Photos from the week of 8 February.

Elder Green helping the family get married.

Fingerprint and signing the documents.

Elder Arrecis baptising Brother Daniel Palma Cosme.

"Really cool" members at the baptism.

Diego - This kid is a menace but a really cute kid and we always play.

22 February 2010 - Transfers are here

22 February 2010

Hi again family,

This past week went by really fast. We were all anxious to know about transfers. They called us last night with the news of who is going and who is staying. And, just like I figured, I'm leaving this area. I sure am going to miss this area and the members here, but I know the new area I'm going to already and it's a pretty good place. My new companion will be Elder Gonzalez. Not sure how he spells it. My area is called Constituyentes, and it's right next to the very first area I ever had in the mission. So that is really neat. I'll be able to visit some converts and members from my very first area over a year and a half ago. I'm excited for that. Should be a good transfer, I'm looking forward to it.

The Maldonado Family.

Congrats to Parker for getting his mission call. When does he leave? Please let me know about Isaac if his call ends up coming this week. I'm sorry you weren't able to watch the videos I posted on my blog. Maybe just keep trying and they will work.

Sad to say goodbye to the Maldonado Family...

Brother Maldonado is a counselor in the Bishopric.

If Mom hasn't sent my package out yet, I thought of something else I'd like. Some teeth whitening strips. They don't have those here anywhere. I'd like to use some of those before I get home. But if you already sent the package off then don't worry about it. Not a big deal. Two cute girls who live in his ares.

We had two baptisms planned for yesterday, an elderly lady and her granddaugther. We've been teaching them lately and the older lady has a tumor in her arm, so we've just been waiting to see what the doctors say. We challenged them to baptism during the week and they said yes. So two days later we went back with the DL so that he could do the interview, and when we got there she told us that she had changed her mind and didn't want to get baptized anymore. That was a letdown. I think some of her family members talked her out of it and put false ideas in her mind. It's sad to see that. But the elders here will keep working with her I hope.

Sounds like Dad is busy busy with work. I hope his meetings went well overseas. I had a question about our trip back here to Mexico/Cancun. Do we have anything planned yet? Like dates or plane tickets or anything? Just curious because it's sneaking up. Is it going to be the whole family or just Mom, Dad and I?
Well, there isn't much new this week. I will let you know how my new companion and area are. And I will try to get a picture with him for you next week. I love you all very much! Hope you have a great week.

Love you!
Elder Green

15 February 2009

Hi Family.

This week went pretty well. I'm now in the last week of this transfer. I hope I stay in this area with the same companion but I'm not so sure it will happen. I've been in this zone for almost 8 months so I have a feeling that I will move out, but we'll find out next Sunday evening.

Glad to hear that Dad's business is going well. I hope it remains that way. I actually heard something about a new mission being created this week from one of my buddies, but I didn't know if it was true or not. Sounds like they are going to take a few zones from this mission and add it to the new one, including the zone I am in and the zone that has the big church high school I think. But it won't effect me any because I won't be here for the big change. Very interesting though.

I'm not sure where to guess about Isaac going on his mission. I'm guessing state side somewhere... California would probably be my guess. Please keep me updated on that. Did he already send in his papers?

I'll try to post another video on my blog of that cute kid. He's really funny, we call him "the midget" because he's really small but speaks and understands well. He's a cute kid, loves to play with me.

I was able to buy a memory card this week, cost me 200 pesos. I checked in Walmart but I didn't like the brands they had and they were all expensive, but I was able to find a nice one for a good price. With this memory card I should be able to finish out my mission.

We were able to get that couple married this past Tuesday. It took all morning because we had to go fairly far away to get it done, but we did it. They were really happy. And then that evening we were able to baptized the husband. The wife was already a member from years ago. I let my companion baptize because he had never done it before, this was his first one. He was nervous but he did a really good job. I will send you pictures of the baptism. His full name is Daniel Palma Cosme.

Please keep me informed on Parker Blackhurst and his mission call. That is very exciting for him. Seems like our ward has quite a few missionaries out now. Good for us. Tell Tiffy I say "Happy Birthday" Any news on her baby yet?? Is it a boy or a girl? Do they know?

I got my package last Tuesday, thank you very much? :) It was great. Thank you for sending all of that. You're sending another package this week? I'm not sure what I really need.. Just whatever you come up with is fine I guess. Maybe more Swedish Fish and a few packs of Orbit gum. :) Thanks Mom.

Thanks for the emails Mom and Dad. Hope you had a good Valentine's Day. I love you all!

