Post-Mission Postcard

Well, It's been one month now.  A few days ago I got a letter in the mail--from El Salvador!  Elder Bailey sent me a message.

The mission was the best thing I've ever done in my life.  There's not a day that goes by when I don't think about it.  In fact, I can't even carry a conversation without having to say something about my mission or the Gospel.  

My last couple of days in the mission were a mixture of feelings.  I was very excited to get back--I wanted to study, I wanted to see my family, see Utah, and step on AMERICAN SOIL again.  I absolutely loved the mission, but after two years...well...I really missed my family.  Mom, Dad, Joseph, Mike, Scott, Jen, Caleb, Kathryn, Joshua, and Abigail.  I missed them a lot.  

Monday, after writing my family for the last time, we went to Los Chorros (see picture of waterfall on postcard).  It was absolutely beautiful.  El Salvador is one of the "paises mas hermosas" in the world (once you get past the idea that everyone throws their trash on the ground).  Now I'm not gonna lie: it was hard to work the last couple days.  But I still did it.  We found new investigators, taught some good lessons...it was great.  I said goodbye to all the members and took a quick picture with each of them.

Thursday Morning.  We got up a little early, got ready, and went to Hermana Veraliz's house for a delicious, typical Salvadorian breakfast of beans, eggs, and cream.  After, we went to the Cerna Family's house and taught them lesson 2: The Plan of Salvation.  Great lesson.  It was a good way to die.  For lunch, we went to the Figueroa's house and ate some bean soup.  Then we returned to the house, I changed into my brand new, WHITE shirt, and grabbed the bus to Santa Ana.  

I got to the office, and then had my final interview with President.  He is such a genius.  He gave me some great advice, and released me as a missionary of the Mission El Salvador Santa Ana/Belize.  After, I went to President's house and we had some delicious pork loins with a tasty pineapple sauce.  Mmmm.  Hermana Cordón is a good cook.  After, we had some ice cream, and then they took me into the living room for the "eternal family" talk.  I liked it.  I want an eternal family.

We ended going into another room and singing Placentero Nos es Trabajar. It's one of my favorite hymns in Spanish.  After, President offered a prayer and I said goodbye to my family in El Salvador.  I honestly felt very happy.  I was excited to go home and see my family; but that night, as I was writing in my journal, it hit me.  I was leaving all of that.  I started to feel kinda sad--like I was leaving a good part of who I was behind.  I didn't really like that too much, so I quickly went to sleep.

Then at 4:30, my alarm went off.  I got up, got ready, and got in the van when President Vargas arrived to pick me up.  It was dark as we started pulling out of the neighborhood where the assistants live.  They live at the top of Palmar.  I had been there so many times.  We started driving out of Santa Ana.  I had walked and driven so many times down that road.  It was hard to think that I was leaving it for... who knows how long.  

Now look.  I'd never really considered myself a crier.  In fact, I could probably count the number of times I had "cried" before my mission on one hand (after childhood, obviously), but the mission made me soft.  As we started driving away, I just started bawling.  I loved my mission.  I had grown so much, changed so much.  Everything I wanted to achieve, I achieved.  But  the Lord had something much bigger planned for me.  I honestly learned and realized so many important things that I never even realized I needed to know.  I had learned to be happy.  I had learned to always smile and that, as President Eyring told us before the temple dedication, "things WILL work out."  I had learned who my Savior was and how to trust in Him.  I had learned to trust in other people, and love them.  I love a lot of people there.  I miss them.  They have forever changed my life.  I learned how to get along with people and how to endure trials.  I gained a testimony.  The list goes on.

I loved my mission.  So that's why I cried.  It's hard to leave something that means so much to you.  I can honestly say the Lord directed my mission.  It wasn't much how I expected--it was much better.  I left with a testimony that God exists.  He is mindful of us.  He wants the best for us.  He restored His church in these last days so that we can find the truth.  He's given us the Book of Mormon: more scripture that helped me every day of my mission.  I feel happy every time I read it.  It teaches me and guides me.  He gave us a family.  Now no one has a perfect family--but they do have people who love them.  My family is eternal.  I'm very grateful that I can be with them for not just this short life, but forever.  God has given us commandments.  They protect us, and also make us happy.  And that's really God's purpose, isn't it?  He wants us to be happy.  He loves us a lot.

He loves us so much that He prepared a plan for us to return to live with Him.  He offered up the greatest sacrifice known in our universe.  As Amulek explained, "not a sacrifice of man, neither of beast, neither of any manner of fowl; for it shall not be a human sacrifice; but it must be an infinite and eternal sacrifice."  God sent his Son Jesus Christ to suffer and die for us.  And HE DID IT.  Now we can repent.  We can change.  We can be happy.

