Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Florida!

Now I am sure you are all wondering why i wrote FLORIDA. Well that is the name of my new area and zone.

On Tuesday we had our change meeting... lots of new and exciting things are going on in the mission. The mission now has 4 APs... 2 of them do what the APs have always done, and the other 2 now travel the mission doing splits with all the missionaries and really just supporting the companionships that are struggling. This is a new idea that Pte Caffaro received and they announced it at the transfer meeting.

I am here in zone Florida with my new companion, Elder Rocha from Monterrey, Mexico. My new assignment is Zone Leader, it is a lot different than trainer but both require responsability, just in different ways.
My Zone has 9 companionships of Elders, so we are 18. There are no sisters which is sort of weird... the zone has really been struggling in the last couple months so I am a little stressed..

President Caffaros advice for me after transfer meeting was... "Elder Walton, I just need you to get things rolling"

This week went really well.... I did divisiones with the two new District Leaders in my zone. It was fun to work with them, and give them advice... I honestly can say they teach me so much, I just hope I help them in return.

Our area hasnt been doing too well but Elder Rocha and I found a new family this week. Carlos committed to baptism with his wife Wendy, they just need to get married beforehand.... like always. We are working with them towards the 10th of January and yesterday Carlos went to church with us!

I really miss my old area.... but changes werent my choice, it was the Lords and we are gonna get things ROOOLLLINGGG.

Love you all!
Elder Nathan Russell Walton


Monday, December 8, 2014

Merry Xmas

I feel like christmas came a little early this year.
Thank you for all your prayers, Victor and Patricia did get married on Saturday, and she was soon after baptized.

Yesterday was my last day training Elder Stuart. I can honestly say the Lord blessed our companionship and the families we have been teaching due to our dedicated work, and prayers. I know the Lord blesses missionaries when we are obedient, and we have received so many blessings.

I cant even describe how happy Victor and Patricia are, and how much I love them. The Lord has truly blessed their family. I has been so amazing being able to part of their journey. This family is so strong and I cant put it even in words how amazing this weekend was, therefore I am just going to send pictures.

Last night they called us and told us that we have changes... Stuart has finished his training so I am off to a new area! I am so devastated but I know it is what the Lord wants.... It is sad to leave areas, especially this one because I am leaving so many people I love.

Thank you for all your support and prayers, the church is true, the gospel changes lives, and I know that God prepares people for missionaries to find. I love the gospel, and I will preach as hard as I can, until they put my on that fetching plane.

PS. Mom, Dad, I promised that if Victor and Patty get sealed next December, I will fly out for it.... just so you know;) haha

Love, Elder Nathan Russell Walton

December Blows In

It has been super windy lately, so cold that my comp and I have to wear our sweaters almost all day. Not something I expected when I got called to Guatemala, but I guess weather year round in central america isnt paradise after all.

Things have been going great lately. Thanksgiving wasnt too exciting here... all us elders met up early in the morning to play some american football so that was a lot of fun.

Lately we have been finding a lot of new investigators, and we have been dropping a lot of other we were teaching. I basically have the rule that if someone doesnt go to church after two sundays, or if they refuse to accept baptismal dates... we stop teaching them. There are so many people preppared to receive this gospel, we shouldnt be spending time with those that arent ready.

This week was a little stressful getting things preppared for Victor and Patricias wedding. Usually when we prepare a baptismal service, all hell breaks loose and Satan tries super hard to stop it. Now just imagine what happens when we have to prepare a wedding AND baptism.
Luckily after many prayers and small miracles, we were able to get the papers to the lawyer who is a member from Montserrat (2nd area) and the members are helping us with the invitations and refreshments. Thank you for all your prayers and keep praying. Victor and Patricia are so happy, but obviously they are nervous as well. I know that this weekend will turn out well, and I am so happy that the Lord has been able to help this family completely change.

Yesterday we had 7 investigators in church which is such a blessing. Not only have we been able to get many to church that are investigating, but many less actives as well. We had 182 in church yesterday... and usually the attendance is around 125... the branch president was so happy and he said that he is going to call President Caffaro to make sure we dont have changes next week... hahaha.

We have two investigators that have gone to church now and really love the gospel and doctrine we teach. Velisario and Cesar. Velisario accepted a bautismal date for the 14th of December. It was such a miracle when I invited him to be baptized because before the visit I was thinking of what day we could invite him to be baptized on. I dont know why but I chose the 14th. After I invited him he said, YES, and that the 14th is his birthday.... he had such a big smile on his face.

Thank you for all your prayers, I am so thankful to be serving a mission. I know that the Lord has blessed me so much. This is the true gospel, i am sure of it.

Elder nathan russell walton