July 29th 2013

FAMILY & FRIENDS!

Okay I know this might sounds soooo dumb but I just realized why we call our Adams apple, Adam’s apple. Ha-ha well hey now I know! So no one judge!

Ha anyways that was on the 23rd and also that day I taught Brandon the Law of Chastity, he’s 11, it was kind of hard but he gets it now. He’s ways cool and he loves me, ha. But anyways so every night before we go to bed we play darts and of coarse I won, 161!! ya baby! The 24th we had ZML again and we just talked about catching the vision! Everyone needs to be missionaries now and do missionary work! We need all the help we can get! One day ALL the members are going to be the missionaries and there will no longer be missionaries. At least that’s what I think! Ha but anyways I was also crowned the champion of the dart throwing competition.

I didn’t write much on the 25th, all I said was "scripture of the day is 3 Nephi 5:13" so check it out!

The 26th same thing I didn’t write much except talking about my dinner and how good it was! I had dinner with this guy named HECTOR and he is so funny, he was in the crazy big gang before so he has all the tattoos and some crazy stories he tells us! He’s always moving his hand and popping out his eyes ha-ha. But he’s a cool dude! Also today we were on bikes... super hot! And we were riding and all the teenage kids were riding their bikes too and when we past them, mannnn it was a little crazy. Ha they wanted to talk to us sooo bad but not in a good way. They were just swearing like crazy calling all sorts of names and all we could do is just smile and wave. They kept trying to slow us down but we just were silent and kept riding... its their salvation not mine. Ha-ha. A lot didn’t happen this week but it was good! This girl named Sinthia wants to get baptized but she can’t because she’s on probation :( for another 2 more years so that’s a loss.

I GET FED SOOOOOO MUCH! But its good food and I love it! Also IM A MAN ALREADY! You know why? Because I have to shave every single day! My facial hair grows fast! It’s kind of sick! Ha-ha I love you all! Take care! Till next week! Also I’m about to go play soccer finally for the first time!! I’m so pumped! Ha

Elder Puertas

Also I heard about some big train wreck in Spain! PRAY for them!

July 22nd 2013

This week has been great!

         So July 16th, we went on splits so I was in a trio with two others, no not THE TRIO but a trio! No one can replace Reid and Besser.

 Anyways we were the new ones and they sent us out to go street contacting. I’m not going to lie I was a little nervous but after time we just kept talking and talking it was a good day that day! We also met a woman, she was a Jehovah Witness and she was kind of attacking us with all these questions, ha the next day, we woke up early to go running with our investigator Jimmy. He’s soooo cool and his family is amazing! We are taking them to check out the temple tomorrow night! They want to be baptized so I’m hoping everything goes well! We got fed so much today haha. Also I’m getting fat! Ha I gained 8 pounds already but I run every morning so it’s a good weight gain! :)

         Ha we met this guy named Jose, he is ADDICTED to crystal Meth and he wants to change so bad. We talked to him and he was talking about how his family wants to leave him and all this stuff, its crazy. I pulled up Ether 12:27 and he just started crying! He wants to change, which is good, and we are going to help him out! Pray for me!

         July 18th. We went over to Jimmy’s to paint his house! It took us about 2 hours but it turned out super good. His wife jenny went to get us some food and brought us some coffee so we had to teach them the Word of Wisdom and now they know and they are going to try and live it. They had us over for dinner and we had some Shrimp fettuccini haha it was weird, some Mexicans serving us some American food! Ha but It was goooooood.

         But Friday the 19th was wayyy good. We had a Zone meeting and it got me excited! EVERYTHING IS CHANGING! We are getting ipads  and iphones, we are going world wide with the gospel! Everyone needs to do missionary work! EVEN IF YOU’RE NOT A MISSIONARY! We talked about the second coming today and man it’s crazy! All the signs we just need to be prepared! We are the last missionaries of the FINAL dispensation, and we just need to prepare! All we can do is invite, so please just go talk to a friend that you think would be interested  in the church! The members NEED to be involved! The gospel literally can change lives! I love it!