Love,
Elder Green

8 February 2010

Hello again Family, Sounds like you had an enjoyable week. Glad that Dad's business trip went so well. And that is very exciting that Danny and Patrice were able to bless their new baby Chase. Is Isaac already 19?? He's really turning in his papers? I can't believe that. That's so exciting! I might just miss seeing him then, but I'm excited for him. Please keep me updated on that (Mom). Thank you.

Fun to hear that Mom and Dad could get away and go to a concert, I'm sure that was enjoyable for you both. I was able to take some videos of the member's cute little boy, but I forgot to bring my camera. I'll try to post those videos next week. I still need to find a memory stick, I haven't been able to find a cheap one and we don't have much money right now.

There were two more baptisms in Lomas Verdes last week I believe. Both were people that I had found, taught, and brought to church. I was excited to hear that they got baptized. It was Elizabeth, I think I told you about her. Seems like I did all the hard work, and then the district leader just came in and had free baptisms. But that's fine. Dad, I'm not sure how many baptisms I have in total, I don't keep count.

The talk that I gave last week, they told us about it a few days in advance, so we were able to prepare for it. Sound like the Super Bowl was a good game this year. I'm happy the Saints won, that's who I wanted. I like that team and Reggie Bush, and they were the underdog. Super Bowl is over now... next up is March Madness! (:

I loved the pics that Dad sent from his quick Aruba trip. Thanks for those. Yes, things are still going well with my companion. Good luck Dad on your trade show in Vegas. Sounds busy, but busy is good. We have changes in two weeks, but I hope I stay here for another change with my companion. Not sure what will happen because I've been in this zone for so long, but we'll see.

The couple we were planning on marrying and baptizing this week, we weren't able to get them married. One of their certificates was cut in half or had something wrong, so they wouldn't accept it. But they were able to get a new one, and tomorrow we have planned to get them married. And then that same day I think we'll do the baptism. So let's hope that doesn't fall through.

Well, I think that is about all from this week. Not much news. It rained really really hard for two days straight which made it tough to work. Not sure if you saw the news, but many many houses here flooded because of it. It's all over the papers here. Seems pretty serious. But I enjoy the rain every once in a while. "You can't enjoy a sunny day without a few rainy ones." Have a great week family! Thanks for your love and support.

Love,
Elder Green

1 February 2010
Hi Family,

I hope everyone had an enjoyable week. Congrats to Chez for getting his permit! That's exciting for him. How long until he can take the driving test? He turns 16 in 5 months or so. Where did the time go??
I hope the package gets here soon. I'm guessing this week, meaning I'll get it next week. But we'll see if anything came for me today. I'll be sure to write Grandma and Grandpa Barlow a letter next chance I get.
Out of the ten or so zones in this mission, I've been in only 4 of them. It's because I've been in this same zone for a long time, but that's fine.

Yes Mom, I played basketball in my indoor soccer shoes. I also have a pair of running shoes and sometimes I use them to play, just depends. Mom asked about the family where we just finished reading the Book of Mormon, the Bueno family. But you asked if "They're well to do"?? What did you want to say? Their son is in the Oakland California mission. And their daughter is studying in BYU. It's a really cool family. I think tomorrow evening they are inviting us to go eat tacos for dinner.

So is Dad back from his trip/vacation? Lucky you were able to go to Aruba!! That's on my list of places to go. Mom and Dad, you'll have to let me know which is better, Aruba or Cancun. After we visit Cancun of course.

I hope Dad's trip went well and he enjoyed it. Sounds like business is going well for him, I hope it stays that way.

We'll see who wins the Super Bowl this year. I'm going for the Saints. Please let me know. Glad you were able to see the video I posted. It's a spiral staircase that goes up three stories. We climb that every day. But no, my comp. didn't take up ALL my luggage. He just grabbed the first one and started so I took a video. Then I hauled up stuff. It's a cool house.

We live above members and they are really cool. They have a way cute son who is like one or two, I'm going to try to take a video of him this week if I can. He's was cute.

So last week their was a baptism in Lomas Verdes, my last area. It was someone I had just found and she got baptized last week. Seems to happen to me a lot. I find them, then they take me out and soon after the person gets baptized. But I was happy to hear that she got baptized.

We should be having a baptism this week. We are getting this couple married on Wednesday and possibly that same day the husband will already get baptized. The wife is already a member, from many years back. So let's hope that works out for us.

On Sunday, yesterday, I gave a talk in one of my Wards. It went well. Been a while since I have spoken in Church. I can't believe that February is already here. That's exciting :)

Thanks for the great emails. I enjoy hearing about Dad's business. I pray for your business success every night, so I'm glad that the Lord has blessed our family with work.

I love you all very much! I hope you have a great week. Things are going really great with my companion and my new areas.

Love you all.

Love,

Elder Green