looong week!

I am completely fine and healthy. But we did have some pretty crazy things happen last week! And now my companion and I have not bikes and no car. So we are walking all over the place.

     For a quick understanding of what happen with my bike and the Van, it all starts back on the first day of this transfer. Which was on July 9th. I'll try to make it short. That first day the Sister got hit in their car by an elderly lady. The side of the car was all pushed in so it got sent to the body shop to get fixed. So the sisters had to be on bikes. Sisters Don't have bikes since they are not required to bring one out of the mission. Because they get cars to keep them safe. Anyway, so they borrowed a mebers bike and I let them borrow my bike so they could get around. We had a Van so it was not problem. Couple of weeks later the Zone leaders come down and take the bikes to lunch. While the sisters rode their car. One of the Elders (Elder Carter) got hit by a car on his way there.Thankfully he is fine. The bike was not. The spoke was loose so we sent that to a member to get that fixed. So we then give them Elder Passey's Bike (my companion). couple of days later, one of the sisters calls us saying they kinda bent Elder Passey's rim. We thought it was fixable. When we finally see it, it was NOT slightly bent. It was bent like a pretzel. She had tried jumping a curve and did not make it. Thankfully she is completely fine. We do not know how but she was being watched over. We still do not know how she bent the rim so badly. The bike took all the damage. It was literally a miracle. So now we have 1 car down and 2 bikes. Thankfully the night before gave us a bike that they did not want because they never used it. So we gave that to the sisters. The NEXT day the same sister who hit the curve, on her way home she rode all the way with a FLAT tire. She didn't know it was flat. They realized it was flat the next day. While riding on the flat, she had curved the rim as well so now it was not completely straight. So that bike was unable to be used. Now with 3 bikes down. we had to give her one of the other Elders bike. So she took the worst bike that was still able to run. Next day we get a call from a set of Elder saying to go to their place. So we head over with the Van. And We had the 4TH BIKE DOWN. The same sister had gotten hit by a taxi on their morning bike to a members home! Poor sister could not catch a break. Thankfully again she was being watched over. She was not hurt or anything. The rim of my bike how ever had been bent the EXACT same way that Elder Passey's bike had been bent. It was seriously unbelievable what was going on this whole week. I didn't really care since the bike had lasted me so long and all i need is a new rim. It was okay since we had the Van to still get around... Or so we taught... As the sister head home to rest from their wild experiences, the Algiers Elders and my companion hop on the car to go to a service. Low and BEHOLD! The car did not want to start... Our week was not going any better... We got a random person to help us out and jump the car. It took 20 minutes to jump the car. In the end the guy turned the key some special way, that he got the car started. Went to Auto Zone right after wards and found out the the battery was completely fine. Called the Office missionaries, and they got the Van towed to the dealership to get it fixed because it still would not start. So in the end, NOW have managed to break down 4 bikes and 2 cars!... Only in the west bank. My companion and I are now in a walking area till we get a new rim for our bikes. The Sisters are now walking as well because they are both not taking another chance on bikes. In the end we are all happy and thankful that we are all still in one piece! Still going strong!

So that story was not short at all. But in the end that was basically our week. Helping other fellow missionaries till our Van broke down last Friday. Who knows when the Van will be back. We hear that the Sister's car is on their hopefully in the next week. Brother Walker has helped Elder Passey and I get new rims which we will receive on thursday. And then we will be back on bikes. Slowly but surely we will pick things up. 

Also we took a Ferry to Downtown this past monday, and saw the Aquarium for our Preparation Day. And we also visited the French Market.

The Sister who crashed Elder Passey's bike also gave him a batman watch to kinda pay back for it. He is enjoying the light pictures it has. But he is still working on staying awake during personal study. 

That is my week. Hope you all had as great of a week if not EVEN BETTER week than we did. Oh the life of a Missionary! ha

Love y'all!

