Spring is finally here!

Family,

Hey! So unfortunately, we didn't have the baptism. We had a pretty
crazy week with Juan. On Tuesday, I went on exchange with Elder Dunn
in Tualatin so i wasn't in our area. Elder Thatcher went on taught
Juan that day and apparently it did not go well. They taught tithing
and Juan really didn't want to pay it. He doesn't make very much money
so it's understandable, but he eventually said he was good with the
Catholic Church. Well, the next day we went and taught him again and
tried to get everything cleared up with tithing, and it went really
well. He read his scriptures the night before and he felt that tithing
was a commandment from God. It was insane! The problem now is that he
didn't come to church yesterday and we haven't been able to get ahold
of of him since. We rescheduled his baptism for this Saturday, but we
will see what happens.

So Yes Brother Callister came and it was amazing! I didn't realize he
was currently the Sunday school general president for the church. I
knew he was a seventy but I didn't realize he currently had a calling.
He taught the Plan of Salvation in a way I have never seen before. He
taught the entire plan in detail only using scriptures from the Bible.
It was incredible. No wonder he is the creator of Teaching in the
Saviors Way Sunday school program. It was kinda sad too because
President Ballard missed his sons wedding to go to the meeting.

That's crazy that you guys met elder Martin. Well, I guess Brayden now
haha. He is a funny guy. I was just talking to him a couple of Sunday
ago and now he's over there. Haha. Anyways, I went on two exchanges
this past week with some missionaries in our Spanish zone and it was a
lot of fun. We are trying to go on two more this week but we are
probably going to be too busy. We have interviews with President
Ballard tomorrow and then Elder Ballard is coming on Friday. It's
crazy.

Anyways, I'm glad all is well with you! It's getting close to general
conference. Woohoo! I'm getting pumped! Have a great week! Love ya!

6105 SW Bonita Rd. Apt. K305
Lake Oswego OR 97305

Elder Navarro

March

Hello!

I don't think I've been in more meetings or on the phone more until this week. We have been insanely busy. I'll start with the good news. We have an investigator named Juan who is getting baptized on Saturday. He had to have an exception interview on Friday with someone in the mission presidency which went really well and he is ready to get baptized. He is super awesome! He is 81 years old and has lived a crazy life, but he has changed his life so much! It's amazing. We are really excited for him!

Also, the was amazing to be back in the branch yesterday. I was surprised how many people were actually excited to see me back. I didn't think that many people would remember me but they do. It was sooo great to be able to see some familiar faces and also some new ones. The branch here has changed quite a bit since I was here last time, but it still has the same feeling to it. I love it. 

I got to go to my first MLC this week as well which was pretty fun. I got to go to the Ballards house for the first time in my mission which was pretty awesome. We had breakfast at their house and then went to a church building close by and had the meeting. It was basically another zone conference but with just the leadership of the mission. We discussed a lot of problems in the mission and how we can overcome them. It was a really good meeting. It was long but really enjoyable. There are some really cool things coming in the next couple weeks. First of all, Tad R. Callister is coming to talk to us on Saturday. Then, the following Saturday, Elder Ballard is coming to visit again, so that all should be pretty uplifting. 

Anyways, I'm glad to hear all is going well. Happy Birthday again Brandon. Hope it was fun! Hope you had a good time at State Basketball. Too bad Vallivue lost. I love you guys. Have a great week!

Elder Navarro

Taller

Well Hello.

It's been a while! I thought I would give you all a break from having
to read some boring missionary emails for a while. Just kidding. I
know these emails are like the highlight of your weeks. ;) All jokes
aside, I have been doing really well! This transfer has gone by really
fast, and I will be leaving the Tigard area. It's hard to leave
because I have been here for so long, but I think I'm ready to move
on. I will be joining Elder Thatcher in the Beaverton area. I will be
returning to the branch that I started my mission in, so I'm really
excited to see some familiar faces when I get there!