That is really what the atonement of Christ has done to me.  It has made me happy.  I am forever grateful for that.  

Well, those were my two years.  I served well, and I'm happy with them.  Later that same day, I got off the plane and got to hug my mom.  It was the best thing ever.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

102: Juayua 10

Hey fam. Umm. So the cyber has had a whole bunch of problems, and
I'm not going to get to write. So what I'll do is I'll write the
letter later today, then I'll take a picture of it and send it next
week, because I don't have any more time.

There were a whole bunch of problems, and the mission USB I use to
send numbers had a virus. I've been solving the problem.

***
So, about Christmas...

No, there's not very much gift giving because there is no money. The
little gifts that we gave away made the little kids' day. Seriously,
they were so happy. It was a cool experience.

The video presentation was cool. It went well, I was a handsome little guy.

Elder Bailey

103: Juayua 11

Hello family,

Well, before reading this letter, I would like you to read 2 John 12. (Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.)

This week has been good.  We've been working hard—we had 4 people in church again, and 2 more who got baptized after:  R. and R., the grandma and the grandkid.  It was a really cool baptism; I baptized the two of them.  Those were my last baptisms.  I guess I'll tell you a little bit more about it when I get home.

I gave my last testimony in testimony meeting this Sunday.  It was good.  I feel good now.  We have two dates in our area still, and we're going to put two more before I go home.  At least that's the goal.

On Wednesday we had the leader's meeting.  It was great.  I learned a lot about how to be a better missionary.

Well, it's been a good two years.  I've really enjoyed my time here in El Salvador, and I've learned a lot.  I've been able to develop my own personal testimony of the Savior and His atonement.  I think that out of everything that has happened in the last two years, that is the most important.  I'm grateful for Him and His church, and that I can be a part of His great work.  I'm grateful for His gospel, and for the opportunity that each one of us have to believe in Him and repent.  That's really what makes us better people.

Thanks for all the support you've given me in these last two years. I love you a lot and am excited to see you again in a couple days.  Take care, and don't do anything stupid!

With love,
Elder Bailey

101: Juayua 9

Hello familia!

 

Merry Christmas!

 

So I guess the idea of me not calling tomorrow got kind of shot down.  Haha.  I guess I'll call.

In other news, we've survived the end of the world.

 

So this week has been great in a lot of ways.  All of our work with the members is paying off.  We've gotten some cool referrals.  Last week, one of the young women, M., brought her friend to church, so we contacted her family during the week.  They are way positive.  She, her mom, and her grandparents went to church this Sunday, plus another woman who was a referral from the second counselor in the stake.  So we had 5 people in church yesterday.  We went to visit them after and only the grandparents were there, but they accepted baptismal dates for the 6th of January.  They are way awesome.  The grandma brought a notebook and was taking notes during all the meetings, and after she told us she needed a hymnbook so that she could continue in the Church.   That family is way cool.

 

Also, on Thursday we had the mission Christmas activity.  It was a lot of fun.  We played cool games, had the talent show again (I didn't do anything this time).  But this time, what I liked most was the spiritual part.  I had to get up and share my last testimony.  Man, that was hard.  There were 17 people in all who shared their testimonies, and I was the second to last.  One by one, I saw all my friends pass by and share their testimony.  It was really hard to share my testimony, but it was sincere.  After, they had the musical program, and it was very good.  You could definitely feel the spirit a ton.  I'm not gonna lie, it really hit me that I was going home, and it was pretty rough.  Luckily, I was with all my friends who I started with...Elder Mendenhall, Elder Gealta, Elder Romero, and Elder Zepeda.   It was cool.

 

But don't worry, we're working our butts off, and are finding a lot of people.  We've already got two dates for JANUARY!!!!!  WWWOOOOOT!!!!

 

Well, I love you all, take care, and Merry Christmas.

 

Elder Bailey

100: Juayua 8

Hey there family,

So this week has been another week of hard work. We've been working a ton with members, and have been receiving and contacting a ton of referrals. They've had results, and we had 2 investigators in church who were referrals. They're progressing well.

It's been hard in our area. There are a lot of evangelicals, and they pretty much track us down and visit and attack anyone who we visit. We've lost a lot of positive investigators for that, even when they already have a testimony, but it is helping a ton to work with the members. We're having a lot more success in the area because of that.

This week I got to go to Nahuizalco with Elder Gottchalk and Texical with Elder Cade Larsen. They are both very good missionaries. Elder Larsen is awesome. He's working very well in his area. I was impressed.

Well, we're just getting ready for Christmas here, sharing a lot of messages about Christ and seeing the "Joy to the World" video a lot.

Look, if you really want me to call you, that's fine. But honestly, I don't really see a point. I'm going home in like 3 weeks. Just let me know next Monday.

Well, hope it's all smooooth back home. Love you all and love this work.

