Week 71

Wow what a crazy week.  We were all over the place!  We have been seeing so many miracles!!  This past week we were talking with our investigator named Jonathon.  He is 16 and his brother Joel was baptized a couple of years ago.  He actually just went with the youth group to Palmyra to see where Joseph Smith had the first vision.  Afterward he told us, "I was praying to know if I should be baptized and I felt this excitement of emotion in my soul.  I know this is what the lord wants me to do.  Can you teach me how to pray?"  I looked to my companion and was like, there is no way that just happened!! haha  Miracles happen everyday, we can hardly keep up! Arly, the daughter of Maria Isabel desires to come unto the fold as well and we are just meeting new people from all over the world everyday!  

We met this new family from Equador that Alvin and Briggit introduced us too and they made us pancakes!! I was so happy.  It has been soo long since we've eaten pancakes!! 

So crazy Baltimore story of the week, we got a call from Jose Gotay, they guy I taught from Puerto Rico when I was in Frederick last February.. It turned out his girlfriend who we had taught as well came down with some pretty bad cancer... She was admitted at the hospital in Baltimore and we went to visit her.. Long story short she had the surgery and is fine now but we liteally walked all over Baltimore trying to find where she was to give her a blessing... On our way to he hospital we find a guy sitting outside on a few stairs and he looks like he is about to pass out.  Then we see blood all over the ground surrounding him...  There was so much blood in on his arm and the stairs were just covered.. We later realized that he had pulled an IV out of his arm and was bleeding out right in front of the Hospital.. So we went inside and they were like oh ya he is fine he was just here,,, then we said.. actually their is blood everywhere!!!!  I guess it was a good thing he was so close to the hospital.. haha I am so grateful for the plan of salvation and the fortune that I was able to be born to a good family with people surrounding me.  I ask myself everyday how did I get so lucky!!  Anyway that just about raps it up.  Hope you all have a great week!

Elder Cornejo

Week 70

Well there goes another week.  This week went by soo quickly!  We were literally in meetings everyday this past week!!  I can't believe it.  Tomorrow we have to instruct in Zone Training and we have barely had a second to breath!!  I got sick this last week so was dying in our meeting on Friday that lasted from 9:00am to 4:30pm in Frederick.  It was so awesome to be able to go back there for the day but sadly I didn't get to see any of the people.  I love them so much!  I am so grateful I servered there for so long.  Baltimore has been a trip this last week.  Nothing too crazy happened just the typical leaner falling out of their seat on the metro... what do they even take??  This last week was Elder Southwick's (my comp's )Birthday!!  Saturday we had so many ppl that we have been teaching come and celebrate his birthday with Carne Asada, and all that delicious hispacic food.  He even got the tres leches cake!  So fun!! I'll have to send pictures!!  but most spiritual event that happened this week would have to be a tie between the baptismal interview I conducted with Hno Ventura's brother from Frederick and the family home evening we had at Alvin and Briggit's house!!  It is probably one of the most amazing things to see the people that we have just taught and enterered into the waters of baptism feel and watch the holy ghost change their lives and see them turn around and do that same thing in helping their friends to do the same thing.  They see that truth light and happiness that the gospel of jesus Christ brings into their life and they invite those that want to hear it into their homes and to feel of the difference in spirit that is there.  IT is such an amazing and powerful witness that this truly is the lord's work and we are just instruments in his hands.  I am so grateful to be a missionary and all the connections, friends and experiences I have had to truly know that this is the truth.  I love you.  Have a great week!

Elder Cornejo

Week 69

My crazy companion and ex companion 

Wow this week went by so fast!  I can't belive another transfer cycle has come and gone.  The good news is, we get to stay here in Baltimore for another transfer!!  At the end of this transfer I will have been serving in Baltimore for 7 months!  How did I get so lucky!!  Well we are teaching Maria Isabel's daughter,  We have set her to be baptized on the 13 of August.  You won't believe the change that has taken place in her life.  She is just the most amazing girl.  She is 11 years old but super smart.  Next we are working with the rest of the family and praying that they desire to get married and baptized.  So many miracles here in Baltimore..  

So this week we decided to join the sister of Maria Isabel in her church.  It was a penacostal church.  Let me just say it was the best thing ever.  I will admit it was a little hard on the ears but it was a party!!  Elder Southwick and I just sat there with gaping mouths as we watched people dancing and this one 5 year old boy rolling down the isle.  Maybe he was "caught up in the spirit" as well?  Ramona (our inv) just clapped and had the best time so that was pretty cool.  She just loves to know about god... I feel really bad tho because when they started playing the piano and this guy started singing everyone started going absolutely crazy.  They were dancing hands in the air.  Then we saw this one lady who had her hands in the air and was just doing circles...There were 4 ppl surrounding her so she didn't hit any ppl or walls.. she was "caught up in the spirit"  He was literally running aound hitting ppl.. I was laughing sooo hard I couldn't help myself, but apparently it was supposed to be serious and it was a very sacred thing because she had "received the gift of the holy ghost".  So naturally I had to share the scripture from the Acts 8 that states: 

 14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

 15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

 16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

 17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

 18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

 19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

One can only receive the holy ghost if it was received by the authority of god with the laying on of hands after baptism.  So...

We will see if they want us to come back... but man what an experience of a lifetime.  We have been seeing so many great things happen and there is so much to do.  I hope you all have a great week. 

