A little under the weather (email dated 3/30/2009)

Well for some reason this week my body decided to go sick on me and make me miserable for half the week. Yeah i had "la Monga"(A Cold). It was pretty anoying but i didn't let it hold me up to much. Finaly this past sunday I had my comp. and Elder Ramirez come over and give me a Priesthood Blessing to help me out and i can definately tell today that its starting to kick in. I'm still a little tired but my cough and runny nose are starting to die down.

Well enough about how sick I've been, lets talk about the work right?... Well to be honest this past week was a week where we received some potential. We made a bunch of contacts, and from them all we were able to have about 7 new investigators which is always nice to have. This next week we'll see how firm they really are but we'll pray for the best right? Unfortunately Lidia was sick so she wasn't able to make it to church and the De Jesus Family had a problem or something and we were'nt even able to pass by and see them again. So this last week we had a little disappointment but you never know how fast things can turn around some time.

Last friday, we went on a little trade off for the day, and i went to Arecibo and Elder Ponce came down here to Utuado. It was pretty fun too. I was over there with Elder Atrice, whose from Atlanta Georgia. Man did he ever have that southern accent. He's a big boy too; he played football at Air Force before he came out here on his mission. He's a fresh greeenie also, so i was the one doing all of the talking pretty much for the day. He just barely hit his week mark out in the field. We had a great day though and we even were able to have a lesson with some Investigators over there and set a baptisimal date for them. It was a great experience, and it boosted my spirits up a lot to because i wasn't feeling the greatest the day before. The family was great, especialy as we taught them about the Plan of Salvation. The couple is going to get married here soon also, so that their able to be baptised and except all of the commandments that God has given us. It truely is amazing to see the changes people make in their life's to except this true gospel of Christ. Anyway the whole trade off ended up being great, and it was the highlight of the week i'd have to say.

But that time has come again and i have to say bye because the work is calling my name.
so until next time much love!
Elder Lopez

Another week in paradise (email dated 03/24/2009)

Well what a week it was. We made a lot of Changes this past week with the transfers and all. First off they put the new sisters in Lares, Hma. Neff and Hma. Goodman. Their both really cool but its sort of going to be a little difficult with them instead of Elders because now we're going to have to do all of our shopping and other stuff on P-days by bike, instead of with the other elders in the car. With the cars they made a new rule that none of the Elders can ride in the same cars as the Sisters so that leaves us on bike and them in a car. Yeah i know its a tough life aint it... But its all good we'll servive. Anyway President Martineau really got me excited for this next transfer and all the things that we're going to start trying to put into effect. One of the best things is the new goals for contacts that we're going to be doing every day. Instead of just going toking 4 days a week for 2 hours from 5 to 7 were going to go every day from 4 to 6 and then on top of that talk with a lot more people in the street. Basically this is going to give us the opportunity to talk to twice as many people and hopefully get twice as many lessons with people. we started to do it for the last half of last week so we havent seen the results yet but i'm sure excited to see them when they start to come.

In other news here in the the mountains of Utuado; we had an inactive in church yesterday. But, this wasn't just some inactive; he had been inactive for over a year now. Ever since i've been here in Utuado we've been over to visit him every single week to try a new approach to get him back to church with us, and every week we went un-successful. But this past week we had Ramirez's go over there and talk with him and i'm not sure what they did but what ever it was it worked. I think it was because Elder Ramirez and Hmo. Moncho are about the same age (80 Years Old) and they just hit it off great! Finaly with the help of the Ramirez's we helped Hmo. Moncho realize that its our Heavenly Fathers will that he comes to church and its satans will that he doesn't. And that by not coming to church he's just making satan happy... When Elder Ramirez told him that it must of hit him hard or something because the next sunday sitting there in church was good old Hmo. Moncho! I was so happy to see him there i couldn't help but go over and give hime a big hug! It truely was awesome!

Oh And as for the Rolando De Jesus familia, their doing good. We were able to have a great spiritual experience with them yesterday at their house with their whole entire family. We went over and taught the 2nd lesson to them and the whole time they were just fasinated. Margie, Rolando's wife, told us as we were teaching them that this message seemed so familuar to them but in reality they really had never seen it before. This was the second time that she has told us that while we've been teaching them and it was a good feeling to hear. There's a part in Preach My Gospel that say's when you teach someone whose really listening, with their heart open to the message, it will come across as if they've already heard it before. So when she told us that this message sounded familure, Elder Christensen and i just felt like a million bucks because we could see that she really was listening with her heart and soul and not just to be nice. They told us that they would continue to read the Book Of Mormon that we left with them and they said that they would do the important part also, which is to pray about it. The spirit of the lesson was just something out of this world. Missionary work is just great!!!

