Here we go!

This week we had to do a lot of contacting. There weren’t a lot of records, so we´re kind of starting from scratch, but Elder Allen and I are more than up to the challenge!  The ward is incredible. We have a lot of return missionaries who are constantly offering to teach with us, the new bishop is super excited, and we have a lot of work to do!

We found one family that just makes my day every time we go. Joel and Marioli are the parents, and they have 4 kids. The past elders had taught Joel jr a few times, but we managed to teach the entire family this time, and they are sooooo receptive! They are such nice people. They asked us to sing happy birthday to their son Jose in English, and we had fun doing it! We have a lot of hopes for them, and a lot of hopes for the sector!

We got to play football today as a zone. Man, am I out of shape. I’ve almost completely lost any "touch" I ever had haha! We had a lot of fun though. and my companion from the MTC Elder Harries is in the zone with me! This is going to be a really good transfer

Elder Allen and I mesh really well. We have a lot of the same interests, and We practically started the mission together in the Cerrillos stake (he had 1 transfer when I arrived). We have high expectations and high goals, and we hope to accomplish a lot together. He´s teaching me a lot of good things, and we´re glad to be companions. 

I know that this is the work of the Lord. I know that even though we are weak, as we put forth our best effort and seek to improve every single day, God blesses us. As we strengthen ourselves, we will be able to strengthen others. As my new favorite hymn says, Some poor fainting, struggling seaman

You may rescue, you may save

Have a great week and may God Bless you!

Elder Pomar :)

YEAH!!! I’m really sad because they transferred me from El Quisco :( 

The 3 months I spent there flew by!! I’m so glad I got to be there, even for such a short time. God showed me many miracles, and I’m looking forward to the future ones!

Me and my companion Elder Allen from Arizona are doing a whitewash in the stake Olimpo (Shout out to Brother Lee Mackay! If your converts are in my sector I’m definitely gonna pass by), and We´re super pumped! 

*DISCLAIMER*

I brought my camera case to the Cyber, but turns out that my camera wasn’t in there!! Whooooo hoooo! Ill be sending photos for sure next week. 

My forearm´s dead from carrying all the suitcases, so sorry if I don’t write a lot. I think a wild caterpie used string shot on me, because my speed has been reduced haha! 

Okay, so it was temple Thursday and Temple Friday this week!! We went on Thursday to do baptisms with three of the new converts, and I was baptized on behalf of my great uncle. It was such a beautiful experience. Everyone was just beaming, and Sandy told us afterwards, "I can’t wait to go back!!" On Friday I went and did an Endowment session with the other missionaries in my zone, and I loved it. It had been over 6 months since I´d gone to the temple, and I miss it so much! There is a feeling of peace that is just incredible. It’s literally out of this world. After stepping back into the real world again, you really appreciate the special that the sacred building is. Take advantage that temples are so close in the states and go often!

As we were going back from the temple on Friday, I went to another sector with my companion so that he could do a baptismal interview for a man that I had taught in splits one day. His name is Victor. I had cost a lot to get him to this point, and he was really really excited to get baptized. On arrival, he lets us and the sister missionaries that taught him in and tells us "I need to tell you something." Instantly we all begin groaning on the inside and he proceeded to tell us of how his friend ridiculed him for changing religion and he started giving excuses of how he wasn’t ready to be baptized just yet. The atmosphere got really tense as we had four missionaries testifying to him, and he began to bible bash us since he is extremely, extremely fluent in the scriptures. We kept telling him that he needed to pray and ask God if what we had taught his was true, and not rely on his knowledge or the opinion of others. Then in a moment of inspiration, I commanded him to kneel down and pray. and he did. Afterwards, the whole environment calmed down, and there was peace. He went into his interview, passed, and was baptized yesterday. You should have seen the look on his face! God really does fight our battles here in the mission. We´re just humble servants. I’m so glad to be able to serve him here :)

Till next week!

Love,

Elder Pomar :)

Here's a pic of our skype call with Caleb on Mother's Day with his awesome companion, Elder Araya! 

 

Hey everyone!!  This week has been filled with miracles!!

