Eathquake!!

Well this has been an interesting week! 
First of all...the eathquake. Picture this, we get home from a long days work and we get home and get done planning... getting ready for bed, then all of sudden I hear things shaking... (I didnt even know what an eathquake feels like!) and so I look down and what do i see? the floor beneath me literally moving!! It was crazy! It was only like 5-7 seconds but it was wierd! haha I was on the phone with some other elders and then (I was laying down) I felt it again! We live on the 3rd floor of apartments and when I looked down the window everyonnne was outside freaking out haha! This has been an interesting week for the people in my area because of the earthquake and there have been a bunch of riots from students to the unvitstity UNAH. So a bunch of days we see alot of of students relaxing at their houses because la universidad esta tomada. Which is better for us because that means more lessons! :) This week has been raining like crazy too! Like we get soaked like crazy everyday pretty much, but its okay because its a change from all the heat. 

Do you guys remember our investigator Maria? the one that I helped with the jug of water? well now she is progressing like crazy! She told her friend Carmen (the other investigator) that she wants to get baptized! We havent been able to talk to her about it to much because she has been on vacation, but thats our plan for today! Im so excited! I just hope I dont get changes rigtht before her baptism of something, because the 22 is changes! Yikes! Time flies by! 

Yesterday we had a pretty cool experience, we have a member that is pretty cool, well theyre all pretty cool...but he wanted to come out and work with us and we said thats fine! So he came out with us and lucky enough.... none, absolutely none of our investigators were home or anything. I was really depressed about that because he was going to help us. But we kept looking, we ended up going to the 28 de Marzo and visit a less active, whos wife is an invstigator, and it was just what was planned by our Heavenly Father. I say that because she is not our first priority out of all of our investigators but we visited her this day and it was just what she needed! She was really stressing out this day because of some problems at the house, and mostly because her husband hasnt been home lately. But the member that we had really said some things that we missionaries may not have thought to say. It was a very spiritual lesson. And then after that we kept looking for our investigators with no luck. So we visited a less active. And we wanted to show her some Mormon messages that I have on my USB, but lucky enough, none of the videos were compatible with her TV, so we watched the only video I had that was compatible about the Santa Cena, which we have never seen before actually, but took the risk lol By the end of the video she really opened up to us saying that really wants to go to church and partake of the sacrement but she has pena to ask someone for a ride because she lives so far. But!! The member that we had with us immediately offered to take care to church, and back home! So that was the exact video that she NEEDED to see, and the member that NEEDED to talk with her. As soon as we left that cita we walked outside and our member said, well I have to go home now, and then one of our investigators from the 28 walked by us, and asked us when we are going to stop by! So we made a cita for later that day and it was awesome!! Man, its incredible the plans that our Heavenly Father has for us sometimes! :)

 I truly love being a missionary, you never know what is going to happen when you wake up! 

Whoever painted this is definately anti-wrestler!! hahaha

In the Villa Olympica, there is this huge painting on the wall with a bunch of sports right? But what do you notice wrong??

Best Convert Ever!

This has been an incredible week! Super spiritual!

 I have a couple stories about some investigators that I love:

Okay to start, I talk about how I found these investigators... The other day we were walking around, actually walking to a cita that we had, but I looked over to my right and I see these two girls who were taking turns carrying a 5 gal jug of water and they were struggling, so I offered to help and they said sure! So i grabbed the water and took it to their house, and contacing them on the way. It turns out they are both super positive! Jennifer´s family is already Mormon except for her, so she already knows ALOT! Her friend, Maria, knows nothing about the church but is really interested. She even accepted to go to Church, and it was awesome! Heres the cool part... We arrived a little early, so we were sitting down in the sacrement room waiting for more members to show up, and we were thinking, who could be a good fit for her? But then, the Elders from Prados area show up with their investigators, and one of their investigators who is getting baptized soon sees Maria and yells ¨Mariaaaa!!¨It turns out, they are classmates! And really good friends! So they had a great time together and she showed her around and everything! So Maria lovvves church now! Then at 3 we had a cita with them, and it was one of the most spirutual lessons ive had, she can truly feel the testimonies we gave. And It all started because we helped them carry a jug of water. :)