But the time has come again and i'm going to have to close this up, so real quickly, just remember your all in my prayers and greatful for yours!
With Love always,
Elder Lopez

One more transfer in (email dated 3/17/2009)

Well this week is the big transfer week, and the big question is if i'm staying in the Mountains or leaving... well, the answer is i'm still here in good old Utuado. Yup, Elder Christensen and i are still companions also. We have a lot of work to do this upcoming transfer and i'm pretty sure President Martineau has some good ideas for us to put into effect this transfer also. Well just have to wait and see what he tells us at the upcoming transfer meating in Toa Bajo. The one big change thats going on here in our District between us and Lares though, is that their taking out the Elders from Lares and putting in Sisters over there. I'm sort of disapointed to be honest; its nothing against the sisters, its just that we cant really do anything with them, so were not going to have anyone to hang out with on P-days when the Lares Elders would come down. But it is, what it is and theres really nothing i can do about it. It wont be that bad though because we at least have the Ramirez couple here in Utuado to help us out with the inactive members that we have. Also they have a car and will be able to help us out when we need help.

As for Lidia and her baptisimal date, we had to drop it... Yeap for the 2nd time now, but thats alright because we want her to be 100% with this decission when she finaly makes it and is ready to go through with it. Right now her excuse besides the fear of water is that she's scared that once she's on this path that baptisim brings she'll fall off. So we're working with building her faith in the tools that we have been given by the Lord to help us stay on the straight and narrow path. I'm starting to pray now that she eventualy, down the line, builds up the faith to except this convenant with God. I know that she's ready for it because she understands every single lesson and has committed to every single commandment but she just is holding on to a little bit of fear and wont give it up. We even gave her all the baptisimal questions to prepare her for her interview.She was good with them all but once we got down to the one question of will you be baptised by someone holding the authority of God she said "No"... yeah know, interesting right? So gettin Lidia baptised is definately on the to do list for this up coming transfer...

As for everything else we've been working hard. We're trying to find some new investigators with some good potential and even have been going up to some tops of MOuntains to find them but have been coming up empty. Elder Christensen has been getting some blisters on his feet because we've been walking so much. I don't think his feet were as used to walking so much yet because here in Utuado the size is a little different then from Ponce, at least area wise. I'm pretty sure the mountains add a little to it also... But other then all that everything is pretty normal with me. I'm definately looking forward to another transfer and am ready to get back at it again. Well until next time take it easy over there in Utah.
Love always,
Elder Lopez

The legs are burning (email dated 03/09/2009)

Well i hope all is well back in the states. Here in the Common Wealth of Puerto Rico things are pressing forward. This past week i think i almost killed my companion because I think i took him to every steep hill we have here in Utuado to go work. I even got a little nice burn from all the walking up the mountains. I think they all pay off in the end though because the view at the tops of the mountain sides here are sweet. Everything is so green its ridiculous. We picked up one of the coconuts laying on the side of the road one day this week and decided we were going to try and open it with a rock. so there we were, two missionaries up in the middle of the jungle trying to open up a coconut with the sharpest rock we could find. It took us a lot of throwing and hittting but eventual we were able to get that thing cracked enough to get the milk out of it. We sort of got sick of trying after about ten minutes to open the whole thing so we just drank the milk that we got out of it and then threw it off the mountain side. As we were walking off we got a good laugh at the fact that we just opened up a coconut laying on the side of the road, and said to ourselves, that would never happen back home in Utah.

Well besides the mountain and jungle exploring we were able to get a lot of good work done also. One of our new investigators that we found this past week made us a sweet lunch when we went to go vist them saturday. They made us the classic rice and beans and chicken, but then they threw in something new. Well at least for me it was new... Its called pulpo "octopus"... Yup i had some ocotpus, and lets just say it was really chewy, especially the tentical part. I never thought the day would come when i'd find myslef eating octopus, but the day has come and gone. It wasn't bad , but at the same time it wasnt' the greatest either.

Anyway on the spitiual side of the cita with this family all went well also. We went over the Restoration of the Church and explained in detail how this church is the exact same church Christ formed when on the Earth. They were able to understand very well i believe, because we did the lesson using these cool little cards to make it visual that. It was a great lesson that we had with them and i could see the potential in this family as we were teaching them. The only problem that i can see right now which could effect their progress is that the Dad works on sundays. So were definately going to keep him in our prayers to over come this challenge. These next couple of weeks we'll see what happens with them but i feel like they have a good chance of progressing.