         July 20th, we didn't do anything until 4pm and we went on exchanges so I had a different companion named Elder Roberts. We wanted to visit these people but it turned out that they gave us the wrong address BUT that led us to meet this lady named SUYABA and she is interested so we are teaching her today! Then we went to visit these other people but they weren't home so we just talked to some lady outside and it turns out she is a less active! WAY less active! She said we came at a perfect time too. Her son is in Honduras and is getting baptized next week and her niece wants to know more about the church so we are teaching her on Thursday! And man she was crying because of our timing. Later that day we were walking and saw some guy doing some karate looking thing alone and it was funny so we talked to him, turns out he has a mental disorder but he was wayyy interested and we are meeting with him today!

         The best part was the prank I pulled on Elder Roberts! We went to Jimmys and I pretended I didn't know the house and I texted jimmy earlier before to scare my companion so he opens the door and he was acting wayyy tough and messed up haha. And putting him on the spot. haha it was funny! Sunday was a little crazy too! I have 8 min left so I gotta make it short! We went to church and one of the elders was feeling sick, anyways he’s felt like this for a while, one thing led to another and we had to take him to the mission home.. he’s there now, that's why I’m in a trio. But there’s a possibility he might be going home so just pray for him. Elder Marrot is his name! We were busy with him all day yesterday, Sunday, so that was our day! also since we are in a trio we are gonna scare Elder cockriel (our new companion) with Jimmy again tonight. shhhhh... ha Monday! Pday! Today! I opened the package I got from you guys! Thank you soooo much!!! We drove up to the mission home again but we took a different route today! But because we did, we got to see the STAPLES CENTER!! ahhhh it was soooo sick!!! I didn't get a picture but I got a picture of downtown!

I love you all and know I'm trying my best! 

-Elder Puertas! LA is DOPPPPE!

Mission Boundaries

July 15th 2013

Familia!

Well, how’s everyone?

Well, okay so far this week in LA, Wow.....

My first day we checked out the temple and its SICK!!! Like HUGE. I think it’s the 2nd biggest temple so I was amazed. I spent the night in Vernon, Huntington Park with my temporary companion and ummm ya way ghetto, ha like police helicopters are out every night over the "Projects" at 9pm haha ya I know. Then they moved me to a new area and its called Bell Gardens.. It’s a lot nicer here ha. My companion is Elder Boyd from Missouri... he's REALLY OBIDIENT, that’s because he’s been out for 23 months so he’s about done. ummm but he’s cool. He knows a lot so he helps me out a lot. We have this little apartment and it’s nice.

Here are pictures of the newest missionaries to our mission:

 We have this family of 3. The mom is named Erica the son that’s 15 is named Jiaro and the other son is Brandon and he’s 10. They are SOOOO ready to be baptized its not funny. Aug. 4th we have a date so pray for them to be prepared. Jiaro wants to be a missionary so bad. He loves having us come over and that family makes me so happy! I love going over to their house.

We also met their cousin Danny he is 15 too! He didn’t know much but he was over when we came by one time and he was asking me questions alone and he seemed really interested and I’m telling you right now, I’m going to baptize Danny too, I can feel it. But just pray for them. Another family has Jimmy the Dad, Jenny (mom) and Joshua the 9-year-old son, they are way cool too! Jimmy (dad) has such energy and you can just feel like he’s ready too! He opened up to us last night telling us how his dad past away about 4 years ago, Jimmy was 19 and his dad had a heart attack and he just cried with us and we explained the plan of salvation and man, he trusts us. We want to be baptized but he wants to do it with his family so please please pray for them! They keep me going and I love helping them out!

Umm we eat A LOT! Like a lot! Ha they feed us maybe too much, some Mexican ceviche, bierra y mole con arroz, some fruit with limon salt and spice!! Ahh its good! But just pray for me too, the mission is really hard and I’m still getting use to it. But I’m trying my best! I love you all. I’m sure I have more to tell you but I didn’t bring my journal so I can’t remember everything I did everyday! I’ll be more prepared next time. But so far it’s good. LA is hot! haha I miss you all! A lot! I’m about to go get a haircut right now! And its NOT from a barber, I know... risky! ha but it doesn’t matter how I look but what I say.. I love you all

-Elder Puertas.

July 12th 2013

Dear Brother and Sister Puertas,

Elder James Pedro Puertas arrived safely to this mission 10 July 2013.  After prayerful consideration, Elder Colten Michael Boyd was selected to be his companion.  We make every effort to assign only the very best missionaries to be trainers, as these first few months are critical in the life of a new missionary.   Enclosed are pictures of Elder Puertas with his companion, Sister Weidman, and me.