Next story is about Kendy. We found Kendy one day when we were contacting... we knock at her door and she let us in, we talked to her and stuff and taught her, she was really interested. She completely understood the Restauration lesson, todo tenia sentido for her. Then we set up another cita with her, and we taught two more lessons with members. She loved it all! But then we taught about the Evangelio de Jesucristo and she didnt really like the idea of getting baptized again (which is really common) and we explained authority with her and stuff but then it was like 9:20 and we hadd to leave. We can tell she was a little molestada but we couldnt do much for now. We set up another appointment and when we went she tried to drop us lol she gave us the whole line about how busy she is with studying and work and stuff. So we respected that (we know what she meant to say) so we didnt go for about a week, until saturday night I told my comp lets go look for our investigators to see if they are going to church, one of which included Kendy. So we knock on her door, her prima answers and says Oh! She is at the pulperia, she´ll be right back. (she didnt know that kendy tried to drop us lol) so we go in and wait for Kendy...and then she came! And she had the ´how did you get in look´haha, but she was totally cool about it! She sat down and we started talking, we said we wanted to compartir a message and she said Sure I guess... we asked who she would like to give the opening prayer and she said I dont care, whoever. We can tell she is not too happy at all, she acted different towards us. but actually it was a very spiritual lesson as well, because we mostly just talked to her and testified, and she actually opened up to us saying stuff like ´Im a little confused about what you guys taught last time, and I dont know what to think, but then I think about the other things you guys teach and if that stuff makes sense Im sure this does too´ and she said she wouldnt mind at all if we continue teaching her again. I am so happy that we didnt lose her! You get to the point where you love your investigators and want the best for them, and you know that the best thing you can give them is this gospel. :) 

Which brings me to the next story! Sunday we had a Noche De Hogar with some recent converts and we invited Carmen (who we just baptized) and she accepted to go. You guys will Not believe the change in her. I cant express that enough!!!! When we first met her, she said almost less than 10 words... she was really quiet and shy, not with the happiest expressions on her face. She was still a great person though of course! But every since the baptism, she is COMPLETELY different! She looks like a very happy person, always jokes around with us, and talks with other members that she doesnt even know. So at the NDH they decided to do like a testimony meeting since it was the first sunday of the month and we thought it was a great idea! We started and broke the ice, then everyone else went. We thought Carmen would be a little hesitate right? because she is pretty shy. but nope! She wasnt even the last one! This is the first time she really bore her testimony and it nearly brought tears to my eyes, to all of our eyes. This is kind of how her testimony went: ´Before, I felt like there has always been something missing in my life. I even told my friends that I wanted to have a pretty relationship with God, (but she didnt want to go to her previous church because she has gone her whole life because she was obligated by her parents). And I was going through a really hard time, pretty despressed. Until Semana Santa came, and these two elders knocked on my door, everything changed. The more they taught me, the better I felt. This church has definately changed my life.´ And she stopped because she started crying completely. Its really hard as a missionary not being able to hug people because I just wanted to give her a huge hug! I love the investigators and converts Ive had, but definately Carmen is a true convert! I know she will neverrr fall away! Times like these helps me realize that im not just teaching lessons, we as missionaries are changing lives and saving souls.

This week I went to emigration!! Remember when I went with Elder Carter, well he had like 16 months barely getting his residence, I only 7 months and im getting mine! haha So that was alottt of fun! Then we went to Johnny Rockets after that and wow! I felt like I was back in the states! :´) hahaha 
Today for P-Day we went back to Valle de Angeles and it was a great time!

Carmen!

