Week 19: “You only become better when you become comfortable out of your comfort zone.”

The work is going really well this week, we found 14 new investigators.  We had divisions on Tuesday, I was companions with Elder Huaracha, from Peru. He kind of talked with a lisp so he was hard to understand but I learned a lot from him. I can`t wait to have a latino companion though, my Spanish will improve so much. On Thursday we had interviews with the President and his wife. They are such great people. We also had capacitación with one of the APs, Elder Laycock. That was awesome, he taught us a lot. We had a great week finding new investigators, we found 14. The only problem we have is getting members to come out with us for lessons and getting them to church. Most of them live so far away from the church and they don`t have a way to get there. Marta didn`t come to church this week, we called her and sent her messages but she still hasn`t responded. But we did have a little girl in church, she is the sobrina of one of the families in our ward, Familia Acosta. I think the only reason she came is because she has a crush on us though! Yesterday we were contacting and we came across a house that was having a birthday party for their little girl. I thought it would be fun if we went up and asked if we could sing to her in English. So we did and they loved it, it was so much fun! We found our President of our Rama playing futbol yesterday. That kinda made me upset because a reason why a lot of people in this area stopped going to church was because our President used to own a bar and played futol on Sundays, but I`m hoping people can look past that. A lot of our work is mostly contacting. Our members don`t help us out at all. They don`t realize that our éxito depends soley on them. But it`s okay, the Lord will bless us if we work our hardest and put our trust in him.  People here are following Satan`s plan and that is laziness. The reason why Satan took so many of our brothers and sisters is because it was an `easy` way. People don`t realize that work, commandments, covenants, and the church are here to help us improve. We don`t improve by being lazy. We improve by pushing ourselves. What do you think of this quote?... “You only become better when you become comfortable out of your comfort zone.” People need to learn that to get something you’ve never had, you have to do things you`ve never done. We had interviews this week and when I was talking with Hermana Heaton she told me that we are so blessed in the United States not because we have stronger testimonies but because our trial is to use our blessings to serve the people that don`t have the things we do. I love this work. I promise I will make you proud. I love you all and I hope you have a great week!

Your son,

Elder Arbon

Week 18: "First comp...check!"

This week was a really good week. On Monday we played American football, I miss it so much! But we turned my bike into the bike shop in the morning and they said they would have it finished by 7:30 that day but we came back and they said it would be done in the morning. So we borrowed the Zone Leaders clothes, went on divisions with them, and slept in their house. Their house has so many mosquitoes, I woke up and it looked like I had chicken pox because of all the bites. At the zone meeting on Tuesday the zone leaders asked me to do a demonstration for them to show how distractions on the mission can hold you back. They had five guys hold onto me and told me to run to the door. I was so close to the door but all of us fell and they told us to stop, I was so close. Same comp, he`s hoping we get changed next change though. He`s not used to working hard. On Thursday my comp kept complaining he was so tired so on Friday he slept in and said he was `sick.` But he woke up and he was fine. He said that was the first time that has happened to him on his mission. First comp...check! Made me so mad though! On Saturday we talked to a group of drunk people. It was so fun and it actually worked out really well. They listened and participated in the lesson. Yesterday we had a member feed us alligator. I was surprised that it was actually pretty good! We had an investigator in church for the first time in a long time. Her name is Marta Pacifico. She is the lady I made a deal with that I wouldn`t eat sweets until she quit smoking and it worked, she quit and came to church! I`m so excited! That was truly a blessing and a miracle! This week I studied the importance of fasting. I learned fasting without prayer means nothing. The reason for the fast is to help us focus on the reason why we are fasting. I never really made that connection until this week. We fast because it makes us think I`m hungry and thirsty, and then we think why am I hungry and thirsty, and then that helps us focus on the reason why we`re fasting. And that makes our prayer so much more sincere. This week we taught a lady named Maria. She`s going through a really rough time in her life so we taught her how the church of Jesus Christ can help her overcome her challenges. I pictured her dressed in white not only in the font but in the temple as well. The members aren`t helping us out at all. They feed us once every two weeks and they give us no referrals. That`s okay though, just means I gotta do it! I really love the work and I am really beginning to love my mission. I`m so grateful for these challenges, gives me a chance to prove myself to God.  I got the tie mom, couldn`t believe it. We were going to church yesterday and this lady stopped us and said she had a package from the states. That was such a miracle! Who`s in the Superbowl? 

Your son,

Elder Arbon

Week 17: "The most important thing I have learned on my mission is how much Christ truly loves me and how important the atonement is."

