First Baptism!!!

Well last Sunday, I had my first convert baptism. HIs name is Tommy Walter. He is an 18 year old guy that had taken the discussions a year and a half before he could get baptized. I say "could" because his parents didn't want him to get baptized until he was 18. His baptism was one of the most spiritual baptisms I've ever witnessed. His will to do what he felt was right was just awesome. I feel really honored to be a part of his baptism. And to be able to usher him in to the kingdom of our God. Monday, on the other hand, was just a crazy, insane day. Well it started out really good. we went over to an investigator's home and set a baptismal date with her. But after that it all went down hill. Lets just say my trainer and I had a little mishap. I won't go too deep in to detail but it was crazy. If you really want to know, I'll e-mail you the story, I don't want publish it in a public place like this. Just let me know. Well this week has been really interesting and I know it will just get better. Talk to ya'll later.

ELDER ARCIA
(stripplingarcia@myldsmail.net)

Great News!!!!

Well to start off, I would like to tell ya'll that an Apostel of the Lord came to our mission and taught us a bit. Elder Ballard, of the Quorum of the Twelve, came last Saturday to speak to us about becoming Master Teachers. He taught us so much and the spirit was really strong. We also got the opportunity to shake his hand and get a picture token with him as a Zone. When I get my copy I'll send ya'll one. Also a great thing happened last Sunday, two of our investigators went to church. I was really excite to see them there, it made my whole week worth it. Then came Monday and it all went insane. Well we saw in our "potential investigators" list that there was this man named Juan, so we decited to call him. When he answered the phone he seemed really nice and sounded interested in hearing us. So we made an appointment to meet later that day. We went over to his house and he wasn't home so we stuck around a bit to see if he was ganna get there, and son enough he got there. Well he invited us in and was really eager to hear us. He went to go get his Bible and started to talk a bit. So he turnes out to be of this one church called "La Luz Del Mundo". Its this hardcore Bible based church that believes strictly on the Bible. He was throwing us all these scriptures and just wanted to Bible Bash with us. I liked the way we handled it. We didn't fight back and just took it like men. And he saw that we were not there to fight so he cooled down a bit. After that meeting my companion, Elder Myers, and I just had the Spirit drained out of us and couldnt function the rest of the day. On Wednesday we met with 2 of our investigators and taught them about the 2nd lesson - Linda felt the Spirit and knew that what we had taught her was true and had a tear in her eye. Cody is still confused but getting there. Thats all I have to say, see ya guys next week!

Love

ELDER ARCIA
(stripplingarcia@myldsmail.net)

O.P.M. (Only Perfect Mission) May 14, 2009

The Oregon, Portland Mission is awesome. I love it here. I know that this is where I'm suppose to be. I've learned so much in one week. I've been tracking like 7 hours a day. I've met so many nice people. Like Omar and Gaby, they're a young couple that want something better for their daughter, and Tommy has been investigating the church for a year is getting baptized on the 24th of May. I'm really excited for him and I know that he will be a great missionary. Also I've met some really nice Missionaries, like Elder Jimenez and Elder Gringeri, my Zone Leaders, they are great role models. This first week has really been crazy, with a bunch of conferences and meetings but I know that they are to help me get comfortable here. Well Im really excited to be here wish Icould say more. See ya'll later.

Elder Arcia

ELDER ARCIA
(stripplingarcia@myldsmail.net)

Im here!!!

Ya'll are lucky!! My P-DAY is now thursdays so i got to talk to ya'll twice this week. Well yesterday I got here to Portland, Oregon. This city is such a nice place. Its like a city within a rainforest. Everything is so green!! Downtown is beautiful. Im really blessed to have been called here. Im barely getting to know the area Im serving in. Its called Wilsonville. Its what some would call the rich side of town. My trainer's name is Elder Myers. He is a recent convert and has a great testimony of the Church that he wants to share with everyone. Im really lucky to have him as a trainer. He has taught me so much and Im really excited to be his companion and learn from him. I also met the mission President, President Dyches. He and his wife are some of the sweetest people i know and they are an example of what kind of life I want to have when I grow old. I also met a family in my area, the Wilsons. They are a nice, unified family. They are really interested in sharing the Gospel to all their freinds. They have even offered to have us teach one of their friends at their house. Well its been really nice to have shared all this new and exciting things. Hopefully I have more interesting things talk about next week. See ya'll!!!

ELDER ARCIA
(stripplingarcia@myldsmail.net)

PS: Send me some e-mails so I have something else to do on my P-DAY!

LAST DAY!!!

Well today is my last day here at the MTC, Im getting my first transfer to my mission field; Portland, Oregon. I have really liked this experience. It has strengthen my testimony and changed my life. I'm really excited to go out on the field. I can't wait to get out there and start teaching people. I have met many wonderful people that have changed my life in so many ways. i know this will stay with me for the rest of my life. Sorry that i haven't updated this in a while but I've been really busy and I only get a few minutes a day to write. I don't have photos right now cause my camera broke and I haven't got it back. I bought a couple of disposeable ones but i need to get them developed and put on a disc. I promise I will have some by the end of this month. Well its been really nice talking to ya'll but I need to get back to washing my laundry (who would have thought? right?). I'll get back at ya'll as soon as I can. MUCH LOVE!!!!

ELDER ARCIA