Week 54 - The week where H. is CAPO!!!! ("Awesome")

Well this week was a really interesting week for Elder Vega and me. 

On Tuesday, first of all we had a half mission conference to meet Pte.(Presidente which is President) Dunford (his new mission president) which was really awesome. At first I was very upset about Pte. Olsen leaving and wasn't sure how it would go with a new President, but the Spirit hit me so hard during that conference letting me know that he really had been called to serve at this time. I'm grateful for the chance to work with Pte. Dunford now.

During this week we also began teaching a woman named M. T., that we learned later is the sister-in-law of a sister in the branch so that will be super convenient for us in the teaching process for her. She's already completing the first, more basic commitments and feels like she has received an answer already. Its great to see the people we teach receive answers to prayers.

Ultimately, WE HAD THE BAPTISM OF H.!!!

We have been visiting him every day this week to prepare him, but really he had already passed his interview and everything, he was more than ready. He is super capo! Sometimes it is really incredible to me the amount of excitement he has for coming to church these days. His baptismal service was super spiritual and I'm not sure how it happened but there were more people supporting H. at his baptism than people that came to church on Sunday, even though his family didn't go. Sometimes its kind of rough to see the lack of support from his family, but then I see the support he has from the Branch and then I feel a little better about everything. 

Today in my District Meeting, one of the Hermanas taught me something really interesting about Obedience. She explained that there are 4 stages of Obedience

1. Fear of Punishment

2. Hoping for a Reward

3. To please people

4. Because we Love God.

I loved how she explained that, technically, obedience for any reason is good, but the only one that gives the companionship of the Spirit as we need it is obedience because of love. I love the opportunity I have to serve as a District Leader because I really learn so much from the other missionaries!

Exciting news, Hermana Vega in my district is going to train this change so that will be fun to have a new missionary in the District.

Bueno! I love you all! Nos vemos!

-Elder Martin

Baptism day for H.!

A cute sister missionary in the Rivera Zone drew pictures 

of each companionship in the zone and made T-shirts for all of them!