Jan 18 2010

This week was awesome. I dont know what really to say. I was expecting to be leaving my area this week with tranfers being today and having 6 months in my area already but friday night the zone leaders called and told us that my companion, not me, had changes. So, the little bit of laziness before leaving an area is going to be smacking me in the face this week. So, I didnt get transferred. I am still in San Miguel and will be until I complete at least 7.5 months there. This is my fetching first area. But I love it. I wouldn´t have it any other way. If I could, I would be there the whole two years. My companion was a tough job to train and teach, but we did well together and had a lot of success. I was his second companion and he was my second companion, but I was his unofficial trainer or as others say ´potty trainer´. I dont like all of those terms but that´s what they say. But yeah, he left, and Im still here. And..... Im officially training. Fresh off the boat, newb missionary. I feel super inadequate. I have 7.5 months in the mission and this nuevo will be looking to me for everything. Hopefully he at least knows Spanish so I dont waste time teaching that to him. Maybe he´ll be Latin. That would be nice. And ya learn more from them because your patience is tried more hahaha. The president told us that we are training because we are the top of the class. Me and my district leader(he came to Costa Rica the same time as me) were in the room full of experienced trainers or older missionaries with a lot of time in the mission. President basically told us that we can´t screw up. We have to be perfect. What a responsibility right? So, Im a TRAINER. > Right now it´s still Monday, the changes meeting was in the morning. Im with my district leader, we are working in both of our areas until the nuevos come on Wednesday. Im doing well. Just feel super pressured and with a lot of responsibility. > We´ve got about 4 people in our area who at the moment want to get baptized. Our goal for the month is 3 baptisms and we already have two. I think we will hopefully end with 4. I have a lot of plans to get references and leave this area with a bang. I am currently helping change the ward a bit too. Priesthood leadership is super weak. But, a lot of things are happening right now to progress with the work and to progress with our recent converts. Antonio and Carmen are still incredible. We went with a member of our ward to have a lesson on temples (ordinances, sealings, redemption for the deceased, etc) He is a worker in the temple and the family history specialist for the stake, it was one of the most powerful lessons that I have had. These two couples are so strong (Carmen & Antonio, Felix & Marling). Carmen started to cry at the thought of not being able to get sealed to her 2 kids in Nicaraugua because they arent members and probably wont be. We also talked about multiple sealings, haha, it was a laugh. But yeah. We only had 4 investigators in church this week. It´s sure to rise soon. Fingers crossed right. Anyway, hope all is well. Im healthy and nervous and scared and fine.> Elder Smith