Hey ya'll,

     How ya'll been being? It has been another long week, but a great one! Had so much to do, many people to focus on and booked with things to do. Our whole week was mainly of this baptism weekend that we had with our 2 families and a total of 3 kids being baptized. Making sure they had their lessons done making sure they got their interviews, making sure their whole family had a ride to the church the night of the baptism and so on. It was a bit stressful but it was TOTALLY worth it!

     So this week, the obedience that Elder Page and I have been working on have greatly improved! We have found ourselves following everything correctly and we are starting to slowly become more and more used to it. It gives us more happiness and peace and helps us be more alert throughout the day, both spiritually and mentally. Which helps a lot during our studies and as we look for new people to teach and while we teach those who we have already planned for. Things just seem to fall into place more and more easily! 

With obedience on our plate, it has continually helped Elder Page and I grow our companionship unity. We push each other to do our best in every "rule" we strive to keep and even the little things. We are constantly keeping each other uplifted and smiling trying to have fun non-stop with the work that we do. So that others may see the happiness that this gospel brings. Because as you know people always wonder how Mormons are always so happy. We love our mission and we know that the closer we become as a companionship the more powerful our efforts will be.
     Miracles or tender Mercy's: I just love the members! As i said earlier we were trying to find a ride for a family so they could see their son get baptized (Valle Family). the last ride that we had set up for them, canceled. So we were stuck, others who lived by them did not answer their phones so we had no one else to ask beside those who were already at the baptism. President Hector Garcia lives in the opposite side of this family and they were a good distance away. We asked if anyone could please go and pick them up and bring them, and President Garcia easily volunteered. Even after setting everything up and doing all that we could so that everyone could be there and everything would be fine, something still happened that was trying to stop us. But with the help of members things were able to come to pass. Although we started an hour and 15 minutes late, nothing stopped the baptisms. This was a tender mercy for me because it just shows how we cannot do it all alone. We will need others no matter how much you have left in the tank, at some point in time, we will need others (the Lord,members,companion, etc.) to help us get certain things accomplished.

      So yes this past weekend i had my first baptism. Sister Nereida Valle's son turned 8 in Oct. 6th and Elder Page and I thought him the lessons and prepared him for baptism. Short story bout that. The whole last weekend we were focusing on getting one of his 2 older brothers to baptize him because they had the priesthood and the authority to do it. So we were pushing for his older Brother Nick to baptize him but this option scared Gabriel and he did not like the idea. This being because ALL of his brothers told him that if they were the ones to baptize him, they woould drown him, keep him under water till he turns blue, or leave him under till he starts floating. Gabriel got scared of his brothers comments so he did not want them to do it. And aside from that Sis. V was loudly talking to me asking me why i could not do it (Gabriel had previously chosen me to baptize him). After a good time of discussing. We noted the fact that Gabriel prayed and asked God himself to see who would be the one to baptize him and he said "Elder Caina, you!". So i had the honors to baptize Gabriel and it was a wonderful experience! It was not easy because he is a WILD little boy but we got is done. 

     As well as Gabriel getting baptized there was also 2 other little girls, Iliana and Daisy Urbina. 2 sisters who are very close with each other and absolutely LOVE the gospel! They are part of a very less active family that Elder Page and I visit. And We found out last month that they were in a very strong wanting of getting baptized! And let me tell you, they were surely prepared! They had been attending church with their uncle because their parents didn't attend and they just love going to church. So we immediately took action and asked the sister Missionaries if they could teach the two little girls to prepare them for baptism.  We thought it would be better if they were taught by the sisters instead of us. So they did and they prepared them on time for last Saturday. So we had a total of 3 baptisms last week all from Elder Page and I's area!

     This week has really been a converting week, power of this Gospel is amazing and it can do wonders! The families of those who were baptized were less active families. And although it has just been 1 Sunday since then. Those families showed up to church! one of which was his first time back in over 5 months! My first time seeing him at church since i have been here. And it was a really JOYFUL feeling to see them there! I have a strong feeling that the decision of these kid who got baptized will be an example and the beginning of a change to help their families come back and be active again! 

