So this week A lot happened but not that much happened at the same time. We were super busy, but i can not remember everything we did. And I did not take pictures of everything I did, like service. So This week I only have two Pictures. But A little bit about this week.... let see what i can remember....

   Well Wednesday night we visited one of our Less Active Families (who actually showed up to church this Sunday!). We were talking to them while they were preparing us dinner. And suddenly someone comes out of nowhere and her name was Jaqueline. It turns out that she had just moved in to the same house with her husband from Mexico. And so they are staying with our Less Active Family for a while. Armando called her and introduced her to us. And Elder Passey and I started talking to her. We both knew right away that it was a great missionary opportunity! Eventually we got her talking about church and how she was not yet in a church because she was usually just stuck inside her home most of the time. We then got a call from the Sisters who needed a ride and so we had 30 minutes. Food was not done and so we decided that we still need to have at LEAST a small lesson. We did not come planned for a non-member to be there. So we followed with teaching the first part of the Plan Of Salvation. She was VERY curious about the questions "where did we come from" What is our purpose" and "where are we going". She WANTED to know. Because of short time we left her with the Pamphlet to read over. But what was the MOST powerful part of that lesson was when Armando (less Active) bore his testimony to them! Elder Passey and I let him take over. And it was SUPER powerful! It was AWESOME! That was where we ended. Before we left her husband Carlos arrived home. And we talked to him for a bit. He said he had studied with missionaries in Tennessee and went to church. But his friend who gave him a ride passed away. And after that he never heard from the missionaries again. It was a blessing to have found them through members! That was a wonderful night and we will be going back this Wednesday!

     Friday we did service. we helped out Our Branch President moving things around his home. It was going to be his Wife's birthday on Saturday and his home is still not finished because he just recently moved in and the people are still working on his house while they are living there so it is crazy in there. So we helped him out. Basically just making room around the house so people could get in and see a nice home. We were glad that we were able to help him. The Fossati's have taken care of us every day specially this last week for me and my hurt back. And it was the least thing we could do for them. They are a blessing to the missionaries and to the Branch! 

     Saturday we did more service! We painted a few walls on the outside of a house. It was in the morning so it was not bad at all. It was a fun small project. And then we spent a good amount of the afternoon helping the other missionaries in our district with rides because we are the only ones in a car and the sisters are on foot and the others who are on bikes need a ride every now and then, specially when they miss a bus.But in the end I just really enjoy the opportunity to help those around me. 

    Sunday was super fun and super filling! Brother Ory, Brother Getcher, and Brother Newman all came down to the West Bank! I had visited them and served with them in the Covington Ward when I was up in my last area in Mandeville! It was Awesome to see them again! It brought back great memories. Brother Ory and Brother Getcher both came down to give talks in the Spanish Sacrament, they were both suppose to be in Spanish but Brother Ory decided to ask for a someone to translate for him. Think he did the right thing, his spanish sounded a little rusty. ha... But Both talks given were powerful and very good. It was a really good Sunday Service.

    Elder Passey and I accidentally have filled ourselves up with 4 dinner appointments without knowing last night!!! We were scared... Thankfully we were able to change one for Wednesday...  So in the end we only had 3. After the first one we could barely move!... So the 2 dinner we both didn't eat. Thankfully in was a meeting with our Ward leader so he understood. Then in like 2 hours we had enough room for our last meal. But at the same time we didnt... I do not know how we did it! We visited the McCue's! We ate soo much we had 2nd for some odd reason! It was Super good!!! We might have sinned by eating too much... ha We shared a short message on temples with them. Reggie is going to Temple Square for his first time this weekened! So we are hoping that opens the door for him to be more open about the gospel. He told us he knew he was not allowed in the temple because he is not a member. Elder Passey and I told him no...  He is absolutely allowed in the Temple, everyone is welcome, you just have to get baptized first. So we said "you are just not allowed in YET"... haha he just laughed. He knows we are trying to convert him haha. It was  a great night, and we were happy stuffed turkey's by the end of the day. 

    That concludes my week. With one full week left in the transfer! Wow, this one has flown by. Looks like my time in the West Bank might be up. But One never knows what can happen! 

   Hope you all have a great week! Have fun and make the BEST out of EVERY MOMENT! 

Much Love,

Elder Caiña

Lets Gooooooooooooo!

