Jungle Mom Road

Finally got over my cold this week, and for some reason I've been a lot hungrier than normal. Hopefully that means I'm still growing and I'll get taller by the end of my mission! There's always hope.

Also, it's been pretty hot this week, making me nervous for what this summer holds in store for us.

Had some more crazy wind storms this week, which means our ears and hair got full of dirt and sand. Gotta love the desert.

The companion's been doing a lot better, and has been in higher spirits. We are working hard, and don't really have arguments or fights or anything, but I wouldn't really consider him a friend, but it's okay. We are working hard and working through our hardships together.

Had some really cool experiences with seeing the fruits of our labors on Sunday, namely, one of our investigators (who has a mom who is a little paranoid and didn't want her to come to church) was able to come to church after we finally tracked down a family in the ward with a daughter her age, and when we saw a less active family come to church for the first time since I've been here after we told them when our church services start when we went into their store to buy a pen for my companion! Those were all really satisfying, especially after last week and the fact that the first half of this week was pretty long too. But we made it through, and good times always follow the rough ones!

We were able to take one family on a tour of the church this week, since they are really wanting to learn more about the church but are a little reluctant to come to a church meeting for a variety of reasons. It went really well, and afterwards, they bought a giant thing of cotton candy for all of us to share, and a pizza! Missionary work baby.

Got some random pictures this week, since some of them are from last week when I didn't have time to attach pictures. There is a family in the ward who makes Piñatas as a little side business, who also have a son with autism who has a hard time in church sometimes, so it was special to be able to make the connection with them, since my little brother Bridger also has autism. Also, there's a street in our area that's named "Madreselva" which roughly translates into "Jungle Mom" which cracks me up every time. Also found the legs -- just the legs -- of a fighting chicken on the street.

Nothing too crazy to report from this week. Felt a little homesick at times, and had a couple days where all of our appointments fell through, but we're still making the best of it and being productive, and I'm still making sure to be weird and dance in people's doorways when they don't answer and sing songs while we're walking from appointment to appointment.

Also found some other weird things and signs that looked funny.

Really realized how important the Book of Mormon is to me this week. My companion likes to talk with some of the physical proof of how the things in it happened how they're described, but things like that don't grow my testimony. The things that grow my testimony are learning from the stories that are in it, realizing the peace that comes into my life when I read, and just how the promises in it are true and help to grow our faith. Love that book.

Love you guys! Stay healthy and alive because I'm selfish and want to see you all again someday, and because it's good for your own well being and happiness and stuff

-Elder Pedros

D&C 50:

23 And that which doth not ^aedify is not of God 

(aka everything that edifies and builds you up is of God, and is good)