Take care,
Elder Bailey

99: Juayua 7

Hey there!

So this week was.....CHANGES WEEK. I received my last companion,
Elder Meza. He's from Cali [California], and his parents are both
from Nicaragua, so he speaks perfect English and Spanish. We've had a
lot of meetings this week, so we haven't had a lot of lessons, but
we've been running around asking for referrals from everyone and have
received a ton. Also, the familia M. is progressing really well.
That's the family where the dad lives in LA and is a member. He
already went back to the states, but his family is progressing. His
daughters are way smart, so we'll probably baptize them at the end of
December.

G. is sweet. He got confirmed on Sunday, and is echadno penca.
Seriously, he is a sweet convert. His family is bugging him a lot,
but he has a good testimony. We saw the video of Joseph Smith in the
gospel principles class this Sunday, and he loved it. Then we went to
priesthood meeting and had a really cool lesson as well. So he is in
con todo.

We are trying really hard to work well with the members. And it's
working. To be completely honest, this ward works more than any other
ward I've had. The bishop is awesome, and works a ton, as well as the
members; everyone is giving referrals right now.

Well, thank you for everything, and I hope all is well.

Merry Christmas.

Elder Bailey

98: Juayua 6

Hola familia!

So, I don't have a lot of time, but this week was cool! We had a baptism. G. We had been teaching him for a very long time, but had been progressing slowly. Once he finished his studies at the university, he started really reading the BOM and started progressing. Then we taught him repentance, and he started really thinking about baptism. That was a cool lesson. One week later (last Wednesday), he accepted a date, then got baptized on Sunday. He's 21, he's really smart, and a really good guy. Definitely a powerful convert.

S M is progressing well. He accepted a date for this Sunday, and said that he wants me to baptize him. So, I'm pretty stoked for that.

We also found a new family that is way sweet. The husband is an inactive member and still has a sweet testimony. The only problem is that he lives in the states and only comes to El Salvador 3 weeks each year, and today he is returning to LA. They aren't married, so she's not going to get baptized anytime soon, but wants to keep going in the church. Her kids are awesome—seriously, they are way smart. So they can get baptized, and they want to.

Well, to be honest, I don't have a lot of time, so I'll see you later.

Elder Bailey

97: Juayua 5

Hello Everyone.

This week has been sweet.

Monday after writing we went and played soccer. I scored 3...which was honestly a miracle, because I can't play soccer at all. Don't really know how that worked out, but cool. I also taught all the Salvadoreños how to play frisbee, and we played that for a while as well. THAT WAS FUN. Seriously, I haven't played some good frisbee for some time now.

I, then, for the next three days, sent my comp on interchanges in various areas because he's been in this area for 6 months and is kind of baggy when working here. So I sent him out, and worked in my area. Wow. It was cool. I found some cool investigators.

On Tuesday, we went with the elders quorum president, Presidente S. He's this older guy who was bishop of this ward for 15 years not long ago. So we went with him to contact some inactive members. While we were on the way, he felt the impression to stop and contact at the house of one of his old friends. So we contacted him. It's another older guy named SJ. The day before, he told us he had had a vision where, basically, he realized his church was wrong, and saw two men that he had to follow. Then, the day later, we showed up. Yeah, the guy is way positive. He went to church and has basically accepted a date. We just need to help him a little with coffee.

Then we have G. We've been teaching him for a while. He has changed a ton. He is just about to accept a date.

On Thursday, we had a sweet multi zone for Thanksgiving. We taught about the BOM. The only problem is I got way sick from the Thanksgiving lunch.

Well, I hope everyone is well, I just ran out of time,

Elder Bailey

96: Juayua 4

Hey family,

So I'm kind of short on time right now, but it's all going well. This week we got to work with Elder Malmgren, the assistant. We drove around to all the areas and put dates. That was fun. Also, this was his last week, so...he's "dead" now.

On Thursday, we went to contact a referral. Man, it took like 2 hours to get there. We were hiking through pure jungle. It took a lot of time, but was way cool.

Saturday we found some way awesome investigators. Man, they basically came to the conclusion for themselves that our church is true. Very smart. They've read the scriptures a lot, and realized that the true church needs to have a prophet, 12 apostles, etc. So that was cool.

Well, it's all going well. I hope everything is cool back home. Take care, and have a happy thanksgiving. Eat a turkey for me.

Elder Bailey

95: Juayùa 3

Hey family:

Okay.  So I continue with the life of not sleeping very much.  The truth is that this week has been better than the last as far as that goes.  So we've been working hard, getting a lot done.  We've been finding a lot of investigators.  Unfortunately, NONE of them went to church, which was a big bummer, because a lot of them are really positive.  So we're just going to keep teaching and committing them. 