Elder Caiña

Miracles through Conference

 How lovely this past week has been! I have had my testimony built in every way, shape, and form. Through the district meeting that we had with you President Wall. I was enlighten and i learned a lot. In the way of questioning and asking people to make small commitments working the way up to the bigger commitment. And instead of talking about certain teachings, going out and doing it because we learn best when we are thrown into the fire. There were things i needed to learn and i am glad i was able to grasp that. And I am grateful for receiving help and for the leadership President Wall so lovingy gives.
      I will share a few things that have happend since thurday. We sent out a massive text to all the people in our phone to remind them of general conference. We got a few replies that day. The next day at night we decided to visit a refferal that was given to us. We were on our way to number 624 on their street and as we passed by there was a young family outside their home playing with chalk. As we rode they yelled out, "Hi missionaries!" Elder Swain and i looked at each other sorta surprised, and immidiatly got the feeling to turn back. So we did and started talking to them. The home number was 634. Turn out that they were the family that we were looking for! Not long after they started telling us their situation. And how her boyfriend (they were not married) wanted to be taught. They invited us in and we quickly began teaching them. And Carla (mom) expressed how she wanted to get back into the church wanted to be and re-taught with her boyfriend. He said "yes" to baptism during the lesson and the spirit was strongly felt and we taught the first lesson as well. This family was filled with joy immidiatly. Elder Swain and I both saw their smiles grow as we shared the beautfiul message of the Gospel and how it carries us. We told them about conference and invited them the next day. They did not have a car or tv so they were in need of a ride to the church. That night, we called a family that invited us to watch conference in their home so that we could help them in between sessions. They gladly said they would help. And on Saturday we were able to get this small young family , after just visiting them once the day before, able to watch conference. I am so thankful for Members and their willingness to help! They are understanding the importance of missionary work!
Another beautiful miracle that happened that same day was from our other new investigator Judy. We had repeatedly reminded her and encouraged her to watch conference. After the first session of conference on saturday morning, she sent us a text and it read,

"Those are the most beautiful words ever spoken that i have heard. I truly believe in my heart and soul, God is calling me to join you. I always do what God calls me to do. God brought the church and you into my life. I'm forever grateful to him for this calling. I'm still working on smoiking. Cofee is history. And finally Smoking will be history as well. So i may join the true church of Jesus Christ our Savior. I must call my cousin and speak to her.. I feel so uplifted, I cannot explain how i feel. I will be watching tomorrow as well. Thank you for your kindness, spirit, laughter, listening to me cry, and for your understanding. God bless you Elders you are helping me change my life. And now I know what I am going through is what has to happen, "why" is not for me to ask anymore. however, to continue on with my life and become whole again."

How Beautiful were her sweet words! And o how high did my testimony grow! That is the first time i have heard anyone gain a testimony so strong from General Conference. I told our Ward missionary as well and it was the first time he heard such a thing happen as well. It just testified to me how true are the words of God's Prophet, Apostles and leaders are! She was truly touched by the Holy Ghost at the moment. She was in-tune and she knew right away, the truth which she had heard.

It told me right away, that our Savior lives. And he STILL speaks to us today. We DO have a Living Prophet and inspired leaders. And this Church IS True! I just was reading a book by Dallin H. Oaks that said all of Christs' followers testify of him. And as I remembered all the Speakers of General Conference, they ALL testified of Christ. In one way or another. And THAT is what builds our testimonies, THAT is how we know of the truth, and THAT is how we know that this is His Church.
I am so grateful for those God has place in our path. I am looking forward to working with Judy, And Colby (Carla's Boyfriend) and also Carolyn and Grant who we will be visiting this week! These will be the first people that i will have the opportunity to fully start from the beginning and teach them till they are baptized! I has hope for my brothers and sisters. And never before has my testimony grown so much over such a small period of time!

    
     Tthere is no Doubt that i am seeing miracles. As we strive to be spirit led and full of joy for the work that we do. And the with the help of members we are seeing many blessing come to pass.

I can strongly testify that this is the Lord's work. It is not easy, but the blessings are more than worth it. I thank my Heavenly Father for all he does, all he has given, and all he will do/give.

The work is SO TRUE and SO VERY REAL!

 

   Keep on with the Work of Salvation Everyone! Remember the word sof Jesus Christ to Peter " Do you love me?" x3! Show him your love by bringing his children unto him. Actions speak louder than words!

 

Love you all!

 

Elder Caiña

Morning Everyone!

 

     From the Super Cold, Rainy,Icy, and maybe even SNOWY Louisiana!

It you are confused, so AM I! I thought Louisiana was basically ALWAYS HOT.... Guess again! Last week we received probably the coldest weather which created Icicles on the car on houses and EVERYWHERE there was icicles!!! I'll tell you all, i was pretty AMAZED. I told my companion that i never had seen Icicles and i thought that they were only in movies! haha Yep you can tell how stoked i was. But anyway, now we are expecting an Even COLDER day tomorrow with a higher chance of snow! You can imagine how EXCITED i am! We might have to stay home all day though because Louisiana is not used to this kind of weather so they do not really know how to react. So it will be a dangerous day on the road. But Anyway, because i do not really have any warm sweaters i have been freezing my tail off! But its okay... I'll keep my head up. :) But with that crazy cold weather we have receive very beautiful Sunsets at the Lake Front. (Look at pictures)

