How's it goin you cute little bunch of kids???

Well this week was another good week. I did not see as many changes personally, but I think I really did in my companion:)

Me and my companion get along well. We do not have really big problems and we like each other pretty well. I have to say, it has been kind of weird since this start, because if I am not, it feels a tiny little bit like I am training I think. I find myself teaching him stuff like how to teach, how to listen, how to plan, and most importantly, how to study. He was never bad, but for example the first few days I was with him he was still just reading 2 or 3 chapters of the Book of Mormon for his personal study. Or his posture when he teaches is laid way back in the seat with his bag still on. Even though we are still working on things like that, man how he has improved! Even though I can not take all of the credit, what a great thing it is to see him make real changes! I really feel like he is on the road to being a great missionary, and so glad that I get to help him!

Now none of this is to say that I am such a perfect missionary, I have got a ton to improve. I still have those lessons when I do not teach that great, or a study when I really do not learn that much, stuff that I feel like I could really improve on. But it has been kind of weird, because these things have diminished as I have been with Elder De La Cruz. I feel like the weight of a little more responsibility has caused me to become quite a bit better. I am so glad I have such wonderful opportunity to learn!

So we are continuing to find new people in this area! This week we found 2 really good investigators who look like will progress super fast. We also received quite a few references, and already have the plans with the members to contact them during this week. We have high hopes for lots of new people this week!

So my favorite lesson of this week was actually the one after a lunch time meal. That morning I had had a really good study and had learned a bunch about Satan and how his end state will be by reading a chapter from Isiah in the Book of Mormon. For some reason I was impressed as I was explaining what I read to my companion that I should share this after we ate. So that day we ate with someone that was actually excommunicated but is trying to return back. As we shared our testimony about how much power we as the children of God have over Satan, and how he will be in the end, I could see the emotion start to build up in her face. When we gave her time to talk, I felt like she poured out her soul on us on hard she was trying to return back, but how hard also Satan was working to stop her! My heart went out to this person, I have such a desire to help her! As missionary we really do receive revelation for those we teach, and we really have the power to help people!

Today I took a nap:)

I bought a bunch of apples, naturally they were all Washington-grown. Nothing but the best for this kid.

I love you all a billion times more than all of you can even comprehend! No idea why the font changed. Bye!

Elder Paz

 Hello children!

Well I definitely feel like I had a week of improvement. Whether it was in the key indicators or with my companion, a lot of progress has been made:)

Well our first triumph of the week was that on Saturday we had 10, yes 10, investigators progressing. Unfortunately only 3 of those held, but at least we learned what lessons we need to focus on this week, the day of rest:)

I feel like we are finally getting some good investigators now. This area seemed like it was slowing down pretty rapidly when I got here, but I think we have put a stop to that and are making some real progress now in finding new people to teach:) 

Well like I said the last week me and Elder de la Cruz are good, but we needed to work a little bit on his diligence. I really feel like we made improvements with that, or at least are starting to. I have had many talks with him over this past week and how we can improve as a missionary companionship. We have established many rules to help the both of us, and I am definitely seeing a big light at the end of this tunnel:)

The best lesson by far that we had this week was with a the Olivares Gonzalez family. They are absolutely incredible. We met them a few weeks ago. The lessons that we have had with them before have not been exactly incredibly powerful, not bad at all, just not a Alma and Zeezrom moment is all. Well this last Friday we stopped by four an appointment with them. We have almost always taught just the mom and the dad, but this time their 2 daughters were with them. As we sat down I could tell that this lesson was going to be amazing, just by looking at the faces of the family after the mom said the prayer. We were ready. We started to teach them about the ministry of Jesus Christ and the Apostasy. As we got to the final parts of the restauration I could feel the Spirit so strong! At that moment the Holy Ghost was testifying of our words with an immense amount of power, bearing witness that the Church of Jesus Christ IS the Church of Jesus Christ. As we invited all of them to baptized, my heart filled with joy as they all accepted. What a great calling I have! To help bring the Exaltation of an entire family! I know my part is only to teach, but what a grand privilege it is to have! I love this work and testify the truthfulness of it with all of my heart! Jesus is the Christ! The Only person beneath the heavens in which you can be saved!