As for the update with Lidia, Who we've been teaching since December, things are a little ify. We have a baptisimal date with her this upcoming saturday that she's all ready for, but yesterday on sunday we ran into a doubt. I was talking with her about here date to be baptized and then she told me she's still not sure. so i asked her what it was she was doubting and the only response we got was the water. She has a really bad fear of being submerged completely in water which is turning into a big problem. we're trying to help her realize that this fear is coming from satan because he doesnt want her to make this covenent with the lord. So This week is going to be key in wether she's baptized this upcoming saturday or not. I sure pray that we're able to get this all solved for her and that she has the courage to go through with the baptisim. We have a cita schedualed with her this tuesday that is going to be important but i just found out i'm not going to be able to even go to it. I'm pretty bugged that they put the change for today and tommorrow but there's really nothing i can do about it. So for the next couple of days i'll be over in Lares and left to praying and giving all the advice i can to Elders Powell and Christensen who are going to visit her. But yeah, that about updates yall for this past week, and if you could some prayers for lidia would be great. so that she could go through with her baptisim...

Well remember i love you all so very much!!!!!!!!
With Love,
Elder Lopez

New apartment (email dated 03/02/2009)

Well this week here in Utuado we had a lot of things to do. First off we started the week getting ready to move appartments here in Utuado. Yup there moving us and going to let a senior couple live in our old apartment. So we spent all of our P-day packing and cleaning to get ready to move. Then on Wednesday the Reyes's (House cordinaters) came and picked us up and we moved everything over to the new apartment. I like to think of this new place as a bomb shelter, because thats what i feel like living in it. Its completely cement all the way around with like 2 windows in the whole place. The other down fall about the new place we are living is the hot water heater. Lets just say at best its a luke warm water heater, which means showers in the morning really do wake you up and get you moving pretty good. The senior couple that moved in is great and their brand new to the mission. Their from Ogeden Utah and this is their 2nd mission serving as a couple. They served 15 years ago in the Dominacin Republic so their vetrins i guess you could say. Elder Ramirez is coming up on 80 years old so you could really say he's a vetrin. They have a bunch of story's to tell thats for sure and their spirits are great, especially for here in Utuado. The best part about them is that their both from southern California originaly, they both speak perfect spanish and Hermana Ramirez cooks MEXICAN food authentic. She's going to cook us some home made tortillas and enchaladas one of these days for our district meeting she told us. She's already made us a lunch and a breakfast that were absolutly amazing this past week. I'm very content with having her and Elder Ramirez up here in the mountains of Utuado with us serving.

Well that about sums up all the move stuff, but as for the work things are going well also. This week we were able to re-set our baptisimal date with Lidia. This time i feel as though she's going to start preparing for it a little more. She's still coming to work every week and she's learing a bunch every time. I feel as though she's starting to feel more included into the ward also which is great. We had a less active member go and pick her up which was a good sign for him also. I feel Like Mom feels about her plants right now, and how shes always anixous to see them grow and to see them pop their heads threw the dirt and sprout. I'm in that same frame of mind and I'm anixous to see our investigators grow in their testimony and sprout firm roots in this gospel.

On another high note we came across a perfect family that we're way excited to begin teaching. There's a good Dad and Mother, and they have 3 little kids that are 11, 7, and 5. This family isn't like all the other Puerto Rican Families though that we come across. Their all so loving for one another and they all love to listen to us and our message. They get involved with the leasons and Their daughter that is 11 was even willing to give a prayer that was absolutly beautiful. We've been up there 2 times this past week and every time the spirit was just so strong. So to say the least we're very very excited to be teaching them and we'll have to see what happens. I guess you could say that we're in the planting stage still as of right now.

Anyway that about sums up the week here in Utuado. It was a great one and i'm excited to see what this next one brings.
Remember i Love you all!
Elder Lopez

Elder Lopez (email dated 2/23/2009)

Hello family,

Well here in Utuado things are just chugging right along. The good news is that the Utuado Monteneses (2A baseball team here) started their season up here in Puerto Rico and their kicking butt last time i checked. I believe their 3-1 and their one loss was by one run and i heard it was on a debateable call by the umpire. But to be completely honest i have no clue what happened i just heared the news from down the grape vine. Some times at night while i'm laying in bed on fridays nights i can open my windows a little bit and see the lights at the baseball stadium and hear the crowd yell. Its pretty cool actually; i surely enjoy it,the stadium is just right across the river from us.

Anyway enough about that, back to how the work is going here in Utuado. Lidia came to church again this week which is always good. She's learning a lot every week thats for sure. Now the next step is to get her to act. Hopefully some time soon we're able to set another baptisimal date with her. But before we go and do that we want to be sure she's ready to make this sacred and very important convet with the Lord. On the baptisimal subject we had a baptisim this past week but it was an 8 year old of one of our members. Non the less it was a baptisim and it was nice to have.

Well to be honest that about sums up the week. sorry its a little short, but i hope you enjoyed it. I sure enjoyed hearing from you all at home! thank you!