I`m so good! I can`t tell you how much I love this work! Oh man, I love it! I love this work so much because.....I love my savior. I can`t tell you how much I`ve grown to love Jesus. And I`m positive because I know God loves me and only wants the best for me.

My bike is getting fixed so we have to stay with the Zone Leaders tonight so we`re going to do divisions with them.

Time is starting to go by too fast, it needs to slow down. I have so much to learn and so much to do. I haven`t got the backpack yet, hopefully I will get it tomorrow during district meeting, every Tuesday we have district meeting and that`s when they give us our letters and packages.  

I can truly feel my desires changing. I can`t tell you how much the gospel is beginning to change me. I can`t describe in words how much I love this church. I love this church and I love our Savior with all my heart. And because of that I`ve realized that family is so much more important to me than anything.

Week 17

My typical days is... I wake up at 6, workout for a half hour and then shower, eat, and get ready. At 7:30 I try to start to study. We have personal study from 8 to 9, companion study until 11, and then language study until 12. After we cook and eat lunch. After lunch it`s game time. We work until about 8:30 or 9 depending on if we`re in a lesson or not and then it`s time to head for home. We plan for a half hour to 45 minutes, grab a bite to eat, get ready for bed, and lights out at 10:30. But to be honest, the most important thing I have learned on my mission is how much Christ truly loves me and how important the atonement is. He suffered individually for me, every pain, sickness, sin, and trial. He could have quit, but because he loved me, he finished it. And because of that I can have true joy in this life and can live with my family forever in the next life. This week was really good though. On Thursday we had divisions with the zone leaders. I went with Elder Nuffer. He played football for Bingham. He and I are so much alike. Such a great guy, learned so much from him. On Saturday we had some ward baptisms, so awesome. I just can`t wait until I get to baptize someone. But tough week with investigators, we didn`t have anyone in church this week. But I know it`s just a test of faith and I need to just turn it over to Him. Good things are coming though, I can feel it!

I love you so much.

Your son,

Elder Arbon

Yo sè que esta iglesia es la unica iglesia verdadera en la tierra.

Week 16: We found some great investigators.

My companion and I are starting to get along better. He has a confidence problem and he loves the thought of being a `traìner` but I`m learning to deal with him. He enjoys telling me what to do even if he`s wrong and he loves to contradict me even if I`m right just because it has to be his way. But every time he does something like that I say to myself, "I miss you TJ" and imagine TJ being my companion and do everything I can to make him happy.

Week 16

It was a great week this week. We found some great investigators. The first lady, Marta, loves the church but has a problem with smoking. So I made a deal with her that I wouldn`t eat sweets until she quit smoking, so hopefully that will motivate her to quit. At least I`m hoping it will! Sorry there`s not a lot this week!

Elder Arbon

Week 15: I`m so grateful for the Plan of Salvation because I get to be with my family forever.

I`m sorry I didn`t tell you last week that my p day was going to be today, I was just so excited to talk you guys I wasn`t thinking straight. But we had changes this week so whenever we have changes they switch the p day to Wednesday. But I`m so glad you got home safe from Mexico. I was so worried. But I`m glad you had a great experience, I just wish I could of been there to help. It sounded like you guys had so much fun! I`m excited for the pictures. I can`t wait until we can go in two years! But I`m sorry I was so emotional during the skype call. I know I`ve only been gone for 3 months but I`ve truly realized how important families are and how much I love my family.  I didn`t realize grandpa Alberts was such a talker. And I`m sorry about my comp during the skype call. He`s such a dork. He`s a 12 year old in a 21 year old body. But I really did love seeing you!

Heads up!

This week was so good. Two weeks ago I went on divisions with one of the zone leaders. It was so fun! A dog peed on my backpack and we got an investigator to commit to coming to church because she thought we were cute. My comp said she stared at me the whole time so I thought that was really funny! We were talking to an investigator and he said he didn`t really want to talk to us so we bet him that I could beat his son in an arm wrestling match. He agreed and I won! So fun! I know we`re not suppose to gamble, but hey, it worked!!! While eating at an inactive members house, they served us legitimate pig head. They put a real pig`s head on the table and we ate it. It was actually kinda of good though. Two days ago it rained all day and we didn`t bring our rain coats because it was so hot in the morning. We were soaked and my comp wanted to go home early but I thought it would be a great

opportunity to get into people`s houses because they would feel bad for us, but instead they all shut the doors in our face! I was really surprised! But we did find some really good investigators this week. I`m really excited about that!

I`m so grateful for the Plan of Salvation because I get to be with my family forever.

Your son,

Elder Arbon

Week 14 Skype