You are never alone (Week 23&24)

Hello Everyone,

Well big news again! I have been transferred .... to another room in the flat again ha ha! I will be finishing the training of an elder from England so that will be interesting! This week has been a great week. All the finding and hard work has paid off this transfer, the area has been struggling this last transfer, but this last week we found 6 new investigators. We now have 7 people to teach, which is such a miracle and blessing from God.

I still live with Elder Chen so that is super awesome and I hold the record for living the longest with him ha ha! We also went to eat at a senior couples house last night. They had a scale and  I was finally able to weigh myself.  When I left for my mission I weighed 135 pounds and I now weigh 152 pounds. That surprised me because I hardly eat anything out here on the mission ha ha! Now that it's almost winter we are now going into flu season and we got flu shots this week.

 I am ready and exited to work with my new companion Elder Maddock from England. Elder Shortland and Elder Shum who I was training are going up to North to Darwin together! I will miss them. Hopefully, we will meet up again sometime.

 

Elder Shum

 

This week went by really fast! Elder Maddock and I were just working hard this week finding and teaching people the restored gospel! The weather has started to cool down and it has been raining the past couple of days, that has been nice! This week was a really fun week and it was great getting to know about Elder Maddock more and the British culture and what goes on there!

Always remember that you are not alone, that is a message that has struck me so powerfully throughout my life, being able to meet so many people being able to hear people's struggles is very disheartening, but the one thing that everyone can hold onto is the fact that they are never alone! Jesus Christ and your Loving Heavenly Father has a plan for each and every one of you. Each choice has been placed before you, so that you may grow as the person you are meant to be and to reach your full potential as a child of God. Only through Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father, can we reach our full potential. Always remember the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ for all of us. We a lot of times take for granted the fact that we have all been given a second chance at life because of Jesus Christ.  If it wasn't for Him nothing we do now would matter, but the fact that we do have a second chance is so comforting. 

A member in the city branch has demonstrated his love for the Savior and His sacrifice for him by having a little 20 minute sacrament every Sunday night for him and for those few who are not able to attend church because of school. Being able to help bless and pass the sacrament for him was such a blessing. It reminded me of when I would take and administer the sacrament to those back home who were not able to attend church. Don't take the Savior's sacrifice for you for granted, Follow Him... that is my message today. 

This past week I found out that my Grandfather has passed. I love my grandfather very much! I'm grateful for everything he has done for me and my family. For all of the love and support he showed me in my life. I will miss him very much, but because of our Savior's sacrifice I will be able to see him again in a happier place! I hope you all have a great week and I love you all!!!

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Sincerely,

               Elder Ethan Salcedo

We can move mountains (week 21& 22)

Hey everyone, I hope you all had a fantastic week!

I have heard that it is starting to warm up back in AZ, ha ha! It is cold here now that winter is starting and has been cloudy for a week straight. It looks like it will still be cloudy this week too, which is a record for me. Probably the longest time I have seen clouds fill the sky. I like the change, since it is always sunny in Arizona!  Elder Shortland and I have been talking to people on the street. It is crazy to see how much God helps to take away your fears, I really don't fear talking to people anymore. It is so easy to walk up to random people and just have a conversation! For all of you that know me, you know that is a miracle ha ha!

 

Elder Shortland and I

 Prospect Ward had it's conference last week and it was really solid! Continue to read your scriptures daily, pray, and attend church every Sunday. Remember doing these things won't  make a big sudden change in your life, but it is more like a big picture. Doing these things just adds a little brush stroke to the picture and over time the end result is something truly special and powerful! So continue to be diligent in praying to God and reading the scriptures and attending church!

Well this has certainty been a very interesting week to say the least! Elder Shortland and I are no longer companions! I am training an elder from Taiwan and Elder Shortland is training an elder from Hong Kong.  Now there is six of us living in the flat! It has been very interesting and it came out of no where! We also had zone training this week.  

I have been moved to the city branch and will be attending there full time now, which is very exciting!  It's interesting experience having to train a new Elder, it is a lot of responsibility.   You do learn a lot and have to rely on the Lord for guidance and strength!

View from the City Branch Chapel

  

I hope you all have a great week, and remember to always have faith in Jesus Christ, because only through Faith can we find peace and Happiness and feel God and Jesus Christ's love for us, and if we have strong enough faith we can move mountains!!!! The Lord will help us overcome any trial or challenge we have, we just need to turn and face it. Have faith and rely on the Lord for strength to over come it!!!!!! 

Please feel free to email me updates, pictures or whatever you want, I just want to see what everyone has been up to:) I hope you all have a great week and I love you all!!!!!!! 

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Sincerely,

               Elder Ethan Salcedo