am now in Chalatenango, which is only a few hours away(from San Salvador, we think), so not too bad. I am really excited because my companion Elder Guarando seems to be on fire with the work. It was a little hard these last few weeks because my companion was going home, but I think this transfer is going to be a great time to work. He also told me a little while ago that I am the new second Counselor in the Branch Presidency, so pray for me to be able to do all of my duties. And if you have any advice, I am wide open to receiving it!

We had two baptisms a week ago and we are expecting 2 more this week, a young man named Luis Torres and a lady who has been coming to church for 2 years and finally has the desire to be baptized. We are waiting for the proper papers for her soon to be husband's divorce and their new marriage papers to be finalized."

To Grandma he wrote:

"Well, my Spanish is coming along. I still have a lot to learn, but I know more now then I did a month and a half ago, which is how long I have already been here in the mission field. Pretty crazy!"

Tender Mercies

I asked Colin if he had any experiences with tender mercies from the Lord since his arrival in San Salvador that I could share with my seminary class. This is an excerpt from his letter.

"As you know the people here live in the most humble of circumstances. If you put Lindsey's and my room together, that would be the size of their houses. They have it divided into section so they have a place where there are beds and then a section with a little gas stove and a sofa and some plastic chairs and a small tv. That is about it. But they are happy! They don't need more because they have their family. One of the cool things here is how important families are. But I would have to say, that for these people, just living is a tender mercy from the Lord. It is very dangerous for these people . Everyday people are killed by gangs or any other form of dying, and I swear, in almost every prayer they always say 'gracias senior por un dia mas', which is 'thank you Lord for one more day'. It make you wonder, are we really thankful for what our Heavenly Father has given us? I know we know that He has given us our lives and that He can take it away, but the fact that He hasn't is a tender mercy. It was King Benjamin that said that we are so unworthy to live for all of the sins we commit, that we are lower that the dust of the earth because even the dust obeys the will of the Lord. So what we need to remember is just how lucky we are to live in a country that is so safe. That is a tender mercy, our safety. The fact that we can go out after it is dark or go on a walk or go to dances or just hang out at a mall or park and not have to worry about if we are going to come home alive.

Always give thanks for our lives, our families and our knowledge of the true and everlasting gospel of hope, peace and love...I know he love us, I know he love me and I know he love you.Be thankful for everything, because they are all gifts from God."

A Quick Update

"Thing are going well. As I said before my companion is good but this is his last month, but for a last month he is still working super hard. One thing we learned at the MTC was that we should never be over at a member's house for more than 40 minutes. So we have been going over that, but now we are working on improving it.

I really do like it here. The kids are always flying their piscushas (kites) miles in the sky. I don't know why, but it makes me happy because the kites are cool. One thing I do not like are the number of dogs...But the people are nice and always say hi to you when you say hi to them.

We have a super nice little lady that cooks our lunch for us. She is a recent convert and has a store in the front of her house. I showed her the pictures of my family and when she saw the picture of you (mom) she asked if you were my sister. I think that it is because you... have all of your teeth:)"

A Letter from the President

"We are pleased to inform you that Elder Price has arrived safely in the El Salvador East Mission. We are excited to have him join our mission family, and can see that he is well prepared to start serving.

He will be serving in the Apopa Zone, in the Villa Mariona Area with his trainer Elder Rosado from Guatemala. A trainer has a great responsibility to help your son develop missionary habits and to continue learning to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. Trainers are selected very carefully through prayer.

Letters from home are a very important part of missionary life. Please write weekly and focus on positive and uplifting things to help him maintain a healthy attitude. The mail system in El Salvador is very reliable.

Approximately every three weeks we will be seeing Elder Price in interviews or Zone Conference. We will take good care of him. We know the Lord will bless you and him as he faithfully dedicates this time to teaching others to follow the Savior Jesus Christ.

Very cordially, President and Sister A. Moroni Perez"

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."

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.

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."