Week 95 - Members and Missionaries Work Together

Buenos dias!!

Things have been going well! We've definitely been blessed! As always, life (and the mission) is a learning experience, but it just keeps going on! It seems like just when I start to learn and understand some aspect of missionary work well, there comes the reminder that I can improve in other areas, and then I have that opportunity to improve! We definitely need to work more with the members here - a lot more. I had forgotten that without the trust and confidence of the members, the work doesn't get done. Members and missionaries have to work together to realize the purposes of the Lord.

We haven't seen Nefi at all this week, though we've tried to visit him a few different times. They say his brother is back in town, but we haven't ever seen him or talked to him. We're hoping he's here, so that Nefi can begin progressing towards that eternal goal.

On the apartment question: They all sounds pretty good! The only apartments that I really saw were the Rockland ones, and I visited some other ones, but didn't get to know the area too well. I also don't remember too well what they're called. I guess I'm not too great of a help in that area, sorry! Whichever place looks alright and has that good feeling, I should be good with. How has Justin been doing with the talk of college and the like?

As for the facilities, I know Rockland had a place to go to get free haircuts. We did have to use quarters for the laundry machines there, though. With the dorms, I'd prefer not to live there. It's not that they're bad or anything, but the off-campus housing seemed to be a lot more low-key, with a lot less interruptions in studies and things like that. It was pretty quiet over there. Pretty nice. In terms of the number of people around the complex: Even in Rockland, with a lot of apartments, there usually weren't a lot of people outside, but I'd be fine either way.

This past week has had it's ups and downs. We've been learning, again, how to re-work our area. We haven't been making the best use of members, or even working with them a lot - and that kind of stings. The sisters who just opened up another area in the ward have had to work a lot with the members to find people to teach and to even find where to find. We need to get that same excitement and urgency back into our own work.

This past week, one of the higher points was that we were able to find a family! They had talked with missionaries before, so it was really neat to be able to sit down with them and just talk with them about the Gospel. They definitely need it in their life - they've been going through some rough things in life with their kids. Just some not-too-great choices, and that sorrow that comes from those choices. They were going to come to Church on Sunday, but for some reason, they didn't come. Hopefully it wasn't anything too big, and they'll be able to come this week coming up. They sounded so sure that they were coming, too! We're going to get the members involved with them so that they feel more comfortable at Church.

Elder Duran and I are doing well. He's still working on picking up the language, but he's doing well. It's been a good transfer so far, and it's weird to think of how fast time goes sometimes. The days sometimes go by slow, but then there are times that the weeks just fly by! It's a really mixed feeling. We have a really good district, though - There are some pictures attached of our district lunch to Panda Express, a picture after District Meeting, and one of Elder Duran in there. Also just some random pictures of exchanges and things that I thought you'd like!

Well, it's about time to get going. I hope the week has gone well! Thank you for all the love, support, and prayers! I hope this week "off" is AWESOME! And that Kaytlin's birthday next week goes super well, too! And tell Kristin I say "Hi!"

Con mucho amor, a infinidad, y mas alla!

Elder Devin Collins

Week 94 - A Fullness of Joy

Monday, March 12, 2012

Hooooooooola!!!

Pasamos la semana bien! Era interesante como dijiera que no habiamos tenido lluvia/tormentas anteriormente, pero esta fin de semana pasada no queria dejar de llover... (We spent the week right! It was interesting as we had not had dijiera rain / storms before, but this past weekend did not want to stop raining ...)

But it was good, though! Some opportunities to grow in the faith, and some experiences that I hope I'll never forget! It's been really interesting, time here. I was thinking this past week how it would be both fun and inspiring to write down a list of experiences I've had and how they've helped me to grow, what I've learned from them, and how my testimony was strengthened. I haven't had the chance to do that yet, but I'm hoping and praying to have that opportunity (with the Spirit guiding me) soon. I've been struggling a lot to write in my journal, and it's been kind of frustrating. There are so many awesome experiences to record, and not enough time in the day to write everything down! Do you have any suggestions? Time management has been one of my weak points, and so any advice in that area would help out a lot.

Okay, on to business!
I think for the apartment question, Rockland/Rockport was good (The one I stayed at last time - It was a good one, but I don't remember how expensive it was). If Justin is good with living there, that would be cool! I think the best part will be rooming with Justin, that would be really fun! And if Brad can be there, too - I'd be great with that! I think if all three of us are in one place, a 6-man would be good. But if it is just Justin and I, a 4-man might be better. Just personal opinion. And as far as grocery store is concerned, I don't think it is too far away. We should be able to catch a ride with someone when they go down. Or maybe we can break out the bikes!

The week here has been going well! The Lord always gives us more opportunities to learn and grow, it seems like! We've had some downpours here, over the past 3 days. The rain really hasn't stopped completely since last Thursday. Today it's looking a bit clearer. Texas really does need the rain, though!

