Do you ever expect the unexpected? Are we ever ready for the unexpected. Sometimes we might think we are, but then something happens that just blows us out of the water! Makes us do what we did not plan for and the our whole views turns around. That has been my week, and it ended the same yesterday.

     Monday... Well Last Monday we had our preparation day. After e-mailing our families we went up to Metarie to play basketball. I forgot to bring my shows so I played basketball in Sandals instead. And lets just say, it didn't slow me down. Later on that day we had an appointment, which was canceled before our preparation day was even over. The reason being was because There was Tornando Warnings all over Louisiana and we were to quickly return home. Well we had a good hour drive home with traffic and there was not much of a storm anywhere. When we arrived home the storm of rain finally hit us. Thanks to Sis. Hickerson and her many Papa John points that she got us free pizza! She was soo awesome that she also gave the other missionaries in our district pizza who were stuck at home. It was a loong night at the apartment not being to do much.

Unexpected Event #1

Tuesday- I can't really remember what happened

Wednesday- We had an AWESOME Zone Conference with our mission President! My companion and I were asked to be Volunteers and there were really sweet instructions on Unity within one and the companion and then also being positive and building each other up. At the End President Hansen share a awesome instruction on Repentance. And It hit me super hard because of a friend who we are recently teaching. Ruben has been a great investigator and progressing a LOT. But recently we have come to find out and we thought him that he has been looking to learn in a more intellectual way instead of a spiritual way. We told him we could answer all his question, but they would be of no worth if he does not belief in the things in which we teach or if he does belief and he does not act he will not come to know of the truthfulness of the things which we share with him. So E. Passey and I decided that on Wednesday night we were going to let him know our purpose and re-evaluate what he was looking for. When President Hansen shared the Instruction on Repentance and shared scriptures with us, all that came to my mind was Ruben and our lesson. Our purpose as missionaries is to invite other to come unto Christ. And how do we come unto Christ? By repenting and changing, becoming more Christ-like. So it was perfect. On this Wednesday night, Elder Passey and I probably had our best lesson yet. It was powerful, to the point, and super spiritual! We could tell that Ruben understood and that he felt it. We let him know that we are not forcing him to do anything or to get baptized. But inviting him to come closer to our Savior in whom he strongly believes. Now as to what happens next it is up to him. If anything, that night I received a reminder of my purpose as a missionary. That we as missionaries are not just here to hand out information alone to just blow people's minds on what we know to be true. But our main purpose being to help others know of Christ and grow closer to him by allowing themselves to be changed for their benefit, by repenting and following the the commandments which he has given us. It definitely was a testimony builder for me! - So We had a lesson planned but it really changed into more detail when we received that inspiration. And It was completely unexpected! 

Unexpected Event # 2

Thursday- I forgot what happened during the day. BUT... we got to go to the MOVIE THEATER! 

So earlier in the week we were informed by our Mission President that we could no longer go to the movie theater as missionaries for this one occasion to watch the new MEET THE MORMONS Movie. And we had already set up a day to go with one of our friends who is investigating the church (REGGIE). So Elder Passey and I decided to ask personally to our Mission President if we could get permission. He said YES! And ONLY if we were NOT paying for ourselves. So we got invited and we got to go to the movie theaters on the mission! That was WEIRD... Not every day do you see missionaries at the theater. We as missionaries definitely felt out of place. We got starred at and talked about. We just completely felt weird. It was an interesting experience though. We enjoyed it though. Never did i think i would get permission on my mission to go to a theater. 

Unexpected Event # 3

Friday- Had good appointments. Talked Spanish all day. And it was a day where i cannot remember much of.

Saturday- Helped our Spanish Branch President. Did service all morning. Had pizza. Did our West Bank Tradition with the new missionaries of OOGA BOOGA. 

Sunday- Talk about ending the week on a GREAT NOTE! It started out being a regular sweet Sunday. Then I found out that English and SPanish were combined because of the primary program which was awesome. We missionaries got the opportunity to sing with the primary kids the song "I am a child of God" (in spanish). As i walked up I realized that in the back was somebody I knew. My sweet friend MCAT was sitting in the back. It hit me completely by surprise. I never thought that I would see anyone i knew out on my mission. And yea i was proven wrong. It was an awesome surprise though. My whole day was thrown off but it was great to see a familiar face! 

Unexpected Event #4

So yea it has been a mind blowing week! So I would say, expect the unexpected. But I do not think that is completely possible. So My words of wisdom for the week will be. Receive the unexpected with open arms and embrace it, learn from it, grow from it. Enjoy each and every moment. Life is too short to be down. 

Keep your head up! 

Hope you all have a great week!

Much Love,

Elder Caiña