Madrid is a very very cold place.... beware the service squad

Hello everyone! This week was a pretty dang cold one but we bought some winter gear recently and plan on putting it 100% to the test. (Shout out to John Graham who taught me since I was a wee lad to trust north face against the cold) but it was a pretty awesome week that's for sure. 

One of the coolest things we did this week was we went and sang in the biggest outdoor mall in Spain called Sol and we also sang in this other famous place called plaza mayor with some other missionaries in a Christmas choir. We got a ton of people to listen to us and really had an awesome opportunity to share the Christmas spirit and light the world doing that. I don't really know how my companion and I made the choir. We are kinda the least talented ones there but it's still awesome to sing Christmas songs about our savior super loud and proud. ( we know people). Another awesome thing we did this week was we drove an hour away to this members house and did some solid yard work with the young men in the ward. The family spoke English because the dad is from England. I'm now able to understand Spanish, Portuguese, Nigerian, English, and British! It was so awesome to get to work though and I felt right at home working in his yard. We also had some hardships and lost a really good investigator this week but it's all good because we also had the chance to go do baptisms for the dead in the temple with Jean Carlos! Such a sweet experience to be there with him and see him progress in the gospel! 

Other than that, life is all good and dandy here! I am really starting to stress out about the time here.... I'm going home so soon it's ridiculous! Possibly might have some transfer news pretty soon but no promises! I love you all and have read the emails and will be praying for those who asked this week! Love you! 

The sign says stay off the swings if you are older than 6 but didn't see it till after!

Elder Baron

Calle Fuerteventura 4, 2, Office 8B

28703 San Sebastian de los Reyes

Madrid

Spain

ILUMINA el Mundo! Light the world

Hey fam, 

I hope that everyone pushed it to the limit this week trying to serve other people for the light the world campaign! 

Things are cruising along over here in Barrio 8, but I feel the call of transfers coming soon.... I've been here for quite some time, so we will just have to wait and see what happens that is for sure. 

This week was super super awesome though! One of my favorite things that happened this week was we got three of our ward missionaries to participate in a lesson after correlation on Saturday! We found this awesome girl a couple of weeks ago and we have been pushing super hard to get her to church but she hasn't come yet. It was an incredible experience as we did less talking during this lesson and listened to all three of their testimonies. It totally helped our friend make it to church the next day too! She came and had an absolutely amazing experience. GUYS GO OUT WITH THE MISSIONARIES. THEIR INVESTIGATORS WILL PROGRESS MORE IF YOU HELP THEM! We had a very good number of people at church this week and it was perfect because it was stake conference and Elder Kearon from the 70 came! 

We had an amazing experience with Elder Patrick Kearon from the 70 this weekend that I would love to share. Over my mission, there have been several moments with the spirit that have been very eye opening. This past weekend I had one of them in our stake conference with Elder Kearon. He talked over and over about the atonement and how we need to use it in our lives, how everyone can use it no matter what they have done, and how it will work for everyone. One thing he said that I absolutely loved went something like this. When we tell ourselves that the Atonement can't help us due to what we have done, we are being completely arrogant. Jesus Christ suffered for ALL sins and is willing to take all those feelings away as we repent. I love this so much. Many times we feel so burdened down by our sins and we think there is no hope and no way back. That is never the case due to the infinite power of the atonement. Christ will always be there waiting for us with open arms to surround us with his love. Elder Kearon urged us to move on from sin, to be happy, and to stop worrying about yesterday's problems. Without the atonement, we would all be doomed with no chance for happiness. But there is an atonement, therefore fear not! 

Other than that, we made it onto the news after all for going to five guys, and we are alive so life is good ! 

Photos from a surprise birthday jam the members threw me

Elder Baron

Calle Fuerteventura 4, 2, Office 8B

28703 San Sebastian de los Reyes

Madrid

Spain

Thanksgiving round 2

My friends and family, 

This week was super busy. We were out of our area for like half of the week, but we got to do some really cool stuff. On thanksgiving we had a potluck breakfast meal with like 200 pancakes with the whole zone. That was a super good time for sure. We played a sweet game called werewolf, let's see who can catch the gummy bear in their mouth from the longest distance away, and find 10 gummy bears in a bowl of whipped cream with your mouth with the whole zone too. It was a great time. 

