Elder Salinas: September 17, 2012

Mba´e che pa? Por´na. . . .Tranquillo Pá

How is the family doing. . . Elder LaFaye and I are doing great. We had another awesome week. Not to be proud or to boast but we killed the zone again. We just finished the change. And we did it with 3 more baptisms. Yes mom 3 more....McCall, you can put it on the wall!!!

We had these 2 people who were gonna get baptized on Saturday, Blanca and Fredy. So the Zone leaders come over Friday night to do the interviews. While Elder Bowers (from Star Valley, who know the Heaps and the Gardners and all the wrestlers) was doing the interview, this kid from next door sat down and asked him what he was doing. He told him that Blanca was getting baptized and that they were doing some questions to see if she was ready. This kids name is Fernando. He said well I want to get baptized too, and we asked if he had gone to church before and he said yes, and his mom is a less active member. So we taught him the commandments and the lessons.

Then there were no more buses so the zone leaders stayed the night at our house, they slept on the tile floor...not fun. We got up Saturday morning and at 6:30, Elder LaFaye and I went to fill the baptism font. Then at 8 we left and got ready at the church for the baptism at 9. LaFaye and Bowers went out to get the kids for the baptism. Eelder Knudsen & I stayed at the church. Then all of the sudden this kid named Hugo showed up...he was cool but then he got on drugs and it left him all jacked up. Yeah well he did a canon ball into the baptismal font. What an idiot! Then he got the floor all wet, and then went outside and climbed up the 65 foot water tower. We thought he was gonna jump...he is that messed up in the head right now. So that was a little set back.

Later that day we did the baptisms....all 3 of them were baptized. It was sweet. That’s what you were called to do Spencer...baptize. Don’t ever forget that....your purpose is to baptize.

Yesterday we had a special stake conference with President Monson and Elder Anderson, someone from the presidency of the 70 and Sister Reeves from the R.S. presidency. But it was by satellite, so it’s not as cool. Everyone but the Prophet spoke in Spanish. ELder Anderson did a good job...haha he even talked about Cerro and Olimpia...the two biggest soccer teams in Paraguay. And we had 5 investigators at church too. Two of them are getting baptized this Saturday. They are twins and their names are Jose Maria and his sister’s name is Maria Jose. Kind of funny. And Andres, my convert here, got the Melchizedek Priesthood yesterday. That was also really cool.

Elder LaFaye and I just finished the change. I will probably be leaving Hernandarias tomorrow night. I have been here 6 months already....that was fast! But this last change or last 6 weeks Elder LaFaye & I did really good We had 4 baptisms, 89 people with a baptismal date, 13 people came to church, 36 lessons with a member present, not that good, 150 other lessons, really good, 89 new investigators, and 128 baptismal invitations.

I’ve only got 7 months left which is crazy. Christmas is gonna be here in like3 months and we will get to skype!!!

I also heard that you the Heiners and the Stephensons are all gonna hang out and do some kind of shenanigans. That’s how it will be in 7 months with me and my friends haha.

One year ago, I had my first baptism, Fernando from Encarnacion. He can go to the temple. Hope I can go with him soon!!!

Love you

Elder Salinas