Buenas,
Well i pray that every one back home is having a wonderful week and that all are enjoying their summer break! I'm really not sure what i should say because i'm going to be able to tell you everything next week in person but i'll give it a shot anyway.
As for this past week we had a good find of a new investigator that really has a desire to find out the truth. She told us during our first visit that she had had a dream where Micheal the Arch Angel appeared to her and told her not to join any church because they all were going to be destroyed, and that only 1 was going to stand. (on the mission you hear of a lot of dreams peopl have...)So ever since then she's just been doing things the best she knows how, and now that she's started to listen to us she feels compelled to keep listening. We applied her dream pretty well to the message of the restoration and she's feeling that we showed up for a good reason. We gave her the book of Mormon to start reading to find out if the message is true and she already has read 1 Nefi completely. She says its really interesting and she just likes to sit down and read from it. She even came to church this past Sunday which i believe went well. We still haven't been able to talk with her since yesterday but i think she really liked it.
Also a good little connection that was there was that she is neighbores with Tom (who was baptized last week) which gave her a friend in the church. Tom was glad to see her there and during priesthood shared how he had been thinking about who he could invite to come to church this past week but decided that everyone is just to ignorant and wouldn't listen. Then when he showed up to church his neighbor Mariel was there and it strengthened his confidence in inviting others to come to church. Really things are just starting to get going here in San Nicolas.
Other then that we're just working hard and keeping up the faith and looking for the chosen to accept the gospel.Thanks for the love and the awesome letters and emails of support you all have given to me throughout my mission because every single one has been received with a smile and much gratefulness!
Thanks for everything and i pray for the best for you all!
Tell I see your next week,
Elder Lopez
Monday, July 26, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
The Warm Caribbean (email dated 07/19/2010)
Hey,
Well yet another week in the wondeful mission has flown by and it was a wet one. Yesterday we had 2 baptisms in the Caribbean Sea. Talk about being blessed by the Lord right now in my last transfer as a full time missionary. Yup Tom and also Candy were able to take upon them the name of Christ to always remember Him and be an example of him in all ways and in all places. They both chose me to be able to preform the ordinance for them also which was a great privledge to say the least. We were trying to get them to choose 2 other members to do the ordinance but they decided against that and prefered to have me do it. Truly a humbling experience to have had especially at the end of my mission. President Buckley, the branch president then had me confirm Tom which was a great privledge also to have taken part of. Tom is really going to be a great priesthood holder in this branch and the same sunday of his confirmation President Buckley got to work and got him ready to recieve the Aaronic Priesthood which they gave to him during priesthood. So now San Nicolas has another Priesthood holder to take care of the members and watch over the church. Really being in a small branch like we have here in San Nicolas its like having a small family that just looks out one for the other. I love it. Candy called me this morning and asked me a question about baptism of fire and was worried that she hadn't received that yet. She was reading in Alma and read about it and told me that she wants that baptism also. She asked when we were going to preform that for her. Then we explained to her real quick again that that was the confirmation that she recieved yesterday. She than remember going over it before and she was happy. I had to laugh a little to myself and thought to myself what a great convert to the church. She's so willing and ready to do all that the Lord ask's of her and want to keep on learning.
In other news we were able to set another baptismal date for AnaMilena for the 1st of August which would be my last day in Aruba. She's really already ready to be baptized and just has had to wait awhile because her husband is just holding back. She decided though that she wants to be the example for him now and is going to get baptized first.So as for now thats the plans for the upcoming baptism here in San Nicolas. Keep her in your prayers that she continues on this great path and that her husband Kieth comes around also.
Well other than that we're just working hard here in Aruba and getting some sun while contacting everyone we see in the streets. Yeah thats what we do here in the mission. You get to talk to some really interesting people while serving the Lord. Its the life I've come to know best right now. Lifes great!
Well i love you all!
Tell next week,
Elder Lopez
Well yet another week in the wondeful mission has flown by and it was a wet one. Yesterday we had 2 baptisms in the Caribbean Sea. Talk about being blessed by the Lord right now in my last transfer as a full time missionary. Yup Tom and also Candy were able to take upon them the name of Christ to always remember Him and be an example of him in all ways and in all places. They both chose me to be able to preform the ordinance for them also which was a great privledge to say the least. We were trying to get them to choose 2 other members to do the ordinance but they decided against that and prefered to have me do it. Truly a humbling experience to have had especially at the end of my mission. President Buckley, the branch president then had me confirm Tom which was a great privledge also to have taken part of. Tom is really going to be a great priesthood holder in this branch and the same sunday of his confirmation President Buckley got to work and got him ready to recieve the Aaronic Priesthood which they gave to him during priesthood. So now San Nicolas has another Priesthood holder to take care of the members and watch over the church. Really being in a small branch like we have here in San Nicolas its like having a small family that just looks out one for the other. I love it. Candy called me this morning and asked me a question about baptism of fire and was worried that she hadn't received that yet. She was reading in Alma and read about it and told me that she wants that baptism also. She asked when we were going to preform that for her. Then we explained to her real quick again that that was the confirmation that she recieved yesterday. She than remember going over it before and she was happy. I had to laugh a little to myself and thought to myself what a great convert to the church. She's so willing and ready to do all that the Lord ask's of her and want to keep on learning.