One of the things we are working on this week is focusing on our purpose as missionaries in teaching repentance and baptizing converts. We saw a super cool miracle inviting someone to be baptized with a date the first lesson which made us super pumped. We are just praying and praying and praying that she stays golden. We shall see folks. 

Another thing we are working on is sharing the church's Christmas initiative with everyone. It's honestly such an awesome thing. If you have not seen the video yet, go to Mormon.org right now and watch it! I also want to invite all to participate in the activity of serving in 25 ways over 25 days! THIS WILL BLESS YOUR LIFE, AND THE LIVES OF THOSE YOU SERVE MORE THAN ANYTHING! Let us be like the savior and serve others every day in a distinct way until Christmas and hopefully for the rest of our lives. 

I want to bear my testimony that Jesus is the Christ, our Lord and Savior. In the month of December, we celebrate him. He was born, he suffered for the sins of the world, died and was resurrected, and he did it all for us because he loves us. He is the light of the world and the only way back to our Heavenly Father. In the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, we do all that we can to follow him, and do what he would do. We are imperfect, but we do our best to follow what the Holy Ghost has told us is true. I know that this is THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST restored here in the latter days. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

Elder Baron 

New people and waterfalls in Barrio 8

Citizens of America, 

First off, thank you to all of the people who thought about me today and wrote me notes. If I had more time I would wrote you all more, but know that each and every one of you mean a lot for me in my life. 

This week went pretty well, but was a little on the slower side though. One of the funniest things that happened this week was we were teaching this part member/ part active family and the dad shared this story. It was a long story. Anyways, he finished his story and the 9 year old girl goes, " that's great dad but you have committed a sin, you wrote on your hand with pen and you tell us that we can never do that." It was an awesome kid comment that made my day. 

Today we had a super rad day. We went to this super sweet waterfall with a member from my companions first area. It was super super pretty and quite the escape. There was fresh air, no buildings, and hardly anyone around. It was a great opportunity to just relax and be with nature. I truly am grateful for all of Gods creations and how much I can feel Gods love for us being around all he created to make us happy. 

One of the best experiences this week was meeting with this young girl from Peru. We met with her right outside of the temple and we shared the first lesson. She had an aunt that was Mormon and had taken her to church before. She was super into the lesson and showed some super real desires to read the Book of Mormon and to pray to know from God if these things are true. I know she will receive that answer as she does her part without a doubt in my mind. What's really cool about her was one day I was studying and had a feeling to write my testimony in a Book of Mormon to give it out some time to who knows who. Well, the Lord gave me the opportunity to give it to someone that very day while waiting for the train and it was her. It felt super good to not only give the Book away, but to share a written testimony with someone, and especially with someone so humble and willing to listen to the gospel. 

I also heard something that really touched me in a sacrament talk this week. This guy named Angel Diestra (right hand angel in English) talked about how often times the words of testimony shared are the same amongst us, but what is really heard and felt is what comes from what's in the heart of the person sharing the testimony. That one hit me hard because I know it's true. As we live the gospel and do all we can to come closer to God, we can bear powerful testimony from the heart and don't need to worry about the words so much. 

Other than that, life goes on little by little here in Spain. I think the mission just progressively gets better and better. I love the people we have to work with right now, be members, or investigators, or the other missionaries in the zone, and I'm super grateful to be here. 

Hope you can all feel the love I have for each of you

Hangin out under the missle toe realizing I still have 10 months left

We got to visit this sweet town on the way to the falls

Elder Baron 

How many elders does it take

Hello to all,

This week was another super super busy one. There were so many things that happened and we were super busy. The work is going forward in this ward! I love these people so much and I am super super grateful for the role they play in my life. One of the pictures I sent comes from a part member family that feeds us till we gain 10 pounds twice a week. We are trying so hard to help the nonmember dad, but man they are the best. 