Anyway i love you all!
Elder Lopez

Reporting from Utuado (email dated 2/17/2009)

Well here in the Utuado the work is going forward. We've been working really hard like always and as of right now we have some potentials that are progressing little by little. We came across a man named Ramon this week and he turned out to be a really cool guy. He told us that about a year or so ago the missionaries started to teach him. When we heard that we were pretty interested and asked him what happenend. He told us that he just never would go to church, and he started to have a desire to drink again. He used to have a drinking problem and was an alcolholic for about 35 years or so, but he told us he's been sober for over a year now. As we were listening to this guy we realized that maybe he's ready now to except this gospel this time around. He's already read the Book Of Mormon completely he said and he said he liked it. So we're going to start working with him and see where it takes us this time. I think with him the difficulty is going to be getting him willing to come to church , because we gave him an invitation but he just told us with time maybe. For the most part he was a really good contact that were looking forward to start teaching. As of right now he said that we could go visit with him every sunday, but we're going to try and visit him inbetween to.

This past week i've really been growing a lot i think as a missionary. I'm actually starting to feel more and more comfortable with our conversations with the people in cita's (appointments) and the spanish is coming. Elder Christensen helps me a lot because he is able to explain things to me in English of why they use different words in different situations and things like that. So everything in that aspect of the mission (language) is starting to pick up.

At church this week we gave to lesson in Gospel Principals class on Prayer, which went really well i felt and was good because Lidia was there to hear it. We're working with her still to see if we can give here another baptisimal date. I think she's begining to realize little by little that all of what we've taught her is true and that this is the right path that Christ has blessed us with and that she should take it no matter the situation. But only time will tell. I still have a hope that she's going to be baptized, but before she's baptized we want to make sure she's going to be strong member and not just fall away. I feel like a lot of the problem with her is that her family really isent being the best support for her. But every week she's coming to church and she's still showing signs of interest so we're going to keep on working with her.

Thats about the update for here in the mountains of Utuado so until next time, take it easy.
Love you all,
Elder Lopez

Utuado, Puerto Rico (email dated 02/09/2009)

Hello,
Well unfortunately i cant say we had any baptisims this week because we had to drop our to baptisimal dates. My new companion, Elder Christensen and I went over there this week to finish up teaching all of the commandments with them but we hit a big brick wall. As we were teaching the Commandment of Baptisim and Confirmation i offered the Baptisimal commitment again, but this time Lidia told me straight up that she wasn't going to be baptized with out Elder Hernandez being here to... She told us that she had confidence in Elder Hernandez and I because we started teaching her but that with out him here she didnt want to be baptized. Yeah it was a little dager to the heart not going to lie because we've been working with her for so long and she's been making changes in her life to make it up to this point, and then she tells us she wont be baptized because Elder Hernandez was transfered. After having said that we could tell that she really isnt quite converted to the Gospel for Jesus Christ and we still have some more work to do with her. We're thinking about starting from the begining again with her to help here realize the importance of this sacred covenent with God. Also we're going to have to help her realize that here on the mission the work is directed by the Lord and not by men, and that the Lord is the one that sends missionaries to different areas because He knows where they need to go. Its a tough cookie to swallow i know, but i'm not letting it get me down because all it means is that we still have a little more work to do with her to help her strengthen her testimony in the Lord and to know that He directs this work and this Church and no one else. So thats the situation with the work right now or at least with Lidia and her daughter Xiomara.

Elder Christensen and I geating a long good though. The other day he made some cookies that were way good, so as long as he keeps that up i'm sure we'll be getting along just fine. He actualy is from Alpine, Utah which practicaly makes him our neighbore back home. He's been out for almost a year now and knows a lot or spanish so we can get around just fine. He's about 6'4 and 280 lbs. so you can see he's a pretty big boy. He played football at Lone Peak which is a little disapointing i know, but we have going to BYU in the future in comin which is cool. He's a big teddy bear and we've been gettin along just fine up to now, and it seems like he's pretty commited to put in some hard work here in Utuado which is good. I think being up here in the mountains is going to push him a little bit and he might start to lose some weight because of all the hills we go up here. Or it could go the opposite way because the people here in Utuado like to feed us missinoaries. We'll just have to wait and see what happins.

OH yeah sorry about the letters in the mail slowing down. It seems like lately all the work is doubling and we hardly ever have time on P-days to write letters home. So i apologize for that, but just know i'm doing my best!

Well i got to start wrapping up for the day. Remember that i love you all with all my heart and i'm greatful that i have such great support at home!
Take care, and we'll read and write next week...
With much Love,
Elder Lopez

Another transfer down (email dated 2/3/2009)

Well it sounds like there's still snow on the ground up in Utah, here in Puerto Rico however it is sunny and humid still. We've had some long hard working weeks here in Utuado, but thats the way it is some times. Were still working with Xiomara and her mother Lidia for the baptisimal date this upcoming saturday but we might have to move it back a week because Xiomara sleeped in for church this passed sunday. They've been having some family problems we think so were going to find out for sure this thursday whats going on and where we stand with their baptisim and all.

