Thursday: well today started waking up at six o'clock so we had enough
time to head over to the temple. So that was a fantastic experience to
be in the house of the lord helping with his work on the other side of
the veil! Giving those that had not had the chance to accept this
message here a gran opportunity to receive this saving ordinances.
Then after our wonderfully spiritual time in the temple! We went to go
get my hair cut and man it feels so nice to have my hair really short
again with all this heat! Then it was back to the chapel to play some
volleyball ball and board games which was a blast! Then of to dominos
for lunch with the zone and then it was back to the church to email
every one so that was great! After emailing barrio six had a noche
hogar and since we were already going to be spending the night we
decided to stay around for the noche de hogar which was great! We even
played a little volleyball with the youth and the YSA and my team
destroyed! Then it was back to the piso for the night.
Friday: well today we had the zone conference about working with
members which was good all though I have been trying to work with the
members here in Cuenca and at least a bit smoother and there aren't
so many conflicts any more but I guess one of the big reasons I am
here is to help this small ward function like it needs to be! So I
hope that some day this small branch can get it wheels turning and
get going with this great work! Well then we all made sandwiches and
ate watermelon with the zone for lunch so that was great! And then got
a letter which was also a nice little blessing! Inside the letter was
a Mormon message that said prayer is the passport to peace which I
could use with my comp. So we will see how this last week goes until
he goes home! The rest of our night was filled with weekly planning
and a small bit of contacting to head to the chapel to take a survey
that the zone leaders said we all needed to take other then we got to
the chapel and there was no survey so oh well!
Saturday: well today started off with a basketball activity .Either
that or he thinks basketball is American football always grabbing me
and trying to trip me which I just laugh off. Then we had to go to the
computer lab so he could take all the photos off of his iPad to turn
his iPad back into the mission! Then off to hermana Patricia's house
for a noche hogar which went really well with sebichue de Ecuador
which was so good haven't had that in so long! And then of to the piso
to plan for the night.
Sunday: well today we had to meet up with a couple members from b4 at
the bus station so that we could help them get to the chapel. Then at
church Fabian the one YSA member we have gave a great talk about
conversion and his own conversion. Then Soraya gave an awesome talk
about making choices using elder monsons talk which is something we
all need to remember. Then later we had a great lesson with Petra and
saw one of the greatest miracles I have seen thus far in my mission
her husband is inactive because some of the things that he's done and
have happened in his life. However they were on vacation last week and
Petra invited him to go to church and he did for the first time in
over four years and had a complete change of heart! So in our lesson
he came in and listened to us with out us even inviting him to so that
was super awesome! He participated and even bore his testimony about
the church! So it was a very awesome Sunday! So just remember God is
good beer is bad and people are crazy but can change! Bonus points if
you get the song reference haha!
Love you guys!
Love, Elder Strong!
Well love you all and hope you have a great week.
Love, Elder Strong
Well since I don't want to make you guys suffer through reading an
email that could be super lengthy in writing for a week in a half I
thought this time I would just Summarize what all went down here in
Cuenca from the past week and a half. Well not much has changed
basically all of our investigators are still on vacation or are just
not picking up the telephone which was not so fun because that meant
many long hours out in the sun contacting, contacting and
more contacting. However we were able to meet with E_ a few times
and he said once work slows down in the hotel about the end of August
he should have time to start coming to church again. Also on the
bright side of things here in Cuenca is another menos activa just got
her job schedule changed so that she will be able to start coming to
church again so that will be absolutely awesome! We also found a pet
from the piso haha just kidding but we did find this really nice stray
cat that came up and started cuddling up to elder kemph so we played
with the cat for a couple minutes and then left to the next address.
Then on Friday was a big day with our piso inspection which if you
would like to see more pics you can look them up on the Madrid mission
Facebook group. I am proud to say that we earned the celestial
kingdom award for the cleanliness of our piso. Then we had interviews
with president where president said that Elder Kenpf is most likely
finishing his mission this transfer which most likely means that I
will be here for at least one more or maybe two more transfers which
maybe 6 weeks or 3 months. But hey I know that God put me here
because he trusts me to do hard things.
Later Saturday we had a great basketball activity where we manly just
played knock out because no one wanted to play an actual game, and
then angel the P_ husband who just got back from France
invited us over to have a noche de hogar with them which was as great
as always talking about missionary work the members can do and playing
some cards. By the way I hope all you future missionaries RMs and all
the rest of the members are putting in their effort to help with this
great work.