This week I'm super short on time, but to sum up a lot, I learned a ton about myself and the atonement this week. There were some things this week that fell through and just really did not go the way we planned.... like it was a huge test of my patience and faith. I was pretty down at one point. I kept asking myself why some of these unjust things had to happen, why why why. After saying a prayer, things didn't change at all immediately. As I sat there and thought about it though, the Lord slowly brought the peace to my heart and helped me feel like it was all ok. It took some time, but He took all those feelings away. Completely. Sometimes life is unjust, and sometimes we feel like others are favored of the lord more than us. As we pray and ask him to help us in these situations, all things are fixed, and the spirit helps us understand it all. 

Keep praying, and keep trying if any of you feel this way, I'm rooting you on today, tomorrow, and forever. 

Elder Baron 

We walked into a bad scene where the other companionship that lives with us was giving hair cuts. We did our best to fix it, but well, the picture explains it... poor Elder MANGUM 

Elder Baron 

0 degrees Celsius

Hola a todos, 

This week.... well to sum it up we: have done a bunch of intercambios (missionary exchanges), did a baptismal interview, helped someone get the priesthood, ate non step visiting members trying to get them to share the gospel with their friends, played a sweet volleyball match with some latinos and missionaries in the stake center, learned how to speak Nigerian English, froze, and yeah that's basically it. Things are going good here. We are doing all we can to try and find people to teach through the members still. Poco a poco. We've got some really awesome people to meet with though. 

One of the coolest things that happened recently was this lady came up to us who just moved here from Mexico and said that her friend told her to look for us. We were able to start teaching her this week and she is super incredible. She's just super humble. She was so grateful to find us and wanted to give me a hug and besos (one kiss on both cheeks) I had to awkwardly back away and tell her that I couldn't do that, but man she's super super sweet! You wanna know how this lady started investigating the church in Mexico.... because some lady in Mexico talked to her about the gospel in the supermarket. I'm so extremely grateful that that lady had the courage to open her mouth and speak to someone about the blessings of the gospel in such a place. 

The greatest joys of the mission come from the moments when you see someone accept the gospel and apply it to their lives and see the difference. The hardest moments are when people don't. Everyone has their agency though.... the important thing is that we try with everyone. We can say we did our part if we do. Share the gospel and your whole aspect on life will be changed forever. I testify to that. 

Hey, love you guys all tons 

Elder Baron 

Translations from Nigerian English to American English 

Where you did go brother? - where are you going? 

What'em be da problem- what's your problem? 

How far? - how are you? 

What you did do brotha?- what are you doing? 

(Credit to our investigator who moved here from Nigeria and helped us with the translation) 

Dominos pizza and volleyball 

Definitely missed American hamburgers 

We've found some people!

Hey! We are super super super excited and happy to say that we found
some new people to teach here in Vallecas! It took a long time but we
found some solid people this week that we are excited about! Let's see
if they keep wanting to learn about our message! Other than that, this
week was full of companion exchanges and learning lessons from some of
the other awesome missionaries in this mission! I've learned a
principle here. The Lord puts everyone in your life to teach you
something.

Today for p day, I ate the best meal yet.... THEY OPENED A FIVE GUYS
IN SPAIN AND IT WAS BUMPIN! I forgot my camera thing to send pictures
in the piso but I will send you all some next week! Oh man it felt so
good to be eating a real American hamburger again! Other than that,
pretty low key week.

Other than that, we've just been trying to think of some new ways to
teach and help people enjoy the fruits of the gospel. A mission may be
hard... life may be hard..... and sometimes it seems even harder when
you are living the gospel. But at the end of the day, the message is
true, and worth every sacrifice, every trial, it's worth it all! I
know that's true.

I have no time, but a huge hug for everyone reading this!

Elder Baron

Not much going on

Aloha family,

Well, there is not too much to report this week! Literally, this week was pretty mellow. 

The funniest thing that happened this week happened while talking to Jean Carlos's little sister who is 9 years old. She asked me if had ever seen titanic. I told her no, and she asked me if I wanted to know what happens. Before I could even respond she says I will tell you, JACK DIES! My companion and I thought that was pretty dang funny! But yeah that was one of the best moments of the week by far. 