Week 69

My crazy companion and ex companion 

Wow this week went by so fast!  I can't belive another transfer cycle has come and gone.  The good news is, we get to stay here in Baltimore for another transfer!!  At the end of this transfer I will have been serving in Baltimore for 7 months!  How did I get so lucky!!  Well we are teaching Maria Isabel's daughter,  We have set her to be baptized on the 13 of August.  You won't believe the change that has taken place in her life.  She is just the most amazing girl.  She is 11 years old but super smart.  Next we are working with the rest of the family and praying that they desire to get married and baptized.  So many miracles here in Baltimore..  

So this week we decided to join the sister of Maria Isabel in her church.  It was a penacostal church.  Let me just say it was the best thing ever.  I will admit it was a little hard on the ears but it was a party!!  Elder Southwick and I just sat there with gaping mouths as we watched people dancing and this one 5 year old boy rolling down the isle.  Maybe he was "caught up in the spirit" as well?  Ramona (our inv) just clapped and had the best time so that was pretty cool.  She just loves to know about god... I feel really bad tho because when they started playing the piano and this guy started singing everyone started going absolutely crazy.  They were dancing hands in the air.  Then we saw this one lady who had her hands in the air and was just doing circles...There were 4 ppl surrounding her so she didn't hit any ppl or walls.. she was "caught up in the spirit"  He was literally running aound hitting ppl.. I was laughing sooo hard I couldn't help myself, but apparently it was supposed to be serious and it was a very sacred thing because she had "received the gift of the holy ghost".  So naturally I had to share the scripture from the Acts 8 that states: 

 14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

 15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

 16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

 17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

 18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

 19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

One can only receive the holy ghost if it was received by the authority of god with the laying on of hands after baptism.  So...

We will see if they want us to come back... but man what an experience of a lifetime.  We have been seeing so many great things happen and there is so much to do.  I hope you all have a great week. 

Week 68

Well this week was great!!  Ok funniest thing happened last night.  We were with the Familia Arismendi and they have the parents and then 3 kids, 2 of which are sealed in the temple.  We had the opportunity to read Mosiah 2:41 with them. 

 It states: 

41 And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.

We decided to hold a testimony meeting and ask which commandment have you seen bring this state of never-ending happiness into their life,  Well after the majority had testified, Ketty who is 3 years old right in the middle of her mom's testimony as she is crying and testifying of the temple and the love she has for her children she, the little girl picks up 2 egg halves and puts them to her chest and starts walking around saying, "look now I have a chest like mommy"  

Everyone just about died laughing... what timing!!!  Pete the father says, "I have never been more proud of my little girl"  The incoence.. :)

But as we continued to talk it seemed like as each member testified of a certain commandment, each person had realized that even though that commandment was hard to live in the moment, it really had brought immense joy into their lives.  Then it hit me.  It really is a privilege to be able to live the commandments of the lord.  Paying tithing can be considered a privilege because it really does bring that happiness into our live when we are able to see the blessings of the lord.  Serving a mission walking in the hot sun and being rejected and lied to numerous times is a privilege.  Why?  Because that one moment for that one person that excepts this message and lets god change their heart forever is one of the most amazing blessings I have ever seen.  Watching people have the privilege of going to the temple after keeping the commandments of the lord really is the purpose of this life and to bring others there.  I am soo grateful for this privilege I have to serve my lord, and my father because it truly is a privilege.  I hope and encourage all to look at their priesthood duties as so.  I know this message really brings joy into ppls lives and I am so grateful for the ppl I have had to share it with and watch that never ending happiness really come into their life when they choose to follow the commandment of baptism.  It is such a blessing and we are so blessed.  I love you all so very much.  Have a wonderful week.

Elder Cornejo

I think we have way too much fun!  From Hiking to the temple, to encouraging the youth serve missions to helping people experience the most joy one can ever experience in this life!!  Missions are so awesome!

Week 67

I literally have zero time to write anything anymore.  We have been so busy.  I love it.  I can't even remember what we did last week!  Yesterday, we had some of the most amazing experiences that I have ever had in my mission.  We put Arly on date!  She chose the 13 of August to be baptized.  I pray that I can stay in Baltimore for that wonderful day.  Also, we had the most amazing lesson with Arly's and this morning.  She is from the Dominican Republic and she is so smart and has so much faith.  It really is amazing how much the Lord prepares his people.  She literally quoted genesis to us this morning and then when we started talking about Adam and Eve, she quoted 2 Nefi 2: 21-25 without ever reading it.  She just felt that if Adam hadn't eaten of the fruit, we wouldn't of been able to use our full agency, so he had to eat of the fruit so we could choose between good and evil.  I was absolutely shocked.  Then she started talking about how she wants us to help her family and she is just so amazing.  After that we started talking about temples.  Wow  it hit me for the first time today how truly important the temple is.  Rudy and Saida called me up this last week and told me that they had finished the temple prep class and are preparing to go thru the temple to be sealed as a family in February.  I look at the blessings of my mission and when I was there in front of Ramona, the spirit opened my understanding to really the reason that we baptize is so that people can go thru the temple and feel of that happiness.  Never in my life have I felt such a happiness than when I was in front of Ramona, testifying of Rudy and Saida being able to be baptized then in the future go thru the temple to be seald as a family.  LAst week I was trying to figure out what brings true happiness.  In that moment as I held the temple picture infront of Ramona and her family that I truly was able to understand our purpose in this life and the pure joy that alma talks about in the scriptures.  I have never felt anything like it in my life.  I am so grateful for this mission and the way it changes lives.  I love you.  Have a great week

Elder Cornejo

Week 66

We went to the temple this week!!  Saturday and Sunday!!  It was sooo amazing!!  I seriously love these people so much!!