      There is Hope everywhere, and we can give out that hope! So this past week i was reading in the Book of Moroni and there were so many things that just stuck out to me. As well as the Book of Mormon promise, what also stuck out to me was Moroni Chap. 10:20 Where it talks about wherever there is Faith, there must be Hope, which there must almost be Charity. It stuck out to me because as we have been talking a lot about hope i was wondering a lot of how we must give it but then i wondered, where exactly do WE get it from? I just love how it talks about Charity in order to have hope and faith! How do we gain hope, we gain hope by giving and showing love. By SERVICE! That is how we obtain it. To me, it makes sense because when i help others, and see the smiles and joy that comes to those i am helping, it gives me hope knowing that i can change and help someone's life. That i can make a difference! And once we see that, we obtain it and then from there is how we share it and GIVE HOPE! Sorry i might be scrambling words here a bit but hope that makes sense.

     What Elder Page and I have strive to do to bring hope to others and try to give them a little taste of the beautiful warm and peaceful spirit that there is in the gospel. And we talk and visit, we found out we can not always leave them with some scripture because they are always running out. We do our best to at LEAST leave them with a prayer or a small act of service. I prayer of hope and blessings, letting them know that their is people who care and want to help. Just yesterday as we headed hope from church there was a family neared our home who was trying to push a big truck up a small hill. We past them and i saw that they were struggling. I called Elder Page and told him to turn around because we were helping. These people were a bit elderly and they were trying to do this heavy work. So Elder Page and I helped push the truck for them. And it reality it was only like a 3 yard push. . But they needed the help. And o boy were they Thankful that we helped them! They would not stop saying "thank you". That afternoon, Elder Page and I knew we gave them Hope! 

The little things in our life can be the biggest joy for others! 

     That is my stories and experiences of the week! Now i get to start the Book of Mormon again! So excited!

     I hope you are all learning as much as i am!!! Remember we can all have these types of experiences. Not only missionaries!

Have a Blessed Week!!!

Love Always,

~Elder Caiña

We must open our Spiritual Eyes!

Hello Everyone! 

    Feel like it has been awhile since i wrote to everyone! Well I do not know if ya'll know but we had transfers and now i am a trainer and my new companion is Elder Page from Utah! He has been out 7 weeks and he is still working on gaining his Spanish. At first when i heard of my new calling i was really nervous because i had just barely finished my own training. Although I was a Zone leader for awhile it still hit me a bit. But now i see that i was stressing out for nothing. I LOVE MY new calling and my new companion! He is great, he is a go with the flow type of guy and he is very quiet (we are changing that). Over the past week and a half we have already found a lot of success. This is Elder Page's first biking area and he was really nervous about that since he has asthma. I felt bad because i did not know about this the first few days and i was just flying with my bike and i look back often and he was far behind. And then we also had a 8 miles bike ride to Saint Rose and he was really scared about that. Thank goodness by then i knew i about his asthma and i didn't go as fast. He is a tough Elder though. He is always looking at the positives and has not fainted or dropped on me yet.  

       So about this past week, after settling down and being more calm about things we were 2 away from reaching our stake goal of 25 lessons. Last week we had 23! Now, numbers do not count and they are not something we should strive. But when i personally see this it shows me the amount of families we have been able to help and touch this week! With our investigator Noel we were able to teach him the Restoration and after watching the video with him, he told us how he loved how Joseph Smith had that desire to know and ask questions and how he was worthy to has such a marvelous experience to see God the Father and Jesus Christ. After wards he told us that he could really believe that the things that happened to Joseph Smith actually happened. It was a beautiful things to hear! And on top of that he had read more from the Book of Mormon! We have seen a good amount of progress with Noel and now his next step is to attend church! We are so happy to see him moving forward. It is going slowly, but SURELY!

       Last Saturday we went to visit our investigator Juan around 8 at night. On our way there my front tire popped and immediately went out of air. We were faced with either going back home or go to the app. and be late back home. Without hesitation, i decided to keep going and we went walking to our appointment. On our way there we got a hold of the Zone Leaders and they were free that night so the said they could pick us up after. We got to Juan's home and a few minutes later the Zone Leaders showed up so we had 4 missionaries at his home. Once we begun the lesson, in which we had talked about just sharing a spiritual message with him, i was inspired to ask him about baptism and what was holding him back from that step because the Elder and I knew that he was prepared. He told us nothing was holding him back. So we were wondering what it was. As we talked and asked questions he finally told us that he has never prayed asking that specific question before, and no one has really told him that he NEEDED to do that. So right there, We answered the question on how we can help him progress to get him closer to that step. And throughout that entire lesson the spirit was present without a doubt and Elder Griffin and I could see that he had water in his eyes, about to cry. He never did, but we knew that he felt the same spirit and Love that filled the room. This is one of my biggest Miracle/tender mercies i have had. Showing me the power of asking questions and teaching people not lessons. It was a powerful, powerful 'lesson'.