In other news we were able to set another baptismal date for AnaMilena for the 1st of August which would be my last day in Aruba. She's really already ready to be baptized and just has had to wait awhile because her husband is just holding back. She decided though that she wants to be the example for him now and is going to get baptized first.So as for now thats the plans for the upcoming baptism here in San Nicolas. Keep her in your prayers that she continues on this great path and that her husband Kieth comes around also.
Well other than that we're just working hard here in Aruba and getting some sun while contacting everyone we see in the streets. Yeah thats what we do here in the mission. You get to talk to some really interesting people while serving the Lord. Its the life I've come to know best right now. Lifes great!
Well i love you all!
Tell next week,
Elder Lopez
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Some more Aruba fun!
Some pretty cool caves we got here in Aruba right, not to mention the cool natural bridge.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Dushi Caribe (email dated 07/12/2010)
Bon Dia,
So here in San Nicolas we finally saw some of our hard work and sweat pay off.. Gladissa hit the baptismal waters in the Caribbean Sea on Baby Beach Sunday morning. I was fortunate enough to be able to go in also and finally get to feel the "Dushi Caribe" for the first time on my mission here in the Caribbean. Yup i got to preform the baptismal ordinance for her and dunk her in the water . It sure was a great experience to be able to have especially here at the end of my mission. One of the great parts about the baptism was that all of our other good investigators were there in attendance also to feel of the spirit there. Tom and his Wife Sixta really liked it i think, and Candy was telling me that she wished she could have baptized that same day also. They both are scheduled to be baptized this next week if all goes well and they both keep on keepin their commitments. Also AnaMilena was there which was good for her because she really needed to see that to give her an extra push to get going, and put her faith in the Lord to comit to pay a full tithing so she can receive this saving ordinance.
In other news Sunday after church the streets were absolutly empty because of the World Cup Final going on in South Africa with Holland playing for the title. We tried to talk to a couple of people during the game but it just didnt' go over so well. Then when Spain beat them in the last minutes all of Aruba just seemed really sad... Yeah this World Cup stuff is really serious around the World. Some of the players that were on the Holland team were from Curacao were i served. They were the black players that they had.
So the days just keep on flying by and really i'm just enjoying every minute of it while the time lasts. Were working on finding some new investigators now and have come across a couple with some potential. Hopefuly we'll be seeing them in church this next week so that they can get on track for baptism. Candy gave us a really cool reference that she actually shared the gospel with her self. I guess she saw this lady standing on the street waiting for a bus and felt like she should help her out and stopped and gave her a lift. Then they both started to talk and then Candy told her about her experience she had with us and how she's happier now and smiling again. Then she told this lady that we could pass by to see her which we did on staturday and the lady, who's name is Naomi was very nice and listend well. She wasnt' able to come to church this week but said this next week she should be able to. So hopefully that all works out.
Anyways as you can see things are doing well right now and were just enjoying the work. So now i'm going to close up until next time, but before i want to say thanks for all your thoughts and prayers for me and all the missionaries around the World. You Give us strength every day!
Much Love,
Elder Lopez
So here in San Nicolas we finally saw some of our hard work and sweat pay off.. Gladissa hit the baptismal waters in the Caribbean Sea on Baby Beach Sunday morning. I was fortunate enough to be able to go in also and finally get to feel the "Dushi Caribe" for the first time on my mission here in the Caribbean. Yup i got to preform the baptismal ordinance for her and dunk her in the water . It sure was a great experience to be able to have especially here at the end of my mission. One of the great parts about the baptism was that all of our other good investigators were there in attendance also to feel of the spirit there. Tom and his Wife Sixta really liked it i think, and Candy was telling me that she wished she could have baptized that same day also. They both are scheduled to be baptized this next week if all goes well and they both keep on keepin their commitments. Also AnaMilena was there which was good for her because she really needed to see that to give her an extra push to get going, and put her faith in the Lord to comit to pay a full tithing so she can receive this saving ordinance.
In other news Sunday after church the streets were absolutly empty because of the World Cup Final going on in South Africa with Holland playing for the title. We tried to talk to a couple of people during the game but it just didnt' go over so well. Then when Spain beat them in the last minutes all of Aruba just seemed really sad... Yeah this World Cup stuff is really serious around the World. Some of the players that were on the Holland team were from Curacao were i served. They were the black players that they had.
So the days just keep on flying by and really i'm just enjoying every minute of it while the time lasts. Were working on finding some new investigators now and have come across a couple with some potential. Hopefuly we'll be seeing them in church this next week so that they can get on track for baptism. Candy gave us a really cool reference that she actually shared the gospel with her self. I guess she saw this lady standing on the street waiting for a bus and felt like she should help her out and stopped and gave her a lift. Then they both started to talk and then Candy told her about her experience she had with us and how she's happier now and smiling again. Then she told this lady that we could pass by to see her which we did on staturday and the lady, who's name is Naomi was very nice and listend well. She wasnt' able to come to church this week but said this next week she should be able to. So hopefully that all works out.
