Immigration

Hello Family,

This week went well, It's a lot different with a native companion. It's really hard to explain everything in Spanish, but it's been going well. I always cook breakfast and lunch, but my companion never eats breakfast. 

We have a lot of investigators but none are progressing at this moment. We had two investigators come to church this week, one of them won't except a baptismal date which is hard. I wish we could get more referrals from the ward, we rarely get any. We knock on doors for almost all of our contacts. It would be a lot easier if the ward gave us contacts and would help us teach. We got a new bishop this week so hopefully that will help get our ward excited. The stake president kinda got mad at our our ward saying we need more baptisms and there are a ton of less active members in the church. The stake president said we have 700 members in our ward, I don't know if thats true but only about 100 members go to church each week. 

We went to Panama City for immigration, I got to see everybody from by MTC group which was really cool, all of them are doing very well. 

We have district meeting every week, and we have zone conference with the president this week on Tuesday. The President comes to our chapel for zone conference. Right know we have about half Elders and half Sisters. But soon we will have more Sisters then Elders. 

I have emailed Jason but I haven't emailed Mckay, whats his email address?  Conner and Mckay are going to have so much fun in the MTC. Tell them good luck. 

This week I read a talk by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf Intitled Continue in Patience, this attripute of patience has been pretty hard for me so I really liked this talk. Here's a quote from the talk.

Patience is not passive resignation, nor is it failing to act because of our fears. Patience means active waiting and enduring. It means staying with something and doing all that we can-- working, hoping, and exercising faith; bearing hardship with fortitude, even when the desires of our hearts are delayed. Patience is not simply enduring; it is enduring well!

Thank you for all of your letters everyweek, and I going to read that talk you sent me this week, because now I can print it off. 

Love,

Elder Weston

New companion

Hello Family,

I have new companion his name is Elder Lopez he is from Guatemala. He only speaks a little English. I've been working hard with him, and also I know my area well so that hasn't been any problem. It's weird having to  always speak Spanish with my companion, it's hard at times. 

The family reunion sounded like a lot of fun, I got the letter from Amber and Chad with the baby announcement. 

We email letters from computer internet shops, it cost's about a dollar. My area in Chorrera is mostly middle class families. Almost all the houses here look exactly the same. I haven't seen anybody really rich here. I have seen a couple very poor places though. Because the food here is all white rice, I don't think I've lost any weight.  I'll be looking for the package you sent.  The new member sounds cool, a drummer for Disneyland sounds like a super fun job. 

This is from a talk by Elder D. Todd Chirstofferson I really liked it. 

By work we sustain and enrich life. It enables us to survive the disappointments and tragedies of the mortal experience. Hard-earned achievement brings a sense of self-worth. Work builds and refines character, creates beauty, and is the instrument of our service to one another and to God. A consecrated life is filled with work, sometimes repetitive, sometimes menial, sometimes unappreciated but always work that improves, orders, sustains, lifts, ministers, aspires. -- Elder D. Todd Christofferson Reflections of a Consecrated Life 2010

Love you all and your letters,

Elder Weston

Animales en Panama

Dear Family,

Thanks for your letters, I love reading them each week and they make me feel so much better.  Changes are this Wednesday so I'll tell you who my new companion is next week. It sounds like you had fun in Idaho. Dad, I would love to read some of our family history. 

Some animals they have in Panama [Ryder wanted to know what kind of animals are in Panama]

-Dogs, Dogs, Dogs

-Cats

-Parrot´s

-I've seen a Monkey

-Lots of Lizards

-Lots of Frogs and Toads (at night you hear so many frogs)

-I saw one snake

-I haven't seen a sloth but I want to.

-Iguanas and more

The food here in Panama. They usually eat rice with every meal. One very common meal here is rice and spaghetti and chicken. They usually don't eat spaghetti with tomato sauce. This week I had a meal of mac and cheese, rice, pork and beans, they just mix everything here, it's different. I've eaten all the food here, I haven't turned down anything, so I'm getting a lot less picky.

Today I cut my hair and it looks great!

Spiritual Thought:

I read the talk by Elder Bruce R. McConkie called "The Purifying Power of Gethsemane". This was the last talk he gave in general conference right before he died. I really love his final testimony

I am one of His witnesses, and in the coming day I shall feel the nail marks in His hands and in His feet and shall wet His feet with my tears.

But I shall not know any better then than I know now that He is God's Almighty Son, that He is our Savior and Redeemer, and that salvation comes in and through His atoning blood and in no other way.

I love his testimony and will strive continually to grow mine. I know also that Jesus Christ lives and he atoned for our sins. And I know through Him we can reach our full potential.

Thanks for your letters and for your prayers. The testimony meeting sounded great

Love Elder Weston

Transfers

Elder Weston on his companions (Elder Johnson) shoulders