Yesterday we found out who is staying and who's going for transfers.... yup another transfer is down in the books. The news is that Elder Hernandez is leaving and Elder Lopez is staying in Utuado. Yeah i'm going to have a new companion starting tomorrow here in Utuado. I hope he's ready for some hard work because thats all we have here in Utuado. His name is Elder Christensen and he's from Alpin i believe if i remember right. I meet him in Ponce once when i was over there. All i really know about him is that he is a big big boy. He played football for lone peak i believe, but i'll find out for sure tomorrow.

This past sunday Presidant Martineau came to Utuado for church which was good for the branch. He could see that Utuado sort of lacks in Priesthood holders so he said he might be sending a missionary couple here in Utuado to help us out. We'll have to wait and see what happens.

Through out these past 2 transferes the days have felt so long but now i just look back and i wonder where the time went. I know that sounds sort of wierd but its the way it feels for sure. I've been able to learn so much the past 2 Transfers with spanish, with teaching, and especialy with the gospel. A lot of the time i feel like my head is going to explode becasue i've been learning so much. I'm really starting to see my role as a servent for the lord in a clearer way everyday.Its a great feeling to! This Gospel is awesome!

Well i'm sorry to say it but my time is running out because we have to go buy a bike for another missionary who's leaving his area of Lares. So until next week, take it easy, and remember i love you all.

Thank you for the prayers and support always!
Dios Bendiga
Elder Lopez

6 months in 5 days (email dated 1/26/2009)

Yup its true in 5 days from now i'll have been out for a 1/4 of my entire mission. Yeah i know i can hardley believe it my self. Things here in Utuado are pressing forward like always and we're working hard. It seems like every one here in Utuado knows Elder Hernandez and I because we cant go anywhere with out running into some we've meet or talked witht before. thats always a good sign to have, and the next step is baptizing all of them. But doing this takes a little extra time. speaking of time, it just keep's on flying by. Next week is transfers which will be my 3 complete transfer here on the island of Puerto Rico... Crazy right!

We're still working with our 2 investigators Lidia and Xiomara Rosa that have baptisimal dates for this up coming 7th of february. I'm excited for that day but still there is a lot of work to be down in between then and now. They attended the Area Conference with us in Arecibo which was great. Elder Bednar and Elder Eyring both spoke for it which was awesome! I love listening to the Apostles of the Lord speak because the spirit about them is so strong! The conference was for the whole entire Caribbean area and was broad casted from Jamica to every island in the the Caribbean in 6 different languages. Elder Bednar touched a topic that was perfect for Xiomara and Lidia about a testimony and how to develope it. He reminded us that a testimony doesnt just all come at once but comes "line upon line, precept upon precept" just like it says in the scriptures. But he also made it clear that we can only develope this testimony if we're doing all those things that we know we should be doing; such as reading the scriptures, saying sincere prayers to our Father in Heaven and acting upon those things that we know to be true. President Eyring spoke on being Faithful, Diligent in keeping the commandments, and prayerful always. As we strive to do all of these things we're blessed with the companioship of the comforter the the Holy Ghost. This gift has the power to lead us where we need to go and to help us stand firm even during difficult times and during temptations. The whole conference was a spiritual experience and i pray that Lidia and Xiomara were able to recieve a testimony that we have living prophets and apostles today. We have a cita with them tonight so we'll see how they felt about the whole thing.

Anyway, thank you for all of your love and support and know your all in my prayers.
With much Love,
Elder Lopez

Writing from Utuado, Puerto Rico (email dated 1/20/2009)

Well the past week was a week full of experiences. I'm not sure if i was able to tell you last week but if i did its alright because you can hear it again. We just got 2 baptisim dates last week with 2 of our investigators which for the 7th of february. They're attending church and really starting to make some changes in there life. Its the best feeling ever to see such an important change start to happin in a family. Yesterday we taught the word of wisdom which is always a scary lesson with the people here in Puerto Rico because almost all of them smoke drink and love their coffee. So we went in with a prayer that the Lord would help us speak in a way that the Holy Ghost could touch their hearts. Unfortunately right when we showed up at their house one of their friends (who's always drunk and a little different) was sitting on their couch visiting with them. Elder Hernandez and i looked at eachother and were just like oh man, we're not going to be able to give this lesson with the distractions that he's going to bring. So we decided to just check up on their reading of the Book of Mormon and how it went and explain the chapter a little and then we were going to leave. So when we got in there we sat down and started talking with them and we noticed the "borracho"(drunk guy) was bleeding from his chin. we asked him what happened and i he told us that he cut himself shaving. Then he went on to tell us that he wasnt all there because he was on drugs because he was passing some kiddney stones... When he said that i started to feel a little bad for the guy. But anyway about 5 min. after we sat down and were talking "Borracho" decided he better head home and get some rest and then we all said, Yeah that would probably be a good idea. As sad as the situation was we were pretty happy cuz now the lesson was back on. We started of with a song and prayer and then we got right down to it. We were happy to hear that they didnt have any problems with any drugs or alcohol but what was holding them up was the coffee. They have coffee every day and they kept on saying that they couldn't give it up because it would be to hard. But after hearing this we showed them what they just told us and let them see how addicting coffee really is and that it was taking away their agency which is a sacred gift the Lord has blessed us with. We ended up talking with them for a good hour and a half about coffee and the affects and that they could give it up if they really wanted. We focused on how with Christ and His love for us we can over come any temptation satan puts in our way and how we'll never be tempted above that which we can withstand. Towards the end of the lesson they really started to see that they could do it and at the end they excepted the commitment to obey the word of wisdom. It was an absolute amazing lesson and the Holy Ghost was definately there with us through out the whole thing and did all the teaching. As i sit here and think about the whole situation with this family i'm filled with joy and a love for my father in heaven. I'm so filled with this joy because right now i'm seeing a huge change in a family's life, their giving up worldly things and starting to follow the path that Christ has givin us through his prophets that we have in these days. Up to this point in my life there literaly is no better feeling then being able to see this change in a family. This work is honestly amazing!