Other than that, we had some really spiritual lessons with some less actives this week.... that was super super awesome! One of the things I learned this week is that problems are often solved simply by looking inside and making changes to yourself versus expecting others to change. That's a valuable lesson that I hope to apply for the rest of my life. 

We spend since the spirit world preparing for our missions, and we spend eternity reflecting on it afterwards, but we only have two years to live it. It goes by as fast as everyone says.... I promise 

Elder Baron 

This picture was from having the AP teach me and my companion how to fight. 

Jean Carlos just got dunked on but he ain't crying

Hey hey hey, 

This week was super super sweet! We had a ton of stuff to do this week, so we weren't able to have as many lessons as normal, but this week was legendary. Our investigator Jean Carlos was baptized and confirmed this weekend which was super super awesome! But I'll talk about the baptism in a minute. 

Man the mission is so awesome.... it's seriously so hard at the same time, but the truth is that the Lord answers prayers and makes everything seem light! It's incredible how much you see his hand work in your life when you are here. He truly is aware of us and helps us when we pray... but we gotta pray in faith. We need to believe that he can actually help us and show him we will follow his path through our obedience. 

Anyways, there was a ton of interesting things that happened in the baptism. The font overflowed again and made the bathrooms on both sides into a lake. The young men's president we asked to watch it left for a couple minutes and that's what happened. None of the technology worked, we couldn't hold the services in the chapel, and we had some irreverent people in the baptism. At the same time, it was the most spiritual baptism I've participated in yet on my misión. We got to teach the restoration by singing hymns during the service which went super well, and the talks and musical numbers really invited the spirit. The best part of the baptism was hearing Jean bear his testimony. Holy cow, he got emotional and it was really really sincere. It is the spirit that had brought him to this point, not me. I'm so grateful for being able to participate in Jean's conversion. His less active father also gave a super super sweet prayer which sealed the deal! We had some investigators there who really felt the spirit too!  I'm so grateful for the many miracles the Lord worked to make the baptismal service so awesome! 

Well, other than that we had some super super good shrimp with a part member family that was to die for! Life is good in Madrid 

Elder Baron 

Barrio 8.... the beat is about to drop

Well, things are still pretty similar here but we've got a lot of potential for the work in these next couple weeks here. The truth is, the Lord hears and answers prayers. The Lord has helped our investigators so much these past couple weeks to gain a testimony, and we are excited to see them where they are at. There are still few, but there's a lot of people with some great potential! 

My companion is an answer to prayers. He's super dedicated and super focused on why he is out here. I hope we can really work well together in the time we have together and really help encourage and support the other missionaries around us too! 

The best part of this week was that our investigator Jean Carlos really gained a testimony of the Book of Mormon. He's developed really good reading habits and the other day, we asked him to do Moroni's challenge again and write down his thoughts. He did it, and the next day he received an answer to another prayer to find a really important school notebook. He took that as an answer that God loved him and was happy with the path he was taking. He should be making covenants very soon here. 

Today we had a rad p day activity playing soccer with a ton of the missionaries around Madrid, and with this missionary who finished his mission not too long ago. Next week we are going to the zoo I think! Sweeet! 

Well, Madrid is really an amazing place and the members here are incredible! Hope everyone has already had a chance to share the Book of Mormon this week, if not, DO IT POR FAVOR! 

Un abrazo fuerte y un besito suave

Elder Baron 

Transfers have called..... and Uchtdorf is a beast

Wow.... conference was sweet! A que sí????? (Huh?!?!) 

Uchtdorf's talk was amazing. What I took out of it was that we should happily and joyfully share the gospel with all the world! We should be fired up about this stuff! I'm going to try and be more fired up and excited this week as I share the gospel with these people. 

Well I've got a new companion here and his name is Elder Bennett and he's a beast! 

Other than that, it's about to get busy here.... I can feel it.... 

