Consejo De Lideres

 (As we were traveling, we kept stopping because of traffic, I put my feet out of the window to relax and I saw the reflection of my shoes from the little mirror and I realized something, I need new shoes!! )
So I bought new shoes :) 

well, what a week. Today is Monday and we are having Pday, but its not our pday day, then what is going on!? We had 
some change of plans this week...I'll try to write a little about how our week went. So we start on Monday. We had our regular office things in the morning, a bunch of meetings making sure we have this week planned out and everything, more than anything planning for the next day. On Tuesday we had Consejo de Lideres. But, usually this is no big deal, but this time it was. Historically Leader’sCouncil is just another Zone Conference, but just for the leaders of the mission. They show up, we start and have it in the sacrament room, about 3-4 companionships, including us, teach a class. The leaders take notes, and are trying to stay awake, and then they go back to their areas, the next day they have a small reunion with their zone and share what they learn. Thats how it has been ever since I've gotten here. Its not much of a council is it? Soooo, my companion and I have been planning and meditating for a long time now, ready to make some changes. And so we tried to plan every little detail. So we were driving all over the city on Monday buying the things that needed. Not only that, but as I may have mentioned before, ever since I have gotten in the mission there has been this tradition where we ALWAYS always, always (Did I mention, Always?) had pizza for lunch anytime the mission ever got together. Pizza from Little Ceasars. Cheap and easy, and usually cold. And soooo… once again, we've been planning for change. We found a member who is cater for the Marriott Hotels, she invited us for dinner so that we can sample the food, and wow! It was perfect. So we planned all of that. Now, just imagine how anxious we were for the missionaries to see all of the surprises that we have for them. This is what we did: We set up the tables in the cultural hall in the church in a horseshoe shape (because I am a cowboy…) and because it would help the missionaries feel like they are actually in a council. 

A council is where you get together and you talk, and counsel each other, and discuss ways to change or improve.  

I think that has been what we have been missing in the mission. We even bought table clothes to have a better setting, and we had assigned seats, each with a little plaque with their names, and a water bottle, and some chocolate treats so that they stay awake! Haha 

At first a lot of the missionaries were shocked when they realized that no one received an assignment to teach a class! Except for us. 

 The rest of the time we were going to use to just talk as a mission, and that is exactly what we did and we accomplished a lot. 

 From what the missionaries told us, they loved it! They loved the change and they feel like they actually got something out of it. 

 President Chase was so happy with all of the cool changes we made, and so was the mission. So that was Tuesday, we have been preparing so much for that and we were finally finished! 

 And then what did we do after that?

 Start preparing for the Interviews classes for the Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, and for the rest of the change with the different zones. We actually have to take President and his wife all around our mission so that he can learn where all of the stake centers are, and we have to go teach our classes to them as well. So now we are at Wednesday, we finish our classes, and before we were going to leave to our area, our President says that we have to work on some 'stuff' after he gets done with the missionaries's interviews. You know what they means right? More emergency changes. Some missionary went home, and through the whole system off. And so we had to plan all of that, and do a lot of research to make sure that everything works out okay. Thursday, interviews. And then after that we had to go pick up a missionary from the East and bring him back to the office for an interview with President. Friday interviews. And on Friday after the interviews we went on divisions with Villa Olimpica, my second area! I showed Elder Morales around because he recently got to that area. I am so surprised that members/ investigators still remember me!! Its the best feeling in the world!!!!!! When you knock on their door, they look out and see missionaries at their door, and still showing no expression, and then they see me and they say What are you doing here?!?! :D So I visited some old investigators and presented them to the missionaries, some were still not interested, and for some of them, they had that spark again and wanted to try again and keep learning. We had pretty cool experience happen with that. When I first arrived at the Villa Olimpica, Elder Agren took me to our first appointment which was with Katherine, we taught her for about 2 months straight and no matter how hard I tried, she would not go to church!! And then she left to La Ceiba and we lost communication. We visited her on Friday, we talked for a while, and she said that she will go to church on sunday for an hour. (Of course, ive heard this alottt already and I didnt exactly believe her.) On sunday after church, Elder Morales sends me a text message telling me that she actually went to church on her own, and stayed all three hours!! and that she loved it and wants to go back! WHAT?! There are soo many things to learn from that. Anyway, as we were on divisions on friday, I received a phone call in the middle of a lesson say that tomorrow morning we will be going to the south and then all of the way to the east again! From Langue (which is pretty much right next to the El Salvador border) to Moroceli, which is the opposite direction! So that was our saturday, from 6 in the morning in the truck to getting home at 8. Yayyy! But, no matter what we are doing, my companion and I always try to have a fun time out of whatever! So we actually had a blast!

On Sunday, we actually invited President Chase came to our ward at 8:00. More than anything so that the members can see and meet him, and so that he can say something like “Sorry these missionaries have been out of action, they have been taking care of me!” And so then we dont have to do some much explaining to our investigators and the members! Haha and he did a great job. We are having our Pday today so that we can finally relax. Its been a great week.
 We are going to have another action packed week this week. 
Stay tuned!