April 21st

What a Beautiful Week!

The weather this week was amazing! There were about 3 or 4 days in a row where there were clear skies and lots of sun. It is nice to have a break from the dreary, rainy days.

This week was also very good for us as missionaries as well. We found some awesome new investigators and had some very good lessons with members. One of our new investigators is an older man who is not a member and his wife who is a member. On Thursday we went to visit them with another member in the ward. The lesson was awesome because the member that went with us basically talked the whole time and bore a strong testimony of how the gospel and the church blesses his life tremendously and how it can bless the life of the investigator. The investigator did not accept the invitation to be baptized, but he will think on it. Elder River and I are continuing to work with him.

On Monday evening last week we taught a powerful lesson on the Atonement of Jesus Christ to two of our investigators: a mother and her daughter. What makes the Atonement so amazing is because it is key to our salvation. Through Christ´s selfless sacrifice, we can be forgiven of our sins, be clean spiritually and mentally, and have joy in knowing that we will return to live with Heavenly Father again. The Atonement is so amazing to teach and I know that our investigators felt something special, especially the mother. She has a desire to change, but at the same time she doesn´t want to change, which makes Elder Rivera and I sad because the Gospel can really help her in her life.

On Friday we had divisions with Elder Eraso and Elder Bell, who is from Bakersfield, California! I was with Elder Eraso in Loma Hermosa and Elder Bell was with Elder Rivera in our area. It is nice to have a break from the "usual" day to day stuff and experience how other missionaries do things. Nothing much really happened except that Elder Eraso helped me speak more in lessons and do more contacts which helps me a lot.

My Español is doing very well! I can understand people about 85% of the time and I am helping a lot in lessons and talking with the members and generally just trying to speak as much as I can.

Easter Sunday was really good! We had an investigator attend church, we ate Asado with a family of investigators for lunch after church, and gave 2 blessings. The Asado was Amazing!

Hope you all had a wonderful week and Happy Easter!

Les Amo,  Elder Giles

Our baptism on the 12 of April! Belen was baptized by her father and then confirmed by Elder Rivera on Sunday!

There were 3 baptisms on the 12th. Melody is the baptism of Elder Eraso and Elder Bell (Elder Paskett was transfered the Wednesday before) and the other is from the ward!