Nice!!!

This week has been awesome!!! I really enjoyed having interviews with the mission President, and getting to talk to him for a bit. It recharged my "spiritual batteries". Now that the sun is out, after two weeks of no sun, I feel a lot batter. I never thought that the sun could control my mood so much. But now Im ready to work hard.
My companion, Elder Davis, is a really good effecive worker. He knows how to get things done but is always open to suggestions. I think that this is the best companionship that I have had. We work together and with unity. This has been great!
Our investigators are doing really good. We have two people with baptismal dates. Lourdes and Jesus are working hard to get baptized on the 7th of Feb. We kinda stole them from the english missionaries. They had started to teach them but they coulfd not understand so we went with them to teach and ended up teaching the whole lesson. I kinda feel bad about it because they are really good investigators. They are reading, praying and attending church. They are golden! Adriana is ready to be baptized. She had been taught the lessons by some other missionaries but moved out and could not get in touch with them. But she finally found a member that helped her get in touch with us. She loves going to church and she said that she can feel the spirit there raelly strong. Josefina is also starting to get a lot more interested in the church. She is reading the Gospel Principles book with her niece. She says that she has had an answer given to her but she is afraid of doing anything with it. We are looking for support for her with the Relief Society. She likes the sisterhood that it brings and wants to be a part of it. I can see how the Lord helps us when we do what he asks us. We were struggling to find some one that was ready but the Lord put three people in our way that are more then ready to make covenents. This area is starting to get better and better!

I really enjoyed all the photos that yall have sent me. They cheer me up! Well take care and dont get in to too much trouble. Love ya!!!
--
Elder Arcia
(pablo.arcia.valdes@myldsmail.net)

Humbled or humiliated?

These past 9 months on the mission have really taught me a lot about myself and about life. There are so many things that have changed in me, and I still change every day. I can't say that I am the same as I was then.
This week has been good. Elder Davis and I have been working a lot. We have been knocking and talking with members to find people to teach. Its really has been working out for us. We found like 5 people that we think have good potential.
I feel really comfortable with Elder Davis. He is a good missionary and knows how to teach. He always a want to go out and work. That's what I like about him.
Yesterday we had a Family Home Evening with a family that wants to invite their friends to church. They invited us to share a quick message about the restoration with their friends. We taught them how Christ formed His church and how that church was destroyed by the people. We saw the video about the restoration. The lesson went as planned and we saw that most of the people there were interested in knowing more. Let's see what happens with them. After that we had some "caldo de camarones". It was good! Too bad my companion hates shrimp. He says that he is starting hate them less.
Something funny happened to me. Just before that lesson, we were driving and my companion was telling me that I was ganna get a ticket for driving fast. Just as he finished saying that, I saw police lights in back of me. he totally jinxed me! The good thing is that then officer just let me off with a warning. Didn't report it or anything. My guardian angel was looking out for me.

ELDER ARCIA
(stripplingarcia@myldsmail.net)

Transfers!!

Yesterday was Transfer day. They split Elder Battaglia and I. I was kinda bummed to have to switch companions. We were starting to get along better and working a lot harder. It just seems like our time together went too fast. But the Lord calls whom he needs.
My new companion Elder Davis is a sweet guy. I kinda know him because we were in the same district a while ago. He seems like a cool, laid back person, who likes to work. I know that we will have a lot of fun this transfer.
This last week has been good. We started this program on the mission, Collect the Elect. It focuses on getting the members to give us referrals and helping us teach those referrals. We are trying to start out the year strong. I know that this will help us.
I'm really excited for this next week. Our investigators are coming back from vacations and its just a matter of time till we get the chance of baptizing them.
Well that's all that I have for ya'll today. Hope that all goes well for ya. Take care and good luck. Love ya!!

ELDER ARCIA
(stripplingarcia@myldsmail.net)

Happy New Year!!!

First of all, I want to wish you all a very Happy New Year!! Im really excited to see what this next year has in store for me and for all of you. This last year was a good year full of blessings. I know that this next one will be a lot better.
I welcomed the New Year like any other missionary should. In a huge party!! hahaha JUST KIDDING!!! I was well asleep when the New Year came around. I know that it sounds less than exciting but that what you have to do when your in the service of the Lord. I can't complain. We had a branch New Year's party where we ate and got to know each other. It was good. This branch really knows how to thow a party!
My New Years resolution is to be a better missionary than I was last year. Not to have many baptisms but to be more obedient and to work harder and more effectively than what I have last year. I hope that the Lord will bless me and help me complete the goals that I have set for myself.
This last week was good. We helped some in-actives go back to church for the first time in 2+ years. And fast and testimony week was the best time for them to feel the Spirit again. Hopefull it keeps on going like this. We might get a few baptisms this month if it all goes well.
Well, I love ya'll. May God bless you and your's this new year. See ya in 2011!!!

ELDER ARCIA
(stripplingarcia@myldsmail.net)