February 17, 2014 Aeropuerto

Whats Up Family?

This week has been pretty laid back with not a bunch to talk about, but I did have two or three cool events happen with some lessons that we had this week. I want to talk about them really quick before I answer questions.

The first was last night actually. We went to go teach a boy named Luis Angel and his girlfriend Ferina. Luis has a younger sister who is 15 and has a form of Down-Syndrome where she cant speak but she can understand everything that is said. She loves it when we come over and sing hymns with them and she always has a smile on her face. Luis is a member and was baptized not too long ago but his girlfriend isnt. So thats why we went to go teach her. We started teaching the lesson about attending church and why it was important. Ferani had a lot of questions about the creation of the earth though for some reason... kinda weird but oh well. At the end of the lesson, when Ferani had no more questions, the little sister of Luis grabbed Elder Smith's picture book that has pictures of the entire book of Mormon in it and opened it up to a picture of a young girl being baptized. She pointed at it and gestured it to Ferani... It was so cool to see it. We hadnt even been talking about baptism at all during the lesson, yet this young girl with down syndrom opened the book and showed this nonmember this picture of a young girl getting baptized. It was so awesome. We didnt do anything about it because it was the first time teaching her, but we plan to invite her to be baptized this week sometime. 

A local or 'loco' minivan

The second cool experience I had this week was that I got to travel back to Barrio Carmen! I got to see Hermana Alejandra (17 years old) and Hermana Julia be baptized! oorah! It was super cool because I had been the one that initiated the teaching with them when Elder Gray and I arrived there. I saw the both of them be baptized on Saturday night. It was awesome to see them. Alejandra came up to me after the baptism and wanted to take a picture with me and even wanted me to give her my contact information so that we could stay in touch after I return home. How cool is that? I never thought I was that big a deal with her because she always had a little crush on Elder Gray, but I guess I was wrong. Pretty cool experience for me. The two of them are such nice people and I am happy that I was able to witness there baptisms and not just hear about it through the missionary grapevine.

Apart from that, I invited a young boy named Fabian to be baptized on Thursday night and it went really well. My confidence with everything is really picking up and I feel that I could talk to almost anyone without having problems. I am pretty excited about that. Its becoming a lot easier to speak my thoughts to people when youre more confident with it. My New Years Resolution is coming through pretty well! We planned his baptism for the 22nd of March so we shall see what happens. He didn't
seem too excited about it, but we will see when we teach him this week. 

Well, that's about it for this week. Nothing amazing happened other than those two events. We are still just pluggin away trying to figure out the houses and what not. The life of Senior Companion is a lot different and I am liking having the responsibility of everything. Its nice to be able to make the chouices for once. I hope things are all going well for you. I understand everyone is staying busy like normal, dating, school and work! Way to be. Keep it up! Stay strong with it and keep moving forward. I love you guys to the stars and back and as deep as the ocean blue! 

-Kia Kaha

-Elder Proctor

February 10, 2014 - Aeropuerto

Well...

Elder Smith (from Santa Clara, Utah) & Elder Proctor

Hey everyone! Another week has passed and we are back here writing again. This week has been pretty decent. Transfers went well and I am now the Senior Companion with Elder Smith from St. George! Pretty cool being able to finally be in the drivers seat for the first time. I get to make all of the calls with making visits to certain people and I get to finally have the phone and the keys to the house now! Oorah! Its pretty exciting. Elder Smith is a really cool guy. We get a long a lot better and have about the same time in the mission so it makes things a lot easier for me because we can struggle together. Its not just me making a fool of myself anymore. I am super happy about that. The house we live (we also live with two other Elders. Elder Castillo has about 21 months and Elder Ricks is new and has about 1 week in mexico.) We have a lot of fun together and I get along with Elder Castillo really well. He was the zone leader while I was in Deportiva, Villahermosa. Pretty cool how things worked out there. I really am glad that we hooked up again and have the next transfer to hang out a bit more. Hes a super cool guy, along with Elder Smith and Elder Ricks. 

