Elder Andrew Edholm -- week 89

 This last week went really well. We were able to have a conference with the other missionaries and talk about the blessings that are received from obeying the word of God, which gave me a lot of energy that I needed. I also was able to be with another missionary for a day because we exchanged companions. I was with Elder Vistaunet from Oregon and he was originally assigned to Bolivia also but never was able to go because of the civil unrest and Covid. I learned a lot from him and hopefully he learned some new things too. This last weekend Ysaura was able to be baptized! Her family and some people from the church attended. My companion Elder Olivier baptized ber. The bishop was also there and support her. She was very happy after her baptism. The missionaries that started teaching her made it there also. 

Today for our preparation day we did laundry, went to Wal-Mart, went bowling (and I saw porter there because he was here for the Mexican consulate because he's returning soon!

I wanted to share a classic scripture

John 3:16

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

I don't think I can say anything more about this scripture, I love simply it is stated

Have a good week and think more of Christ with Easter coming soon!

-Elder Edholm

Porter (Elder Harman) was in Salt Lake to visit the Mexican consulate so he can go to Mexico, his original missionary assignment. How cool that they could meet up!

Andy was very proud of his bowling score of 178!

Ysaura baptism

A Stranger to Command by Sherwood Smith

 Fantasy Fiction. This book is a prequel to Crown Duel which I read a month or so ago. It follows the the character, Vidanric, in Crown Duel when he was a teen and illustrates the history behind the wars among the different countries. It's pretty technical in it's descriptions of training and preparing young men and women for possible military conflicts, but I kept reading because I liked the main character and liked to see how his character developed. I think the author is very good at character development, but her books do not always move quickly and require patience as you read. I'm glad I finished it, but would not recommend reading it before reading Crown Duel. 

Recommend: only after reading and loving Crown Duel.

Elder Edholm -- week 87

 Hello everyone, sorry I haven't written an a while. Since the last time I wrote Moises was baptized. It was a very special experience, most of his family was able to attend and support him. Mireya Infante still has the goal to be baptized, the date that she feels comfortable with is April 3rd. We also had a someone move into the area who was previously listening to the missionaries, her name us Ysaura. She's wanting to be baptized on the 27th of this month. We have been really blessed recently. Transfers were about two weeks go, and Elder West got transferred up to Green River and my new companion came down from there. His name is Elder Olivier and he's from Maryland. He's has been out for 22 months now, he started his mission in Puebla Mexico. We're doing some good here.

I just wanted to share one scripture with you guys.

Alma 22:14 And since man had fallen he could not merit anything of himself; but the sufferings and death of Christ atone for their sins, through faith and repentance, and so forth; and that he breaketh the bands of death, that the grave shall have no victory, and that the sting of death should be swallowed up in the hopes of glory;

We're here because of Jesus, I have come to find that the reason I'm here serving as a missionary has become more and more for the love I have for Him.

Have a good week!

-Elder Edholm

Moises' family

Moises' baptism

Dragonwatch Series by Brandon Mull

 Junior Fantasy Fiction. Master of the Phantom Isle, book 3. Another reread for me as I was preparing to read book number four which recently was published. This book was my least favorite of the series so far. It reminded me of book five in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, and episode five of Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back. Bad things happen. People are sad. Will it get better? Seth and Kendra's attempts to make the world right and rid it of the threat of a Dragon War seem thwarted at every turn. But keep reading, book number is worth the wait!

Recommend: Of course. 

Champion of the Titan Games, book 4. It has been awhile since I was really excited to get all the mundane things done during my time so I could get back to a really good story. Number four is definitely worth the wait!  There were so many plot twists and lessons learned along the way. I finished this book with a lot of insights into my own life and discussed some of my findings with my daughter who had already read the book. Now comes the hard part, waiting for the final book in the series to be published!

Recommend: Yes!