Week 54

On Tuesday my companion was getting ready to go home. That night we had planned to have dinner with the members we live with. Elder Calderon was going to cook some Panamanian food. So I was helping him. He was going to cook plantains. They cook them in oil a little, then they smash them down to be very flat, then they finish cooking them in oil.  Elder Calderon has done this many a time before his mission. I was working on cooking some meat outside on the grill. I was outside and he was inside and we could pretty much see each other the whole time. Anyway, he goes to start cooking the plantains. I heard something but it was not loud. I turn around and I see him holding this flaming pot of oil and he is taking it over to the sink. By the time I realize what has happened, and what my companion is going to do, it was too late. He had just thrown some water on the oil. The word going through my mind was "crap." I see this explosion of fire straight up. Now what was going through my mind was "crap, I hope elder Calderon is OK." Yes he was fine. I kept yelling "no water no water." He came outside. I realize that at this point nothing is on fire. I went carefully to see if anything was on fire. No. I opened all the windows and doors because the fire alarms were going off. I then go to inspect the kitchen.

After a little inspection, I realized that everything was cooled off, and there were only two things damaged. The floor mat by the sink and the ceiling at that spot was black. The members were going to be getting home in just a few minutes. So I call them up before and tell them what happened. Then we spent the rest of the day cleaning it all up.

My companion didn't even loose a hair off of his head or arm. He is now home safely. As for the ceiling, we contacted the office and the mission will be paying for the damage. The members were well.... they were not mad. They did not freak out. They were a little upset, but they were glad that elder Calderon was ok. Oh, but I should say the meat and the salad that we made came out great.

Now that I freaked you out, I get to tell you about what else has happened this week. I am now with Elder Sewelen from Sweden and Elder Zamora from New Mexico. Elder Sewelen got sick and we have pretty much not done a thing the last 3 days.  I think that just about ........... wait. I had more to say.  I moved in with some other members with those elders, and their place is a flipping mess. I have learned to be like mom. I can clean a million things at once, while doing everything else I am supposed to do as a missionary.

So because my trainee will not be coming from the MTC for a few weeks, I will be with these other two elders. Just a couple days ago I got my letter from the Mission President congratulating me as a trainer, and telling me what I needed to do. These letters are just automatically made by the computers. Any way the letter said I was the trainer of the two elders I am currently with. That was funny.

Week 53

I will be training. I am not being moved from the area. I will stay in the mesa branch. Normally when an elder trains he stays with his trainee for 2 transfers, which means I will be in the mesa branch for 10 months before I leave. Unfortunately, my companion is stuck in the MTC for some reason so he will not be coming until the beginning of September. Until then I will be in a 3-some with Elder Zamora and Elder Sewelen (who is from Sweden, but his mom is from Chile). They are the second set of elders in the mesa branch. We will be covering both areas until my companion gets here.  I will have to keep track of my area's numbers and the numbers of the other elders area.  I still don't know the name of my new companion. Tonight I am going to a "Train the Trainers" Meeting in Pocatello.

The sun here has been pretty yellow for weeks now because of some fires in Idaho. I don't know where. The sky has been full of smoke for weeks. I think I was told the smoke was coming from over by Boise.  When we get out to the car sometimes you can see a very small amount of ash powder on the car, but almost not noticeable.



This past week my companion and I went through the temple for the departing missionary temple trip. While I was in the celestial room I had some time to ponder and think. I had a couple questions in mind, and in one way or another, which was very subtle, I received answers to the questions I had. That was a very cool experience.

Lily's baptism went literally perfect without complications. My companion made the comment that he has never had a baptism that went so smoothly. Tons of people showed up: a huge portion from the branch, some people from other Spanish branches, some other young women that are friends of lily's, and other people. We had to use the chapel, and then move everyone into the baptismal room standing up in order to fit everyone.

Ok, I have something to say to everyone who likes to hide from people when they knock at your door. They know you are there. It is not that hard. They see your cars home. They saw people inside or something move when they were afar off. They can see the blinds wiggle if you peek out. They can hear you if you tell the kids to be quite, even if you whisper. They know that you don't want to talk to them.

Yesterday, we knocked on a less actives house and we hear the son say, "Daddy!!!!!! Its the Mormons!!!!" Then this same son comes to answer the door and says that his dad is at work. We ask him where or when he will get home and the kid knows nothing, as though a parent would not actually tell their kids when to expect them home.

Week 52

So this last Saturday there was a Hispanic conference activity for all the Hispanics for almost the entire mission. All The Branches of Hispanics were going to be there. Anyway, we were inviting all our investigators/ everyone to go. Then about 5 days before the event we find out we can’t go. They made a list of all the companionships that could go because they did not want too many elders there. ...... Well, just so you know, on Saturday every Hispanic was there.... well, every Hispanic that would be willing to talk to us because all the Hispanics that are willing to talk to us we invited to the activity. So Saturday, we had nothing to do. All of our key indicators (Member present lessons, other lessons, referrals, new investigators, less active lessons, and Potential investigators) were pretty much zeros. That was very frustrating.