January 27th 2014

Well let’s see....

This week was all right, nothing too crazy happened but we did eat at a Korean BBQ restaurant. None of us had ever been there and the lady didn’t speak much English but I guess enough to communicate so we kind of just said yes to everything she said to do ha. Next thing you know, all this food comes out and we were supposed to cook it and everything and ahh it was just a little crazy. But it was good but not the best $12 dollars I could of spent.

Okay so our area is broken into 4 ethnic groups. 1 is African Americans, 2 is Mexicans, 3 is Jewish and 4 is Koreans. Ha so we decided to go and look for people in Jewish area of town. That didn’t work out so well, everyone is pretty wealthy and don’t answer their door and they are Jewish. That didn’t work out but we did find this HUGE Jewish statue, we had to go back and take pictures with it. It was pretty amazing.

We also had this big training on Friday that was super good. It really made me want to TRULY love the people I teach and talk to on the streets. Its a little weird to love someone you don’t know but you can do it. We have the restored gospel and what better way to love someone and giving that truth and knowledge to them. The gospels true. Don’t doubt it.

Also Transfers are coming up next week so we will see what happens.

I love you all! 

Elder Puertas

January 13th 2014

How do we look in white?

Well yesterday we had a baptism for this little boy that’s 9. His name is Derian Gamez. His family has been a huge blessing already in my life. Teaching them and getting to know them has made my testimony grow so much. I had the privilege of baptizing Derian and he is an amazing kid. He is super happy all the time and loves to joke around ha. He only speaks Spanish too because they just moved from México about a month ago. I love the Gamez family. Everything is good and we are teaching a finding new people every week. I don have a lot to say today but just that baptism is honestly the "Puerta(s)" to eternal life and just bringing people to that is the best feeling ever. I love you all and have a good week.

Shout out to my sister, Jasmine! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH. HAPPY BIRTHDAY and I hope you spent it amazing because YOU are amazing!

Be good! I love you all!

Elder Puertas

January 6th 2014

Family & Family

HAPPY NEW YEARS!!!

Well to start off the week I burned a Tie because I am past 6 months!!!! Haha I guess it’s a thing here. But also this week we have taught a lot of people and found some amazing new investigators that I know we will help. One way cool thing this week was that I went back to BELL GARDENS for a baptism! Juan Sanchez got baptized and he invited me to come back and see it. It was amazing. I have been working with him forever!!! And he finally got baptized! I just remember after the actual baptism he walked out after he changed and he just had the biggest smile in his face and I remember being so happy at that point. I loved it. It reminds me of my purpose here. It was good to see everyone again and don’t worry I took some pictures :) We also take the bus everywhere! It’s rough.

We have a baptism coming up this Sunday for our area for Derian Gamez. He is 9 and his family is a huge blessing in my life. They have been through so much and they are still so strong in the church. My testimony of fasting has grown this week as well. The Gamez were going to be kicked out from their place on Sunday and we decided to fast for them Friday to Saturday and we did, then we fasted AGAIN from Saturday to Sunday for our mission to have 65 baptisms this month. So yes, one meal in 2 days. On Sunday the Gamez family came to church super happy because the manager let them stay for another month. I was so happy and now Derian is getting baptized this Sunday! The church is true! Love you all.

Shout out to my BEAUTIFUL LITTLE SISTER MORGAN!

I love you with all my heart and its crazy you are growing up so fast! I miss you!

Love, Elder Puertas

December 30th 2013

6 months done, like that.

Well I hope everyone had an AMAZING Christmas because I did. Our week was great and we have been teaching amazing people. Yes, even on Christmas. Well on the 24th we tried talking to people but it was soooo hard. Everyone was doing last minute shopping so we tried anyways. Christmas was amazing though. Woke up and got ready, our zone leaders came and dropped off more mail! Yayyyy it was good opening up presents on Christmas. I got some amazing things. Some awesome socks, snacks the COOLEST looking journal ever and a full Santa suit. I loved it. We went to a member’s home and of coarse skyped you all. I miss every single one of you and you are all doing amazing. I was worried I was going to be sad but honestly it was one of my happiest days ever. I am so blessed to be here right now and I love it. We finished off the day at the Romero's house for a Christmas dinner and it was of coarse way good. I love food. It was just one of those amazing days. It was good to see the family and good to see Sarita:)

So Elder knight and I try talking to everyone we see and its way cool seeing the select people the lord puts in our path. I love it. Almost half the people we talk to have had some kind of relationship with the church and then it’s all easy from there. We met this new guy named Carlos. We were just walking and we saw him, long story short he invited us to teach him and he kept telling us how he's been waiting for someone like us to come. He says he’s confused on which church is true and wants to join one. We told him about Joseph Smith and gave him a Book of Mormon. I know he will have his answer soon. Sunday was great, we sang as missionaries in sacrament and it was good. Later that night we ate some amazing pupusas from this El Salvadorian family. It was good. I can’t wait for Thursday because this PERUVIAN family is feeding us. Did I mention I love food?

I love you all and I hope you have an amazing NEW YEARS!

Talk to you next year... haha get it? All right never mind..

Love, Elder Puertas

December 23rd 2013

Hola Familia!

Wow what an amazing week! It’s Christmas on Wednesday and I love it.

I miss everyone back home but I know that the Lord needs me here.

I am serving in a new area called Lafayette Square. Its good here. Everything and everyone is new but I’m working on it to get familiar with it.

My new Companion is Elder Knight, from Utah, he's really funny and he reminds me of the guy on the movie "Mall Cop" Paul Blart. Hahaha. He’s only been here for 4 months and he still can’t speak Spanish so that’s something we are working on together. Also the church here is super crazy. It looks like a catholic church. Haha I’ve never seen an LDS chruch like this before. Got to love new things.

Just to share an experience I’ve already have had here in my new area, I met this family named the Gamez family. They just got here from Mexico 2 weeks ago and wow, I look up to them so much. They have helped my testimony grow by a mile! Back in Mexico they went through a lot physically and emotionally. They also lost a daughter a year ago that was 17. They are members and despite all that they still have a strong belief in the church. They left everything and gave everything to be able to get here to America and now we have the privilege to know them. They have 3 kids now. The oldest one now is Maria (10) then its Darian, he’s 9 and we are baptizing him on Jan. 5th :) then comes Moroni (7) he's an amazing kid. He has special needs but he always responds by smiling and I love it. Haha. They have been a HUGE blessing in my life and I know I'm here in this area for a reason. We also have another little girl named Jamie she’s 11 and she has a date for the 19th. I'm excited for this new area.

Now about the Book of Mormon! I am in Moroni 7 so I am super close. These past 2 days I had an amazing experience to be able to feel that God was there. He testified to me that this is the true church on earth and it can honestly bless anyone. I love this Gospel and now I know why my mom kept telling me to READ READ READ. I love being a missionary to be able to bring this message to others. I am grateful for Jesus Christ and the atonement. It's incredible to realize how much he truly loved us. I love him and he is truly my Savior and it’s an honor to represent him here in Los Angeles and helping others to know for themselves the truth. I love you all and I hope we can all know the true meaning of Christmas.

Love Always, Elder Puertas

MERRY CHRISTMAS