March 29, 2011

Hola,

Yesterday we went to Albuquerque to visit the temple. We rode with some members from another ward and our Zone Leaders. It was a lot of fun. We got there late for our assigned session but went to the next one. The whole mission went through the temple yesterday. Afterwards we visited the mission office which was the first time for me and Elder Konelios so that was cool. We just had to pick up a few things.

THEN for lunch we hit up Tucanos. I love that place! It was Elder Haydon's birthday and I think he had a good day: Endowment session,cupcakes in the temple parking lot, Tucanos, McDonald's ice cream cone, and sitting next to me for 7 hours!

Last week we had Zone Conference in Las Cruces, so that was fun. We had some good training there and a good lunch. The work is also going good here still.

We should be having a baptism this weekend between sessions of conference. Her name is April and she is a friend of a member who got baptized a year ago. People keep showing up at Church that aren't members and people are referring us to friends. We are also working with a lot of part-member families. There is just lots of potential here and I'm liking it a lot.

Love,

Elder Wiest

March 21, 2011

Hola,

I got pretty sick this week and I'm still not doing so hot. I think it was food poisoning but I'm not for sure. Maybe a little bit of the flu, too. I don't really know but I'm doing better.

This week was a little slow because that happened in the middle. It's getting warmer here. I went on exchanges with Elder Cuello again this week.

On the day that I was really sick we got a call that someone needed a blessing at the hospital so I got out of bed and we went. Well, that person actually had someone else coming but then the other Elders called us and asked if we could give another kid a blessing. So, we went to another part of the hospital and gave him one. He was 7 year-old kid who broke his femur. And I thought I was having a bad day!

The work is going good, regardless. We have lots of support from the ward and branch, so it's going good.

Love,


Elder Wiest

March 15, 2011

Hola

Julio and Jocelyne were baptized this past weekend. It was an awesome baptism. There was tons of people there. Half the branch and a bunch of nonmembers.  The spirit was strong and they had refreshments.  It was great.  Also I had leadership training last week. It was long, but we always learn good stuff. Its fun to see all the other missionaries, and free lunch. 
Me and Elder Konelio taught both gospel principles classes on Sunday. We knew before hand that we were going to teach the one for Spanish branch so we were kind of prepared but the English ward was just a surprise.  We did a good job though. 
Its interesting being around so many military people.  I’ve got so much respect for them. Almost every night we eat with people that have been to Iraq and Afghanistan and have been shot and drive tanks. They’re cool people.  We ate Oryx it's this huge horse/gazelle thing that was brought from Africa and lives out in New Mexico. They’re huge, but a friend of one of the members shot one on a military thing and he got some of the meat.  I guess its pretty illegal to just kill them without a license. They barbecued it, it was pretty good. Google it: Oryx

Love,
Elder Wiest

March 7, 2011

Hola,

Hondo Pass ... I like it! The Hondo Pass Ward is almost 100% military. It's a weird lifestyle. They're cool people, though. White people food, yum! The Trans Mountain Branch is pretty small, but they have good people there. I think I'm going to enjoy this area a lot.

It's been a crazy week. I've been trying to get adjusted to the new area, people, and stuff. My companion, Elder Kornelio, was here a month ago but due to an emergency he was transferred out. Now he's back so we kind of are white washing, but he knows mostly what's going on. I like Elder Kornelio a lot. He was in my district 7 months ago. He's really good at making phone calls and doing all the stuff I don't like doing. We have a dish washer in our apartment and CARPET first time in a year.


We had a baptism this weekend, a nine year-old girl named Gwyneth. She is cool. We taught her tithing and chastity, got her an interview, and made programs for the baptism. It felt weird coming into a baptism, but it was good. President and Sister Miller were in town so they came to the baptism. We have another baptism this weekend, Julio and Jocelyne. They are brother and sister, ages 15 and 14. They're very excited. I like them a lot, too.

I went to church in English for the first time in over a year. Crazy.

We had a Spanish missionary meeting with all the Spanish missionaries in the two El Paso zones. It was nice. I have leadership training tomorrow and Wednesday.


Love,


Elder Wiest