My companion introduced me to a really good pupuserìa.  They make what is called Pupusas Locas.  Basically, they put EVERYTHING in them, and make the pupusas the size of your plate.  MAN, they are SO GOOD.  I was addicted the first time I tried it.  Wow, it's good.  And they gave me some jalapeño peppers too.  So, it was really hot, but delicious.

I think the highlight of this week wasSaturday morning.  We decided to cook breakfast for the auxiliary leaders in our ward.  Not everyone showed up, but it was really good.  We cooked them eggs and french toast.  They don't have french toast here, so the leaders were pretty stoked.  At the end, we asked them for referrals, and we got like 12.  So I would say that the activity was a success.  Not only did we get a bunch of referrals, but we got to eat french toast too.

On Sunday we had the Stake Correlation Meeting with President Cordon and the bishops and ward mission leaders from the stake.  It was way good.  Man, President never ceases to amaze me.  He is so smart.  So I'm still learning a lot from him.

Christmas is coming, so we've started planning activities for Christmas.  I hope we can get a lot of referrals and baptisms out of these.

I hope everything is going well back home.  Take care!

Elder Christopher Ren Bailey

94: Juayùa 2

Well, hello family!  First off, I am getting bombarded from all sides with information about going home.  I just got my itinerary.  I STILL HAVE TWO MONTHS LEFT.  I have no idea why they send that so soon.  I don't want it yet.  Puchica.

 

So this week has been the most sleep deprived week of my whole mission.  Seriously, it was rough.

 

Monday I took numbers.  I had to take all the goals and stuff, and the DLs took forever, so I got to bed at 12:30.  Woke upat 6:30.

 

Tuesday I went on interchanges to Las Colinas.  Man, we seriously climbed straight up a mountain.  It was kind of rough.  I was with Elder Dzul, a little Mexican.  We were seriously hiking in the middle of nowhere for 2 hours.  It was not very efficient.  But...I'm not gonna lie, the view as beautiful.  Seriously, this country is so beautiful.  Everything is so green.  Also, we got to one part of the trail when Elder Dzul turned around and told me to pick up a stick and walk fast, and no matter what happened, do not stop.  Man, that was really weird.  Then he, well, despite that, we still got a lot done that day.  We put a date, and found some cool news.  

 

Wednesday we had our zone meeting.  It was good.  We talked about miracles and faith, and really helped our zone get more pumped up and have more faith.  A lot of people told me they liked the meeting after, so I just hope it helps them.  We got to bed at 11:30 that night, and had to get up at 4:30 to catch the bus to Santa Ana. Thursday morning we had the monthly leaders' meeting with President and the other zone leaders.  It was sweet.  President told us his own conversion story.  Man, that guy is amazing.  I respect him and look up to him a lot.

 

Elder Larson says hi.

 

On Friday, we went to the temple, so we got to bed at 11 and woke up again at 4:30to invite people to the temple.  It was an excursion to bring investigators to the temple.  There we gave them a tour, and President taught them a little bit in the chapel next to the temple.  I sang a special number with some other missionaries, Mas Cerca Dios de Ti [Nearer My God to Thee], which was cool.  The investigators loved it.  Just talking to them on the bus ride home, I put 3 baptismal dates, which was way cool.  Sweet!  It was kind of stressful planning everything, but it all turned out all right in the end.

 

Friday night I got to bed at 11 and woke upat 6:30.  I finally got sleep.  That was way hard.  My comp and I were so sleep deprived.  Friday night we got to our last appointment with our recent converts, and Elder Martillo just fell into a coma on their couch.  We didn't end up teaching them, I knew how he felt and didn't want to wake him.  It was really rough.

 

So that's the week in a nutshell.  Juayùa is awesome.  It's the safest area in the mission.  We have the main park in our area.  Saturday night we passed by at 9 as we returned to the house.  There were children playing, a movie in the park.  It was so cool.  I have not seen that my whole mission. Usually everyone is in their houses by 8:30.  SO COOL.

 

Alright.  Well, I hope everything is going well back home.

 

Take care, 

Elder Bailey

93: Juayùa 1

HEY HEY Family!
I am writing you today from Juayùa, the prettiest area in the mission. Wow, seriously, I have so much to write to you this week, and not nearly enough time, so here we go.

So, the twentieth was my birthday. It wasn't so great of a day at first. We had been teaching this single mother named C. She was way positive, and progressing really fast. She kept all the commitments and had gone to church. We taught her the law of chastity and she admitted she was with another guy, and that she would talk to him. Well, the next day we talked to her and she said that she talked to him, and that he was going to get married to her, but that he would never do it if she went to our church. So, not thinking very clearly, she told us she was done. We tried to explain and everything but...man, that was really sad. She's really missing out.