Well i'm starting to run out of time because we still have to go shopping and do all that p-day stuff, oh and by some chocolate to help the Lidia and Xiomara Rosa stop drinking coffee...
so i hope you enjoy the the letter and remember i love you all and you are always in my prayers!
Love always,
Elder Lopez

Overload of Mission Pictures

Hey all! I just got my hands on a lot of Bret's mission pictures. I just randomly picked some of them to post. These pictures are in no particular order, and unfortunately I don't have captions for any of them. So just enjoy them as they are :)
-Lachelle

Elder Lopez is back (email dated 1/13/2009)

Well the library is back open and all the holiday's are behind us, well at least i think, Puerto Rico likes to through in random holidays every now and again. I guess yesterday was a holiday so our P-day was moved to tuesday. No worries all is well and Mom you dont need to call Pres. Martineau.

Sounds like the snow bake home has been going crazy, so i hope everyone is safe out there on the roads. As for the snow out here... oh wait there's no such thing in the Caribbean. The weather has been great out here and the work is going back to normal with the holiday's winding down.

This past week at church we were able to have Lidia, one of our new Investigators to church. It was really good for her to see what church is like. Last night we went over to her house and had a lesson with her with some members. It went great and we gave Lidia and her daughter a baptisimal date to work forward for this up coming February 7th. We have some work to do to prepare them to meet this date but i'm looking forward to the work. Lidia is a really good investigator but the one thing she say's she scared of is water... i guess she has a phobia of water but we're working with her to overcome it because we're talking about salvation here. Anyway as for the family of Luis who we've been teaching for a while; we're planning to give them a baptisimal date for our next lesson with them this Wednesday, so i pray it all works out with them.

The work is still going out here and i'm very very gratefull for all your support back home. Remember that my prayers are always with you.
Love always,
Elder Lopez

Wow, another year down! (email dated 12/29/2008)

Hey, Thanks for the update on the life over in good old Utah! Well I'm not going to lie it made my year to be able to talk with all of you on Christmas! It made me think a lot of how blessed i am to have such a strong family in the church. You all strength me so much out here!

Well as for this past week of work we came acrossed a couple of new investigators but for the most part it was actualy pretty slow. some times weeks like this happen though. I hope it was just because of all the holidays and crazyness of people partying it up that got in the way. We did how ever come across one family that was pretty interesting to talk with and teach. THe Father named Juan was from New York and was actualy baptized into the church when he was over there but he really didnt understand much i dont think when he was baptized because now he's going to a Penticostl church. We asked him what was up and why he left the church and he said he was sick of hearing about joseph smith and only about him. He said that when he would go to church all they would talk about was Joseph Smith and nothing about Christ... Ha i sort of found that hard to believe, but anyway he was kind enough to listen to us and let us clarify everything. I'm pretty sure we laid to rest his worries about worshiping Joseph Smith and made it clear that the head of the Church is Jesus Christ and only Him because he is our savior. We taught him the Joseph Smith was merly an instument in the hands of the lord that brought about the restoration of the fulness of the Gospel of Christ. It was a good lesson i felt and he has 6 kids and a wife that all listened so i'm excited to see what we can do with this family. This next transfer we have some potential and now its just time to work and make all this potential come to life. I'm looking forward to the work and i appriciate all of your prayers because they really do help.

Well i cant believe this year is coming to an end. It seems like yesterday i was getting ready for early morning work outs over in the small gym of Timpanogos. Its been a years time since then and now i'm here in Puerto Rico searching for ways to help bless the lives of all that i can in a way that will last for eternity. How time can change in a year! Well i hope you all have a great New Year and make sure to set some goals! My goals are what seem to keep me going every day!