As a mission, we're really focusing on baptismal dates, keys (10 purpose-driven OYMs each day, per missionary), and investigator lessons. It's been really amazing to see the hand of the Lord come forth and provide! Last evening was a great example of that:
We were planning on going to a devotional for the mission last night (directed towards investigators), but weren't able to find anyone to go, or even any members to take us down there. We really did everything we could to go, but weren't able to make it. After that, things just seemed to not be going very well. We weren't finding the favorable response that we wanted to find. But in the evening, we were able to have a miraculous lesson with someone and give him a copy of the Book of Mormon. We set up an appointment to return on Saturday! Then, on the other side of the street, we were able to enter the house of a family we have taught twice before, but this time we were able to extend to them a baptismal date, and they accepted! Her name is Rosibel. Two of her sons were there as well, and they were asking a lot of questions about the pictures in the front of the Book of Mormon - Samuel the Lamanite, Moroni and the plates, Christ in the Americas, the Liahona, etc. It was really fun! I think it can be really easy sometimes to just go through the motions of being a missionary. But when we can really feel our purpose, when we have those moments that teach us why we do missionary work, it makes everything worth it. I know that this fullness of joy that comes from doing the work of the Lord is eternal and lasting. It doesn't go away with time. When we are able to find that love for the people and really desire their salvation, then this whole work just fills you up!

Elder Duran is doing well. He's been talking to a lot of people! It's definitely been an adventure, going through the ups and downs together. I'm definitely grateful for the opportunity that I have to serve with him! It seems like the Lord just teaches me more and more each day through him, and he really reminds me a lot of myself in the beginning of my mission. When there are times that I get impatient, I think back on how my first few transfers were, and then change my way of thinking and way of teaching. It's been a big learning experience.

Well, Magdaleno went back to El Salvador today. I was thinking about it this morning, and it did make me kind of sad. He was at Church yesterday, though, and so it was good to be able to say goodbye to him there. It's just weird to think that he's not coming back for a while.

And I think it's about time to go. Sorry I couldn't answer all the questions! There is so much to write! If you put some of the questions in next week's e-mail, I'll try to answer them!

Los amo, a infinidad, y mas alla!

Con mucho amor,
Elder Devin Collins

Week 93 - "Exercise Our Faith"

Buenos tardes! Como estamos?

It's been a fairly good week! Thank you for sending me that letter from Emily! After I forwarded that to you, I found out that I can't actually forward e-mails either, but I talked to President about it, and things are good now...as far as I know. And just letting you know, but I don't know how long I'll be able to write for, because some other Elders are waiting on the computer. Today is looking like it's going to be a crazy day!

This week has definitely been an adjustment. We're doing our very best to find those who will receive us, and we're really looking for a family, so that we can reach the goal we prayerfuly set for the month of March. Time is just flying by! It's been really interesting to see how sometimes the days pass slowly, but as we look back on them, things are really going by fairly quickly!

Thanks for the update on how things are going back in good 'ole Oroville! Time - and activities - continue marching on! It's great to hear that Kristin's venture to Shady Creek went well! It sounds like that is usually a really great experience, and looks like Kristin is using that upside-down piano planning to the fullest!

It's good to hear that the card made it to Grandpa a-ok! I hope both had a great birthday, and "a happy new year!"

Here, things have been moving forward. We had an EXCELLENT Zone Meeting on Friday, and there was a big focus on consecration and the Law of Sacrifice - What more can we give to become the missionaries we came out here to become? What more can we bring to the Lord's altar to make this the best month of our missions? What can we do to truly become "swallowed up" in the will of the Father? It's going to be a focus that will continue throughout the month, and hopefully throughout our lives.

We have been on bikes a whole lot more - Like, just about every day. Some days, we've been able to find success. Other days, though we really give our best effort, we don't see the fruits of our labors. But Saturday we had an interesting day: We were out on our bikes almost all day, except for studies in the morning. We were able to get back home just minutes before 9:00. Though we didn't teach on Saturday, that was one of the days that I really feel like I did give my best. We didn't have that visible success, but we finished feeling good.

Elder Duran is doing well. He's definitely had some ups and downs, and he's struggling a lot with the Spanish, but he's getting a lot better. He does have a strong testimony, just working on expressing it.

Magdaleno is doing well - And actually, he'll be going back to El Salvador here on the 15th. He really is a new person, and has had a lot of really cool changes in his life. We want to start teaching his daughter, and he's talked about giving a copy of the Book of Mormon in Spanish to his granddaughter, so we're hoping to see some blessings in his family right there. We just need to put our hope and faith into action and ask him about his family!

Nefi...His mom still isn't supportive, and I don't know why. She's a member, and says she has a really strong testimony! Nefi didn't come to Church because his mom let him sleep in, is what his ride said. I don't know exactly what to do - it's a really interesting situation. His brother should be getting into town this Thursday, though, so hopefully we'll be able to see Nefi and his mom start progressing from that.

As for the Texas downpours - We haven't had any recently (knock on wood). Last year was super dry, but it looks like this year is getting a little bit better.

How is the Maxey family? How is Cory doing with his mission preparation? Do you know if James is working on that at all? How is Sister Maxey doing? I hope things are well there!

And Mom, I was just wondering - Have you and Dad ever thought about serving a mission one day? I was just thinking about how awesome it would be if everyone in the family served a mission - at least one. It's definitely an eye-opening experience, and one that I am SO grateful for! It's been really amazing, to see people really change their lives around and become new people. There's a new light that enters into their lives as they exercise their faith in that way (I really like that phrase - "Exercise our faith" - because if we don't do anything with our "faith," then it's not really faith, is it? We have to be up and doing!).

Well, I've got to get going. I love you!!! A infinidad, y mas alla!!

Con mucho amor,
Elder Devin Collins