Well, it was kind of a bad day until 8. We went to the F. family house and had a fun little party with confetti and beans, eggs, plantain bananas, and cake. I know that sounds lame, but it was fun. That family is awesome.

On Monday I got changes. I said goodbye to all my friends then packed up. On Wednesday, I went to the changes meeting, and they sent me to Juayùa. I love this city. It's a touristy city, way up in the mountains, it's not hot here, and it's beautiful. The city is well kept (for being in El Salvador), and there are even trash cans on the streets. EVERYTHING is green here. It is beautiful. In the morning I went running with my comp and we found a really pretty view that showed all of Juayùa and all of Sonsonate and the ocean. It was awesome. So everyone says that Juayùa is a hard zone, but I think it's so awesome.

My first day here we got to know a family that had been going to church for 2 years, but could never get baptized because he had to get divorced. Well, they had just gotten divorced and told us they were finally ready to get baptized. Man, this family is awesome. They have really strong testimonies. So I was pretty stoked about that.

After that, I had interchanges with the assistants, and went back to Palmar, Modelo for two days with Elder Z...

Yeah anyways, then Saturday I got to go to the big Modelo activity that I had been planning with the stake and see all my friends. Cool. Then after I went back to my area and went to the wedding of the V. family. Good stuff. Good cake.

On Sunday, we had a baptism. It was cool, very spiritual. This family is definitely ready. Anyway, but I love it here in Juayùa. I'm really excited to work here. Elder Cade Larson's in my zone. That's a cool little guy. Juayùa is just so bonito. The only problem is our house is very messy, and there are a lot of huge spiders. Seriously, a ton. I've seen like nests of hundreds of them. Then when I went to take a shower a couple days ago and turned on the water, a cockroach came shooting out of the tube. But other than that, it's cool.

Love the mish. Don't get baggy.

Chris

 

93: Primavera 12

October 19, 2012

Wow. Hey family. So this was a cool week. Last P-day we went and played a game with flour. So we all got really white. It was messy, but it was fun. I was talking to Elder Gealta. Man, that guy is really baggy. Seriously. Haha. I was just thinking back on the good ol' MTC days. Long time ago, right?

So E. got baptized on Sunday. I baptized her. It was good. We baptized her in the morning so that she could get confirmed right after. It was a good little baptism and very spiritual. I sang the typical baptism Primary song in English and Spanish, so that was cool too. I really enjoyed this baptism. E. has got a cool testimony. Her husband goes to another church, so it was hard for her, but she really wanted to follow God and be clean. Now we are teaching the rest of her family (except the husband...with time).

Also, I found a really sweet family that went to church, but supposedly they're moving tomorrow. Way positive. We'll see what we do with them. Then there's C. She is super positive, but just has a lot of doubts about the doctrine because she lived in an evangelical church before. But we've had some pretty cool lessons with her, especially about the BOM. We taught her 2 Nephi 2 last time. She wanted to know why bad things happened to good people. So we explained to her a bit of the Plan of Salvation, Adam and Eve, and that we are here to be tried. It was awesome to see her face as she realized why. It completely lit up. Then we talked about eternal families, and she said that she had always wondered about that, because her pastor told her that they couldn't and she always believed that they could. That lesson was sweet, seeing how her face changed. She is definitely going to get baptized. I feel like it'll take a little more time, but for sure.

I've been working hard this week, we've had a lot of interchanges. I've found a lot of new people. When I went with Palmar II, we found 9 news in one day—two families, and they are WAY POSITIVE. They both committed to go to church.

Yesterday we went to the temple. We go twice a year. Man...it was so COOL. I learned more that time at the temple than I have any other time. It was awesome. I definitely received a lot of revelation. The temple is amazing. You just feel so good when you go there. It definitely helps you have a great testimony that the Church is true.

Well, I guess I'm going to be 21 now. Time flies, doesn't it. I'm old now. Dangit.

So keep reading your scriptures and take care,

Elder Bailey

P.S. Sorry I don't have pictures, but I'm kind of hungry. I'll send them next week.

92: Primavera 11

Hey family,

So as of now, I don't have any letters from you guys. I guess now that I have 21 months, there's not a lot to tell me. But I'm still going to give you an update of what's going on.

Wow, so cool. So last Friday, we went to President's house after writing. We had lunch and took a ton of pictures. It was so much fun. Elder Taylor, Elder Hobbs and I were joking around a ton...it was way funny. Good times. We ate chili cheese dogs and nachos. Good stuff. Then after that, Elder Fairbairn and I sat down at the piano and started jamming. He's a way good piano player, so I taught him a jazz base line, then we started messing around. It was so sweet. I haven't played piano like that in so much time. We played for like 20 minutes and didn't even feel it. A lot of fun. Everyone said it sounded cool.