    Anyway on other news... We had Transfers last week and we were called up and told that Elder Madsen was going to be transferred. Then President Wall called me and told me that i was going to stay a district leader and he was going to give me another responsibility on top of that. And he told me that i was also going to be training. So i was VERY excited.So on Wednesday, Elder Madsen was called to serve down in Tibedo. And I stayed in Mandeville and training Elder Chase. Who ACTUALLY Elder Chase is waiting on his VISA to go down to Brazil where he has been originally assigned to serve. So he will be leaving whenever he receives it it could be tomorrow or it could be in a couple months. We never know. But i am blessed with the opportunity to work with him and get him started on the right foot on his mission. Hopefully i can train him well enough. It is a neat experience because he is learning Portuguese which is very similar to spanish so i can understand him when he speaks the words he already knows. It is awesome. We are learning from each other. It is also very interesting because Mandeville is basically an English area. But president Wall decided to put a Spanish and Portuguese Elder in Mandeville. So i like to say that we have been resigned to an english mission for just a little while ha.

     I have to say that when i was with Elder Madsen we hit a bump on the road where it was a struggle to follow all the rules sometimes. And it came to a point when our work had really gone down and it was hard to find appointments and to find people or even just find the courage to talk to people to find them. At time i didn't know what i was doing or why i was doing what i was doing like sleeping in and what not. I knew that it was not right and i sae the effects that it was having on my work. Yet because of the struggles that i was having with my companion it was really hard to push each other and start working again. Now as much as i miss Elder Madsen, God knew that it was the best thing to separate us to start getting back on track. And President Wall knew that through him. Elder Madsen and I both realized we needed to change back to doing our Job. We were just both too chill with each other and we just needed this transfer. Now I have Elder Chase, and what i Love about new coming missionaries is that TRAINEE FIRE that they have in them. The push and drive to go out and work. And something that I still have but i just put it behind me. With his example, it makes me want to bring that side out. And Immediately already we have found a TON of success!!! Within the 4 days that we have been together, we have handed out 2 copies of the Book of Mormon  found 3 new people. Had a stranger invite us to lunch EVEN THOUGH he did NOT agree with our believes. And we have thought and seen 8 families which we ended with 11 lessons for the week. Which just about triple the amount we have seen in the past 3 weeks! We have had a ton of success already and MANY great moments getting to know each other and seeing that we get along GREAT! With still having the HUGE desire to serve and do our best! We even went out knocking doors out on the HAIL on the coldest day ever here in Louisiana! I couldn't feel my body but we continued! We had one door which REALLY HURT. Before we could tell this man what we were about, he yelled at us and said, "Y'ALL ARE CRAZY! GO HOME!!! (SLAMMED DOOR!!!!!) We felt and earthquake go on inside us. And Since that was Elder Chase's first SLAM he looked at me and said.... Elder... You can get the next one.. He was sad and hurt as was I but I was a bit used to it. And we continued. We were able to find 2 families who were willing to listen and we will be going back to meet them next week! It was and exciting experience out on the Freezing Hail! Fun stuff.

     We are both excited to be doing this work! And Glad we could serve with each other. I have found out that i can almost like turn a switch on and off about doing missionary work... And i have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA why I EVER chose to turn it slightly off.... The Work is SO GREAT and so Filling! So many great moments and so much happiness comes from this that i permanently keeping it on From NOW ON! It the end i think i needed to turn it down so i could have this experience and to REALLY understand the GREATNESS that this Work has. I LOVE Missionary work! I am hoping i can stay with Elder Chase for a good small period of time. Because i know that he REALLY wants to get to Brazil so I am looking forward to learning as much as possible from him and hoping he get a thing or two about missionary work from me.

    Looking forward to  a great transfer with my companion and my District. We can all already tell that we are going to be a very strong District because we all get along so well.

     Thank you all for your support and prayers. And for Everything you do for the Lord's Church and for his work of salvation. Remember we are ALL missionaries! And i hope that you ALL choose to NOT turn that missionary switch off. Keep it on and find those which the Lord wants you to find find and help. Always try to talk to people about the Gospel and you will see the much Happiness that it brings!

Winter is Coming!!!

     Just thought i'd let you all know the obvious, but to me it is a whole new world here in Louisiana as we get ready for the windy and chilly season! Last week was a struggle for Elder Page and I and it continuous to be a bit so far this week. We have had days where the wind picks up to 20 miles per hour! It wouldn't be too bad IF we didn't have to bike everywhere... But the work goes on! 