     Lastly, we found new potential investigators for my first time here in the mission! This family lives right enext to a wonderful very loud and crazy but loving family, the Valle's or V's home. We met Sarah Moreno and her husband along with their kids. Last Sunday we talked to 2 of their sons about teaching them and wondering if their family would be interested. They said probably. So we show up last Saturday and meet their Mom) Sarah. And she only knew about he polygamist Mormons. So right away we explained how that was not us. As we talked to her she became more open. And so we asked them if we could teach them. The gladly accepted and we taught them a lesson right away. Nathan and Nicholas were super curious and their whole family had so many questions! It was amazing to see them participated and with that desire to know. We thought them about the love of God. Sarah talked about how there is so much that she is doing that she knows it is not right and didn't know if she could be part of the Gospel. After she said that i told her about hope. And how God loves everyone and that he made us ALL capable of changing. How he can give us that strength to overcome what ever it is that is holding us back. And i could see in here eyes the light of hope that was coming back. It was and extremely neat experience and wonderful lesson! We will be going back to teach them in like 2 days! 

     But this just teaches me how many people have their own personaly struggles and how sometimes they ma feel so low that they can not feel like they can get back up. And how each one of us have to open our spiritual eyes to go to those that need help! We have a gospel and the power of God that can overcome anything. And we are capable of sharing that with everyone! So we must not hold back! My mission President told me that i am capable of bringing hope to those in need and to many people hear. How will i do that? I know that it will all come as i let God lead me. As i open my heart, mind and eyes spiritually.

     This is my message to you all and i hope you can all overcome what ever it is that is keeping you down. remember with the Lord anything is possible. We must lose our focus of the negative things going on in our lives and find what bring that happiness and positiveness to keep us going foward! 

      I am thankful for the Gospel and how it is the most joyful thing on earth! We must seek after it! Thank you all for the prayers and love! I hope you are all doing well and this helps some of you see things differently as it has helped me. Have a wonderful week! 

Love Always,

~Elder Caiña

Well, the title says it all. This transfers week has been MIND BLOWING to me! It was completely the unexpected and it changed everything i was preparing for. Everyone in our district was thrown off by our mission President. Anway let me get to the quick story of i all...

    Monday Night we got our phone calls of who was being transfered and who was being leaders and who was training and such. I did not get anything because as president had told me 3 times during the last two week as well as Sister Wall, we all knew that Elder Miles was going to come back and serve with me in the same area bringing a car for him because he could bike. So everyone already had this in mind and had that confirmed 3 times. Anyway we knew of those who were in our zone who were transferring and what not. The next day (Tuesday Night) we get a random phone call from Elder Miles himself! And he told us that President Wall had showed him the transfer board so he knew about everyone and everything that was going to happen. And Elder Miles likes to mess with us a lot so then he told us that he was not coming back to Kenner with me. So we were shocked and confused. But we did not really want to believe him since he messes around alot. Anyway, He gets our minds all lost and confused the night before transfers and we stayed up a long while trying to figure it all out and all the scenerios. Still i am thinking that Elder Miles is coming with me though. Next day comes and we get to transfers and one of the A.P Elders puts me with the newbees and trainers and i didn't think much of it since i am basically new as well... Long story short transfer meeting starts and President Wall calls Elder Miles to the Mandeville area training Elder Madsen which is across the lake of Kenner and then calls my name, releases me as a Zone Leader and calls on me to train Elder Page in the Kenner Spanish area! 

     

     I was completely shocked and overwhelmed by this call. I did not anticipated at all and idk how prepared i am truthfully i feel a bit shaky about it. Elder Page is from Utah who is big in wrestling. He knows very little spanish so we will have a good amount of things to work in. Now i really have to step and and be an example to him so that he may learn from me as well as i from him. I personally still am trying to settle in back in Kenner as you know i was going back in forth between Metairie and Kenner before this. So i have to remember all the bike routes and everything again. Well refresh my memory really. But i do ask for your prayers please that i may be able to take over this area with confidence and that i may feel relaxed as i train. I just got finished training last week so maybe that is why i feel like i am not completely ready for this but we will see what happens. I am in the Lord's errand and I know he is with me 24/7.

    This is a whole new adventure for me! Training for these 6 weeks and then we will see what happens. after. But my focus now is to help Elder Page with as much as i possibly can. So much to do and so much to try not to stress over. Ooooo man. Well hope your week is as surprising as mine!

