#14

Hello!

How's it going? Everything is going pretty good here in Portland.
Thanksgiving was a lot of fun. We didn't really do a whole lot of work
because they told us not to go knocking on doors so during the day we
went to a park and just hung out with Elder Cepeda and Elder Anderson.
It was pretty fun. Then at 3 we went to a members house for dinner. It
was awesome. There were four other elders there too so in total there
were 16 people at our thanksgiving dinner. It was a lot of fun. After
dinner we played some games with them. We stayed there until 9 and
then we just went home! It was an amazing day!

On Friday we fasted in order to find new people to teach so we went
finding all day on Saturday. We didn't find a single person that day
which was a little frustrating. We knocked on so many different doors.
People either weren't home or not interested. I'll just say it was a
long day.

We have been waiting to see if our group is going to be made a branch.
The application was supposed to be submitted a couple months ago. We
found out yesterday that it hasn't even been submitted due to the
application getting lost or something like that. We were not to happy
about that since we have been waiting for a long time to know. I guess
we can wait a little bit longer.

Other than that, everything is going pretty good. We are all really
excited for Christmas. If you haven't seen the new Christmas video go
watch it. It is always good to be reminded of why we celebrate
Christmas. Anyways I hope everyone is having a great week and I will
talk to you all later!

Elder Navarro

#13

Hello hello,

Yes! Happy Thanksgiving! How's it going? We do have plans for
thanksgiving. We are going to the Chandlers house with a few other
missionaries. It should be super fun!! We are all super excited for
the holidays.

Most of our investigators
have dropped us this week. So we aren't really teaching we are just
working on finding. It's terrible. The only solid investigator we have
is Irlinda. She wants to get baptized but she is living with her
husband/boyfriend. They have been together for like 23 years but they
aren't married. Her boyfriend just left for Peru for a minimum of six
months so we are hoping she can get baptized while he is gone.

Oh yeah I forgot to tell you that Elder Keith and I had to speak in
sacrament meeting yesterday. It was terrible. Our group leader called
and said that he forgot if he assigned anyone to speak so we just said
we would do it. I had no idea what I was even saying the whole time.
Haha I think it was good though

Anyways, if I don't have wifi later I hope you guys have a great
thanksgiving. Adios!

Elder Navarro

#12

How are you doing? This week has been pretty crazy. Today is transfer
day and like all of our friends are getting transferred out. Elder Richardson is going
home and then Elder Thatcher is going to Hillsboro. Boo! .

Also, we dropped Vanessa and Salvador this week. It was pretty sad but
it had to be done. We went over the other night and they said they are
getting married, but Salvador doesn't want to get baptized anymore. We
tried to tell him why it's so important but he is really scared of the
commitment. We did all we could but that's just the way agency goes
sometimes. We are still going over to their apartment this weekend to
help paint their apartment.

We did volunteer at a 5k which was super fun. All we did was cheer for the
runners and tell cars that they couldn't go on the road. Some people
were not happy with that and started swearing but whatever. Haha.

Elder Navarro

#11

Hello everyone,

How has everything been going? This has been a pretty crazy week here
in Portland. We had our zone meeting this week. It was really good. We
talked a lot about the spirit and how much guidance and direction we
receive from the Holy Ghost. It is so important to be worthy at all
times for that guidance at all times.

So Vanessa and Salvador are actually getting married now. They are
just working on setting a date for their wedding and then Salvador
will finally be able to get baptized. Vanessa still has a little ways
to go but she will get there. I have really seen the strength of both
of their testimonies this week. It's too bad they are moving in a
couple weeks outside of the mission. I'm really going to miss them a
lot.

I have recently learned the importance of member missionary work. We
were talking with our stake president this last week about the role of
the members in the wards. He said that our job as missionaries is
really to teach people. The role of the members is to find people for
us to teach. Elder Robert D. Hales has said, "Conversion requires
consecrating our lives to caring for and serving others who need our
help and to sharing our gifts and talents. The Lord didn’t say tend my
sheep when it is convenient, watch my sheep when you aren’t busy. He
said feed my sheep and my lambs; help them survive this world, keep
them close to you. Lead them to safety--the safety of righteous
choices that will prepare them for eternal life." Everyone can have
that eternal life. I know you all have friends that aren't members of
the church but you still love them. I challenge everyone to share that
love with one person this week. Help them on their path to eternal
life. Share with them why the gospel makes you so happy in your life.
I can testify that if you are sincere and show your love for them that
they will listen. This really is our duty as members of the church to
share with others the happiness and joy that we have. I hope everyone
has a great week! I pray for all of your success in sharing the
gospel! Adios!


