week 37: Life in a Trio

Elder Hale's companion Elder King got his call that he was going to Columbia! He left on Sunday and that Elder Hale has been with us for the past bit. Its been quite fun having another missionary living and teaching and working with us. 

Highlights this week:

1. Found someone who has been reading the Book of Mormon on his own! He was taught in the past by missionaries but still remembered so much! Also told us a funny story that he bought some hens for his daughters birthday but his neighbors called the cops and he got fined ;( 

2. Completely deconstructed and moved a shelf in the Salvacion Army store that was FILLED with rubbermaid stuff. 

3. Two people back to back let us in their homes because they felt bad for it being so cold. It was so kind.

4. Made Baleadas with a member that was FIRE. I said I would try to cook them for my family but could never make them the same. He thought I was being humble but bold of him that he can even cook. 

5. Helped another member move and he got us pizza and showed us his crossbow!

6. Elder Hale spilled his quarters ;(

7. Lots and Lots and Lots of slipping on ice

This week I have been studying a little on faith. Its quite a broad topic but the first principle of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In the bible we read "For we walk by faith, not by sight" 2 Cor 5;7 The book of mormon also adds in Ether 12:6 " .. faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith. ". Its a large blessing and responcibility that we have the choice to have faith in this life. We have to have faith in order to belive.

Love you all,

Elder Espere

week 36: PAPUSA LOCA

As Chapter 7 of Preach My Gospel says, strive to understand the culture of the people. We do this by going to Mi Ranchito!! It's this awesome el salvadorian place that has dollar papusas that we eat. Next time I'll take a picture but THIS WEEK we found papusa loca where it's a massive papusa for only $4. Steal

This week has been FULL of meeting all sorts of new people. We have been trying to visit all sorts of new people and members around the stake while has lead us to a few trips to the corners of our area. 

The COVID Omicron varient has hit the ground running and is infecting everyone. Most of the city is sick but sometimes they forget and tell us after they have been talking with us for 5 minutes. It's OK because we havnt felt sick all week so the work must go on. Also still praying we won't go back to quarantine. 

We have been sharing and asking people to think of 1 person in their life who needs a little more love. Then to follow the two great commandments found in Matthew 22: 37-39 and love your neighbor! It can be as simple and asking how they are doing or giving them a nice text throughout the week. We have been able to hear some of the stories that come out from doing this and it's quite remarkable. I want to hear from you so tell me what your going to do and I'll email you next week asking how it went!

Love you all,

Elder ✋ ... hehe

Fotos:

-celestial tiwi

- double phone calls 

- call in onsie

- a nice photo I received 

- and more wonderful people in Winchester

week 35: Washington DC Temple Open House

Last Tuesday, our mission recieved permission to go to the Washington DC Temple Open House! Its like a once in a lifetime opprotunity to go visit the building. It was built almost 50 years ago and before it was dedicated, it was open for the public viewing. Recently they had to do some renovacions on it and now there is an open house again. Everyone should take the trip up to Washington DC to view it! Its free and from April 28- June 4th. Just get a free parking reservacion for the time you want to go. Maybe Ill be there too?!?

It snowed AGAIN this week. Yesterday, after church, the massive ice storm was coming in. Last night, we couldnt drive so we hiked through the snow to our friends houses becasue #grindneverstops. It was so much fun and peaceful but when we got to the houses, none of them answered. So we got to hike back through the snow to our apartment. We stopped along the way and took a picture at the construction pipes. 

I met someone with not only the Samsung Z Fold 3 but ALSO the T Phone? i cant remember what it was called but crazy stuff. We also had a lesson with an older couple whos house was built in 1840s and we had a full ukrainian 5 course dinner courtsey of Elder D! 

Lots of other amazing things happened but a couple nights we were on the outskits of town and got to see all the stars in the sky. I tried to take few pictures with my camera but it doesnt do it justice. Its the same with the temple. Its literally the House of the Lord and we have the wonderful opprotunity to go this spring to see it! If ya got any questions i would love to answer them but you should go if you can :)

Love,

Elder Wait 

week 33: it snowed

Sorry I haven't sent an email since last year. I promise I'll do well about that this year. Hehe

WELCOME TO 2020 Pt3!!

Back to Back holiday weekends! We had some great activities with the other spanish missionaries this week because of the holidays. I really slacked on the pictures but just imagine there's more hehe. 

-We had to say Goodbye to an AMAZING family that we are teaching as they moved to Florida to be closer to their family. That was sad but they got in contact with the missionaries there so we are still homies!

-Got my passport photo taken because....

ITS GOING TO EXPIRE haha I'm not going anywhere. 

-IT SNOWED

-Elder D and Hale talking a picture new years eve on a selfie stick

-Got to rake leaves! I miss doing Manual labor but I got to this week! It was so much fun but we didn't make a big leaf pile to jump into so I don't know if it counts. 

-played a lot of cover your a$$ets and monopoly deal new years eve. 

-Member who'd moving took us out to eat at BDubs and talked to us all about referees for games. It's amazing all the little niche hobbies and world there are out there. 

I don't have a bunch of cool stories this week but we were able to teach a ton of different people about Jesus Christ and his restored gospel. Also not a single person was rude to us at their door and some even infact let us in because it was pretty cold!! I love these people in the apple capital in the world? -winchester VA. 

See ya next week!

Elder Espere