I have SEVEN months now!!!
 I cant believe how fast the time is going!! I am having the greatest time ever! I am so grateful that I am here! And i know i am supposed to be here with all of my heart.
 Sometimes I am teaching and I say something, a personal experience or something, and the investigator has a change of heart, its times like that really remind me that there are certain prepared people that I am supposed to find.
 You may be wondering why the title of this post is Carmen, ha? well its because we baptized Carmen!!!!!!

Carmen is soo awesome! Heres the story: A few weeks ago we were contacting and found this person in a house by the Villa, really positive guy, and so we taught him and all, really cool dude. When we went back a couple days later for a cita we had, he wasnt there...but someone else was! So we teach her! Also really positive. Next time we went for the cita, looking for two investigators there, guess what? Exactly... couldnt find them! But someone elssssse answered the door, she was really quiet and shy, but she let us in because she wanted to be nice. A 25 year college student. Her name was Carmen! The first cita was alright, didnt show tooo much interest but she let us come back. When we went back (mostly looking for the first two investigators) they werent there, but Carmen was, so we taught her again... this time she saw some interest! She even went to church! And from there.... Wow! She progressed soo much! Shes been to church a bunch and she loves it! And now, on May 28th (My 7th month mark) She got baptized!! It was a really good service! Everything worked out! I learned alot from this experience, mostly that you never know which people are prepared, you just need to be willing to talk to everyone. Theres a line that my Mission President said that I loved: There are Prepared People for Prepared Missionaries.

This week was an interesting week for soccer! It was the Champions League championship and the championships for the Mexican league! Walking through the streets and all you see are green screens from all the soccer!haha which make it really hard to contact lol But here is an example. This is the 28 de Marzo (name of the colony), they have a TV screen outside for the public! Arent these people nice? Like this huge colony is really united, but also the most dangerous area we have. It was kind of sketchy taking this picture lol I wanted to take it without anyone noticing... but that awkward moment whent he flash is on and EVERYBODY notices! hahaha

Noche De Hogar

Well hoenstly there is not much to write about this week! 
The same stuff is going on. Working hard! But the cool thing is probably the awesome Family Home Evening we had! 
Im going to try to catch up on some emails this week. 

Party!!

Well this was a pretty great week! 

The highlight of the week was probably David Turner´s party! Who David Turner? Ok. David is our gringo in the ward (theres always at least one lol) And he is awesome! He is from Utah and lives hear with his family because he works for the Embassy. He gives us dinner every sunday night. (Actually, one fast sundays... for dinner he gives us breakfast... get it? Break-fassst!lol) anyway... he is awesome! He helps us sooo much with our gospel principles class because he does a greaaattt job at hermanando all of our investigaros and recent converts! But now he is leaving back to the states :(

 and he knows that everyone is going to miss him and so he had a party for the gospel principles class! Like a farewell. 

We showed up for dinner and we saw what a success it was!! It made me soo baggy because it reminded me of the parties that we used to have back in AZ.

As far as the work goes, its going! We are working hard and finding new people everyday. We have about 10 investigators progressing now! Theyre so awesome! I think our next fijo baptism will be next week! How exciting. Its wierd because after teaching people for so long, and opening up to them, and them to us, you cant help but get attached. Such as, it is honestly heartbreaking when they dont go to church, or dont read, stuff like that. But I know we just have to do our best and keep praying for them. 

Oh!! So this was awesome! So my area is the Villa Olimpica right? Its a very popular place in Teguz. And so anyway, one day we were walking through (because its a shortcut) and out of nowhere I see someone familiar, I see Jose Luis´s girlfriend! (Miraflores mission leader) And all I say is ´Where is he?!´ She laughs and says the In the Gym! And so we run there and we see him there! Not only was he there, but also Chad Hansen (the gringo in Miraflores, see, theres at least a gringo in every ward!lol) But it was honestly soooo nice to see them again! It was funny because Chad is HUGE! But I know that he used to go to a different gym, and so I asked him why he switched gym. He stared at his hands and said ´ohh its because they ran out of, out of...´    He forgot what he was going to say, he meant to say chalk... but i say ´Weights?´ hahah! that was really funny, because he is huge i figured he lifted all of the weights in the whole gym already lol had to go to a different one! haha sorry, that is my julian humor! xD 

