Prayers Answered

Here is an excerpt from Elder May's email to us this week:

It's been quite the week. Now that I'm District Leader, I have to give a class at District meeting every week and do exchanges with all the Elders. I think my first class went pretty well. I talked about the importance of teaching the investigators to pray with real intention, and the importance of using the Book of Mormon in all that we do.  On Thursday, I did exchanges with Elder Whitmer  from Colorado. We found a few people that seem to have interest, so we´ll see if they start to progress. We've been working a lot more with the inactive members...there are SO many here in Bermejo, it's pretty crazy. 

I think the highlight of my week was Sunday. Sunday was the National Pedestrian Day, so there were no taxis or anything. We had told people that we were going to pick them up, but the church is far, so without a taxi it's super difficult. We prayed and asked for God to provide a way for us to bring our investigators to church, and then started walking to go pick them up. They live EXTREMELY far away from the church, but we picked them up and kept walking and eventually a handicapped member pulled up in his taxi and offered to give them a ride to church. We arrived late to Church because of how far we were, but when we got there another investigator family had showed up, an investigator couple showed up, and this 10 year old kid who we contacted this week was there with a member. We thought we would have NOONE in church, but we ended up having 8 investigators. In short, God always answers prayers, and will provide the way. Well, that was my week, I hope yours went well!

Love,

Nathaniel

November 21, 2019

Exchanges with Elder Whitmer

Eating dinner at a restaurant

November 23, 2019

Service project at a convert's house

They were replacing their dirt floor with a cement floor

New Companion, Elder Cabrera

Elder May had transfers last week.  We were pretty surprised that he did because of all that's going on in Bolivia, but he is glad to have Elder Cabrera as a companion. He is from Paraguay.

Here are some pictures of the beautiful scenery as they were walking around and knocking on doors

Responsibilities!

Dear Friends and Family,

It's been pretty crazy down here in Bolivia. I don't know if you've heard the news, but Bolivia has been having some political turmoil for the last 3 weeks, and it didn't look like it was going to end. All the missionaries had assumed that we wouldn't have transfers for all that is going on, but the things finally calmed down a bit, and we were able to have transfers. I'm going to stay here in Bermejo for my 4th transfer, so I'll have been here for 6 months after this transfer. My comp is going to Tarija, another city in the mission. I will be with an Elder who just finished his training. His name is Elder Cabrera, he's 23, and is from Uruguay. I will also be the District Leader here in Bermejo. However, Bermejo is off by itself, so I essentially have the duties of a Zone Leader as well. I haven't had a leadership position yet in the mission, so I'm pretty excited for these new responsibilities. Hopefully I'll be able to do a good job here. The investigators here are doing pretty well. We're having some trouble finding new investigators, mainly because it's super hot here, and no one wants to open the door. We're not giving up though. I think that now that everything is calming down, we'll have a lot more success. I hope everything is going well on your side of the world!

Love,

Elder May

November 5, 2019

Elder May's district in Bermejo

November 9, 2019

Gabby's baptism

She is the girlfriend of a ward member.  Elder May gave a talk on the Holy Ghost at her baptism.

More Unrest in Bolivia

This is the message we received from Elder May's mission president this week.  We are still worried, but this helped.

"Things are about the same here in Bolivia.  There are still blockades in Santa Cruz which restricts our travel by car, taxi or bus.  The outlying areas of Tarija, Bermejo, Camiri, Villamontes, Yacuiba, Puerto Suarez and Puerto Quijarro have more access to transportation within the city but leaving the city is still a problem.

The missionaries are able to work from 10:00 in the morning to 6:30 in the evening.  They are still wearing their P-Day clothes without their name tags.  There have been some demonstrations in Santa Cruz but things are fairly peaceful.  The missionaries have been instructed to return to their homes immediately if they feel unsafe.

I receive updates 3 times a day (morning, lunch time and evening when they return) from the assistants letting me know how the missionaries are doing.  So far, their spirits continue to be good although they would prefer to working longer and do more contacting.

This Sunday, Nov. 3rd, we are joining the members in Bolivia in a fast to bring peace and normalcy back to the country.  If you are able, I would like to ask you join us in this fast.

It is truly a privilege to serve here in Bolivia with these faithful people along side your dedicated and faithful sons and daughters.  This is the Lord's work and he knows the beginning to the end of this work.  

Thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers."

Here he yesterday having a little fun with some kittens at a member's house.

November 3, 2019