Week 90: These Are Not the Droids You're Looking For

(Letter from July 18th)

"These are not the droids we're looking for"

"Move along."

"Move along.  Move along!"

Sometimes I feel like people are trying to pull that kind of Jedi mind trick kind of stuff on us.  They'll tell us that someone isn't home when we just saw them walk inside.  On the bright side, that lets us know that we should just stop going there and start looking for new people to teach.

Speaking of new people to teach, we got an awesome reference this week!  We were walking through town to go to an appointment when a less active member stopped us and told us that he has been sharing the gospel with a friend.  I was rather surprised, since this brother hasn't been to church in about four years.  Thankfully, he still has a testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel, and has been sharing it with his friend.  What an awesome blessing for the both!

We went and contacted this friend last night.  His name is Osmín, and he has a very interesting story.  Osmín is paralytic.  7 years ago he broke his neck by diving into a river and hitting his head on a rock.  Thankfully, he had friends nearby who rescued him from drowning.  After the incident, Osmin was fully paraplegic; a fragment of bone had partially severed the spinal cord in the area of the C-4 and C-5 vertebrae.  With time, he regained partial movement in the left side of his body, and was able to start at-home physical therapy to regain more range of movement.  Currently he has progressed to the point that he can stand up and walk a short distance with the help of something to support himself on.

We barely know Osmin, but he is such a huge inspiration for me.  He doesn't let his situation get him down, and he doesn't let it affect his faith.  He has a great desire to learn about the gospel and improve his relationship with our Heavenly Father.  I'm glad to have the opportunity to teach him.  I'll let you know how it goes next week.

Ah, one last thing before I go... I got a new companion this week.  His name is Elder Vasquez (no relation to President Vasquez), and he is from Esquintla, Guatemala.  He came here to Berlin from the most dangerous zone in the mission, Zona Soyapango.  Needless to say, he is very much enjoying the lack of gangsters out here in the most tranquilo area in the country.  I would send a picture of the two of us, but I don't have one right now.  I'll send one next week though.

I hope that everyone has an awesome week!  Don't forget to write to your friendly neighborhood missionary man every now and again!

Love, 

Elder Colton West

El Salvador, San Salvador East Mission

More crazy weather here in Berlin.
That's what we get for living on top of a mountain!

Pupusas! These ones are made with black beans.
It's a delicious Guatemalan twist on the Salvadorean typical plate.
Blessings of having a cook who used to live in Guatemala.