     We had 2 choices last week, to either look at it as struggling and unproductive OR joyful, challenging, prevailing with miracles. 

     To give you a small background of the week, we had about 8 families total that we visited that were home (usually around 20-25 in our area per week) and we biked about... 60-70 miles in total going back and forth to the ends of our area trying to see and find people. We even had a day where we just absolute NADA, which was the MOST windy night of all last week... So that was a little but big background of the week. So we could have looked at this and been negative about it.

     But instead we looked at our miracles. Although we were struggling we throughout the week, we were still nonetheless seeking to be spiritually led. I mean, who else would you want to be guided by, right?. So by Thursday we were ready to just give up, throw in the towel to a bad week. But we decided to keep our heads up. After having all the appointments throughout the day fall, we finally got one with the Cubas family. Less active who love us coming and sharing spiritual lessons. Since they are not able to go to church. As we taught a Mormon message, throughout the lesson more and more people kept coming through the door. And we could have thought of it as people interrupting the lesson but instead Elder Page and I where like, "Great! more people to spread the word to!" Total of 5 people came in and a total of 10 people where there. And it was a beautiful spiritual lesson with a wonderful prayer. As we headed out biking a lady called out to us "Do you guys talk about Jesus!?", we were startled a bit as we yelled out yes and kept going Elder Page felt the impression to stop and talk to this lady who had called out to us. Brenda was her name and within 10 minutes we felt like we completely knew her. She was struggling and she said she believed in Jesus Christ but was slipping away really fast because of the many trials he has been continuously putting in her life. She has lost her job lost a lot of money and how she would be homeless if not for her sister, who she told us is nowhere near God. So she is in a dark place. She repeatedly told us that she was ready to take a pill and go to sleep (wanting to commit suicide). As Elder Page and I felt Love for her, we told her about the love of God. And how there were many people who relied on her and looked up to her and needed her. Her children and grandchildren. We gave her a book of Mormon and we talked to her for a very long time. Lifting her up to take those negative thoughts of her mind. That night, through the Love and guidance of our Heavenly Father, we were able to give her hope. Because the message in which we have, is a message of HOPE. And she was filled with joy as she knew that night that we were her friends and that there are people who do care about her. Hope! 

     On the next day, we had the same thing happen. All our appointments fell through during the day and also at night. After leaving a home which we were finally were able to enter, we were on our way towards home with a bit of extra time. I personally did not want to head home. So it my head i was praying and asking, "Heavenly Father, we have time i do not want to go home, i want to help someone right now. Who needs us?" and without fail a name popped into my mind that would not have crossed my mind because he was a former investigator who Elder Miles and I dropped 4 months ago because he did not want to answer his door, ever. So i told Elder Page, "STOP, we are going to Gimmel's!".He being confused a bit just turned around and followed me. As we went to his home we saw he had more cars so he obviously had visitors. I looked at my companion and said, he has company, should we still go in?... He looked back at me and said, "Well , we are here aren't we, worse that could happen is him say no and we leave". So we went and knocked, i do not know why i question an easy decision but i sure am glad i had Elder Page! It so happen that Gimmel was very stressed, worried and in need of help and prayer for his family. It was a HUGE deal to him. His family was on there way from honduras and he didn't know when or how or what was going to happen to them. He personally told us, "man you guys were guided by God tonight and no one else because i ready needed this. I need God in my life right now and you guys, God guided you here." And i did not deny him. As we thought him we comforted him and the spirit was there! He was ready to cry in thankfulness. But he didn't want to do in front of 2 guys. But he was grateful, and we were there to give him the Hope and Uplifting he needed. Beautiful experience for him and to me as i grow my conversion in being spiritually led.

     Last Great news! LAst week we invited the Moreno Family (Mom, 3 kids) to be baptized and they all said yes and that they all wanted to get baptized! So elder Page and I are going to be working hard to prepare them to be baptized before the transfer is over! WE are super excited and are O SO GRATEFUL for the miracles that have come our way! 

     I am daily learning to be spiritually led, and having my mind and heart open to be able to listen to the spirit to guide me and teach me and help me in all that i do! I am also learning of the attitude of things and how to look at the positives to everything. Because blessings will come. And there is now weather, no WIND, no STORM or "bad" day that will put me down as i do the work of the Lord or in Anything in Life! And I invite you ALL to do the same! Be POSITIVE and be SPIRIT LED!

Wish you all and Amazing Week full of the Spirit!

Elder Caiña

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