April 21

the sweets activity:

Motocarro: The primary means of transportation in the village. My companion and I can get to any part of the village for just $1, and they give us a little extra money each month because our area is huge.

The Catholic procession from Holy Week: sorry it isn't very good I was laying in bed when I took it

This week was a very good week. It was holy week, which is actually a pretty big affair here. First off, no one is working and no one has school. They have a lot of processions and have a tradition of making sweets from fruits. For example, they grab a mango, bland it, dump in a ton of sugar, and cook it all together with a couple other things. Its super delicious. The branch did an activity where each organization made one or two sweets and then there was a contest to see which was the best. Relief Society won. They made my companion and I be judges, along with the sister missionaries in the branch. It was fine until they gave us the sweet made from beans. I didn´t like it very much but oh well.

As far as the investigators go, we really need your prayers for Karina Coba. Ever since her interview she doesn't want to talk to us, she doubts her testimony, and she started saying stuff like we dont need a church because we can worship God in our hearts, etc. She has/had a testimony at one point, but we are really focusing on the Book of Mormon to help her. Once she has a testimony she won't have a problem getting baptized.

We are progressing a lot with the Varela family. V sounds like B in Spanish, actually its the same letter. Barela family. The problem is that they want to make great friends with us instead of keeping thier commitments. The problem is that they really like me, I think probably because I'm white and talk with a slight accent and whatnot. But I don't know what I can do to help them understand what we do as missionaries, since we have explained it to them very clearly. We are also focusing a lot on the Book of Mormon.

What have you all learned from Preach my Gospel in your studies this week? In my studies I focused a ton on the Book of Mormon. Elder Waddel talked a lot about how the Book of Mormon in the key in helping the investigators get faith for repentance, so we are applying what he said and it is going well. Also thanks for praying for me on the piano, it turned out very well.

Elder Wilson

April 14

Well this week was a great week for the missionary work. We were able to see 11 investigators in sacrament meeting, most of which were from a family that is really interested. They had a family member die recently and we taught them the plan of salvation and they loved it. We are going to help them understand why they need to get baptized to be an eternal family tonight and set a baptismal date.

We need for you all to pray for Karina, an investigator that was supposed to get baptized this Saturday. The problem is that she had her inverview with a zone leader and the had to say some stuff that made her feel really unconfortable, and now she knows that she will have to do it again with the mission president. So we are doing everything possible to help her get excited about it again and we hope that she agrees to do the other interview.

I also need your prayers since this week Elder Waddel from the first quorum of the 70 is coming to town and I have to play the piano again. The problem is that they asked me to play a special number that I have never played before, and there is no way to practice here since there is no piano. I have to accompany the zone in singing army of helaman, so luckily it isnt too hard but I really need the Lords help to play it at the level it should be for a 70. I get nervous when I play piano in from of them, like with Elder Uceda.

Well we are seeing some great changes in the branch as far as missionary work goes. In the last 2 years 130 people were baptized here, and the attendance at sacrament meeting went up like 6, so there is a HUGE problem with the retention. But we have been meeting with the branch president and we are changing up how they do ward council here and it should get a lot better. Because in some ways a missionary feels like he is fighing a losing battle when he knows that the branch does little to help the members stay active. But its great because the members have a lot of desire now to help and they are willing to change some thins up to make a difference. It was great to see yesterday that they called Jeimi Bolivar as a branch missionary and she is super excited about it. I think it will really help her to stay active.

How are the wedding plans coming along? And how is Brooke´s pregnancy? I´m glad that you all had a great, relaxing spring break. to answer your questions Dad my clothes are fine but my shoes wont last too much longer, especially since here in Baranoa I am walking over hot sand all day. Im sending in my shirts to get made smaller this week.  My weight is good, I keep getting skinnier every week. My companion and I get along very well, and he's awesome because he helps me stay obedient and diligent always.

Well I love you all and I pray for you every day.

Elder Wilson