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!! 

Week 65

Just pics this week!

Zoo trip

Saying goodbye to my old district

My new comp

Week 64

Well, another week has just flown by and the miracles never stop pouring in.  I literally feel like I cannot keep up with all the things the lord has in store.  I just can't wait to get out that door each day.  Literally everyday is a miracle.  The people that we are teaching, the relationships we are making, the members in this branch, I have to ask myself everyday, how did I get to be so lucky to have the best areas and the best companions.  So transfers is this week.  I am sad to see Elder Scott go, but he just became the District Leader for our district.  He will be serving in the northern part of the Stake so he still will go to the same sacrament meeting but I will be with a different companion.  After being with him for a total of 6 months, we have defently learned to grow, rely and trust upon one another.  I feel like I am not going to know what to do without him! haha But this area has been seeing so many miracles that they have decided to make it the Zone leader area for the south part of Baltimore stake.  So Elder Southwick and I now have a new responsibility.  I am so excited to serve with Elder Southwick here in Baltimore.  I cannot wait for the people we are going to find and the relationships that we continue making.  I know that the Lord always tests us to stretch us in the ways that he would like us to become.  I am so grateful for that and am looking forward to finding out, what challenges lay in store for us in this area in Baltimore.  

Last night we were able to see an amazing miracle as we brought Felix to an appointment while it was pouring rain.  The man didn't open the door so I had this thought to call him.  He usually doesn't answer so I thought noo but then the thought came again, so I did.  IT turned out that he was just around the corner!!  We walked and found him in the rain and walked with him back to his house.  Felix and Enrique will be friends for ever!!!  It was a miracle because after we taught the lesson, Felix was able to stay and become great friends with him.  They are excited about learning and Enrique told Felix that everytime we come, he just loves the way he feels.  But they are not ready to change religions yet..  We can see that in that moment if we wouldn't of called him, we wouldn't of met him and wouldn't of established yet another wonderful relationship.  The lord works in so many mysterious ways.  I love it!  I hope you all have a wonderful week and put your faith in the lord to guide you thru hard trials.  He will always be there but may not always answer within our time period.  Have a great week

Elder Cornejo