Week 41: out of commission to BAUTISMO

This past week had a major 180 from the beginning to the end. Elder Hammond and I started out the week with us pretty sick. We were throwing up and had to tap out for about 48 hours. With the other spanish elders coming and bringing us some life support gatorade, we got out all fine and dandy! It was really strange not being able to do much missionary work for a lot time. 

Then I got to have an Exchange with Elder Hale! We had a bunch of success and got to teach 3 awesome families! I learned a ton about following the spirit. It was cool. We also had interviews with President Nye and received some great advice then topped it all off with an excellent soccer night with all our friends meeting the church members of the branch.

SUNDAY was AMAZING! Marvin finally was able to get baptised and make his first covenant with God. It was incredible to see how happy he was and how he has gone through a lot of difficulty to get here. Thanks for all your prayers for him. He shared a powerful testimony on how the Devil will try his best to stop you but his firm foundation in Jesus Christ got him through it. I'm thankful I was able to be with him in this journey!

That night we also knocked on a door and were met with some good resistance. After talking a bit and asking to share a 2 minute video of Jesus Christ, we were let in. 45 minutes later and finishing our first lesson with this family, he asked us when we could come back to teach his children more about Jesus and how to pray. The complete change in those 45 minutes was something that could only be done by the Spirit of God. Im blessed to be able to see these changes for the better. 

Love,

Elder Espere

Cool Pics 

week 40: 9 Months!

Wow it has been 9 Months as a Missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day saints! Its felt as time has flowen by and Im just glad I havnt hit my halfway point yet because I have so much to improve and so many more people to find and help!

We visited 8 member households this week! It was amazing to talk and visit and hear their conversion stories. We also saw a bunch at church this week which is always amazing! Even an hermana came back from her annual trip to costa rico because there is "mucho frio" here haha. We also had exchanges with the Zls and I got to go to Bojangles with Elder Joffs from Charlotte!

Marvin got into a car accident the night before his baptismal date so he couldnt make it :( If you remember, he got COVID the morning of his baptism so hes been hitting every roadblock haha. Please pray for him so nothing else happens. 

Last night, we got to teach a family how to pray! It waa incredible having the entire family with all the youngest kids to their grandma all come together in prayer. The spirit was so strong and the family unity was increased. Its something small that a lot of people do everyday but the power of a family prayer is real. A family built on the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ will have an added measure of the spirit in their home. I know its true and Im glad I can help the Lord strengthen families through prayer. 

Love Yall,

Elder Espere

Week 39: The Atonement of Jesus Christ

We had an action packed week! We created a video for the facebook page about the Plan of Salvation. I went on an exchange with Elder Cutchen! It wasnt the most successful as in finding people but we had a great time serving hard in the work of The Lord. We also took a jersey picture with all the Spanish Missionaries in this area. We played soccer and had a bunch of our friend show up and a few of them asked what we do as missionaries. We explained and they wanted to learn how they can come closer to Jesus Christ! We have lessons with them this week. Then church was great as the hymns were spiritual and we got to hear from humble speakers testifying and talking about their experiences.

We had a Zone Conference this week and it was amazing! Its a big conference with a lot of the missionaries in the area around Maryland and they come together and we practice our teaching skills and learn more on how we can help others come to Jesus Christ. Our mission president, president Nye, talked about the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Really the Atonement of Jesus Christ in the CENTER of everything. if we understand AND apply Jesus Christ and His Atonement, we will have more peace, purpose, direction, hope, happiness, joy, help, confort, energy, and SOO many more blessings in our lives. i know this is true because I have seen it in the lives of the people we teach. 

Here is a great place you can start in The Book of Mormon (verse 11-13)

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/alma/7?lang=eng 

Here it is somewhere else in The Bible I liked aswell (verse 17)

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/2-cor/5?lang=eng

Read some of these and email me a thing you liked!

week 38: Baby Bday FIESTAA!!

Welcome back to the vlog peeps. I'm back with another amazing update to the Mission in Maryland Baltimore. I'm still in Winchester VA but let's get to it.

We started off the week picking up Elder Hale's new companion all the way back near baltimore. He was coming from Pennsylvania so that took a hot second to make that drive. Sister Nye made us lunch and we even got to eat with President Nye as he was jumping in between meetings for about 4 minutes. traveled through three states in about 30 minutes including West Virginia (who puts the governor's name on the welcome signs?).

This week we had some INCREDIBLE lessons with some of the people we are teaching at the members from our local congregation. It was amazing how strong their testimonies of Jesus Christ were and the plan that God has for us. They also taught so simply and normally with great spanish haha (they are all from spanish speaking countries). Our friends we were teaching were begging them to come back and learn more because of how strong the spirit was in those lessons. 

We also passed by a few of the members' houses and shared short but powerful messages about Jesus Christ and His Atonement. They are soooo cool and even celebrated our arrival with some oreos or butter cookies or yuca. They are the sweetest people.

We were going over to share a video with our friend who recently got baptised. He is 12. He told us to come over and we showed up to his house to a MASSIVE fiesta. There was food and balloons and the whole 9 yards. We asked him what was happening and he forgot to tell us but it's his cousin's 2 year old birthday party. I don't remember my 2 year old birthday party like that but it is what it is. Latinos really know how to celebrate. 

Soccer was a MAJOR success and we had about 25 people show up. It was great to be able to meet a bunch of people my age and how good they were at soccer. I got all their facebooks so cant wait till next week. Peep Elder D in the wheelchair. Apparently it's more comfortable than standing.

At church we had the most powerful testimony meeting I can remember. One of our friends, Jose, who is being taught by the other elders, stood up and shared his love of the Book of Mormon and the Bible and how they helped him find peace as he grew closer to his Savior Jesus Christ. I know that a testimony, no matter how powerful you think it is, helps others feel the Holy Ghost as it testifies of the truths you are sharing. 

Love,

Elder Wait

ps. i got asked who Jesus was for me this week. I ask you the same question. Who is Jesus Christ to you?

Fotos: (como siempre)