Well i love all of you, and wish the family happy New Year for me!!
Much Love,
Elder Lopez

Feliz Navidad

Mom and Dad,
Well i'm glad to hear that he Holidays back home went great and everyone
one was able to be there at the home. As for my Christmas call goes i'm not
sure exactly what time it will be on Christmas but i heard that we'll get to
tell you on christmas eve by email or a short call or something. Well have to
wait and see. I'm going to try and use that phone card that you gave me to
use because i'm pretty sure that there are still a lot of minutes on it to use up. But if not i'll give you a call and a number you can call me back on.

Anyway this past week went great. We had out baptisim of Erick on saturday and his confirmation yesterday! It was a perfect Christmas present to see a
baptisim. We had "Nene"(Emanuel) a member whose preparing for his
mission right now perform the baptisim and the confirmation and it was a great experience for him as he's preparing to leave for his mission. Elder
Hernandez and i were the wittnesses and he actually had to do it twice but the
second time was definately good! It was a great experience and we even sang
special number to "oh Mi Padre" to the tune of "come thy fount" and it was great! The spirit was definatley there and it was a great experience. After the baptisim we had our Christmas party and ate pig and rice and some other good stuff that i didnt know the name of. Whatever it was it sure was good though! This holiday season we seem to get feed where ever we go. During the baptisim we watched a movie about the restoration that was a great because we had some non-members that were Ericks friends come to! The whole day just went great! The next day in church i got to help in his confirmation and the spirit touched me during the blessing and right then i new that Erick was recieveing the gift of the Holy Ghost and is now a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints! What day it was! That night Elder Hernandez and i were just like to little kids!

But right now i'm getting kicked off the computer so i got to go! i'll talk with you christmas! I love your all!

Christmas time (email dated 12/15/2008)

Hey, I'm glade to hear all is going well back home and every one is having a good Christmas season! Where are you going for Christmas day? It sounded like everyone is leaving?
But anyway as for things here in the land of Puerto Rico all is well! THis past week we had our interviews with President Martineau because the transfer is starting to come to an end. We only have a week and a half until transfers! Actually transfers will be on Christmas Eve and were all going to the Mission home to have Christmas eve there which should be really fun. I gave a talk in Church yesterday which was pretty neat! i was a little hesitent at first because
I still dont feel all that confident with the spanish but i got threw it pretty good i thought! I took about 10 min. and once i was done and sat down i thought to myself, "Wow, that was all in spanish"...it wasn't the best spanish but it was spanish non the less. Yesterday we gave the 2nd lesson to Luis and his son Jon and it went really well! This family is really awesome and i hope they keep on progressing like they have been. Jon asked during the lesson, "so where do we go after death?" and it just lead perfectly right into our lesson! All this family is missing right now i think is a strong spiritual experience. Hopefully we can get them to come to our baptizim this week for Eric! Yup thats right we have our first baptisim coming up this next saturday and Eric is looking like he's going to be good to go! We have a Cita with him tonight and we're going to
get him ready for the baptisimal interview and everything! I'm really looking forward to saturday!

This past thursday we had a Christmas devotional that we went to in Arecibo. It
was really nice and really got me into the Christmas mood! Wow its already
Christmas time, i cant believe it! Thank you so much for all of you're support back home! It's great to read your letters and they keep me going, so thanks!

I love you all!
Oh yeah and I'll talk with you in 10 days...

Love always,
Elder Lopez

What a week! (email dated 12/08/2008)

Wow, it sounds like the the christmas season back home is going great. I bet its been awesome to have so much family around and get to spend time together and visit a play games! It really does make me smile to think of you all enjoyingthe blessing that our Loving Father in Heaven has blessed us with. Just look at all the blessings we have in our life. This gospel really does work miracles and is such a blessing.

This week out here in the field was a absolutely great week. Elder Hernandez and I were able to find some good New investigators with some really good potential! During the week we cam accross and older man who is partialy blindand has been living with a lady for 28 years i believe it was. Anyway we contacted them and they let us into the their home and we went ahead and gave them the first lesson. At was really interesting as we gave the lesson becausethey really were interested in everything that we had to say. I asked them the simple question of how they felt and they gave us the best reply i've ever heard so far on my mission. They said that they really could feel that thethings that we were teaching them were true and they loved to just have us in their home. This answer really just blew me away and i couldn't believe my ears. They really have some good potential but the down side is they have somethings that their going to have to change in their life to be baptized into the church. They're really going to have to show some faith in the lord to overcome there one big probablem that a lot of people have out here. Their living together and aren't married because Gloria is recieving money from the government and if they get married she'll stop recieving it. I'm pretty sure this might be their only source of income to because Tito is going blind and cant really move. They have some walls to go through but if they can jus tfind the faith to trust in the Lord i'm sure all will work out. Anyway to make a long story a little shorter, I'm really looking forward to working with them.