We've got one focus here right now. Helping the members share the gospel with their friends. We are trying to rekindle their fire for the Book of Mormon and encourage them to both read and share it more with their friends. If you are reading this right now, please think about someone you know in your life who needs to find the answers and happiness you have found in the Book of Mormon. Ask the missionaries for a copy of the Book of Mormon, keep calm, and give the Book of Mormon to that person with your testimony either written or spoken. Don't be afraid of rejection. If they reject you, you can find peace by knowing you have done your best to give the greatest gift anyone could ever give. That's ultimately what it comes down to...and when your friends do accept it and appreciate it, after some perseverance and patience, invite them to your house so that the missionaries can tell them how they can have an eternal family, get rid of the feelings of regret they have for the mistakes they've made, strengthen their marriage, save their family, and find the greatest joy possible in their lives. It will be the greatest experience for both you and those who listen. 

I know that sharing the gospel can help us in so many ways, and I want to encourage all who are reading this to experience the joy that will come as you do! 

ooxxOXx

(Hug, hug, kiss, kiss, big hug, Big kiss, little kiss)

Elder Baron 

New companion 

This place had a sweet view

Celebrating 1 year and a legend English class guy

Hold to the rod

Welll,

This week was good! Started off with an incredible zone conference. It was all about the Book of Mormon. I absolutely loved it! It strengthened my testimony a ton and we received a challenge to flood the mission with book of mormons. That was our focus this week. We shared the Book of Mormon as much as we could and I was able to renew my testimony of the Book of Mormon by sharing it with others. That was a super super solid part of the week! 

Another sweet thing that happened this week was the iron rod activity that we had. We planned it as missionaries and made an iron rod course throughout the church with video games, salted cookies, Oreos filled with tooth paste, and it was super super fun. It was super thought provoking too. It was crazy to see people forget about the iron rod to eat the cookies and then regret it so much when they found out that they were full of salt. I ripped my suit pants setting up for the activity though. I was carrying a flat screen tv and I tripped. I saved the tv but ripped my pants. I have one pair of pants for each suit though so we are good! 

Francisco went to the temple this week too and almost died doing baptisms again! I didn't ask for permission because some missionaries told me I probably couldn't go. President told me I should have been there though! I was stoked to see Francisco after though and to see him illuminating the light of Christ in every sense. 

Other than that, it was a pretty normal week here. We are getting fed some super good food by this member whose husband we are teaching. She feeds us pasta, chicken wings, and ensalada, and guacamole with fried bananas all in one meal. I've never eaten better than at her house. So that's a super positive. 

All good in the neighborhood. Keep calm and feed your local missionaries and bring your friends to the meals! That is the best way to see baptisms in your ward! 

Elder Baron 

Push ups for Ligia

Well, this week was a really really solid week!

Highlights, well I love something my companion said this week. It goes
something like this.

Sometimes we think that God is just moving so much further away from
us. But in reality, it's just us moving away from him.

Boom. I told ya you would like it. But how true is that. Hombre,
everyone has to deal with trials at some point, despite all we do to
try and avoid them. But many times we just try to face the trials on
our own, not doing anything to ask for his help. If we do all we can
to bring ourselves closer to him though, we will notice that he is
without a doubt there, pulling us along, carrying us most of the time,
and supporting us in so many ways. I needed that lesson this week. And
thanks to my incredible companion, I was able to get it.

This week I had a sweet experience. I got called up by the elders of
Parla because this lady I taught a ton wanted me to baptize her. Her
name was Ligia. I remembered her weighing more and man I was nervous.
I did my morning push ups all week though, and prayed for help. The
Lord filled me with peace though and I knew it was going to be ok. It
was awesome to be back in the water with someone and to be able to
help her take that step in her life. The spirit was super super
strong.

There are a lot of really amazing little blessings happening here. We
are still in need of investigators but incredibly grateful for the
faithful people we do have to teach. Helping less active people come
back to church and experience the blessings of the gospel is amazing.
Especially when they bring their family and friends back with them.

We have some great dominican and Bolivian families feeding us and
helping us to encourage the investigators and working on bringing
their friends back to church.

My favorite scripture from this week comes from the book of psalms 46:10

10 Be still, and know that I am God

Let's remember that this week as hard things without explanation come
into our lives.

