Shortest week ever

This letter will be very short.

Daniela is getting baptized this Sunday.

Alvaro is coming along well. He should be getting baptized in April as well.

Alvaro's friend Jacalyne came to church and is coming next week. She is the newest investigator. She is so solid. She was raised Jehovah's Witness, but will be baptized LDS.

Vacas are doing so good. They are the loveliest family. They know all about you family. They looked up My Girlfriend's Boyfriend, they wear their gifts all the time. They know about you family! They are so grateful for your gifts.

The vacas are doing good... and the best part is... Irina is pregnant. She will be having her baby in NOVEMBER!

Crazy awesome!

Christian just got back from a trip in Logan Utah. He loved it. He is going to be an awesome missionary. I love him.

We have no time today because we are moving two different people into two different houses. Bye bye Pday.

I am doing good. I am getting along with my companion very well. We have an awesome week coming up. This general conference is going to change our world as we know it. You will regret it if you are not a part of it... and remember, we live with no regrets!

love you all

was good

jersey strong

life is good in the gospel

have a good week

Tyler

Keeping it cool in Caldwell

First off, the weather here is more bipolar than a pregnant lady. But I am grateful that we have had some warm days.

I enjoyed myself this week. I am so grateful for the things I am learning, and the experiences I am having. God is good.

I love the people here in Caldwell. The members, the investigators, the leaders, the missionaries. It is a good place to be in March 2015. This transfer is flying by.

We had a meeting Friday morning with a bunch of missionaries. Before the meeting, we got together with some missionaries and played basketball. I wish I was taller.

Sam Taggart ( the Taggarts' son) and his friend Doug came to give us a training on comfortable communication. I would like to think that I am a good communicator, but I am no good. I learned a lot on how not to be awkward. And I am super excited to use what I learned. 

We asked a guy on the street for some information, gave him a card, and for the first time, he called us and told us to come teach his son. We went and found out that the wife of Nelson (mentioned guy on the street) is a member, and that their son has schizophrenia. They didn't come to church, but I have hope that they will come at the right time.

We received a referral from Juan Vaca and we taught her in an awesome Colombian restaurant. She paid for us to eat there, and we answered some of her questions about Mormons. Sadly she does not belong to our area, but we were able to get together with the elders from Paterson to teach her about the Restoration. It was an awesome experience, and I felt the Spirit. She wants to be baptized. God really does prepare people! They are all around us.

Daniela is the niece of Yorleni. She has been learning and listening for 2 months, and she pointed that out to us yesterday. She wasn't able to come to church because of work.  Yesterday, she came to church for the first time. She liked it. She had an argument with her boss on Saturday and quit. She went to take back the key to the owner last night, and he apologized. She decided to go back to work there on the condition that she would have Sunday mornings off. It is a wonderful blessing. Yorleni and my companion dont think its a good idea that she returns, but I don't see it as something wrong. I think its a step forward. 

Keep her in your prayers. And pray that we will know what to do to help her.

Alvaro also came to church. He hasn't been baptized yet, but now I hope that he can focus and pull it all together. He is so close. Sometimes (like last night), we have really good lessons where he feels the Spirit and wants to change. Other times, he is very distracted and we can't feel the Spirit with him. He is a super sweet man. I really hope that he can have the change that he desperately wants.

We keep on keeping on here in Caldwell, and I am excited to see what this week brings. 

The kid in little boy socks still loves and misses his family. He can't wait to tell them all of the stories and adventures he is having.

Waz good

Jersey Strong

Life is good in the gospel

Love you

before I forget.... pictures of the baptism!

After the baptism we went to a buffet with the Guardiolas. (The president of the branch and his family...they are awesome). 

I ate sushi and clams and lobster and oysters...

 I thought you two would be proud of me

make a goal... its how we get better

These pictures come from the exchange 

I went on in new city with Elder Class. 

The family is Dominican and hopefully will be baptized soooooon.

We saw this weird possom. I decided I needed a picture. 

NJ is so weird

again... this comes from 2 weeks ago.

This is Massiel. She is the one Juan Vaca referred us to. Hopefully she will be baptized in Paterson!!!!!! 

this was forever ago....

