"I Will Make an Instrument of Thee" 3/11/2013

Alma 17:11

So I'll advise you up front, I fear this email may be a little short ha ha, I don't have much to share :) But first I'll answer your questions about the Guate trip. If we're going to have 10 days I would assume that it would be like 5 days in cada mission, is that right? So as of right now, and if I don't have another area before I die, I think like 2 days in Xela, 2 days in Huistas and 1 day in Quiche would be good, the only thing would be like, Quiche has to be a Thursday and in Huistas we have to be there on a Sunday, if that's at all possible (the Quiche one is necessary because that's market day) so yeah. As for the new mission, the boundries still haven't been told so I have no idea what boundaries it will affect but it shouldn't change my release date. Don't worry, I'll be home eventually ;)

 

Now my week, was another trying one. We're on kind of a negative streak but we're not getting discouraged. We have tried about a million different ideas to find new investigators and with very little success. We had a ward activity (super well planned and the members really enjoyed it, just didn't bring anyone) and a bunch of other stuff but yeah.  

Also, we couldn't get with Adriana this week but she came to church so we're definitely going to be putting a fecha with her this week, hoping she accepts :) Also we have a cool new, the dad of one of our members. He's read a lot about the church and came to the activity on Saturday and to church on Sunday and stayed all 3 hours, so we're really excited there!  ALSO I HAVE GRANDKIDS! 2 OF EM!  That's one of the pictures, my generations! Both my kids are training right now, how cool! 

 

Proud Papa/Grandpa

 

The other picture is a scripture that I found this morning that I had never really read in this way, we need to be examples in times of negative things, we need to keep our heads up. We need to show forth examples not just to the "lamanites" (non-members I'll put that) but to the "Nephites" as well. Members and in my case missionaries, they need to see that we keep working in spite of difficulties and like Ammon later on in the same chapter when "our sheep get scattered" (to say it that way) when we have difficulties that we don't just start crying about how we're going to get slain but we get up and go get the flocks and then chop off some arms. So to speak of course :)  

 

I LOVE YOU ALL A TON! Hope you all have a great week!

Elder Westenskow

"Have Faith in God...Everything Will Work Out" 3/4/2013

Hey There Family!

How's life going for everyone back home? Hope all is well for ya', here all is well as well (that was a lot of well ha ha). First off, and before I forget, I just wanted to write a little bit to y'all, my family. I feel like sometimes I don't thank you as much as I should for how great you guys are.  Having been here for a long time now, I think I become more and more grateful for my family and the environment I was raised in every day. I really do love you all a whole whole ton and I couldn't ask for a better family, I just hope you all know how much I love and appreciate you, all the support that you give me and all the love, not everyone has that and its something I'm extremely grateful for :) LOVE YOU FAMILY!!!

Now, about the Mision Coban, it's super exciting! I just hope I'm here to see the division, it seems kinda iffy right now, if they do it in June though I'll definitely be here :) Kinda weird to think that things are being announced that I won't be here for, I guess time is winding down. A member did some quick math the other day and figured out how many days I have left, let's just say it's not a lot! But I'm feeling good, I've had an excellent mission and I'm stoked to finish it stronger than ever.  :)  

And to quiet all the rumors, I don't have changes ha ha. I'll be here 'til April it looks like and then my last 2 changes I'll go out somewhere to die, or I might just stay here, weirder stuff has happened. But I'm stoked to stay, I love this area and this zone and it's all good :)

 

 And about the Castillo family sealing, I got an email today from Walter that says that they have about 3 classes of temple prep left and then they'll be set to go! So we're pretty darn stoked about that!  It looks like I'll for sure be there so I'm really really excited for that! One of the best families I ever taught in my mission getting sealed right at the end, how much more perfect could it be? :) So I'm stoked about that!  

 

 

 

 

As for this week, it was ups and downs.  We had some really good stuff but a lot of disappointments as well. First off, we had a baptism! Karla was baptized Saturday evening and she was super happy about it.  The family that she lived with told us she was counting down the days 'til her baptism. SUUUUUUUUUUPER cool to see someone so excited, the service was special as well, not a lot of people came because it was raining but it was really good, I feel like there rarely is a whole ton to report on baptisms other than that they're super awesome and you always get the confirmation that what is happening is absolutely the will of God.  

 

 

As far as good news that was about it.  We had a super slow week, we've been looking for news really hard the last two weeks because were kinda baptizing all our investigators but we have had like, no success in that, were trying our hardest but it just doesn't seem to work out. However, every time that I feel like I'm going to be coming to email a little downhearted the Lord always finds a way to cheer me up :) I was looking through some old stuff that people have sent me and I found an email from Grandma Sue full of quotes from President Hinkley. One of them (not exact words but more or less) said "Have faith in God, believe in Him, look forward, everything will work out." and that helped a lot, I don't think I have to explain why. But we're stoked for this week, we have some new ideas to find new investigators and we're looking forward to putting them into practice. We also have a ward activity that should help a lot :)  I'll be sure to keep everyone updated on all the juicy stuff and I hope all is well on the home front! 

 

LOVE YOU!!!!!!

Elder Westenskow

"Whosoever Putteth His Trust in Him...Shall Be Lifted Up" 2/25/2013

First off-

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEAGAN!!! HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!!! 

 

on Thursday!  

 

 

 

Now, moving on!  Sounds like y'all had a good week, really glad for you for that, except for dad, sounds like he's been pretty sick. But I hope he's feeling better and maybe having a little bit more time to rest this last week! And about all the upcoming weddings. Who is Abby marrying? And when is JR getting married, you can't just drop stuff like that as if it were nothing ha ha. But I'm glad that things are going well.  

Now about us and our investigators. We had a pretty good week investigator wise, we were able to get with a few people and teach some really good lessons.  Karla is absolutely stoked for baptism, she's so ready. She has come to church 3 times now and is just super super excited so we're really excited for that. I wish there was more to tell but it's just marvelous to see someone accept so easily the gospel and an absolute change in life, and the best part, she's doing it with a desire to help others, already talking about teaching her mom about the church and her friends and stuff, she's stoked and we're stoked!  

Amelia and Evelyn are also progressing, there's something that is holding them back, we can't figure out what it is but we're working with them. They're attending church every week but for some reason they aren't ready to accept a fecha for baptism, so maybe prayers for them wouldn't go amiss. We have a cita on Tuesday and we're hoping to put the fecha for the 9th of this month, they already have everything they need to be baptized. Just a little push from the spirit and we're set I think.  

About Adriana, she's also progressing great, she said that if she receives her answer she'd get baptized and just jump into the church, the best part is that she's going to get it, she's studying a ton and reading and praying and all of it, its super legit!  She also came to church yesterday so the progress we're seeing there is super good.  

In spite of all of this, I must confess that this week was super duper slow ha ha. EVERYTHING fell, we taught about half the number of lessons of a normal week.  But I read in Mosiah 23:13-24 and felt better, read it y'all, I won't ruin the surprise :) 

Well, I think that's it, I'm still happy, loving life and loving the mission. 

LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!

Elder Westenskow