Email - Thanksgiving Can Be A Night Full of Regrets and Nightmares

Weekly update for November 13th -19th

       Well, I’ll just start of with saying HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

  

Here on the mission in the Spanish program, Thanksgiving is the most 

dreaded day of the whole mission.

 WHY, the average person might ask?  Well let me tell you.  Rumor has it, that in the months from October to the end of the year the average Spanish Elder will gain 12 pounds.  Yes, 12 pounds. The reason that happens is because the Spanish people are so loving and kind that they all invite you over for Thanksgiving dinner. I think we will be having 5 Thanksgiving meals this year. Possibly more. As you all know, you can’t leave a Spanish persons house without eating 2 full plates of food. The night of Thanksgiving is a night full of regrets and nightmares. You just lay in bed trying to get comfortable to no avail. You want to puke but you don’t want to waste their food. So, you Just deal with the pain. That’s why Thanksgiving is the most dreaded day of the whole mission. 

This last week I took lots of pictures of the food I have been making. I’ll attach some pictures. Apparently I have become a chef on the mission.

       This week, we had a conference with Elder Nielsen from the 70 and it was amazing! 

At one point,  we had a short break to stretch. I was sitting next to my good Korean buddy Elder Kim. While I was doing some stretches he was next to me doing the same.  Well... long story short. My fist hit his watch and his watch shattered and I got cut. It was a minor flesh wound. Don’t worry mom. 

       Now time for something a little more spiritual. So, at the end of last week we received a referral from someone from Florida that wanted us to visit her sister living here in jersey. She requested that we set up an appointment to give her a blessing. She lives in the sisters area but they needed us in order to give the blessing. So we set up an appointment with her and went over. Very nice lady! She told us that she had just been diagnosed with breast cancer, but it was caught very early on and it was small. As she told me this I felt so much love for her because that’s the same news my mom had received just a few months ago. I wasn’t able to be home to help my mom with what was going on,  but I was able to be here for this woman.  I was able to give her the blessing and when I put my hands on her head I felt the love that God has for her. I felt as though I was able to tell her what I would have told my mom in this situation. The spirit was very strong and at the end of the blessing she was crying. It was a great experience not to be forgotten. 

       So as far as Hanaly, Melanie, Patty, Princesa and Orly. They are doing great! Hanaly and Melanie are both on date for December 2nd! That’s coming up soon! Patty said she needs more time but the last lesson we had with her the spirit was very strong and she was crying. She will be ready soon. 

Thank you so much for all your love, support and prayers. They help a lot. I want you guys to eat lots of Thanksgiving food for me and send me pictures next week! I love you all and hope you have a great week and find a way to serve someone! Be thankful for all you have! (Alma 34:38)