After that, as a reward for baptizing 20 in August, we also got to see a movie in President's house, and you'll never guess what it was: Forever Strong. IT WAS SO COOL. I haven't seen a movie like that in so much time. They are awesome. After, of course President related it to the gospel, but honestly, I think it just made everyone kind of baggy. But it was cool. We had popcorn. It was a blast from the real life.

Okay, so that was awesome. Ummm. Then conference. WOW. I love conference. The first session on Saturday and the Priesthood session were definitely my favorites. President Uchtdorf's talk was my favorite. You've just got to enjoy life. It's way too awesome to waste being angry. Definitely learned a lesson from that. Remember O? The 17-year-old who got baptized about a month ago? Man, well, he had been waiting 2 years to get baptized. But he was wild, and a little prideful, so it got to him. Not even a month after, he got really angry and said he was never going back to church. He won't talk to any member, nor even look at us. Last time I saw him, he was going off to some evangelical church. Sad story. So why did that happen? He was prideful. He was angry at people for things they didn't even know about. They didn't act or do things the way he wanted, so he got angry. Bishop, members, us, stake president, he was angry with everyone. I really just don't understand it. He had the strongest testimony. He was powerful. But pride kills us. It doesn't let us change. Conference only helps us if we can look inward.

There was another inactive who went to conference. He had like 8 years of not going to church, so we visited him. Man, it was sad. We asked him what he learned, and all he did was start critiquing every one of the members. He could not see the good in anyone. He complained because between sessions, the members invited him to eat with the ward, but he said that they gave him a small piece of chicken, and that that's not very Christlike to give a small piece of chicken to a visitor. I thought that was so stupid. This sister had bought and made food for 30-ish people with her own money, and he was complaining because she gave him a piece of chicken. The members in our ward are so good. I have learned so much from them.

So really, I think I learned and realized an important lesson from these two stories. First of all, the gospel is for introspection. It's to look inside ourselves and see what we need to change, how we can get better. Pride and anger are so bad because they inhibit us from doing that. Then you just see the bad in other people, and Satan gets you. Two, you have to see the good in everything and everyone. If you have a bad thought or judgment about someone, you have to also think about something good about them. See how you can see the positive side. Sometimes it's necessary to see the negative, but you'd better not just be looking at that, ever. President Monson talked about that in the Priesthood session when he said that we need to see people not as they are, but as they can one day become.

Well, E. didn't get baptized Sunday because she was drinking a ton of coffee, but has been clean since then, and WILL get baptized this Sunday. We had six investigators in conference, and it is a pretty sweet family. We've been working with them a lot, and they are really close to accepting a date.

It's a lot of fun being with Elder Hobbs. He's my first gringo comp outside of the office. I feel like a legit, ideal, PMG missionary. We teach way sweet lessons, follow the schedule, run, work our butts off. It is just so awesome being a missionary.

Our zone had 29 missionaries in conference, and we have been putting a ton of dates. We've gone up from 6 to 15 since Sunday, and we're going to go put some more today. ¡Sweet!

On Wednesday, I went to Palmar II with Elder Taylor. (I love that guy. We had been in so many swim meets together, but never met each other. I don't know why, we have so much fun together.) Anyway, so we went up to San Jorge, my first area. Wow, that was weird. Blast from the past. I saw a ton of my first converts. San Jorge was closed down as an area a while ago because almost everyone went inactive. So now it's just part of Palmar II when they want to go up there. My first convert, N., from my fourth day here in El Salvador, is one of the only 3 people active from that area. She pays every Sunday to go to church, which is a huge sacrifice for them. So a girl from a couple houses down was having a lot of problems, and asked if she could live with N. She told her that yes, but only if she went to church with her. So the girl went to church, liked it, and now is going to get baptized. N. is very simple. She's firm. It's awesome. That made me feel good.

Well, the mission is awesome. Today I am completing 21 months. Wow. Well, take care.

91: Primavera 10

Hello family,

Hope everything is going well back home.  This week has been great.  My comp and I have been working way hard, and it feels so good.  We've taught a ton of lessons, and have taught a lot of people: some positive, some not so much.  I realized I've definitely gotten a lot better as a teacher.

Elder Hobbs has been awesome.  He's like the first comp who really plans with me, and we've come up with a lot of cool ideas.  We had our zone meeting on Wednesday and it was so sweet.  We planned really well, and a lot of the missionaries said it was one of the best zone meetings they had had.  Once a month, we have a 2.5 hour zone capacitation that we teach.  So Wednesday we taught for 2.5 hours, and it was a way sweet.  We also have the most effective comps studies that I have had in all my mission.  We learn a ton and set up some really good lessons.

We've also been having a lot of fun.  We have to cook lunch because we don't have a cook.  Sometimes we just get tacos, but most of the time we cook.  I usually just cook the normal Salvadoranean meal:  beans, eggs, cream, and bread.  I'm pretty much pro now, just so you know.