Love you all!

~Elder Caiña

You be being alright?

     Well time for another weekly update! Working as a Zone leader never ends. It just keeps going and going and time flies by so fast that it is just not fair sometimes. In a way it is good, but really it is not. I seriously wish time went slower sometimes just so we can get everything done in time and still have time to do some personal stuff like Journal writing and such. It has been a load of work every day but nothing we can't handle.

    As you all know it was Labor Day this Monday so that is why i did not write to ya'll. And we didn't have time to go yesterday to the library because we walked everywhere yesterday and for part of today as well. But now we finally made a walk here, so it is sorta a preparation day today. 

    Not much has happened in the last few days. Sad news first, one of our best investigators, Abraham is moving to Houston Texas because he has a job over there! He was seriously perfectly ready to be baptized! We were really sad to hear the news but he said he still wanted to be taught so we will be finding the missionaries in Houston to go over and teach him once he settles in. We are happy for him and we are going to be staying in touch!

     Last week we had a ward BBQ for just about the entire night. And the Elders ended up cooking all the food. I do not think they heard of how well missionaries cooking is? But thankfully everything went well. On the same night we went to visit and investigator who had stop going to church. After many nights of trying to contact him, he finally was home that night. As we taught a strong lesson of faith without works is dead. He came out with his struggles. He told us a few things that he needed to get back to doing as well as attending church. And on Sunday he showed up with his mom and his family and it was a beautiful thing to see! He should be getting baptized soon because he said he wanted to do it when his mom was here. And now that she is, we will see what happens in the next week or two. 

    Also this Sunday the church was filled up more than usual! And we knew why. we saw 3 less active families from my area (Kenner) show up. And not only that  but less actives from the other missionaries areas as well! We were SOO HAPPY that day and personally for me i was filled with joy and it is just and exciting thing to see. Knowing that one's hard work is paying of and that families are coming to renew their covenants knowing that they will also receive many blessings. I am really hoping that we see them more often in the future. The work is progressing here again in the New Orleans 2nd ward. But we just have to be patient and persistent. Slowly but surely we are moving along. Since i got here for the first month we had about 130 in the ward. now we are seeing more around 160 or 170. The work is beautiful!

    That is the biggest thing i learned this week, that perservierance and patience are VERY effective! We can't quit because we never know when someone will randomly change or do something to make them progress with the gospel or with life. We just have to keep helping. The Lord has his time, so endure to the end!

    As my wonderful friend who is in the San Diego California Mission told me about patience in the scriptures. Hebrews 6:9-15! 

    Well hope ya'll enjoy the rest of your week! 

Love ya'll,

~Elder Caiña

2nd transfer

How ya'll doing!?

As you all know we have all started our 2nd transfer! I will be staying in Kenner with the same companion! And with a new District, somewhat. A companionship was taken out and a new companionship was put in whom we get along with a bit better. We are all happy to say that we have one of the Best Districts right now. Although we have lost some we have received other great Elders who are just great to be around! 

    So far this week have been amazing! I am just continuing to love the work of the Lord and the many mighty miracles he gives us through our obedience! I know Elder Miles and I have not been Perfect but we are striving to do better everyday! And because we have been putting such great effort i know the Lord has blessed us. This week we have gotten 2 new investigators! Abraham who came to the activity 2 Saturday's ago has been really interested in the gospel! He has started reading the Book of Mormon already after one lesson and he went to Basketball on Wednesday with us! We are very excited to see him progress! And another great thing with him is that when we went to teach him, we found a less active member at his house who had been lost! And he was not able to attend church because of ride issues. He was very happy when he saw us and when we thought him and Abraham on tuesday night he shared his testimony with us which was so strong that it completely filled the room. And through that we know that it gave Abraham a desire to know more about it! We have built a strong friendship with him already and it has been great thus far!

     Also this week, a guy that we met a Sam's club while he was working awhile ago called us up and asked if he could come play basketball with us. His name is Chris and he had an injured shoulder so he did not really go there to play basketball. He just wanted to be there and chill with us! He said that he told her girlfriend that he was hanging out with us instead of her! haha we thought that was funny. So Elder Miles and i got to know him that night and started a good friendship with him. He has been wanting to go to church with us but since he lives further in New Orleans it is a bit of a distance. He seemed interested in knowing about our church which was awsome! Only thing is that he is not in our area and he is not spanish speaking. So we wouldn't teach him, but mayb we will. Who knows?