Lowest of Lows. Highest of Highs.

Satan is a mean fellah, but our God is good! This week was crazy, but crazy good!

Last Tuesday was zone meeting. I felt like a headless chicken running around trying to get everything organized. We started on time, but just barely. Everything went well, and I thought it was a good zone meeting. I gave a training and I used Jeffrey R Holland's talk "Good things to come." I love that talk. 

After zone meeting, I asked my good friend E Gossner for a blessing. He and I have served around each other since last July. I really look up to him. I asked for a blessing for various reasons, but I had an experience I will never forget. And I will never forget it, because it means a lot to me. E Gossner was righteous enough to be bold and say what the Spirit told him to say. A strong feeling came over me, and I knew that God loved me. I cant remember most of the blessing because I was so baffled at how God was really there, and how He really loved me. I usually dont cry when I feel the Spirit, but it was such a sweet release of doubts and questions and anger and bitterness and sadness, and probably some more complicated feelings, that I cried. And it felt good. I am so grateful that God let's us know that He loves us. I know He loves me.

I got to go on an exchange in New City, NY with E Class. We visited a lady who is in a mental institution, but she still had the missionary fire. She had served as a ward mission leader, and it was cool to see her tell random strangers about the gospel. She is a strong member although she cannot go to church. 

We had a special meeting this week. We learned about how the baptism of fire is different from confirmation. The baptism of fire is when we are redeemed. We receive the Spirit at confirmation, but we are not cleansed completely until we receive the baptism of fire. Sometimes it is at confirmation, but usually it is after. It is something God gives, not man. It was a really interesting training, and I cannot explain it as well as Elder Stroud did, but it is scriptural based. Also E Gossner is telling me that there are two talks that really explain it well: 'The Light of Christ' and 'Doctrine of making your election sure.' So I haven't read them yet, but it is something to look into.

Friday we moved to another house. So... mail may take a while to get to me if you sent it to that address. My new address is still a mystery to me. It is a small apartment, but it is cozy, and I like it. 

Saturday was the baptism of Claudia and Emilie. They are awesome. The service started late, but it was beautiful. I love being part of God's baptisms! It makes me happy. Sunday they got confirmed! This branch has only been running for a year, but God is really blessing them with new, strong people. It is a fun time to be in Caldwell!

I don't have all the right equipment so I cant send all the pics of this week, but I will send them next week.

Keep praying for Alvaro! We hope he is the next one to be baptized.

Remember that life is good in the gospel. 

God loves us!

Waz Good 

Jersey Strong

Life is good in the gospel

Love you

Baptism... Claudia is the older one, Emilie is the little one

E Gossner and I

Week One Down

The first week of this transfer was a good one. We didnt get to do as many hours of proselyting as we usually do, but it was a good week. Transfer Conference was crazy. There were some awesome missionaries that went home. One of the people that I have really grown to love was E Flores (papi). He and I served together in Paterson, and he has always given me good advice.He finished his mission! It is starting to make home seem more realistic.

But I dont want to be trunky yet.

Yorleni made us some of the best food i have ever eaten. It was ribs and avocado and plantains and yucca. It sounds plain... but it was so darn good. I will attach a pic. I am going to have to go on a diet soon. If not, I may die of obesity. 

Thursday was crazy! i think the biggest storm hit the night before so we woke up to a ton of snow. It was practically snowing all day. We had to drive to Englewood to pick up a car that had gotten in a wreck. The front tire was messed up. We couldnt drive above 30 mph, and the car did unexpected movements. What usually takes us 20 minutes to drive took us over an hour. It was a super scary experience to drive it. God protected us, and we got home safely. We ate awesome food with the Carranzas. The 2 girls are excited for their baptisms. The parents are so supportive. The mom comes every week. The only reason the parents arent baptized is because the father hasn't gotten off work yet. They are reading and praying, so I am sure that one day they will be baptized. I love that family.

Friday was a meeting with President Taggart. We had to drive that stinking car down to morristown. We didnt die... but a few people were super upset that we were going 20 miles below the speed limit. These silly Jersey drivers. I felt the Spirit very strongly, though, at this meeting and it was a good boost. I felt spiritually recharged. I am part of an awesome mission. I have awesome leaders. 