Anyways as you can see things are doing well right now and were just enjoying the work. So now i'm going to close up until next time, but before i want to say thanks for all your thoughts and prayers for me and all the missionaries around the World. You Give us strength every day!
Much Love,
Elder Lopez
Monday, July 5, 2010
Happy 4th! (email dated 07/05/2010)
Hey,
So here in ARuba there weren't to many fireworks going off on the fourth but we did have a good turn out in church. We had a good 5 investigators in church which out of them 3 are progressing towards baptism so we're keeping them in our prayers. Hopefully all goes well and they don't get distracted off of the path of conversion. Tom and his wife Sixta had a great experience. Tom's the Mason that we're teaching who has a date for the 18th of July to be baptized. He's progressing very well and is reading the Liahona conference month and just loving it. He loves reading the talks from the Apostles and applying them to himself. His wife on the other hand isn't really putting in any effort at all and is set on her Catholic traditions. But Tom doesn't seem to be effected at all by her. He's really loving the church a lot.
Also about Candy, the one we found after the rain storm that one day a couple of weeks ago. She's been reading a lot in the Book of Mormon and coming to church every week and is progressing toward baptism. But at the same time she's been going through a lot of hard times with life in general. There just seems to be walls being placed in her way every week, but so far she's been braking through them all. Just this past week we had to find a new place to teach her at because of problems with the owner of her little apartment. We went to visit her for one of our appointments and when she came out she told us it was probably better if we didn't meet there. She continued to tell us about what had happened with the owner of the apartment the night before. I guess when she came home from work the owner didn't want to let her in her apartment and said that they didn't want us passing by anymore to see her on their property.So we've been meeting now in the church building and she's sick of the owners of where she's staying right now and is going to move some where else so she doesnt' have problems there. But she's really been changing her life around and progressing a lot and once she's in a stable situation should be ready for her baptism. Right now the date is for the 18th of July so hopefully she's all settled down for that date.
Also hopefully this next week we see a baptism of the daughter of one of the members her. We've been teaching her and she's taken the decision to be baptized this next week which is the 11th of July. We're going to be seeing her every day this week to make sure she's ready and then we'll be getting wet in the Caribbean hopefully... Yup this time because we're in a small branch and they dont have a baptismal font we'll have to do the baptism at the beach in San Nicolaas. It should be pretty good.
Also in other news, my companion turned 21 last Saturday so we had cake and rootbeer floats after church on Sunday. It was a good little get together for our little branch and Tom and Sixta really enjoyed themselves there. So as you can see things here in San Nicolaas are just running very smoothly! Dont you just love life, especially as a missionary!
Till next time Much Love,
Elder Lopez
So here in ARuba there weren't to many fireworks going off on the fourth but we did have a good turn out in church. We had a good 5 investigators in church which out of them 3 are progressing towards baptism so we're keeping them in our prayers. Hopefully all goes well and they don't get distracted off of the path of conversion. Tom and his wife Sixta had a great experience. Tom's the Mason that we're teaching who has a date for the 18th of July to be baptized. He's progressing very well and is reading the Liahona conference month and just loving it. He loves reading the talks from the Apostles and applying them to himself. His wife on the other hand isn't really putting in any effort at all and is set on her Catholic traditions. But Tom doesn't seem to be effected at all by her. He's really loving the church a lot.
Also about Candy, the one we found after the rain storm that one day a couple of weeks ago. She's been reading a lot in the Book of Mormon and coming to church every week and is progressing toward baptism. But at the same time she's been going through a lot of hard times with life in general. There just seems to be walls being placed in her way every week, but so far she's been braking through them all. Just this past week we had to find a new place to teach her at because of problems with the owner of her little apartment. We went to visit her for one of our appointments and when she came out she told us it was probably better if we didn't meet there. She continued to tell us about what had happened with the owner of the apartment the night before. I guess when she came home from work the owner didn't want to let her in her apartment and said that they didn't want us passing by anymore to see her on their property.So we've been meeting now in the church building and she's sick of the owners of where she's staying right now and is going to move some where else so she doesnt' have problems there. But she's really been changing her life around and progressing a lot and once she's in a stable situation should be ready for her baptism. Right now the date is for the 18th of July so hopefully she's all settled down for that date.
Also hopefully this next week we see a baptism of the daughter of one of the members her. We've been teaching her and she's taken the decision to be baptized this next week which is the 11th of July. We're going to be seeing her every day this week to make sure she's ready and then we'll be getting wet in the Caribbean hopefully... Yup this time because we're in a small branch and they dont have a baptismal font we'll have to do the baptism at the beach in San Nicolaas. It should be pretty good.
Also in other news, my companion turned 21 last Saturday so we had cake and rootbeer floats after church on Sunday. It was a good little get together for our little branch and Tom and Sixta really enjoyed themselves there. So as you can see things here in San Nicolaas are just running very smoothly! Dont you just love life, especially as a missionary!
Till next time Much Love,
Elder Lopez
So we had a pretty good study that day as you can see.
.
Also the picture with president Martineau was his farewell picture from Aruba. that was his lat visit here and I got to drop him off at the Air Port
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