    Last miracle of the week was while we where eating lunch at the mall. A worker from one of the stores called us over. We thought he wanted to sell us phones, but instead he was curious about us. He said he always saw us walking around and he could always tell there was something different about us. He said he knew about us because friends of his told him we where missionaries. And he wanted to ask us if we could contact missionaries and give him the church address in Baton Rouge so that he could attend with his family, He said he was a Baptist who had just lost his faith. He said that he stopped believing he has seen his life not progressing. He told us he was looking for a change for him and his family and he wanted to gain his faith in the Lord again and asked if we could help him do that. As we ended our conversation i bore my testimony to him and he was thankful. We gave him advice to ask his friends who were mormons to help him receive those lessons that we know could help him. His desire to regain his faith overwhelmed me and filled me with joy, It has been one of the Best experiences yet. 

    I know i have many more experiences ahead of me but i will value every single one of them. Best thing is that this all came because of my obedience and it just pushes me to try harder each and everyday! Obedience is a process, not and event!

    I am thankful for the many opportunities the Lord gives me! He has blessed me so much. And i know we can ALL be blessed as he choose to obey his commandments! 

     Thank you all for the love and prayers! Hope you have a blessed week! 

~Elder Caina

Hello Everyone!?

 

     How ya'll makin' out!? Alright.

  

     Been using those two phrases a lot this week. Works so well when greeting people! Well I hope everyone is having a great week! I have had a wonderful week! 

 

     We just had a acting play of the Book of Mormon! Last week we spent alot of time setting up for it and it wen wonderful! I was all planned out by the missionaries and the missionaries did all the acting of different stories in the Book of Mormon. The point was for get people in a mood to know more and receive a desire to read from the Book of Mormon. I was Laman and we got to dress up a bit for the play. Last saturday we had a great performance and i would say that it was very effective. From our area we met a new guy, his name was Abraham and we will be seeing him tonight for the first time to get to know him more. I have pictures of the play so i will be sending those.

     Also  have told ya'll about the power of the scriptures! I am sooo grateful to have the 1 hour of personal study every morning. I seriously hated reading before my mission. I did not want to read what so ever! And now i can not stop! I seriously strongly dislike how we ONLY have One hour for that study. I have gained so much knowledge from the Book of Mormon! Right now i am in the process of reading the Book of Mormon in 60 days. It is a good paste for me to read and get as much from it as possible. The Book is so incredibly good with so much truthfulness and beauty! I do not know how i did not have such a strong desire as i do now to read it. This have been changing me so much through my mission so far but in the BEST way possible. I was just reviewing today the things that i read in Mosiah and remembered of a very strong scripture. I would invite you all to read Mosiah Ch. 26 Verses 18-29.

Well I got to go because i got Elders down my neck telling me to hurry up! It is okay, they are working on patience this month. 

I Love you all! Hope everything is going well and Ill send the pictures later on of the Play! Have a blessed week! 

~Elder Caina

Finally in Louisiana

Louisiana if Amaazing! But i know already that i will have a really tough mission. The weather here is PRETTY HOT! the worst part is that this humidity make you sweat rivers! Like seriously.Literally you could go outside and try to pick up a penny and you will already start to sweat! When we ride our bikes my companion (Elder Miles) and I have a shower in our own sweat everytime we ride. It is tough too because sweat gets in your eyes too and it something i have never experienced.It is not HORRIBLE heat like in Utah the Humidity helps but it is just weird for me. Also, this place is GREEN GREEN GREEN!!! I flew over Louisiana and it is just like 90% green! It is soo beautiful! Nature is gorgeous and i wish it was like this worldwide. But o well... Elder Miles, my first companion is my trainer. This is actually his first time training so i am his first trainee. He is very cool though we have a good amount of similarities he is just overall chill. I have already met about many people here and have already thought 5 lessons in 3 days! I prepared one of them for the Madrids family and it went smoothly and we could really feel the spirit in their home. Our work in this area is mainly focused on less active members not really on investigators. because so many people are members but they just do no attend church. I am hoping that i can at least bring a few people back in so they can receive the blessings that are in stored for them. We have a few investigators but most of them have weird excuses for being baptized.  Please pray for them so that it happens soon!  Most people here  are from Honduras and many african americans. But  all the people i have met are super nice and friendly.Yesterday we got a massage! hahahaha My first an investigator does that for the missionaries because he is so thankful that we take the time to go an teach him. He is really cool! it was a machine. 

 

Love,

Elder Linville