The other day after contacting a bunch we took a little break and we bought ChocoBananos, like a frozen banana dipped in chocolate on a stick. But on accident, my stick broke and the banana fell... I was really, really sad because it was so good. And so I go back to the lady and told her, HOPEFULLY she would be nice enough to give me another one right? So she came out and I told her but I dont know if she misunderstood me or what but she came back out with a NAPKIN! Like what?! I didnt say anything, I just said gracias. My comp says it was her way of saying ´Awww thats too bad, heres a napkin to wipe away your tears!´hahaha it was sad lol

Well today we went to Picacho.... AGAIN! It was fun! We have a bunch of new people in our zone and it is alot more united! Including an elder from Peoria! He is awesome! we are always talking about how great Arizona is!! haha
 We played soccer after and it was awesome because two other zones were there (which wasnt supposed to happen lol) but we all showed up on accident. 
Ill attach some photos. 

   

Skype!!

What a great day it was yesterday! It was so nice talking to my family again! 
Now i have to focus back to working! ;)
 Oh and by the way, we found out about changes and I am staying here in Villa Olimpica with Elder Agren for another 6 weeks.
 No changes!

6 Months / Zone Conference / Valle De Angeles

   Well as you can see from the title, alot has happened this week, and i will try my best to summarize.
Well I finally have 6 months!! I cant believe it! Time has literally flew by, I never thought Id say that because in the beginning of my mission, I thought the mission would never end lol
 I love the mission! I love my area, I love my companions, I love the work, I love everything!
I am so happy I am here.
If anyone ever asks, Hows is Julian doing? All you need to say is, Happy.
I have learned so much already and I owe it all to my companions, my mission president, and most of all, my Heavenly Father. Im grateful for all that He has done for me. I love helping people come unto Him, as well as serving others.
There is tradition for when you reach 6 months, you burn a tie. (you burn a shirt when you have a year) And so of course I was super excited to burn a tie! haha and you can also see in the photo what my area is like, as well as some part of the actual villa olimpica.

This week we had Zone Conference!! Each change we either have Interviews with President or we have a conference where all of the zones gather around and we learn a bunch of stuff lol.

 And it was so awesome!! Usually at these conferences it is a time where some missionaries, like the Presidents Assistant´s and some other chosen missionaries, teach us about a certain topic. And I learned alot! But first, heres my favorite part. Ok wait, first I need to give a background story kind of Before I came out on the mission I was of course curious on how the mission is so I started reading different blogs from missionaries that are this mission. And most of them didnt write much, but there was this one blog that I followed every week, And i started from the beginning of his mission and im pretty sure i read all of it. lol this guy was my hero becasue you can tell he was a great missionary! Well at this particular conference, he played a major role! He gave us an amazing class, sang a song with my dad, Elder Westberg, and helped the President sometimes. He is Elder Huff. And the crazy part is that we were instantly great friends! I never thought, before the mission, that we would ever be as good as friends as we are now, its just so wierd. lol God works in mysterious ways. Also at this conference I got to see my other comps, Elder Westberg and Elder Marin. I wanted to take pictures with them because i didnt really take many pictures with them before.

Elder Huff

Elder Westberg

Elder Marin

The funnest thing about Zone Conference is that as soon as it was over, it started raining... HARD! And so it was so much running in rain that was so falling extremely hard! We were literally soaked in 5 seconds. But we had to. You know how they say you shouldn't  run in a lightning storm? well yeah...it was fun! We were completely soaked by the time we ran all the way down the mountain and into the bus. :)

For P-day today we went to Valle de Angeles! Its like going to Picacho, but better. Its like an hour away from the cuidad and its like a forest. We had to walk alot and it was fun, the final destination was a pretty cool waterfall! We took alottt of pictures here! Its always alot of fun hanging out with the zone.