Well at church it was very reverent with the kids not running around
every where so that was super nice. We also had a branch lunch where
half the branch brought food to share but only half of us stayed to
eat it, so there was a great feast haha. Then a lot of the rest of our
time here in Cuenca as usual was spent contacting in the street so
that is always fun but we have finally managed to see a few fruits of
our labors. While in the street we ran into Pa_ again and were able
to set up and have a lesson with him and then also with a new
investigator named R_ who is atheist but I have a testimony that
all people can change. That testimony came from the one baptism I have
had so far in my mission. It was a fourteen year old young man who at
the beginning wanted nothing to do with us and said he was never going
to believe in God and then in one lesson his heart completely opened and
he decided he wanted to get baptized and we were able to baptize him
that following Sunday. But that's not all two weeks after his baptism
he was asking for a Book of Mormon to give to his friend and has been
bringing his friend to church every Sunday! Now that is a true member
missionary if I ever saw one!
Well we also had a lesson with M_ And her family where O_ told me
that the United States basketball team crushed China with a score of
119 to 62 or something like that. Then he said that he thinks it will
be Spain against the USA in the final but when we were at correlation
F_ was saying that Spain lost to Croatia so I guess we'll see!
Then we had a two hour bus ride to Madrid to spend the night. But once
we arrived the other elders weren't there so we helped the hermanas
teach English class which went really well! Then it was off to piso to
make sure everything was ready to go for the temple tomorrow.
Monday: well today was kind of just a take time to chill pday we went
and looked at ages stores to see if there where any cool shoes or
anything that we wanted to buy but we decided not to get anything. But
one of the stores had wifi so we were able to receive a few emails
which is always one of the best parts of pday! Then we went and did
some family history where through out the past month I have managed to
find over 200 names for the temple. Then it was off to buy food and
eat and take a small nap and then back to emailing till the end of
pday. Then Back to Work ahà hay was just contacting in the street
which went well because we managed to receive two new references and
one even turned out to be a new investigator..
Tuesday: well today we had a lesson with Eric about how we are going
to have trials each and every one of us but as we press forward in
faith we can over come these trials, we can see the light on the other
side of the tunnel. And we will receive the blessings that come after
the trial of our faith. Then he thought he could beat me and my comp
at presidents but we had to go over to the branch presidents house so
we told him that we would come by on Monday! So then it was off to the
branch presidents house for dinner a small lesson on patients and then
talking about how the church is trying to use the new Pokemon game as
a missionary tool so we'll see how that goes. And then we were suppose
to talk about the branch activity to show off our new chapel to the
community but we had to go home.
Wednesday: well today started off with a wonderful district meeting
via Skype. Through out the district meeting the main focus was on how
we as missionaries can better prepare our selves to teach the gospel.
So we first talked about how we need to study what we are going to
teach because the Holy Ghost can't plant impressions in our heart of
things we haven't taken the time to learn about and study. Then we
talked about using questions which I think is really key to teaching
exspecialy when it is teaching the gospel because if we let our
friends participate in the lesson it not only allows them to build on
their own testimony but also allows them to open up their heart to our
message. Then like usual we got to contact a bit.
Thursday: well one of our investigators is finally back in town after
about three months of vacation so that was nice to get a hold of her
and set up an appointment meant for next week. Then we had a lesson
with Marta about making sure we are staying in the right path and not
deviating from the course so that went well. Then it was of to contact
for the rest of the day.
Friday: well today we had a lesson with Eric which went great we
talked about how we all have a great meaning in this life as children
of God then shared the story of the patito feo or in English the ugly
duckling. We talked about how many times in life we may feel like we
are nothing and that if we some how disappeared no one would notice I
can almost guarantee that many people will never admit to ever feeling
that way but I can guarantee that many if not all of you have had days
like that me included. However I would like to offer this counsel look
up to heaven with a prayer in your heart and you feel of the love our
Heavenly Father has for you being a child of God has more worth then
earning a doctorate or becoming a professional athlete so just
remember you are his child and his love will always surround you.
Saturday: well today like usual started of with our basketball
activity which went well and I think that every one had a really good
time. Then we came home took a nice refreshing shower had some lunch
and then it was off to help set up the chapel for the open doors
activity that we had which went pretty well although it turned out to
be more of a noche de hogar which was great! Because one of the less
actives we are teaching came to the activity and really enjoyed it so
that was great! Then it was off to have a noche hogar with Patricia
and her family! So we talked about how sometimes we don't get the
answer we want to a prayer but how we still must follow that answer
and the Holy Ghost. Then had some pizza and played some presidents so
it was a great night.
Sunday: well today was a wonderful day at church with the opportunity
to bless the sacrament again it is a huge spiritual recharge for me
every single week! The talks were wonderful about trusting in gods
timing something we have definitely been working on here in Cuenca!
All you can really do is work hard and trust in God! That's a great
mission quote if your looking for one Haha! But really as long as we
trust in God he will help us continue in the right path pressing
forward in faith in Christ all things according to his will will be
made possible!
Well hope every one has a great week over there in the states or here
in Spain or whoever you might happen to be through out the world in
this precise moment! Love you all!
Love Elder Fuerte.