Also I learned that you just have to take off the shower head in our shower to have incredible pressure:)

Love all you guys! Always follow your hearts!

Elder Paz

hey kids!

So as you know I have sadly been changed...but it´s a good change I hope and I know I am going to learn a lot!

So my new area is in the State of Mexico and is called Zumpango. Its more or less in the city. The area is pretty big, and there isn´t a ton of work here, but I am sure going to flip that one around:)

My comps Elder de la Cruz. Mexican from Veracruz. he has got the same about of time as I do. We are working a little bit on his diligence and obedience:)

So I have been a little stressed out this week because our area doesn´t seem quite as good as my last one. There weren´t many people to teach when I got here, and there really aren´t any investigators of gold here. So what I have been trying to do is find people. We need references! We need people to teach! I really just want to make this area an incredible area, and I definitely willing to make it that way! We just need to be super diligent and work hard, and I know that the Lord will bless us!

So my companion Elder de la Cruz is completely different than Elder Mora. I really have missed my old companion, but I am getting used to Elder de la Cruz. I feel like I can really help him, and that he actually has made a lot of progress this past week. He was never really that bad, but he could definitely learn to walk faster in the streets and start studying exactly on time:) I know that this week is going to be a million times better than the last week as long as we keep on improving!

So we found one really good investigator this week. Her name is Cristina. She is recently separated from her husband and has 3 little kids. She works and lives alone with her kids. We had a super powerful lesson with her. As she told us her problems with everything, I felt very inspired to share with her the story of the mothers of the stripling warriors. What a great sight and feeling it was to see her listing and having the tears roll down her cheeks! I can not describe the joyful feeling that I get when I have the opportunity to help someone through the Gospel of Jesus Crist! What a great calling I have! I cannot wait to teach this daughter of God and change her life completely for the better!

I went to Teotiucan today! OR the pyramids! They are super cool and quite large. Yes I climbe d to the top and yes I got some sweet pics. Also I bought a beaten copper mug. It was set at 195 pesos in the story, and I absolutely talked him down to 150 pesos:) 

We found a possible investigator that was on acid when we found him!!:)

HEY TELL MATT WALKER THAT HIS COMP FROM THE M ISSION ISRAEL SANDOVAL LIVES IN MY WARD HERE.

I love you so much all you guys! See yah later sports!

Elder Paz

 Hey fam!

Weeeeeellllll this week I have changes. I am super super sad to leave my area. I have grown to love this area and people so much! I am super nervous for the changes tomorrow, but I know that through Christ, absolutely anything is possible.

I think my favorite lesson this week was with a family that we found through some members called the Martinez family. It was an incredible lesson. If I could describe this family I think I would compare them to the ¨Robles Family¨ from The District. We just taught the mother (Marlen) of the family and her 2 children this last time. We had a very spiritual lesson 1. As Marlen listened to us I could feel the Spirit so strong! And then as we invited all of them to be baptized, and they all said yes! I immediately felt a love for this family and a pain that I won´t be there to teach them! And then as we saw then in the chapel on Sunday, what a great blessing it is to be a part of the salvation of a family! They are just the kind of people that will be baptized, enter the temple in a year to be baptized, and then stay faithful till the end of their lives:)

Sooo this week I may or may not of helped birth a lamb...glad I can check that one off the list:)

This week we put 6 baptism dates!

We had some mighty fine wieners today for lunch...

I think the hardest thing for me right now is knowing that I am about to leave my companion Elder Mora. We have had an incredible companionship and I really learned so much from him. I really found a friend these past 2 transfers, and I am so sad to leave him, but I´ll push through it:)

We had many incredibly spiritual lessons this week...

I don´t think that there´s anything else that you guys absolutely have to know! I love you!

Elder Paz