Con mucho amor


Elder Baron

                        Llao llao

Baby steps in barrio 8

Heeeeyoo,

Well this week we set up a ton of lessons with people we met in the
streets, and they all failed.... Wowsers, but hey we've seen some
really incredible things this week, especially on Sunday. We walked
into sacrament after ward council and our investigator who dropped us
told us he didn't want to talk again was there with his active Mormon
wife! We were super super stoked. We've also been working with this
super cool guy named Marcelo. He left the church for 23 years and
then after studying again, decided there was no better path for him
than the one he could have in the church. He wants to go to the temple
and get sealed to his girlfriend. His girlfriend has some friends who
are telling her all kinds of awful things about the church, and that's what has 
kept her from meeting with us and coming on Sunday. We prayed all week
and when we called Marcelo on saturday afternoon, she said she didn't
want to come. Well, Marcelo fasted and she changed her mind at 1 am on
Saturday night and came!!! She brought a friend too!!!! This friend
actually came because she was impressed by Marcelo not drinking
despite the fact that they all were a little while back at a friend
gathering.

Other than that this week, I had a really incredible experience giving
a blessing to this man during exchanges. He used to be a Jehovah's
Witness but he is investigating the church now. I was able to give him
a blessing and the spirit prompted me to pronounce some blessings, like
him one day having the ability to go to the temple with his wife and
help other people come unto Christ. After the blessing I felt an
incredible peace come over me. I know this man will accept the gospel
completely one day and be able to experience those blessings.

Well, I missed America this week on 9/11.... I was actually overcome
with gratitude for the country I live in. 9/11 is a catastrophe, but
also has really helped our country to come together and be more
united.

Hope you all have a great week

Elder Baron

                        My district 

                  My new best friend 

Ground Zero

Hello to all,

Welp, I've got another fresh start here. We have quite a few less
actives to teach here, but as far as new people to teach, we have a
ton of work to do here to get things really rolling. We had an
amazing lesson this week with a guy who was inactive for 23 years and
is now ready to come back completely.... Oh man the spirit was so
strong as he shared his story. He was worried about if he would be
accepted again, but we were able to bear testimony of him of the power
of the atonement. That was super awesome.

Other interesting things that happened this week. Well, I gave this
homeless guy my vans and then as we were walking away, I turned back
and he threw them away, so I ran back and got them again. I still have
the vans but intend on finding someone else to share them with. We
also got to eat some super good Peruvian chicken hearts with bread
which was super super cool.

The temple saved me today. This transfer has started really rough for
me. We live with two other missionaries on top of it all, and every
night they come home and tell us about all the success they had that
day, and we are looking back on some days and seeing dropped
investigators and a full day of contacting in the streets with little
results. It's a rough start, but I know that the lord will hasten his
work in his time here. We've got to continue giving it all we've got.

At the temple today, I was able to just feel the spirit super strong.
I came in kinda stressed with a ton of questions for the Lord and that
kinda was on my mind for a bit of the session. At the end though, I
was able to feel the spirit super strong and felt this enormous
feeling of peace come over me. I know that I am not alone here, and I
know He will help me here.

Hope this week is solid. Love all of you and wish you all the best.



Elder Baron

"Chicken hearts from Peru are so good"

Finishing in Parla with some fireworks

Well.... The call came... I'm gone from Parla to serve in a huge ward
in Madrid. I still had a lot I wanted to do in Parla, but it's a good
thing I'm not here doing what I want to do, but what the Lord wants me
to do to help his Children. My companion is a transfer older than me
and we are both just focusing on the work. I don't know why things
turned out the way that they did, but I know that the Lord has things
for me to do here in the heart of Madrid with the companion I have.

This week was rough..... So many people failed us.... But on a super
positive note, FRANCISCO GOT BAPTIZED AND CONFIRMED! WOOT WOOT! He was
ready. The baptism was far from perfect. We had to do it in another
ward because we don't have a baptismal font, and when I got there, the
filling was going super super slow. So we got some buckets and began
to help out. Well, we left the water on for the first part of the
service because hey, you can never have too much right? Well.... When
we got to that part and walked into the room, it had leaked through
the walls and flooded onto the hard floors where people were going to
stand. After cleaning it up, we got to the service.... The prayer goes
smooth, and the moment is critical. The member baptizing him did it
very slow.... Francisco slowly went under the water.... Seeing that
his arm wasn't submerged, the member held him down there until it went
down. Well he waited forever, until finally everyone was like pull him
out! He was way out of breath and we had to wait a good 10 minutes
before trying again. Eventually he made it all the way down and got it
all done.