The first one we had was an investigator named Gustavo. We had found him in a miraculous way a few weeks back, and after a lot of struggles to set an appointment, we found out that it was worth the wait. After an amazing first lesson, he got sick, and we offered a health blessing to him, and as we gave it to him, the spirit was palpable. He thanked us profusely the following day, having felt an inexplicable peace during the blessing. After we taught him the restoration and he accepted a baptismal date for the 24th!!! We are so glad to have him!!

We´ve been exploring new areas of our sector, including a set of apartments that are on a massive hill. As we went tracting and looking up addresses in the area book, and we found a family of SEVEN. I couldn’t believe it. We have an appointment tomorrow, so wish me luck! We also randomly found another less active who on opening the door told us "Come on in! I’ve always seen you guys walking around and I was wondering why you never came here!" He is the only member of his family, so we are going to try and work with his wife and their two kids! And we're going to do a self defense workshop since he's a certified instructor!

We organized a family home evening with the young single adults of the ward, and we had a great time! We had 3 investigators come. Now I have to give a shout out to the Judd Hansen family, especially Chad, Tyler and Trevor. The number one game we played was around the world ping pong. No one had ever heard of it, and everyone had a blast! I learned at least one useful thing from spending all those Sunday nights with your boys! Thanks haha!

Now here's the spiritual thought of the week:

Its really easy at times to let yourself get frustrated when you feel like your personal progress is slow. I know because I've lived it here in the mission. DONT LET THOSE FEELING HIJACK YOUR BEING! As God taught in Doctrine and Covenants:

"And that which doth not edify is not of God, and is darkness. That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day" (D&C 50:23-24)

Those negative feelings that make you feel like a failure are not from God. That which is of God builds you up, so don't let Satan live rent free in your head! When we need to change, instead of wallowing in despair, set goals, make plans, and change your world. God will always be there to help you, even if you fall.

Love you all! Till next week!

Elder Pomar :)

Hey Everyone!

Frozen: 

As the title says, were entering winter here in the coast! Time to bust out the gloves and beanie haha! Along with the weather, we've been seeing a lot of miracles come. Yesterday I had a less active who had gone to church for the first time tell me " I don’t know why you arrived at my house. I always had the desire to return, but little things kept stopping me. And now I’m here. I just adore you guys!"

During the daily planning session a few nights ago, I felt that we had to go to a certain sector of my area. We arrived at the last minute, and after little success, we went to an address in a private condominium that we had never entered. Then came out the less active. She started with excuses of why she didn’t go, but as we listened and asked about her conversion story, she softened up and told us about the many trials she was going through. I turned to Alma 7:11-12 which says:

11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.

I testified of how the atonement of Jesus Christ would help her overcome her challenges, and with the spirit strong, we invited her to come to church. The joy on that sisters face made my day. I’m glad the Lord helped us be an instrument in his hands

With Elder Araya we've been exploring new sectors, and we frequently get lost haha! But its all a good adventure. Its even more awesome when you get lost so perfectly that you end up finding more less actives to help! My sector is like a paradisical wilderness. Nature at its prime. Its sooooo beautiful! I’m so grateful to be here.

One of the things that I learned in my studies the other day is how awesome the allegory of the vineyard is in Jacob 5. Think about how many times the Lord says in the chapter " It grieveth me that I should lose this tree." As I was reading the BYU book of Mormon manual, it struck me of how we are the trees. God wants us to give good fruit, or use the atonement in our lives to be the best people we can be. Like the gardener, God does all he can to give us the tools and experiences we need to give good fruit, or live the gospel, but when even after all he does the trees give bad fruit, how much he suffers. God is so merciful even when we are so stubborn. He gives us everything we need to have a happy life in the gospel, but we have to be the ones to chose it. Let us all look to change what we need to do so that God can look at us and say with pride and joy "That’s my son" or "That’s my daughter".

I know God lives, and that’s why I keep fighting everyday. Good luck, and victory in your everyday battles!

Love,

Elder Pomar

PS The picture was my comps Idea. He said it was like my soul was coming out of me haha!