week 68 Brother Banegas

So I sent the pictures early... but here is the big email for you guys.

This was a really interesting week. This week Alejandro got baptized. But not without the mission leader making a scene. It`s really funny because my ward mission leader HATES me. And doesn`t come to church anymore. But he showed up at the baptism and shakes everyone`s hand BUT MINE. Alejandro was getting baptized and at the same time an 8 year old girl was getting baptized by her dad, but when it was time for her to get baptized the mission leader starts yelling at me for the (Registro) paperwork? for her to get baptized, and I told him that she didn`t need it from me because she wasn`t an investigator, and then he starts yelling and saying that we have to cancel her baptism and that it`s my fault and blah blah blah. It was pretty embarrassing for him when he realized that she really didn`t need a (Registro). 

SO. Good thing is that Alejandro didn`t get too annoyed, although he did complain after the baptism. It was still good. He was so ready. The funniest thing in the WORLD is that the first Sunday that he showed up to church, he literally said. ``I`m not here to be baptized, I just wanna learn more about your church.`` Which is funny, because he gave his testimony in Elder`s Quorum on Sunday and quoted himself. Super funny.

Also, I bought a super killer new blanket. It has dolphins. I will send a pic next week.

UM. I played baseball today and my team won, which was cool.

The next most exciting thing in my life are probably these coupons I have for Burger King that are killer deals. Like 50% discounts and 56% discounts and it`s dope. Because Burger King here is actually good, (no offense US BK) but it`s actually better than McDonald's here.

Love you guys

week 67 Don't Talk Like a Mexican

There is this horrible curse in the mission, where you pick up the slang that your companion uses. Unfortunately for the first time ever my companion is a Mexican, and now I cannot stop saying things like, "No Manches," and "Orale" and finishing every sentence with calling my companion, "loco."

But the good news is that this week Alejandro is getting baptized. He already passed the pre interviews and everything. The Zone Leaders are going to come to the chapel with me this Thursday to interview him and then everything will be set.

Tomorrow are house inspections so today I cleaned the house.

This week  I had a cool moment. I was on divisions with the Zone Leaders because I had to do a baptismal interview for them. Afterwards, Elder Pineda (Guatemala) and I decided to contact the next door neighbors. We entered and spoke with them for a moment, inviting them to the baptism, when the topic of the woman`s hometown came up out of nowhere. She said that she was from OROCUINA. As in MY FIRST AREA IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE OVER A YEAR AGO. And so we start talking and she tells me she is from this part of Orocuina that is super puny and I asked her if she knew the familia Batres Amador that lives in that tiny spot. Not only did she say yes, but HER HUSBAND IS FROM THE FAMILY BATRES AMADOR. SHE IS THE AUNT OF MY TWO CONVERTS WILMA AND MILTON. SHE THEN SAID OH WAIT YOU`RE THAT ELDER ANDERSON? THEY ALWAYS TALK ABOUT YOU.

Best day of my entire mission.

Church is true. Love you all. Will send photos next week.

week 66: Sick

This last week was pretty good. We had interviews on Thursday with President Bowler, and I was supposed to give a class. I prepared pretty much the best class in the world but then on Wednesday night they called me and gave me a topic at 930, so I had to change my class completely, but it was still a decent class. 

I have had a really bad cough since Tuesday, don`t know what`s wrong, but it`s gotten a whole lot better since Saturday.

Alejandro has a baptismal date for the 26th.

We have 2 new families we teach, and had 5 investigators in church this week.

Today I wasn`t feeling up to going to the Pday activity, so I just went with my companion so he could go buy stuff.

Our church attendance this week was 109, which was a huge jump, and there wasn`t even a primary program or anything.

I had a great week, but overall I`ve just been sick. So I hope I get better soon and hope you all have a great week.

hope this is the right pic and not some random one from this computer.

Week 65 Picacho

So nobody sent me any pictures from today, so you`ll have to wait on those.

Just going to talk about this new family we`re teaching and then I`m going home.

The mom is Marjory, she is incredibly positive, she has 4 kids that are 13, 10, 5 and 2. Her husband died from a gunshot this year when he was assaulted and robbed. She has been really struggling since but has really accepted and held on to the gospel. This Sunday she couldn`t come to church, but she sent her son so he could keep learning. They are incredibly positive and we teach them in the bishops house. Love them to death. Alejandro asked me if it would be possible if he could serve a mission, but he is too old and got super bummed out. He`ll get baptized any day he wants. 

this week we have interviews SO we`ll see what I end up teaching haha. Anyway everything is going great. Take care.

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This is Jake's mom.  Last night I got a text from someone at Smiles for Central America.  They said that Jake helped them with a service project and they wanted to let his dad and I know that he's healthy and happy .  This made my week.