This week I've been on interchanges to the areas of Las Aradas and Piramidal.  They were very effective interchanges.  I was able to show them how to work hard and have effective lessons and always be talking to people and finding news.  I went with Elder S., a Mexican in Las Aradas, and Elder G. from Orange County.  Elder G. is on his second change in the mission, and has improved a ton.  He's a good teacher, I was really impressed.  Also, his Spanish has gotten very good as well.  It's cool to see the improvement and growth of the people in my zone.  The interchange with Elder S. was a very fun change.  He was a lot of fun.  I showed him how to work harder, and he set some goals to improve.  The other person who has improved a lot is Elder L.  He's a missionary from Dominican Republic and this last change his comp, Elder Taylor (from swimming), has helped him a ton, and he is improving a lot.  His is a good teacher, I was really impressed.  

We have a baptismal date for this Sunday.  Her name is E.  She's pretty tight, but I'll tell you her story AFTER her baptism.

Well, today we have a lunch with President because we met our goal of 20 baptisms in August.  So I don't really have a lot of time to write you.  But I hope everything is going well, and that everyone is still going to church.

Take care,

Elder Bailey

90: Primavera 9

Hey family,

Well, I don't have dengue anymore. It got pretty gnarly. My whole body got bright red, and I had the worst headache I've had in my life. I had to go to the hospital every day to get a blood test. But I'm good now, my platelets are normal now.

Well, I got better on Tuesday, so I'm back working again. We've got some pretty cool investigators right now. Been working hard. On Wednesday, I went to Piramidal and got to have some sweet lessons. But it's been cool, I also had an interview with President this week, which was cool.

I hope everything is going well, let me know what's going on!

Elder Bailey

89: Primavera 8

Hey family!

So this week has been a little interesting. On Sunday, I woke up just
way tired. Then as the day progressed, so did my tiredness. We had a
stake correlation meeting with Pres. Cordòn and all of the bishops,
ward mission leaders, and stake president later that day, and I
started getting a fever. That was just the start of it. I've also
gotten a sweet headache, esp. behind the eyes, and a really achy body.

Well that went on for a couple days, and I kept working nevertheless.
We had a lot to do. Then one night, I just felt really terrible, and
went and got a blood test the next morning. Turns out I have dengue,
a pretty sweet virus spread by mosquitoes. So I'm going to be laying
low for a while.

Other news is that we are (or were) finding some pretty positive
people in our area. I really love Primavera. It is so awesome.

So my bed is really fun. I can read the scriptures, sleep, uhhhhh,
write in my journal. I really want to get out and work again, but
President won't let me.

Well, just thought you'd want to know what's happening.

Take care,
Elder Bailey

88: Primavera 7

Hello family, and greetings from El Salvador.

Wow, so this week has had a lot of changes. It's been kind of a crazy week.

To start out, we have seriously been running. Because we've been in a trio, we've been doing a ton of interchanges, and having a ton of lessons. The second to last week we had 59 lessons in our area that week: 29 with members present. That is a ton. The ward has been working hard. Last week we also ended up with like 55 lessons, and 27 with members present. Way cool. That also helped us bring 8 people to church on Sunday.

Well, on Saturday, I went and worked in the area Piramidal. They've had like 3 Sundays straight without bringing investigators to church.  So I went there and worked all of Saturday and Sunday in the morning.  That area has some way sweet members. We taught some really cool lessons. I really enjoy doing interchanges, they are always the most interesting days, and the most happens when we go on interchanges. So Sunday in the morning we were able to bring 6 people to church in that area, then people in our area Primavera as well. In all I helped 14 people go to church that Sunday! Cool stuff. So I went to church there, but the last hour I went back to my own ward for a BAPTISM.

His name is O. F. He is so sweet. About 1.5 years ago, he was taught by my first zone leader, Elder Brown. O. got a testimony and all that, and had some really powerful spiritual experiences. But his parents are pastors of an evangelical church and burned O's BOM, hymnbook, everything. They didn't let him talk to the missionaries, or any Mormons. Well, a couple weeks ago, they had a change of heart and told him they'd let him get baptized. Man, he's awesome. Way powerful. He was paying his tithing even before his baptism and everything. He even brought 3 investigators to church on Sunday.

O had a powerful baptism. The stake president baptized him, and gave a cool talk before. When O. came out of the water, he was bawling. Seriously, he was just ecstatic.

Well, then we had changes. President called my companion on Sunday and sent him to Belize. Goodbye Elder Rodriguez. Elder Feliz left on Wednesday, and I got my new companion, Good ol' Elder Hobbs. So, it's all cool. We're working hard. Yesterday we planned and had a way sweet zone meeting. It was really good. The ward is also working a ton with us. I love them.