We havent really done a whole bunch this week so itll be cut a bit short this week. We have just been trying to figure everything out with the area book, where people and members live, and what needs to be done. I am only about fifteen minutes away from my last area so I know the area, relatively, so it makes things a tad bit easier, but still pretty difficult not knowing where the people live. The directions for houses here are pretty screwed up. Yes we are white washing again. Its become a routine for me now so its not a huge deal. I have white washed every area Ive been in... haha. Oh well. We have a couple of investigators that are progressing a little bit, but we still have to work on teaching more with unity. I like to push a little bit faster with the information and Elder Smith takes things a bit slower, so we need to find a good balance between the two. We are working on it. Its a bit frustrating at times, but itll work itself out eventually im sure. 

Well, I haven't gotten any packages yet because we haven't had a zone class but we are having one this Friday so I will probably get it then with the other things that have been sent. I think we will get along really well this transfer so I am pretty stoked about it. Elder Castillo is awesome and hed be someone Id hang out with after the mission. Hes a pretty cool guy. (from Guatamala) But other than that, we dont have much as far as teaching goes because everything is new and we havent been able to teach anyone consecutively yet but we are definitely working on it. Thats our only goal for this week. 

Thats about it for this valentines week! I hope everyone has a great week! HAPPY VALENTINES DAY! Love you guys! Keaton, Sadie, Dad, Mom, Rider, Zoey, Grandma Susan, Grandpa Reese, Grandma Ruth, Cousins, and all of those who have contributed to my mission. I truly think about all of you each and everyday. You guys are in my prayers every night and I seriously cannot thank you enough for the generous contributions that have helped me get here.  =) I am so very grateful to have each and everyone of you behind my back helping me out along this journey.  Until next week...

Kia Kaha!

-Elder Proctor

February, 2014 - Carman

Hey Everybody!
I hope life is treatin you well! This week wasn't all that exciting so this letter is going to be a bit shorter than normal. The only special part was that we baptized and confirmed Hermana Johana and Hermana Alejandra! Oorah! It was super cool to see both of them be baptized after working with them for such a  long time. I didnt get to baptize either of them, Elder Gray baptized Johana and A priest named Nefi baptized Alejandra (they're related.) It went really well with the things that we planned out for them, the program and everything, but overall it was really cool to see them make that step in their lives.

I am being transferred! Transfers are today and I found out last night that I am being moved about fifteen minutes away to a place called Areopuerto. Its still on the island but its not too far from the house we are at now. Elder Gray is going to be Zone Leader with Elder Brewer, Elder Haglunds trainer. I am being moved 15 minutes away to this new place with an elder named Elder Smith. No idea who he is, apparently he is an American... (never woulda guessed) but he seems to be a good guy. We shall see. I leave tomorrow which means I have a long night of packing my things. I will still be in the same Zone as Elder Gray, Larsen and Sepulveda, but just in a different area and district. I will still see them every Tuesday so that will be nice. After four months with Elder Gray, its tough to have to say goodbye, but eventually it was going to happen. We will see how it works out tomorrow.
Apart from that, we had the chance to teach Henry again... completely in English... wow it was super weird. I have only taught people in Spanish so it was really awkward having to speak English and using different ways of describing things.  He is such a cool guy. I love teaching him. Its a lot of fun. Normally with the people that we teach, we only teach... thats it, but with Henry, its like a conversation. I love it. He has such a strong desire to turn his life around from his alcohol problems. Unfortunately, we haven't had the chance to teach him since last Tuesday and he didn't come to church this last week, but I am hoping that Elder Gray  and Elder Brewer are able to get him baptized. That ll be the best news ever. He reminds me a lot of Monica from Tenosique. The two of them have that fire in their eyes that they want to change. So far, the two of them are my favorites.  We will see what happens though.
Well, that's it for this week. I know its not huge, but its better than nothing. Thank you to everyone who has supported me in the journey. I truly appreciate the donations and the kind words that I receive from you guys each and every Monday. I couldn't do this without you guys. I honestly mean that. I wouldn't be able to. I love all of you so much.


Thank you for everything. See you guys soon!
-Elder Proctor
Kia Kaha!