The best part of the baptism and one of the best moments of my mission
was to hear him bear testimony that these things were true. He talked
about how he really had been born again with that whole experience and
almost drowning, but more than anything, he bore a sweet testimony of
how the church has changed his life, and brought a new feeling of
peace and happiness he had never found in all 65 years of his life. I
will never forget asking him after the service how he was after the
service and seeing that toothless smile and hearing Estupendo
(stupendous). It was a great weekend and a great experience to have
leaving Parla. I will never forget PArla or Francisco. Especially
because FranCisco gave me one of his canes, and a nail clipper to
remember him by... The nail clipper was nice and all but the cane is
up there with one of the best gifts I've ever received. I will use
that bad boy often when I go hiking or maybe even on my first date
home.

Well, I wanna leave you all with a scripture from Mosiah 4

9 Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things,
both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all
power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not
comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend.

God has a purpose for each and every one of us. Sometime we wonder why
life is the way it is, especially when we feel like we are on the
right path and then we get bulldozed by a semi truck. God knows us and
loves us. There is only one way to find out why life is the way it is
and to find peace and knowledge. Keep trusting and keep moving
forward.

May you all have a great week!

Elder Baron

          My second familia los León

     My investigator thought I was a legend because I could play smoke on

the water and iron man and Beethoven  with one string.

           My investigator Francisco 

    Look at him in that tie we gave him,        he's single ladies

              Francisco's baptism 

Torture at a ward activity

Bueno....

This week was a gooood one. Lots of lessons again and blessings from
the Lord. It's been busy but really rewarding.

Today we have been at a ward activity. That's why I didn't really read
your emails before writing some of you because I had to download some
early in the morning, and I didn't get to read all of yours in time.
Just for the future, this happens sometimes on p days, so if you have
time to send your emails before like 10 pm Sunday night, there's a
better chance I'll be able to read them in time every week when I have
wifi Monday mornings and respond.

Anyways.... This ward activity was at a natural pool. They told us
they wanted us to go to give a spiritual thought and do activities
with the people who could not swim. So we went. Oh man it was brutal.
It was the equivalent of going to the beach in the middle of the
summer and being told you cannot swim. Plus we were surrounded by
people in bathing suits which made things awkward, but I did my best
to keep entertained eating and talking to our two old investigators
for like 4 hours straight hahaha.

Francisco and Ligia are their names and they are both awesome.
Francisco talks a ton and let's me mess around with his cane and
pretend like I'm an old man and Ligia loves to talk to me about my
life and family. Two super huge blessings from the Lord with a lot of
potential. Francisco is actually 65.... I thought he was way older
because of the sickness he has which doesn't make him super mobile.

One of the most spiritual experiences I had this week was in Zone
training. The Zone leaders put on this football video I'm sure all of
you have seen where this coach tells a player to do the death crawl
with a player on his back blindfolded. The coach tells him to make it
as far as he can and they kinda come to an agreement that the player
can max out getting to the 50 before he collapses. The coach tells him
to go until he can't any more and they will see how far he makes it.
The football player begins to complain at about the twenty without
knowing how far he has gone. As the yards go on, the player keeps
complaining saying how bad it hurts. The coach stays with him the
whole time and constantly gives him encouragement and tells him to
give him the very very best that he has got. By the end it gets way
intense. The coach is screaming and the player is yelling in pain
until finally he collapses. The player asks his coach if he made it to
the fifty, and the coach takes his blind fold off and tells him he
made it all the way to the end zone. The coach then talks with the
player about how he's gotta give it all he he's got and don't look at
any of the things that appear to tell him he isn't strong enough or
can't make it far enough. This hit me hard.

I had to ask myself How easily do I give up when everything around me
tells me that I can't achieve a goal or have success? Where is my
faith?

