A Haunting in Corocol

October 5, 2015

Hey guys,

This was another great week here in Progreso. It has been kinda hectic and spiritual on a few different levels.

To start off, we had a Fellowshipping Night (Noche de Hermanamiento) on Wednesday night. We normally have about 15-20 people there, and 1 or 2 investigators if we luck out and a family brings someone. This week, it was our turn to give the class, so we put together a Jeopardy game about the scriptures and living prophets, but we really weren't expecting it to be too great. When we showed up, there were like 6 whole people there. My companion and I were pretty bummed, but then one family shows up in their little bus, so there are fifteen more, we can do this. Then another family shows up with another 10 or so, and 4 of our investigators. It took about all I had not to start jumping up and down from the excitement. The other missionaries in our ward showed up right before we started with another of there investigators as well. We ended up having around 40 people in the meeting, with 8 investigators. The game was so much fun and everyone participated. The bishop came and pulled another Elder and I aside and asked us to come to the Ward Council Meeting (which we have been asking to attend for weeks) and told us that we would be making plans to have members work even more with us. It was awesome.

So this week we went on exchanges with another companionship in our district. I went to an area called Corocol which (sorry mom) is probably one of the more dangerous areas in our zone, and my companion stayed behind to hold down the fort. However, what scared me most about going to Corocol wasn't the people in the street, it's the house! There are some pretty crazy stories about the house in Corocol including little girls in the pila out back, and something that tips over dressers. Pretty intense stuff, and I didn't want to be a part of it. And I wasn't. We did hear some stuff, but it all came from outside the house. Haha. The exchanges were fun, we didn't get mugged, and I can now say that I survived a night in the Casa de Corocol.

After the adventure in Corocol, I went back to Progreso and we went to work. On Saturday morning we got up and went to General Conference. I love General Conference. I love listening to God's servants bear testimony of Jesus Christ. I thought some of the things that stuck out the most was the importance of gaining a testimony, and then not letting go of it. I also saw that they focused a lot on the importance of mothers and just women in general. I know that all of the Elders were missing our moms while Elder Holland was talking. I think one of my favorite talks had to be either President Nelson or Elder Bednar. I also loved listening to the new Apostles that were called. You can already see the great power in these men.

This next Saturday we should be having a baptism. These last two changes have been difficult, and we are about to start seeing the fruits of our labors. No one has baptized in my area since March. 7 months is a long time without a baptism, and we have been blessed to have found this guy. We also have a date for the 17th and another for the 24th, but they are going to need a little more work. This next Wednesday (the 14th) is transfer day, and I am really hoping and praying that I don't get transferred. I have worked really hard to get this area up and running, and it would be disappointing to lose out, but you never know. I'll go where He sends me.

I hope you all have a great week. Enjoy your cold weather.

Elder Aldrich