Elder Pilling in Antigua

  Hey everyone!!  This week went sooooo fast. But it was awesome. We started the week organizing a conference with Elder Cook. Had some good lessons too. But on Friday, we woke up  at 3:00am  and got on a bus with a zone. We went into the capital to a stake center there. We arrived  at 5:30am . .. So we were really early but we just waited as the other missions showed up. We had to organize everyone and get them ready for the picture which ws pretty cool. Then we had some training by Elder Godoy, his wife, Sister Cook, and then Elder Cook!! It was so good and powerful. I loved it so much. Such a good experience.   We had a really good lesson with the Perez family on Saturday. We taught them about the priesthood and the need to be baptized by someone holding the priesthood. They asked us how long it takes before they can be baptized and at what age they can be baptized. Their son wants to be baptized and the parents understand the need as well...

Hey everyone!! How was your week?  This week was super awesome and went by so fast!  I have gotten to know the area more and some of the people here. We are teaching a family. The Perez family. It's a family of 4 and the kids are 9 and 6 years old. This week was like the 2nd week teaching them. And they had soooo many trials this week. Really hard trials economically and with health. But it seems they are putting their trust in God and  next Sunday  they should be able to come to church with us!  Being in the office is a little different. Every day we go to the office and have little things to do there until about 2 or 3. Then we go out to the area and work. It's very different than what I'm used to but it's good. There are senior missionaries In the office and they are the best - they feel like my 3rd set of grandparents haha. They even bring baked goods every week :)  This week will be a very busy week. On Friday we will be having a conference with 3 othe...

Hey everyone!!! This week was pretty crazy... I was not at all expecting to be transfered  - or my companion - but President Probst has called me to be his assistant and now my weeks will looks a little different... but nonetheless I am in the work of the Lord!!  So we had a pretty good week in San Lucas Toliman. Had some really good lessons. But then I got the news that I was leaving. Little by little we told everyone there and it was pretty hard to see the reaction of the less active members I have helped come back to church. They almost cried and I did too. This is such a special work.  I am now in San Lucas Sacatepéquez and my companion is Elder Diaz from Nicaragua. We started the mission togther so it's pretty cool being with him. Pretty much everyday we are in the mission office doing things to help President Probst. Then at around 3 we leave to work in the area. On top of that, we have lots of divisions, and trainings we will do at conferences. I'm super excited fo...

  Hey everyone!!! This week went by so fast.   We started out with an incredible district council on Tuesday. But then had to travel 3 hours in bus to go to the mission office. On Wednesday my companion had immigration appointments. That was very tiring but kinda fun haha. I love the buses here.  We then went to work and visited the people we are currently helping. We invited Manuel to be baptized!! I'm pretty sure he understood the importance, but said that he wants to keep talking with us, praying, and going to church. So we will keep working with him.  We couldn't get a visit with Lilian but talked to her husband Carlos. He came to church last week and felt so much love and the spirit. He said his wife really does want to get baptized, but is a little scared of her family.  On Sunday we had 5 less active members come to church!!! That really made us happy and we loved seeing them in the ward.  This week we have transfers so we will see what happens. I'm ...

  Heyyyy everyone! This week flew by... but it was awesome. We started with divisiones and I got to go to San Andreas Semetabaj. It was really fun even though we had to climb up the mountain to make some visits. Super pretty!!!    Thursday we were able to move 10 sand bags from the main floor to the roof of someone's house. And we started a fast the same morning... we then went to a small village that is 30 minutes from our main town. That was pretty awesome.  We also made the best tacos ever (a Mexican recipe that my companion has). Here's a pic.    We saw some great progress with Manuel. We are currently talking about baptism and little by little he's starting to understand the doctrine. So hopefully this week we can put a baptismal date with him!!  On Sunday we were hoping lots of people came... and 1 of them did! Which was kind of sad but it was his first time in a while. So that was good. And it happened to be the husband of Lillian!  "11 For...

  Hey everyone!!!  Well this week went by soooo fast. But it was a pretty good week.  We had lots of visits with friends and members wanting to come back to church. Here are a few good ones:  Lillian: her husband is a member wanting to return and we were able to talk to him one Tuesday and then on Friday with them both. The first time with just him was super spiritual. He shared with us what he remembers from being strong in the gospel and some experiences he has had recently. It lead us to having a good chat about coming back to church and what it requires. I'll share something in my spiritual thought.  When we met with them both we were able to explain part of the plan of salvation and the importance of our time here on earth. We mentioned baptism and asked if she wants to be baptized when she knows these things are true. She said yes! So we have lots of work with her.    Victor: I'm pretty sure I've talked about him before but we went with him and h...

Hey everyone! This week was such an awesome week. Maybe one of the best in my mission. We were able to visit lots of members trying to strengthen their testimonios and return to church and have some really spiritual lessons. We even had 4 of them come to church!!  We also met with Manuel. Talked about lots of things and the importance of the Sabbath day. He is reading the Book of Mormon and has some awesome questions for us. And on Sunday, he came to church!! It is such a miracle the way he is progressing.  In Alma 37 we read about Alma teach a little about the Liahona. Verse 44 says  44 For behold, it is as easy to give heed to the word of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss, as it was for our fathers to give heed to this compass, which would point unto them a straight course to the promised land.  I love the wording here. "The word of Christ will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss." What comes to you mind when you read "e...