Sadly this weekend I got sick, but Saturday was awesome. We spent a lot of the day doing service for the Carranzas. They had a nice dinner for Diana's birthday and invited us over. I hung out with the teenagers, and we told jokes. I laughed so hard. One of the best nights ever. Sunday I went to church only because Christian had asked me to ordain him. I did, but I felt sick so I asked if I could go home and take a nap. I napped forever, then I woke up, went to a dinner appointment, then went back home and got ready for bed and slept. I feel so much better. The members are taking very good care of me. I have like a billion moms out here. Its funny that I need so many moms out here to do what my mom can do for me. I love her a lot. 

Claudia and Emily will be getting baptized this Saturday! Keep them in your prayers.  

I am super grateful for Jesus and the Atonement. Just thinking about it brings me peace and happiness.

Waz good

Jersey Strong

Life is good in the gospel

love you.

the sisters played a nasty joke on us

 Yorleni is holding the food.

more pics with lupita

 The old lady is crazy. Her name is Assunta.

Third Transfer in Caldwell

Elder Gonzalez and I will stay together in Caldwell! We are going to do great work. I am excited to learn and grow with Elder Gonzalez. He has taught me a lot.

Highlight of my week: Yorleni and Daniela got a kitten. It is so cute. It reminds me of Shawty. Her name is Lupita. Almost anytime I go over I cant help but grab her and put her on my lap. She usually sleeps there during the whole lesson. It is awesome. I miss my pets. Maybe I want to go into animal science for my career. I dont know we will see. I still have 9 months.

March brought in a snow storm here. It is funny because if it snows at all, the whole state shuts down. Whimps. Nah, it is dangerous to drive in NJ without snow so it is understandable why everyone hibernates as soon as it starts snowing. We only got about 5 inches. I am super grateful that we havent gotten what other missions have seen this winter. The east coast missions have seen some pretty crazy blizzards. 

9 missionaries are leaving from our zone. It is sad. Transfers have to be the worst part of the mission. You get close with a few people and then.... you dont see them for a while. Its good (I guess) because then we can really focus on the work. 

Emily and Claudia Carranza will be getting baptized on the 14 of March! I am so excited for them. That is no small miracle. We didnt even set them on that date. They chose it themselves. The president of the branch was talking with them and the two girls brought up baptism. They chose to be baptized and are in the process of asking the men they have chosen to baptize them. Something I have learned more than anything these last couple transfers is that God does His work. I just need to be humble enough to get out of the way and let him show me how it is done. We havent been able to meet with Doryn, and she couldnt come to church, so no visual progress there. Alvaro came to church. He is such a sweet person. He struggles with some anxiety, and he knows his problems, and he just wants to be a good man. He wants to start a family and be a good father. I feel for him. It must be so hard for him. 

Daniela continues to feel the Spirit but the timing isnt right yet. It just hasnt matched up like it has before. So until its time, we will be there encouraging her to continue to increase her testimony. 

The Vaca family is on vacation. They are on a disney cruise. I have seen some pictures, and I would give up a lot to be a Vaca right now. They are enjoying shorts and disney world and happiness. Nancy has stayed behind to watch the house. She made us my favorite soup ever. It is called sopa de chifles. It may be my favorite food I have tried on my mission.

Elder Brindley is being transfered out, but i am grateful that we got to do an exchange before he leaves. He came to our area and showed me how to do missionary work. He has only been out for a little bit, and his spanish isnt flawless, but he has a gift to know what people need to hear.

This transfer brings new struggles and challenges, but what I have learned is that I am always blessed beyond what I struggled. So now the only struggle is if I trust God, after he has shown me so many times that he is with me, do I really trust him to do it again? It is pretty pathetic, but I still struggle with the first step; the basics of what I am teaching. That is why the mission is the boot camp for the rest of my life. I hope by the end I feel like I can do anything in Christ who strengthens me. 

I am doing well. And I am happy and hopeful that this transfer will be as good as the rest.

Waz good

Jersey Strong

Life is good in the gospel

Love you

p.s. kitten