In other news, we found some pretty solid investigators this week for
the new elders that are coming in. One of them is a guy named Miguel,
and he absolutely loves the Book of Mormon. He asks us every time we
go over if we can read another chapter with him. He is super solid
guy. He is a little afraid to veer away from his Catholic roots, but
I'm sure he will come around.

Anyways, I hope all is well with each and every one of you! Have a
great week! :)

Elder Navarro

Colors

Hello!

This last week we had transfers once again. Elder Cornwall got
transferred to Canby and is a zone leader for the Oregon City zone.
Surprisingly, I am staying in Tigard for another transfer! I am
actually pretty excited to be staying here especially because we are
having a baptism this Saturday! Alexis is getting baptized! Woo! He is
really excited to be getting baptized! It has been really cool to be
able to see him change from the beginning of when we met him up until
now. He is a really great guy!

Anyways, my new companion is Elder Curzon! He is a really cool elder
from Nebraska. Something interesting about him is that since he has
been on his mission, his family moved to Nicaragua, so he will be
returning home to Nicaragua! Also, he goes home in five weeks. This
will be his last area, and I will be his last companion.

I hope you are all doing well! Thanks to all of you for being so
supportive! I love you all! Bye!

Elder Navarro

Tiptoe

Hello friends!

Hopefully, everyone is having an equally as great first weeks of 2017
as I am having. Tigard is the place to be right now! The highlight is
that one of our investigators will be getting baptized on the 28th!
His name is Alexis and we have taught him twice now, and he is sooo
solid. He is from El Salvador, but he has been in the states for over
20 years. He has come to church a couple of times and he loves it. He
already has a pretty strong testimony of the gospel! He is amazing!

Earlier this week, we were out visiting some members, and we met this
old guy that was very excited to see us. He invited us in his house
and eventually tells us that he is a really famous singer at senior
centers. At first, I didn't believe him, but then I made the mistake
of telling him to prove it. He then uncovers these monstrous speakers
that he has and starts blasting some music. He goes on to sing the
entirety of the song "That's Life" by Frank Sinatra, and let me tell
you, he went so hard. It was incredible! It was also one of the
funniest things I have ever seen. I was dying.

Anyways, that's the fun story I have for the week! I hope you all
enjoy the cold weather! Stay safe! Bye!

Elder Navarro

Trying out some hispanic "Vaca Negra" Coke with Milk

Caution

Merry New Year!

How's everybody's 2017 so far? These last couple weeks have been
amazing for us. Christmas was amazing. Our branch did a really cool
Christmas program. It was really nice to go to church on Christmas
Day. It made it really easy to remember what we celebrate! For the
rest of the day, we hung out with some other missionaries and had
dinner. It was a pretty relaxed Christmas. I actually really enjoyed
it.

From a work aspect, we are starting to find people. The members are
really working hard to get us referrals which is great. One of the
members of our branch has brought his friend to church two Sundays in
a row and we have lesson with him on Tuesday. It's going to be great!
I'm really excited! Anyways, I hope you all had wonderful holidays!
Have a great week!

Elder Navarro

The Rain

Merry Christmas!

I have really been feeling the Christmas spirit this week! First off,
we had our mission Christmas party. It was a blast! I got to see a lot
of my mission buddies that I haven't seen for a little while. We also
had our branch Christmas party the next day. I have come to realize
that the Filipino and Hispanic cultures have a lot in common when it
comes to parties. They are both loud unorganized chaos. I love it. Oh
and lots of food as well. Can't forget the food. I really felt at home
with the branch party. :)

Actively participating in the Light the World campaign has really
brought me closer to my Savior. By trying to replicate many things
that he did in his life, I have been able to feel of the saviors love.
It is something that I think everyone should feel around Christmas
time. If you have been following the advent calendar on Mormon.org, I
hope it is something that you have sought and felt as well. If not,
it's not too late to start! ;)

I love you all! Enjoy the time that you get to spend with family this
week! Have a merry Christmas! Be like Christ this Christmas!

Elder Navarro