Our Last Email... Bittersweet

Hey Fam! How is everyone? This week has been great. David's baptism went really well. His girlfriend (who lives in a different state) was the one who originally gave us the referral to go visit David. Now that his testimony is super strong, he's doing the things he's supposed to because of his love for the Lord, it no longer has much anything to do with his girlfriend. That made her a little upset. I guess she ended up calling him and saying that he shouldn't get baptized until she could come see the baptismal service because blah blah blah. He called us right after, because he was way confused. Why would his girlfriend introduce him to the gospel, then try to be an obstacle that could keep him from being baptized. He felt bad that she looked at his conversion that way, and just told her that he was decided on being baptized because he knew it was the Lord's will. The baptismal service ended up really cool. Elder Tibbitts baptized him. Then afterward we went to David's house for dinner. He made the BEST pizza I've ever had in my life. It was super good. He looks great. He's going to do great things in the gospel.

Lupita's baptism looks to be in order. We've been working with the primary leaders and other families that have young children to set up the baptismal service, so that she can make friends in the primary and be more excited to go to church on Sundays and help her family stay active.

Rigo has been doing very well. He's been cleaning the church, because he's got alot of extra time, and he has alot of respect for the Lord's house. It's cool to see his concern and extra effort to please his Heavenly Father, especially since he's someone who has every reason to spend all day worrying about his own problems and situation, but instead he focuses on serving his God.

The other day Elder Zobell and I were walking down the street and this guy named Angel Chavez wistled to us and came running over. He asked what time the services were at church, and if it would be ok for him to come to church on Sunday. We said he was more than welcome to come and explained the schedule of Sacrament followed by classes etc. Then we put an appointment to swing by and teach him. We went yesterday. He runs his business out of his home, and has a pretty nice office there. He owns a business of Taxi Driver's insurrance. I guess those are pretty rare, but he seems to do well. We talked to him about how he'd been, what his life was like and stuff. Turned out that years ago he had talked with missionaries once, and had always had curiosity to learn more, but never got around to it. As a result of some bad choices he made later on, him and his wife are now separated. They have two almost teenage kids. Angel is pretty bummed out about the separation. He's a pretty good basketball player I guess, he plays semi pro. So he's been playing basketball to keep his mind off of his family situation. We talked to him yesterday about how if we're going to return to God's presence, we need to be pure. If we're going to be pure, we need forgiveness. Christ taught that forgiveness comes through His sacrifice, and that the way to take advantage of those blessings is through baptism. If we're going to be baptized, recieve a forgiveness of our sins, and be healed through our Savior, we need to find someone who has authority from God, just like Christ did when he sought out John the Baptist. Then we explained the Great Apostasy and the Restoration, and how it is that he can know all that stuff for himself if he just reads and prays about the Book of Mormon. He was pretty stoked. He asked if we could come again on Saturday, and said he's planning on being in Church on Sunday. It looks like he's been very well prepared to recieve the gospel at this certain time in his life.

Well that's pretty much all that's been going on this week. If I remember right, I think something important is supposed to happen on Monday. Oh yeah. I GET TO SEE MY FAMILY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN TWO YEARS!!! Sweet.

Mom- I attached pictures to this e mail of when Elder Villanueva took us all to lunch at Outback Steak House (He's unusually wealthy by the way.) On the way there Elder Zobell fell asleep, so we all pretended to be asleep and took a picture in the van. Also pictures from David's baptism, and the dinner at his house afterward with the ward missionaries. The other day Brother Luna came to the offices with some other missionaries. He's a member Elder Moberg and I were working to reactivate like 22 months ago. He's a ward missionary in his ward now and is doing really well in the gospel. It was cool to see him again. So there's a pícture of him and me as well. Ok, sounds like a good topic for the JN 1st ward talk. I'll be thinking of good member missionary effort stories to include in my talk. About Buffet City. I think that'd be great. We'll leave for the airport on Monday at like 5:30 in the morning, and then I'll be traveling for the next 11 hours. I should be pretty hungry by then. Also.. I already had my final interview with President Jesperson, and he put emphasis on the importance of being released ASAP. He said I can't hug anyone outside of my immediate family until I'm released, so hopefully I don't see any aunts or grandmothers before I'm released. haha. Anyway, so if you could see if we could get the appointment for the release as early as possible that'd be good. Anyway. Thanks for all your help as usual mom! See ya soon. Love ya, have a great week!

