Mancha De Platano

Buenos dias mis amigos. Como están todo de ustedes? Hoy el 22 de Noviembre 2021 es un día muy importante. Saben por qué? Porque es el día en que mi enteré de donde viene el sabor de gatorade electric blue. De la laguna 69 en Perú 

Bueno, so this week was very fast and idek what happened but... transfers are next week again, lol! How did that happen so fast? So this might be my last week in Arecibo. I've been here for 3 transfers. I hope I don't get scuffed. But I might be getting a new area next week. You'll find out. NEXT WEEK.

Monday - P-day, we love P-day. I did the usual P-day things. We cleaned, went to Walmart, bought some food. Then we had a district activity on some grass cliff by the beach (we're not allowed on sand or the beach), so we got to eat pizza there which was fun. Then we came back to the chapel and we called family and stuff. Did P-day things, you know the gist. Then we finished P-day at 6 and started our day. So what we did was we had a lesson with the Freytes family, which is that family from last week who we met on Sunday. And so we went and taught them the plan of salvation. Then we went and gave his dad, who is also a member, a blessing of health upstairs again, that was sick. I love priesthood blessings, they're so cool. I always feel the spirit. It was cool then when we were leaving, we accidentally took the road that goes by the stadium of the Capitanes (basically the NBA team here in Arecibo). The streets were flooded with cars, and we saw a helicopter landing in the parking lot. It was kinda dope. Also, they had no eggs at Walmart, so we bought something called "egg maker." It's like bottled eggs, horrible idea.

Tuesday - We had a lesson planned with Sariluz and Obispo. She canceled, so we went walking. Everybody was angry. It was kind of scary. It was also Melvin's birthday, so I took him to lunch and bought him something. He's 82! But acts like he's 19. I love Melvin. He told us lots of stories of his life in the army and in New York. It was cool to hang with him on his birthday. And it seemed like it made his day, so I'm happy we could do that for him.

Wednesday - idk this day. I don't remember. We had a presentation. We also made German pancakes, which were horrible because we had fake eggs. Literally a horrible idea. Also, it was my dad's birthday, so I got to call him. That was cool.

Thursday - We had district counsel. It was raining really hard. Kinda cool. Flooded. Then we went home, and I don't know, I don't remember. My brain is cooked. Oh, I remember, then we went to a member's house to visit them, and the dude's just chillin in his undies. That was funny.

Friday - We had tripletas again. I love them, they're so good. I think it's probably my favorite Puerto Rican food. So freaking good. Then we went and made some cards to pass out, which have the address to our church. Then I had a feeling to go to a neighborhood when we went walking. We met one guy; no one else was outside. I hope that person is the reason.

Saturday - We had service, that was cool. Then we had an impersonal lesson with a lady, and she flipped us off. That was funny. Then we taught another lady, and we went looking for shark pinchos. They were sold out. Then the Relief Society president called us to come to the church and eat food, so we went, and she made coquito (non-alcoholic). It was good, tastes like eggnog, but you can't say that to a Puerto Rican. They get mad.

Sunday - It was the Primary program. It was cool. The spirit is strong with kids, idek. Then we made German pancakes again, and they were just as bad as the last time. Lol, those fake eggs suck. Don't buy those, bad idea. Then we had a lesson with Nilda again, out in the bottom of our area, so we went walking in a neighborhood by her house. It was right next to the observatory, so we saw that, and some white family drove by and yelled, "Hi, Elders." Pretty sure they're members. Nilda's doing good. She just needs her time, which is okay. But I'm surprised I even got in-person lessons.

The Freytes family stopped answering Wednesday night, which was odd. We haven't been able to contact them, so it's really weird.

Lots of things happened this week, and I'm too lazy to remember them and type them, so this email sucks.

I understand why missionaries rarely send letters. The longer you're out, the more boring it gets. The only reason I do this is for my grandma, uncles, and aunts to hear, so if it wasn't for them, I would give up by now.

Sunday - Noah (bishop's son, he's 10) took the L on us after sacrament. It was funny. Then he made Elder Tuescher go for a high five and dabbed on him and started laughing so hard. Then I did it to him, and he was shook. It was golden.

Missions are awesome. I love my life. I already know I'm going to have a hard time being done with my mission. I'll miss it so much, and I only have 5 out of 24 months done, so I still got a while, but it's the best thing ever. Missions are awesome. The best thing I've ever done.

"Missions aren't for the people. Do you really think if the church wanted more converts, they'd use 19-year-olds? Missions aren't for the people." "If they really wanted converts, wouldn't they just do it like the Jehovah's Witnesses or something even better?" "The church is smart. If they just wanted converts, they would do it differently. Missions aren't for the people." - Elder Phillips

This is really cool. He told us this today, and it hit me really hard. That yes, what we're doing is to help people, but my mission is for me. It's for my personal growth and conversion. A lifelong conversion. Missions aren't for the people. They're for the missionaries. And I agree.

I don't know why I always feel I need to say this, but someone on this list needs to hear it. If you're thinking about a mission, the answer is yes. "You can always say why you tried and failed but never why you didn't try." That's how it is. So just try. God wants it. I promise it is the best decision you could ever make.

Fotos después.