We got to give it all we've got and put the rest in the lords hands.
If we give it all we've got to the end, he will help us do incredible
things we didn't even know we were capable of. In the name of Jesus
Christ, Amen




Elder Baron

Missionary by day and by night

Ah man this week has been crazy eventful but I'll try to keep it brief
and send pics later

First off, I have some serious Sleeping problems. My companion is
super weirded out. A couple nights ago I got up half asleep to go to
the bathroom. Our room is super super dark. I was half asleep, and the
only thing I remember was that it took me forever to find the door.
The next morning my companion told me that in my search for the
bathroom, I ended up grabbing his feet and feeling every single one of
his toes..... I said it was bad. I've also not ceased to teach lessons
in my sleep.... My companion asks me to please not touch his toes or
teach him lessons every night.

We finally got to meet with Joshua the Nigerian I talked about a
couple weeks ago. He has been reading in the Book of Mormon and we got
to answer a ton of his questions. He told us we were prophets at the
end of the lesson and gave us money to go buy some water. He's crazy
cool!

Prayer works. We've been praying to start having more lessons here and
we've almost tripled the amount of lessons we started with here. We
pray every day for opportunities to teach, and he has been providing
for us.... Prayer works!

The AP's came to district meeting this week, and we got to do a little
mini split with them. I got to be with one of my favorite
missionaries. His name is Elder Guerra and he has been the AP for a
super long time now, since I was being trained. We got to have a nice
long chat during lunch about the mission and how really small we are.
How we really do so little. It doesn't even matter so much what we do.
As long as we give it our absolute all and listen to the spirit the
best we can, he makes all the difference in the world. I'm so grateful
for missionary work because it is incredible to be apart of the
miracles the lord works.

The lord showered a gold investigator upon us this week from Barcelona
who we are pushing to get baptized the same day as Francisco. Her name
is Ligia and she is from Venezuela. Holy cow she's amazing and super
prepared. Other than that, the investigators are doing super well and
we are doing all we can to find more.

GO ON A MISSION PEOPLE. GIVE ALL YOU CAN TO THE LORD AND THE BLESSINGS WILL COME

Elder Baron

Interesting hair cuts and Finding out the truth

Well....

This week went super super well here.  This is by far the better of
the two areas I've had here on my mission.  There's been more drama
and more excitement, but also some super super cool experiences.

The investigators are doing pretty good right now.  My 85 year old
buddy Francisco is keeping me young out here.  That guy is a legend
man,  He knows I love strawberry and candy.  He brings me strawberry
ice cream every time I go over to his house, strawberry jam and candy
on Sunday's, and he just has the biggest smile all the time, even
though he doesn't have many teeth.  This week we also got to play some
more soccer with the Nigerians and teach one of them a lesson while
his million kids were jumping around the place going crazy.  We also
got to eat some really good peruvian Causa and drink some really good
chica morada with a family in our ward.

Spiritual part:

One of the biggest lessons I've learned this week is to trust in the
spirit.  Elder Bednar taught us a very key lesson when he was here.  A
lot of times we may not understand something 100% in the gospel.
Instead of giving up that point and trying to move in the other
direction, keep moving forward.  Keeep studying, keep praying, keep
having faith, and the Holy Ghost will give you understanding sooner or
later.  I testify that this is the truth.  Even as a missionary
talking with many people, my faith is sometimes put to the test.  Yet,
every time I have a question, I try to keep moving forward and keep
studying.  The Spirit has helped me to understand so much more here by
doing this, and helps my questions be answered always.


I love this scripture from John 15
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will
send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things
to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

To those who may be suffering from any kind of doubt, or who feel like
they are passing through underserved trials, keeeep moving forward.
Go to the temple if you can, read the scriptures there.  Read the
scriptures every day, and pray always.  The spirit will tell you the
truth of ALL THINGS like it says in the verse.  I testify of these
things.  In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Elder Baron

Peruvian Causa y chicha morada with the Ortiz Family

Life is super good in Parla

Soccer in the blistering heat with the Spaniards versus Nigerians and Americans