Elder Navarro

#10

Hola!

How is everyone doing? How has your weeks been? Mine has been pretty
fantastic! We have been doing a lot of finding this week. There are a
lot of people in our area book who we haven't visited in a long time
so we tried to visit a lot of those people. It has been hard though
because it seems like no one is ever home. We are really trying to
find new people to teach. We did find this one couple that are really
cool! Their names are Edgar and Maria and they are super interested.
They had a lot of questions about Joseph Smith and why our church is
different than all the others. It was super cool talking to them. We
visit them again on Saturday so I am excited for that.

We also visited Vanessa and Salvador the other night but Salvador
wasn't home. We got to talk to Vanessa though. She said that she is
going to tell him yes! We are super excited! We go over tonight so
hopefully she has already done it. Hopefully she has so that they can
get baptized.

Halloween was also pretty awesome. We went to this cemetery and raked
leaves there. It was awesome especially on Halloween. We also helped
with a Halloween party at an old folks home. We helped run some of the
games they were playing. It was pretty fun. The old people are really
funny.

Anyways, I have had the chance to really study and ponder the Book of
Mormon this week. How lucky we are to have the guidance and council
that the Book of Mormon has for each of our lives individually. It may
seem confusing and hard to read at times, but if you seek the help of
the Spirit to help and guide, it becomes much easier and more
uplifting. I invite everyone to take time to read the Book of Mormon
and really apply the things that you read! It will bring many
blessings and joy into your lives! I love you all! Have a great week!

Elder Navarro

Fun time after a service project

#9

Hola,

This week has been a pretty awesome week. On Friday, we set up this
awesome dinner date for Vanessa and Salvador. We put lights up in the
relief society room and made it look all nice. We made these awesome
steaks and potatoes too. It was so great. The best part is that
Salvador proposed to Vanessa. The only bad part is that he told her
not to answer and she could think about it. It was a little
frustrating, but they are awesome and we like them a lot. We went by
their apartment last night and told them we need an answer by this
Thursday or we can't keep visiting them. It's hard because we like
them and want to help them but there is not much we can do since they
are not married.

Anyways, we also had a trunk or treat the other night and it was so
fun! Our trunk was the best trunk in the whole ward. We had all these
scary decorations and the best part was that we bought dry ice, so
there was like smoke coming out of the back of our car. It was
amazing. We have another trunk or treat this week which should be just
as good.

I think I am really starting to gain a love for all the people here in
Portland. I really have the desire to help them. It is awesome. I just
want them all to find the joys of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is
something I wish I had before I left. I think back on all the people
from school and various other places that really could've benefited
from this gospel. I know how hard it can be to share the gospel with
friends, but I now know more fully the blessings that come from living
the gospel. Don't be afraid to share the things that make you happy
because I know that this gospel can help everyone. Thank you everyone
for your support and love! Have a great week this week! Adios!

Elder Navarro

#8

Hello again everybody!

We have had a pretty great week this week. It is really nice to
actually be a little settled in here. It's starting to actually feel
like home and I don't think that is because I am not too far from
home. Anyways, this week we have been pretty busy. We have been
visiting this couple named Vanessa and Salvador who have two kids and
want to be baptized. The only problem is that they are not married and
they are not sure if they want to get married right now. I think we
have convinced Salvador to propose this week though. We are setting up
a super nice dinner date for them this week and Salvador said he would
propose there! Haha it should be really fun.

Every week, we go to this senior home and play board games with them
for service. It is a lot of fun. This week, though, this lady brought
in her pet alligator named Seymour and I got to hold him! It was
pretty much the coolest thing ever!

I also had the opportunity to go on an exchange with our district
leader, Elder Norris. It was a lot of fun except I learned how rude
the white people are. We got a few doors slammed in our faces haha. I
though it was pretty funny. The Hispanics don't usually slam the door,
they just respectfully say they are not interested! Thank goodness I'm
not an English missionary haha just kidding. The English missionaries
are super cool. There is also a chance that I get changed to an
English missionary at some point during my mission. It happens to
quite a few Spanish elders but we will see.

Anyways, I hope everyone is doing good. Have a great week! Don't
forget to read your scriptures this week! Adios!

Elder Navarro