Shash- That's awesome about your poetry and illustration book. You'll have to show it to me later. I'm glad you liked that stuffed animal, feel free to take any of my old stuffed animals. haha. See ya soon. Love ya, have a great week!

Dad- That's awesome about Romney. Holy cats. That's a big deal. I don't know anything at all about the political or economic situation in the U.S. right now, but I'd assume that Romney's money skills would give him a pretty darn good chance in the presidential election if he makes the GOP nomination. Sounds like Tia and Jimmy's baptisms went great. I can't wait to meet all my new cousins. See ya soon. Love ya, have a great week!

Den- That's too bad your finger's still hurtin Den. I hope it gets better soon. Does it usually take a long time for PIP joints to heal? See ya soon. Love ya, have a great week!

Davin- That's sweet that you're varsity man! I was never varsity until 9th grade. That's interesting about the lack of wrestlers in the certain weights. It sounds like some JVs will probably have to wrestle up a weight or two to fill in and not have to forfeit. See ya soon. Love ya, have a great week!

Nay- Haha. Yes I remember when I use to convince you that eating potato bugs was a good idea. I can't believe how mean I use to be! I've still got alot to learn about life. haha. Those were the good old days though. See ya soon. Love ya, have a great week!

Love you all!
Elder Aguilar

"Sleeping" Elders



Outback Steakhouse on Elder Villanueva - cha ching!



David's Baptism



Elder Tibbetts, Elder Zobell, David, Elder Aguilar




Dinner at David's House



Brother Luna & Elder Aguilar

Homecomings!

Hello Family & Friends!  Just want to let you know that Elder Aguilar will be speaking in our old ward (3900 S. 4000 W.) on January 22 @ 11:00 and again in our new ward (3900 S. 5200 W.) on January 29 @ 9:00.  Please come to either one.  We will be having get togethers after each meeting.

10 more days!!!

How is everyone? I'm doing great. This week has been a week of miracles. Things are going great. The companionship is doing as good as ever, all the training for the office stuff is going smoothly, and we still haven't ever really had to miss any proselyting time.


We went to Rigo's appointment on Wednesday, and while we were waiting for him to arrive we started talking to one of the sons of the family that had given us the referral of Rigo. He said "So why does Rigo have to wait to get baptized?" I said "Because of things that have happened in his past." He replied "You know he was in the military right?" I didn't know. I was happy to hear it. When Rigo got to the house we started the lesson with a prayer and began to talk about how he'd been and everything. We got talking about his baptism progress and how his reading had been and stuff, then I asked about his mililtary service. Turned out that all of the incidents in which he was involved in any violent situations were part of his military service except for two, and in those cases it was in self defense. He has some pretty crazy stories and experiences. I called President right then and explained the situation. He said we could have his regular baptismal interview the next day (Thursday) and then he'd come for a special interview to decide if we'd still have to send the letter to the First Presidency for permission. Thursday, one of the assistants came with for his regular interview, and said he looked great. The next morning, President interviewed him at the church, and he passed. He said he wanted to be baptized ASAP so we called a bunch of people and ended up having his baptismal service at 7 that night. It was pretty awesome, he was super happy and thankful for the opportunity. We had prayed and fasted for him, and he had put alot of effort and sincerity into his prayers asking for the opportunity to be baptized as soon as he could. It was a pretty awesome experience.