During the course of his mission he will be transferred from place to place; therefore, we ask that all his mail be sent to:

Elder James Pedro Puertas

1591 East Temple Way                

California Los Angeles Mission

Los Angeles, CA 90024-5801

We are excited and grateful to have Elder Puertas serve in the California Los Angeles Mission.  Our desire is to help him succeed and magnify his calling.  We will do everything possible to see that he remains healthy, actively engaged, challenged, and happy in his missionary labors.  Please be assured that his welfare and happiness are of primary concern to us.  For ongoing and up-to-date information on this mission, you can visit our mission blog: calamission.blogspot.com.

The enclosed information answers many of the questions frequently asked. Should you have any questions or concerns during the course of Elder Puertas’ mission, please do not hesitate to contact  me.

Sincerely yours,

David N. Weidman, President

California Los Angeles Mission

July 9th 2013

Hola todos!

Bueno! estoy muy bien aqui en el CCM. estoy aprendiendo mucho! los extrano a todos! gracias por los packetes y emails! me esta ayudando! mi companero ya se fue odia para Nueva York entonces yo y orto estamos aqui solos asta manana y despues me voy a LOS ANGELES!!! por fin!! estoy much mas listo tambien! estoy feliz aqui y me siento bien!!! voy extranar el CCM. ya tengo muchos amigos entonces si es deficil un poco. pero los amo a todos.

Lets see this week, its been really good. Again like I said I’m learning a lot and its crazy! Monday I got 3 packages!!! ohhhh ya haha everyone is always jealous of me getting so many letters and packages haha. they always just ask "what letters aren’t for Elder Puertas" haha but thank you! don’t send me any more dear elder letters because today is my last day so just saying! Tuesday: well I got a haircut :( my macklemore haircut is gone.. Also Tuesday was very challenging for me. My friend Justin told me that my friend Jayden had cancer (laroca team) and that killed me. He put of Facebook "I’m in god's hands now" wow what great faith for that kid. Don’t take anything for granted and enjoy life! really! be happy!!! It’s the best! That news for sure made my faith increase by a mile!!

July 3rd Wednesday! we had some service to do and new missionary’s came in and now I was in charge of 2 new districts, meaning about 35 missionary’s and I was there leader.. ha big responsibility but I managed to do it!

July 4th Thursday! I wanted to go out so bad from the MTC. we got to see a movie called 17 miracles, it was good then we all went outside to watch the fireworks and we were all singing and it was cool! they MTC president even let us stay past our bedtime! sooooo cool ha. we got to sleep around 11 and not 1030. know crazy huh! ha.

July 5th Friday! my tooth got fixed!! yes! finally! we were walking around Provo with my companion waiting for our ride to come get us and in 4 minutes we got 7 honks and 3 waves! ha it was cool. everyone loves us! we had to teach today also this "less active" person (he was an actor) and wow we started and all of the sudden 5 minutes in, it just turned into a real conversation. we just asked him one thing and it was "when were you converted" and he started cry! he said missionary came over about 50 years ago and he would hide to not listen to the message (he’s an old man) he was 14 back then. finally he listened and he loved the church since. he was a bishop at age 28 and stake president after that. he said he had the same feeling when the missionaries went over 50 years ago and then when me and elder Diaz-vita came in. He said he’s worked in the MTC before and he rarely cry’s but he just said he felt the sprit so strong when me and my companion walked in. so we just talked about mission work and he still we will be amazing missionaries! so that was a good experience for us!  today was also pouring rain it was insane!

July 6th Saturday! long story short, I killed everyone in soccer today! they praise me and love me! ha. some missionaries leave Sunday so we sang "llamados a servir" with our whole zone right before bed and it was amazing!

July 7th Sunday! it was way long with meetings and fasting but it was good. I got to see some people today! NONI JASMINE NATALIA!! I love you girls and some other friends. thank you for that I needed it!

July 8th. again it was kind of a long day but not really because my companion leaves on July 9th (today) so pday for us got moved to Monday but I also have pday today haha if that makes sense. I love my companion! he’s a good man and he will do amazing things in NY!

Now today July 9th! I have to just chill! ha I already packed yesterday so I’m ready! I’m excited. I love you all and I miss you like crazy!! Remember no more dear elders and packages!

 Tell everyone I say hi!

Love always -Elder Puertas