Old friends at Transfer Meeting

Fam, 

This week was crazy. I had to give a training to all the District Leaders in Oxnard.  I always pooch my presentations. I prep for them so much and they are always good in my head, and then it all comes out like a jumbled hooblagumbo while I am up there sweating profusely. Oh well. 

We have seen a lot of miracles this week, and it has been so much fun here with Elder Herrera. He’s just so cute and innocent:) Our car broke down coming over the Cachuma Lake Pass in the middle of nowhere on our way home from transfers, so he had a great first day in the mission :):) I was laughing so hard. I have these grimy nasty paper cups that I’ve had since my first area that we use to teach the Restoration.  They were sitting on my desk. They have been on hundreds of gross carpets, floors, tables, grass, dirt, you name it. Over the last couple days, I noticed the stack of cups was getting smaller... Finally, I was like what the heck and found all my cups in the garbage. He's been using them to drink out of, because he thought that’s what they were for! hahaha He was so embarrassed. 


Elder Herrera and Elder Parrish

We have 4 progressing investigators. We were able to get back on track with some really good member present lessons, and Elder Herrera stepped up to the plate and invited 3 people to be baptized like he does it all the time!   2 out of the 3 accepted and we set them with dates. He said he was scared out of his mind, but he just went for it anyway and it was awesome! When I was in Oxnard on Friday for the District Leader training, Elder Herrera was back in Santa Maria with another English Elder and teaching Spanish lessons all by himself to our investigators his 3rd day in the mission! And he did great- followed up, answered Q's, taught the whole Plan of Salvation, extended commitments and everything! I was so proud of him. :)

That’s what it was like when Elder Griffin and I were together in my first area. Every day was a struggle and we had no idea what to do. But despite both being brand new missionaries, we miraculously managed to find, teach, and baptize 2 people with our limited experience and poor Spanish. And I learned a million things. I imagine that’s another reason why Elder Griffin and I became such good friends! He finished this week, crazy to think.

Elder Herrera is really sincere and just wants to do his best.  I see so much good in him and even though our personalities, interests, hobbies are almost exact opposites, I love him to death and we get along great! He’s very humble and like I said, is just getting right in the mix of things inviting people to be baptized, bearing his testimony in Sacrament Meeting, etc.

President Felix read L---'s letter at transfer meeting in front of all the missionaries. That was awesome.  It was all I could do not to cry, haha. It is so cool to think they just up and left and officially joined the Saints in Zion! I can’t express enough gratitude to Heavenly Father. I love being a missionary and love getting to learn and serve with Elder Herrera and see as he catches the same fire.

Love, Elder P


E. Herrera jumping with both feet in the mission!