hot water
Heyyy family. As you probably guessed, I got transferred out of the office. I went out on emergency changes to open an area where missionaries haven't been for about 4 months. My area is Agua Caliente (hot water) in Soyapango. Soyapango has to be the most dangerous place I've been in since I got out here. Man. The other day we heard gun shots while visiting a member, and the member shouted to his wife, `Did you hear that? They killed another one!` Yeah man. But I'm protected here and have never felt in danger or scared. I'm being sure to take the proper precautions and all that stuff. But I am definitely in gang territory.
It's really interesting opening an area. My companion and I came and didn't know anybody, didn't have a house, didn't know our ward boundaries, didn't know nothin`. Now that a week has gone by we've met a whole bunch of members, got a copy of the ward directory (SIMI in Spanish), and have found a ton of part member families. So hopefully we'll start baptizing these lovely little guanacans pretty soon. We still don't have a house. We've looked like crazy, but nothing meets the requirements. One interesting thing about my area is that it doesn't have a chapel. Agua Caliente is part of the ward Prusia. So it's one ward with two missionary areas, Prusia being the zone leader`s area. I live in their house. The ward is huge! 218 people. So the challenge is going to be getting people to church because you have to take like 2 buses, and people here are poor. But I like it. It's starting to get rainy again and you just gotta love roughin` it in the jungle city San Salvador. Hopefully we'll find a house soon so that we can unpack our suitcases and make ourselves at home.
So this weekend Aracely`s son Ronal got baptized in my last area San Ramon. I was a little bummed that I wasn't there for his baptism, but I'm happy I was able to get him ready. I was a little disappointed that I got taken out of my area when things started to go well. I left the office on Tuesday and he got baptized Friday. Yesterday Aracely and Ronal got confirmed. One thing I've learned about missionary work is that it's the Lord's work, not mine. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. So I'm just happy to be here and I'm happy they got baptized and confirmed. God loves His children. Sometimes I just don't understand how all encompassing and infinite His love is, but it's neat to get a glimpse every now and then.
My companion is Elder Barrios, a native of Guatemala City. He's a really nice elder who goes home one transfer after me. So we're both viejitos in the mission, but we're both working hard and well.
General Conference sure was great. President Monson teaches different now that he's the prophet. He doesn't quote as much literature and he just has this prophetic disposition to him now. I think he's kind of a different sort of prophet though because all the latest prophets have been these old, wise men with gray hair and a feeble stature, while President Monson is this muscular, large old man. I'm glad he's my prophet.
I send you all my love and gratitude for your prayers and thoughts. May the heavens guide all of you to higher levels of learning and spirituality.
Love,
Elder Andrew Wiggins
It's really interesting opening an area. My companion and I came and didn't know anybody, didn't have a house, didn't know our ward boundaries, didn't know nothin`. Now that a week has gone by we've met a whole bunch of members, got a copy of the ward directory (SIMI in Spanish), and have found a ton of part member families. So hopefully we'll start baptizing these lovely little guanacans pretty soon. We still don't have a house. We've looked like crazy, but nothing meets the requirements. One interesting thing about my area is that it doesn't have a chapel. Agua Caliente is part of the ward Prusia. So it's one ward with two missionary areas, Prusia being the zone leader`s area. I live in their house. The ward is huge! 218 people. So the challenge is going to be getting people to church because you have to take like 2 buses, and people here are poor. But I like it. It's starting to get rainy again and you just gotta love roughin` it in the jungle city San Salvador. Hopefully we'll find a house soon so that we can unpack our suitcases and make ourselves at home.
So this weekend Aracely`s son Ronal got baptized in my last area San Ramon. I was a little bummed that I wasn't there for his baptism, but I'm happy I was able to get him ready. I was a little disappointed that I got taken out of my area when things started to go well. I left the office on Tuesday and he got baptized Friday. Yesterday Aracely and Ronal got confirmed. One thing I've learned about missionary work is that it's the Lord's work, not mine. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. So I'm just happy to be here and I'm happy they got baptized and confirmed. God loves His children. Sometimes I just don't understand how all encompassing and infinite His love is, but it's neat to get a glimpse every now and then.
My companion is Elder Barrios, a native of Guatemala City. He's a really nice elder who goes home one transfer after me. So we're both viejitos in the mission, but we're both working hard and well.
General Conference sure was great. President Monson teaches different now that he's the prophet. He doesn't quote as much literature and he just has this prophetic disposition to him now. I think he's kind of a different sort of prophet though because all the latest prophets have been these old, wise men with gray hair and a feeble stature, while President Monson is this muscular, large old man. I'm glad he's my prophet.
I send you all my love and gratitude for your prayers and thoughts. May the heavens guide all of you to higher levels of learning and spirituality.
Love,
Elder Andrew Wiggins