Well, my old companions left. I loved them; we had a lot of good times, some of my best companions.

Hope everything is well back home.

Elder Bailey

87: Primavera 6

Hello family! Look, I want to go play frisbee, so this is going to be a short letter. But, just so you know, this week was AWESOME!

We had a visit from Elder James B. Martino, the area president of Central America. It was such a cool meeting. Then we had our zone leaders' council with him as well. I learned a ton. But, I think the coolest thing that happened this week is that we had 20 baptisms in the zone! This is the first time that that has happened in a really long time. YEAH.

So it's been cool. Hey, I also sang for Elder Martino in the chorus with Elder Anderson. We were the tenors. Cool stuff.

Alright, well thanks for everything.

Elder Bailey

86: Primavera 5

A Sweet Week

 

Hello Family!

¡Feliz Días!  These three weeks are the feliz días, because we're in a trio with Elder Feliz right now.  More about that to come.

Let's start with Friday last week.  After writing, we went and made mole in a member's house.  I LOVE HAVING A MEXICAN COMPANION.  He cooks so well.  So we went and ate in the house of the family E.  They're actually a family in Trebol, but we're friends.  It was someone's birthday...I don't really know her name...but after cooking and eating mole, they had a cake to eat as well.  So that was a very good, relaxing P-day.  In other news, they're going to have a Cinemark in Santa Ana finally.  This city's growing up...

We also have been doing a lot of service in the area.  Friday we cleaned up a house of some recent converts/inactives.  We returned Saturday morning to finish the job...Puchica it looked so much better.  The week before we went and cut all the grass and weeds in front of the house of a member.  And we did that with pure hoes and machetes.  It looked a lot better, but apparently we accidentally cut down their chili bush and a lemon tree.  I'm not really sure about that...but it's possible.  There were so many freaking plants there.

So the zone had 18 people baptized, and 0 dates for this month.  So I went to Trebol and helped them put 2 more dates with this sweet family.  That was a hard lesson, but really cool because we got them to commit.  They're going to get baptized today in the afternoon.  I'm stoked.  This is the first time the zone had baptized 20 in one month in almost 2 years.  I'm STOKED.

Sunday was sweet.  We had a ton of people in church, only 5 of them we counted as investigators, but it was really cool.  Three of them have dates for September 9th: N, O, and M.  N is a little girl who has always been going to church.  I don't really like teaching kids, but her mom wants her to get baptized, and she can't go because of work.  We've been teaching M for a while now.  I'm excited that he's finally accepted a baptismal date.  Then there's O.  Man, this guy is awesome.  He's a youth of 17 years old.  Two years ago, he was taught by the missionaries and received an answer that these things were true.  He wanted to get baptized, but his parents didn't let them; his dad was a pastor in another church.  So they burned his Book of Mormon, hymnbook, everything he had from our church, and prohibited him from talking with the missionaries.  And who taught him?  Elder Brown, my first zone leader when I was starting the mission.  Well, a couple days ago, his mom called him and told him that she wanted him to get baptized.  His parents were away living in other parts of the country...so they told him to get baptized.  It's awesome.  He has such a powerful testimony and is more active than most the members.  It's a miracle.

Sunday we also introduced a mission plan for the month of September: NUNCA VOY SOLO (Don't Go Alone).  We're doing it as a stake this time, and we've planned a lot for it.  The ward got pretty pumped, and has been working with us this whole week.  We've had lessons with members for three days straight: not one lesson without a member present.  Way cool.  Also, we've been able to do a lot of divisions because we have Elder Feliz with us.  Later that day, we had a meeting with the ward and stake mission leaders of our stake and introduced this plan to them too.  They are all pretty pumped.

Monday was interesting.  We had interchanges.  Elder Rodriguez went to Palmar 2, and Elder Lopez came here.  Elder Feliz is with us until the end of this change, and then he goes home, finishing his mission.  He's crazy, and a lot of fun.  These last weeks have definitely been a lot of fun. Jaja...

Wednesday, we had zone meeting.  It was good.  Everyone pretty stoked for NUNCA VOY SOLO.  Also, it was Elder Malmgren's birthday, the assistant.  So we got him a cake and baked chocolate chip cookies.  They were good, but not the same.  That and buttermilk pancakes are the foods I think I miss most...seriously.  There's just nothing close to that.

On Thursday we did a huge cleaning job in our house.  It looks really good.

So it's been really good.  We're going to end with 20 baptisms, meeting our goal, and we're starting September out with 12 dates, which is sweet.

Seriously, we've been working like crazy this week and have had a ton of fun and great results.  It's a lot of fun with Elder Feliz.  I hope everything is well back home.

Take care and feliz día,

Elder Bailey