     How's it going everyone? Hope everyone is taking it easy and enjoy each and every day we have been blessed with!I have had a very slow week. So i might not have much to say. But I have made really good goals for a better week this week. But still, I have found out that blessing still do come when even if you at least have good desires and good intentions in your heart. Even though we still mess up, and maybe even just be stupid.

     First a bit about how I am doing. Well I used to have a hard time waking up on time. It was even harder to get up and work out. For the longest time I have been trying to work on that. And It all changed last week. 2 saturdays ago I receive motivation! ha I have woken up on time every single day since then and got my work out in everyday without fail! Last Saturday I ran and added a ab work out after. And I did the same today. Sunday is the day of rest so we do not work out on those days. But yea I have been doing GREAT in that catagory. I was at 168, I have gone back down to 160 pretty quickly. And I am eating super well! I have seriously cut back on Soda and Candy and trash food. Like, I am SHOCKED at myself that i am really doing this! haha But I do feel Awesome! ha yea besides that, Elder Passey and I did get lazy on the work for some reason. (this is what I mean about just being stupid) I do not know why. It was not very smart to put some missionaries to live next to each other. haha, Elder Passey and I have noticed that though and this week we have made a goal to spend less time around them so that we could get more work done. And we have a lot of people to visit so we will have our hands full this week. 

  

     So even with a slow week, we still had that desire to work. Even though it was not really that effective this week. I think we were blessed to see a miracle because of our desires and intentions. We did have a sweet miracle happen this week! So I have had Bro. Hickerson in my mind a lot over the past few weeks. He has been working off shore and wont be back till late october. But his wife lets us know how he is doing. So a little back ground, he does not believe in Jesus Christ. He does not believe he really did exist and that he isn't needed. He believed that we could go straight to Heavenly Father without  Jesus Christ. He knows all the lessons and everything. So teaching the main points would have been pointless. So Missionaries, can not remember if it was Elder Hale and I or other missionaries before that, but they told him to read the book Jesus the Christ. (Super Good Book). 2 weeks ago his wife told us what he said after reading a few chapters. He had said that the Book was "turning the myth into a man".That was awesome progression to hear. We were so happy! He had asked to speak with us because he had a few questions. So we asked President Hansen for Permission to use facebook because it was the best way he could communicate with us on land while he was off shore. President Hansen wouldn't let us. So we prayed hard for him! Yesterday after church we talked to Sis. Hickerson to see how he was doing. She had the biggest smile on her face. And she told us that after he had his question, he had just decided to re-read the first 2 chapters of Jesus the Christ to get a better understanding. (Note: he was only reading because his computer  had broken and stopped working. Other wise he would be watching movies on his computer instead of reading). And he said that everything just got cleared up for him! He sent his wife a message saying to her, "If I could, I would get baptized RIGHT NOW"!!!! Those were the Most AMAZING words I have heard!!!! We were ALL STOKED!!! I Literally could have jumped up and down, ran around and scream for joy... If we had not been in the church. So we continued to talk to her saying that now, all we have to do is wait 56 days till he comes back home. We are all so excited! She said she went on to tell him about her new calling as a Young Women's President, and his reply to her was "go read 1st Nephi 3:7 .... She was shocked how he had just quoted scripture to her. haha Bro. Hickerson is basically a Member already! I have been waiting for this moment for him to progress. I LOVE how heavenly Father works! He broke his computer, so that he could read, so that he could receive the answer he had been looking for his whole life. The Church is most OBVIOUSLY TRUE! Oh how I love the mission and the Tender Mercies of the Lord! 

     Those were the biggest points of my pants week. We also got invited to a birthday party where Elder Passey and I both beat up a Piñata. 

      

     We also went out with Many who is part an investigator and part member...? He has been baptized but not confirmed yet. So we do not know his whole reason why. It i really complicated. He know and has told us that he was just Baptized to early. But he has really come a long way! He is actually a gay. But after meeting with the missionaries and taking lessons. His desire to follow that path has left him. It has been amazing to see his progression. He is an awesome guy. He loves the church a ton! It is super cool because he know Drew Brees Personally and the Louisiana State District Attorney. We met her last Thursday. It was cool. 

     Yup that is about it. Hope you guys have a great week! We are heading to the French Market again today. Just to look around since our whole district is broke haha. But we will just make fun experiences in the "Big Easy".

Love The Missionary in the South,

~Elder Caiña