Ben's Missionary Letters

  This is my last week as a missionary and there has been a lot of mixed emotions. It's gotta be one of the hardest goodbyes of my life leaving Trinidad. The members and converts I've come to know are all amazing friends for life and I'm truly going to miss working closely with them to invite others to Christ. I've learned so much in my time here in Trinidad and in the mission overall. We ended on a high note with the baptism of Walter Ramos on Saturday. Walter made huge life changes to prepare for his baptism. Before he lived a worldly life full of vices and he admitted at this time he had no plan to go to any church. But after recent trials he truly felt "humbled to the dust". That's when his sister Yuly, refered us to help him. We started teaching him how to find happiness in Christ Atonement and how he could come to know Christ though the Book of Mormon. He studied dillegently looking for answer and guidance and slowly over time started to leave behind...

  Saturday was easily one of the best days of my mission. It was just straight baptisms from the start of the day to the end.  Our first baptism the day was Amaiza Ovale. She was a reference from Isela the mom of the Coimbra family. Isela had taught her to pray and read her the Book of Mormon. She had been begging Isela to introduce her to the missionaries and take her to church. We went to visit her and she was so excited to meet with us, go to church and be baptized. She was one of the most positive people I had met, despite her difficult life in the past. She comes from a village North of Trinidad called Santa Ana de Yacuma which is pretty infamous for drug trafficking and witchcraft practice, not and ideal place to grow up. At 16, she was forced into a marriage and taken to La Paz against her will. Finally, she made it away from the bad relationships and moved to Santa Cruz. She suffered a stroke that left her paralyzed on her left side and found her way to Trinidad with h...

  Este... buenas a todos Hope everyone had a great week. We sure did down here in Trinidad. We were supposed to fly down to Santa Cruz but that was post poned until next week because Elder Pino, a member of the area presidency, is coming to visit our mission. He spoke in the most recent general conference about "Christlike customs" and putting chili powder on coconuts.  We still made a little trip though, maybe not by plane but by boat this time. We went out with two other Elders to visit a town called San Ignacio de Moxos. Getting there was half the fun. It was a bumpy car ride down a muddy jungle road in a minivan going way to fast for the road conditions. He was blasting cumbia music for the whole 2 hour ride which quickly got irritating. There were two river crossings. There first was by a small town completely built on stilts. There was a network of makeshift boardwalks connecting the slanted wooded houses, perched over the flooded marsh. The car descended down a steep d...

  Buenos tardes a todos  Transfers happened and I happy to say I'm staying in my area, Moxos, with my same companion. We have big goals for this transfer since we're sticking together we wanna match our goal of 8 baptisms.  As well almost the whole zone was the same which is good because we had such a great last transfer. We set a high goal for baptism but I'm confident there's lots people that need to be saved. That's why our new zone motto is "Vision de Salvar" or "vision to save". The best new was that the last brother in la famila Coimbra was baptized! He decided after talking to our branch president at an activity. He also asked our branch president to baptize him which was a sweet and spiritual moment. Unfortunately Isela still can be baptized due to the same issues but she's staying firm in her faith and helps all her boys keep their covenants and have priesthood, temple trips ans missions in their goals.  Anouther cool experience was ...

 This last week was the happiest and saddest week of my mission. Also probably the craziest.  I'll start with the happy. All five of the boys in the Familia Coimbra were baptized on Saturday!! It such a happy and spiritual day. Each of the boys were excited for baptism, Victor (19) and Boris (17) had studied diligently in the Book of Mormon and prayed to receive a strengthened testimony of the restored gospel. Alexander (14) was first up to share his testimony after the baptism. And Alvero (9) and Ramon (8) raced to the font after having changed into their oversized baptisimal clothes. We said a prayer before with the whole family and each brother congratulated and hugged one anouther as they climbed out of the font. It was a great day for everyone. Now the sad part. Their mom, Isela, was supposed to be baptized alongside them but she could not and it's a long story why. In the morning of the day before the baptism we get a call from our elders quorum president. He told us he ...

  Had an awesome week. Me and my comp have really dialed in to the missionary work here and we got a lot of big thing coming up. The biggest is that la familia Coimbra has committed to baptism this weekend! There a big family but each and every member  has truly found a testimony of the restored gospel and a love for Jesus Christ. The older boys, Boris Jesus and Victor prayed and thought a lot about the decision. I'm actually very proud and impressed by their efforts to find an answer from God. They studied diligently in the Book of Mormon, had lots of questions for us and most importantly took their doubts and question to the Lord. Finally this last Sunday they gave a firm answer that they want to be baptized. I know their efforts will be rewarded with a firm testimony and commitment to the gospel. I'm glad they took the time to truly know for themselves that the gospel is true. Pray for la famila Coimbra. We also had a very special experience at zone conference. President ca...