David looks great for Saturday. He also had his interview already and he's all set. He went up to Culiacan for new years, and I guess while he was there his girlfriend (the one who gave us the referral to go teach him) told him that he should wait to be baptized so she can be at the baptismal service. I was a little nervous when he told us that she wanted him to wait, but then he said "But I just sat her down and talked to her about why I'm getting baptized, and why I don't want to wait." His testimony is SO strong. I think he'll be a big part of local church leadership in the future. He's actually planning to move to Miami in the summer to go live with his aunt and work at a restaurant, then he's going to move to Sweden and start his own restaurant by where his brother lives. So when he's rich and famous and a General Authority I'll go eat at his fancy restaurant. Hopefully he'll give me a discount.


Lupita, the little eight year old girl, is progressing well and has been coming to church each week, so she should be able to be baptized soon. Her mom is starting to warm up to the message as well, and plans to come to church soon for the first time. That'll be awesome. It's been a blast visiting that family, because being around all the little kids reminds me of family get togethers back home.


New years was good here in the offices. We can't have much of a New Year celebration, because we need to be to bed on time. But we ended up having a huge pillow fight here in the offices, three on three, and it got pretty crazy. It was like a war. Then we ordered a giant pizza that was a way good deal and ate it on the roof before it was time for bed. The last part of our proselyting time in the evening was pretty crazy, the people in the street were getting a little over excited about the celebrations. I guess some New Years parties here literally last for days. Day and night non stop they just eat and dance and visit and do fireworks and stuff. One of the families in our ward shut their whole street down and had a mariachi band and a big dance from like 8 pm until five in the morning. Crazy. Anyway, that's about all that's been going on this week.


Mom- The musical number for my homecoming... I think the song you and your sisters were going to sing at my farewell would be great. If Nay and Shash could be worked in as well that'd be awesome. However you think it would work best. Let me know about the topic from Bishop Bell next week I guess. Talking in a Utah ward is way different than talking here, I'm kind of nervous. haha. I attached pictures of Rigo's baptism, our pizza on the roof dinner, and some from the New Years pillow war. Thanks for everything mom. Love ya, have a great week.


Nay- What's TOMS? I don't think I've ever heard of it before. All I know is that $100 can get you two pairs of something. haha. Sounds like you had a sweet B day though. That's good. That's awesome that you got to go to the adoption and everything. I was pretty stoked when we found out that we'd be able to have a baptism the 30th as well. It was the best way I could celebrate your birthday. haha. That's too bad about the Katie thing. Oh well, everything happens for something. I'm sure things will work out. If you want I can just go be your personal buttler and follow you around all day so you won't feel alone. I could sharpen your pencils during tests or erase mistakes or whatever. haha. Just Kiddin. Love ya, have a great week.


Den- That stinks about your PIP joint man! Nothing more annoying than a dislocated PIP joint. That's cool that you get a little mini cast though. Is it going to take long to heal? Hopefully you get better soon so you can keep tearing it up at wrestling. Love ya, have a great week.


Dad- That's awesome that the U won. Elder Zobell's fam told him about the game, I guess they won in overtime right? Sweet. So when is the trek? You may have already told me but I don't remember. Treks are the best. I actually have seen 17 miracles.... Even though it's not a church movie. That's what we watched at President Jesperson's house for Christmas. He had seen it before and said he wanted us to see it and felt it was very mission appropriate. That's a great show though. I seriously loved it. That'd be especially awesome to be watching it while getting ready for a trek. It's way sad when Bodil dies. Good movie. Love ya, have a great week.


Dig- Oh man Dig I remember those good old days of King of the Mat. I use to usually be one of the bigger ones on my mat though because of how they seprated the weights into groups. That's awesome that you could wrestle so well against bigger guys. So your ground game is better than your standing huh? You'll have to show me some sweet moves when I get home. Love ya, have a great week.


Shash- Sounds like new years was awesome! Those Lantern things that Bam got sound way sweet. I've never seen one before but I bet it was super cool. Bam said you got to make wishes when you sent them up too. Sweet. You got to hold Trey a bunch huh? Cool. I haven't even met Trey yet! That's so weird. Anyway. Love ya, have a great week.


Love you all!
Elder Aguilar


Rigoberto's Baptism





New Years Eve