Tuesday, May 26, 2015

25 May 2015 - Spooky old House

Dear Family, 
these weeks are flying. The highlight of this week was when we received a referral from the sister missionaries. They gave us the name of the lady and her address on Wednesday and we went to find her on Thursday. So we arrive and we're thinking ''there's no way that this woman or, a human in general, lives here. There was a half fallen tree in-front of the door and the windows were bashed out and the yellow paint was turning to an orange brown rust color. So we knock and nothing. We knock and all of sudden the neighbor whips open his door but only a little bit and whispers at us that no one has lived here for 2 years. So we're thinking, ''alright cool, thanks sisters.'' But we take advantage of the opportunity and introduce ourselves to the sketchy man. It was sketchy because it was like 4 in the afternoon and his house was completely dark and we couldn't see his face but we chatted anyways. So we hand him a pass along card and he grumbles a thank you from his cave and snatches the card. It was like the mom on Tom and Jerry, we never saw his face but I'm sure we made his day. But the best part about it was that when we had finished conversing with Dracula, the Señora across the street offered us water and we were able to teach her and her husband the first part of lesson 2. We gave them both the pamphlet and the husband, Juan, had read it completely through by the time we'd left. Tomorrow we're going to challenge them to be baptized. I'm stoked!!
Not much has been different, but one our new zone leaders, Elder Walker, gave me a talk that helped clear things up about the way a missionary should conduct him/herself with the key indicators we have and just in general the things that aren't exactly clear for the life of a missionary. It really helped and he understands where I'm coming from because he was also called to be district leader in his 4th transfer and he's only been out 9 months and is already zone leader. Its called the Donaldson papers and it was given to a group of missionaries in Las Vegas but its applicable to missionaries all around the world.

I'm learning a lot and doing well!

Love you guys, 
Elder Padilla
 

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

18 May 2015 - Funny Story - District Leader now

Dear family,

Not much has changed since our last chat but I have a funny story.

So we're teaching this old man, he has 78 years, and we can only teach him one principle or point of doctrine at a time because if he teach more than he'll get all confused and forget. So we've been teaching him by using the pamphlets and he's really grown in these few weeks and he accepted a date to be baptized and so to prepare for this date he came to church with us this past Sunday. So we get settled and sit down in sacrament meeting and as the sister is going to give the opening prayer, his phone goes off and I'm thinking ''please don't answer, please don't answer, maybe he cant hear it'' but nope he not only heard it ring but he answered. oh shucks was that embarrassing, during the whole prayer, the whole ward could hear him saying ''what? what? who is this? I cant hear you? I'm in a church right now and cant talk.'' haha it was pretty funny though.

I'm super psyched for this new calling and I hope I can be of some help to those missioneras en mi distrito.
es todo.

Les amo!
Elder Padilla 

Monday, May 4, 2015

4 May 2015 - May the fourth be with you ...

Family,

This past week was killer. We found a ton of golden's who are super interested and with about half of them, they want their family members to listen too. These weeks are going by super fast and this Sunday is bittersweet because we're going to have transfers but I get to see you guys. Which reminds me, Happy early Mother's day Mom. I miss you and hope you have the best day! Here's a picture to show my love. 


Elder Padilla

Friday, May 1, 2015

27 Apr 2015 - Finding

Dear Family,

This week was pretty smooth. We found a ton of new people to teach and we needed to because our current investigators haven't been keeping their commitments and so it was easy to see the hand of the Lord in this past week.  I Hit my 5 month mark yesterday and man has this time been speedy. We had interviews with the President on Friday and it was pretty short. He told me that I'm going to start training this next transfer or the following. I feel ready and I hope I can be a good trainer.
 
Yesterday I got to confirm the daughter that was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints! It was so neat! 

This past week we've really started to focus on the less actives that are in our area and how we can reactivate them! We've been working with the President of the Relief Society to get visiting teachers over there so I hope that they can make a difference. 

I've really started to buckle down on my studies and my purpose as a missionary. My comp and I speak English in the house, but everywhere else we're speaking Spanish. I can understand just about every word now, and I can speak.... enough, haha.

The weeks are flying and I'll be home before you know it.

Love you all, Luke stop growing and looking like me haha

Elder Padilla 

Happy Birthday Lucas. Kisses from Mexico.