This fast sunday we had a special fast for our branch here in Utuado that the less actives would find the desire to come back to church and that the branchwould begin to grow. I feel as though the Lord already has blessed us in our fasting in prayers because we had a less active named Carmen that we visited this passed week show up at church on sunday and we found 4 more new invetigators that night that have some good potential.

This week really has turned out to be a week of Testimony building and strengthening in so many different ways. Its a wonderful feeling to see the hand to the Lord in this work and I'm praying for His guidance every day. Especially during my time here in the mountains of Utuado. Remember to take time and thank the Lord for the blessing that he has so graciously givin to us especially during this Christmas season! We have so much to be grateful for!

Much love,
your son,
Elder Lopez

Here Comes Christmas (email dated 12/08/2008)

Wow its Christmas season and what a time to be greatful! This past sunday night we had the opportunity to go and watch the Christmas Devotional and listen to our beloved Prophet and his councilers speak! It was a great experience and I felt close to home as i watched good Old Motab Choir sing the hymns of Zion! Wow, what a great meeting it was. It really hit home the true meaning of Christmas.

Right now i'd just like to thank you all for the wonderful fiends and family you've all been to me. My testimony of Christ has grown so much out here and i know he lives and loves us all! What a great time of year it is to follow his example and stretch out our hands to help another and show our love for them.

with love,
Elder Lopez

Thanksgiving on the Mission (email dated 12-01-2008)

Hey, its Elder Lopez again. Another week has gone by and now i'm another week smarter and experienced on the mission. This past week we really started to try and get the members that we have in our little branch up in going in the missionary work. Utuado is a big place so we really a lot on our members to help us out in getting from place to place. Its really true that every member is a missionary. As members of this church we have the opportunity to be a flag on the hill standing as an example for all the people in the world to look to. Its a great priviledge and i have to thank all of you back home for being great examples for me to look up to. As members of this church we really do stick out because of the high standards that we have and are striving to up hold. it might seem hard at times with all the things that are going on the world but as we stand united we will not fall. Its just like Elder Uchtdorf talked about in the last conference during the priesthood session to lift were you stand. It doesnt matter where you are, Utah or Puerto Rico, we all have the sacred opportunity to be a beacon of light for the world to see. This work is truely for everyone and it truely is amazing to see in motion. I take comfort in the fact that this gospel, and this church will stand until that great day when the Lord comes back to the earth to reign in His glory. Wow this Gospel is amazing!

Well before i end this i hope all is well back home and that you all had a great Thanksgiving. Remeber "Thanksgiving comes but once a year but times to give thanks are always here"...( is that saying still up in my car with the little dollar bill with the missionary shirt?) Well love you all,
Elder Lopez

I'm going to miss the Turkey Bowl (email dated 11/24/2008)

Hey i hope all is well over there on the home front in Utah. All is well out here in Utuado and i cant believe how fast this passed week flew by. We had a lot of work to do this week and every night we came home i was dead tired. Here up in the Mountains it seems like everyone lives up on the top of a mountain or clear down in a valley. So which ever one it is we get to go up and come back down or vise versa. Lets just say my legs are going to be tree trunks by the time i leave this place. Here in Puerto Rico they have all the same Holidays that they have back in the states and more. I'm pretty sure the people just make up Holidays so they can get of work and have a break. Thats just fine by me though because during peoples breaks there home and we're able to find more people to talk to about our message which contains the way to recieving eternal salvation which is a pretty big deal last time i checked. We have a little small branch here in Utuado like i said last time but the people in it are way nice and feed us and feed us and then feed us some more! We had a Dia de accion de Gracias ( just a long name for Thanksgiving) Party this past saturday with a bunch of food. It was amazing and i was full for all of saturday and most of sunday. Yesterday it rained almost the whole day which sort of put a damper on being able to find people. People here in Puerto Rico dont care for the rain to much and when it does rain you dont find many people out because their all scared of ""La munga"(the cold). Anyway we had some cool teaching experences this week. We came accross a guy a couple of nights ago during our sacred finding time and i called him out and when he came out and it was sort of like all the rest that we had been having that day he just said that he was catholic. So i was like oh ok well is there anything we can help you with, and then he stopped and said yeah. I wasn't expecting that but he then let us in and said some time he'd need his tree in his front yard trimmed so and would need help so we told him we'd be more than happy to help. Then he invited us in his house we talked to him a little about what we do as missionaries and i was actually able to share and talk a lot more then i have in the passed. He even gave us dinner for that night. It was a really cool experience and goes to show that when you show a desire to truely help out your fellow brotheren your leaving a little seed and are being an example like we should be as members of the True Church of Chirst. Mission work is great and i'm gaining a greater love for it every day!

Thank you for all the support back home and have great thanksgiving this week! I love you all at home and thank you a billion for your letters and support!