That Missionary Life

Here is a link to my google photos album, you can join it and see photos from my mission. Comment something funny si quieres :) https://photos.app.goo.gl/ BMgVdqVCuya1nsUu6 Here are some quotes/scriptures/poems I've stumbled upon as of late: "The Son of God suffered unto the death, not that men might not suffer, but that their sufferings might be like His." - The Problem of Pain by C. S. Lewis " Had I but serv’d my God with half the zeal I served my king, He would not in mine age Have left me naked to mine enemies." - King Henry the Eighth by William Shakespeare "a mighty change was also wrought in their hearts, and they humbled themselves and put their trust in the true and living God. And behold, they were faithful until the end; therefore they were saved"  - Alma 5:13 "Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love. Here’s my heart, O take and seal it; Seal it for Thy courts above." - Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing by ...

Another transfer has come and gone, but for this one I won't be staying in Guayama. Honestly, I'm a sucker for a toxic relationship and kinda miss that place. Come back, Guayama, we can work through this  The good news is Caguas is going to be just as toxic. My second night, I had a gun pulled on me! Well, maybe not pulled on me, but just "brandished" in my direction. Very quickly declared my missionary purpose (I am here to help you get closer to Christ, NOT vice versa, if you catch my drift), and he wasn't even interested. Tranquillo, tigre! July 20th, 2026 Saying goodbye was hard, I spent the last 4 months in Guayama and met some pretty cool people. I did have the privelege of being invited to Mario's birthday party on my last day, we got to sing happy birthday and his mom even got him a cake. It was a very exclusive party, just us missionaries, him, and his mom, were invited. And they got me a Borricua hat, so it's official now.  I'm in a trio now....

July 6th, 2026 "Real friends, how many of us?" - Ye If you happen to find yourself in Guayama, Puerto Rico (it's been called the ugliest place in pr!) and you swing by the plaza on a Saturday evening, the odds are in your favor that Pentecostal preachers will be out in full glory, shouting into a cheap mic, plugged into a cheaper (but louder) speaker.  We always make sure to thank them for their faith and their work before we go elsewhere. Anyone preaching their beliefs (for the right reasons) is admirable, and we thought we had quite a friendly relationship going! We love to see interfaith relationship building around here :) Well, a reliable source told us that when we aren't around, they tell everyone "don't talk to those white guys with the ties," and make fun of us.  In all honesty, I'm disappointed. Because that is not what Christ would do. If Jesus Christ knew I wasn't going to the "correct church" (a concept they ironically don...

June 29, 2026 Que lo que? We've got a new mission president now! But his name is still "Paul H." He landed last week, and has hit the ground running. We had zone conference and interviews with him on Thursday, and true to form, I made a terrible first impression! I was on an exchange with Elder Mancía and we were in charge of getting to the church early to set up for ZC. So it's 8am, I'm looking like a bum in shorts and slides, haven't showered, already sweaty because the humidity doesn't quit in pr. And our new mission president and his wife pull into the parking lot, and see us in all of our unprepared glory. Rough introduction, but he was nice.  After saying hi, we SPED home and got ready as quick as possible (sometime Puerto Rico driving is nice, the speed limits are very optional). Interview and ZC went well though, hopefully he forgets about our first interaction.  Other than that, it's been a cool couple weeks. We put our friend Michael on date ...

June 8, 2026 Wepa, Still in Guayama and still with Elder Gillins. Walking everywhere, there is so much humidity and heat. My brain started vibrating the other day, I'm pretty sure I'm melting from the inside out. We did get chinese food in exchange for helping paint a fence, what a bargain! We have a new hater, Luis. Everytime we see him run by we say "Luis! We love you man!" And he flips us off and curses us out as he continues to run. I know he goes to bed sething that there are two white kids in "his" town.  Lotta crazy people out and about in this town. I think the heat is getting to them. It's getting to me too. My comp refered to this place as the "armpit of Puerto Rico" which I have to agree. It is hot and smells bad and is so humid. Sometimes all that keeps me going is thinking "God sees effort and I will be blessed for this." I hope so at least. Elder Heaton left. My goat. The funniest missionary I've ever met, now he...

June 1st 2026 "This is more than just a moment" - ¥$ I hope everyone had a great May, it's good to be back! Somehow this transfer is almost over, tomorrow night I'll find out if I'm staying or going. I wouldn't mind staying at all, I like my companion and the pueblo of Guayama needs all the help it can get (se llama el "Pueblo de las Brujas" por una razón, there is darkness here). We also get a new mission president this transfer, he's also from Fairfax, VA so he'll probably be really cool. This was the highest number of baptisms in one week we have EVER seen in this mission. The work is hastening! A couple weeks back Elder Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles visited our mission!  2/12 collected Hightlight of the month is when I was formally invited to a freemasonry event (!!) We went to the Masonry Lodge, talked with several members and got to tour the upstairs ritual room or whatever you call it (I was only slightly worried I would...