Week 76 - Transferred and Opening Up a New Area!

Buenas dias!!

Greetings from Houston 1 West West!! Yes, Houston 1 West West! We've nicknamed it 'Far West', but the Assistants still haven't opted to change the name...probably because we'll be going through a split in the ward (which is a big part of the reason as to why we're here, I think), and we'll be getting another name here soon. But we'll see - anything can happen!

It's definitely been interesting. I don't even know where to start!
So, at transfer meeting: President Saylin put my picture up on the transfer board. It didn't register in my mind that the person who has already been in the area goes up on the projector first. Then, Elder Lyman's name and picture went up on the board! He's a pretty awesome elder, and he was trained by Elder Perez, who was also trained by Elder Jenks. So, it's almost like we're family! It's pretty fun.
After our names and pictures were up on the board and we saw which area we were in, we sat back down. It wasn't until the end when we were talking when re realized that we're both new in this area. Neither of us have been in Houston 1 before. So, what we're doing now is opening up a new area! It's definitely been a new experience.
So, we arrived, unloaded our things in the apartment that used to belong to the Sister missionaries (so it's a really nice apartment - I wish I could send pictures, but this computer doesn't have a way to send them.), and realized that we are really starting out from almost the beginning. We didn't have an area book, or investigators, or know any of the members. We decided to first get to know the members in our area, especially since we learned that we had a dinner appointment in our area that same night. As we were biking to the appointment, we stopped to wait at a light so we could cross. While we were waiting, a bird pooped on Elder Lyman's shirt. I'm pretty sure the green stain is still there.

This past weekend, we actually went back to Elder Lyman's old area, Alvin, to see a family he and Elder Nash found be baptized. It was a great experience! And it really was a miracle: We had to get a ride with a member to go down there, and none of the members in the ward were available. So we talked to a lot of members from the English ward, and they all said no as well. But then we got a call from Brother Rich, who said he could take us at the last minute. And we made it to Alvin just as they were opening up the font. An awesome miracle!

It's definitely a lot bigger than Houston 2 West, but it's not as big as Kemah. It's a pretty nice size. And we've definitely been led and guided by the Lord to do the work here. Usually, I'm not the greatest with directions, but this pastweek as been something else. As I've been praying about where to go or how to get to a certain place, it comes to mind how to get there, even though neither of us have been in this area for more than a week...less, actually. The population here is very different than it even was across the freeway. There, we rarely saw white people. Here, it's the exact opposite. We definitely have had to adjust our finding methods, and are really looking to work through the members. They already know people here, and we've been able to have some success in that area because of the great members we have here.

Oh, and just before I forget - I know I already sent it, but here is the address for the complex (It's called 'Renaissance Village'):
12951 Briar Forest Dr. #1203
Houston, TX 77077

We talked to the office, too, and they said that if packages get sent here, they'll hold on to them until we can come and pick them up.
Hmm...what else...

Well, yesterday was a good day. We had 2 Family Home Evening lessons with two different families - One family was the Salazar family. He is a recent convert, and still waiting on Bishop Cabezas (of Houston 1) to sign his baptismal record so that he can receive the Priesthood. They invited two other families, one of which is waiting to be married and become baptized in the coming weeks.

The other family was the Longobardi-Ramirez family. He isn't a member, but all the rest of his family is. He has a baptismal date, but he's fighting a lot against being baptized. We're going to need a miracle to help him out. Fortunately, if we do all we can, God also works miracles. So we're excited for him. We shared a lesson with both of them about writing their last words to someone who was close to them. Then, as they told us why it was important to write those words, we would crumple up the letters. We related that to what we do when we don't read the scriptures. These were their last words, and we don't always value them as we should.

Well, that's about time...I wish I could have written more! This has been a very full week!!

I love you!!
Con mucho amor, a infinidad, y mas alla!!

Elder Collins