Chapter 18: Out with the old, in with the new
I bought the hat to pretend to be in Hawaii with my parents this week!
My new companion is Elder Nolasco from the Dominican Republic. He's also serving as Branch President out here, I as the Branch Clerk. He's been out on the mission for almost 8 months. He's a great guy and we've gotten along really well. We both want to work hard and we both enjoy having fun while we work, but being obedient missionaries. It's great to have companions with the same desires to work and be obedient but still like to mess around when it's appropriate.
The new companionship in La Esperanza:
Elder Manister is from Honduras. He's been on the mission for 20 months. He's our new district leader, to make things easier on the Branch Pres. He's a nice guy and from what I've seen, he's willing to put in the effort to make some real changes happen out here. He's training a new missionary
Elder Murray from Boise, Idaho. He's brand new from the Provo MTC, hardly speaks any Spanish. The first meal he had out in his area was scrambled eggs and potatoes, a fitting meal for someone from Idaho. He has a lot to learn but he's definitely a good missionary.
I'm really excited to see all that the 4 of us can accomplish in this little branch, we have lots of plans and specific goals. I know that with the help of the Lord, we can set this branch on the path to becoming a strong ward, a light to other units of the Church.
What else has changed? Well, I'm no longer a member of the Park 3rd Ward, they've pulled my membership records all the way out here to Honduras which is really cool! They also did the same with Elder Nolasco. It doesn't actually change much, it's just cool to say that I'm no longer a member of my home ward haha.
It's awesome, this week we found a lot of new investigators, I'll talk about them more as they begin to progress. This week we finally got our investigator Walter to come to church! His friends Carlos and Heber both are both working to get baptized, and Walter has received missionaries in the past, and has said that he'd also like to get baptized! So we're working with him to teach the lessons, come to church, and keep the commandments so that he can be ready soon!
Also yesterday was the 12th-year anniversary of my baptism! So let's talk a little about baptism, shall we? A lot of times, missionaries are really focused on baptizing, and have baptism as the end goal in mind for their investigators. While baptism is a worthy goal, it isn't the end-all-be-all of what it means to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ. In reality, baptism is just the start, or the gate that opens up the path to eternal life. There's still more to do after baptism. The baptism signifies the end of your old life and the commencement of the new and improved life you promise to life in the covenant of baptism.
I'm grateful that 12 years ago I made the decision to be baptized. I'm grateful that my parents raised me and taught me the Gospel in my childhood, so that I understood what the ordinance of baptism signified and what I was promising to do. I'm grateful for the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and for the opportunity I have to share the Gospel out here in Honduras.
The Church is true!
Love you all!
Elder Jensen
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