ELDER COLTON WEST: Week 51: Livin' On A Prayer

Why is Elder West using a BonJovi song for his email title this week? Because..... OOOOOOHH We're halfway there, OOOOOOOHH livin' on a prayer!!!

Yes, I am at the halfway point of my mission. Last Monday was my "one year left" day. Next Thursday is my mission birthday. So that makes tomorrow the official halfway mark. It's crazy how fast it's gone by. I feel like I barely got here! But somehow in the last year I've been able to learn a not-entirely-new to me language, learn how to teach the gospel, gotten used to the millions of differences between life in Central America and life back home, been truly converted to the gospel I'm teaching, had my testimony strengthened like I can hardly believe, and along the way I've helped several people be baptized. It's incredible, and I can't wait to see how the second half of my mission goes.

Exciting news: Ruby Durán is getting baptized this Saturday! And her parents are getting baptized next month! Setting a solid baptism date for this family has been difficult. They've had some challenges with being able to pass a baptism interview, mainly for the necessary marriage of the parents, but also for some personal problems that have happened. But I am happy to report that they are willing to get married and be baptized! Xiomara (the mom) came to church for the first time this Sunday! We are seeing the hand of the Lord working to move this family to a baptism. Thank you so much to all of you who have prayed for my investigators, especially for this family. Your prayers are being answered.

To answer questions about the sickness that I had last week: yes, I am doing better. My symptoms had disappeared completely the morning after Multizona, and have not returned. That rules out Dengue, because short of a miracle happening as a result of a priesthood blessing, Dengue does not suddenly go away like that. And I didn't receive a blessing for that sickness. It's a good thing though, because if it was dengue, and I got dengue again in the mission, I would be sent home. The reason is that if you contract dengue a third time it can be life-threatening. So yes, I am very grateful that it went away.

The climate here has been amazing this week. It has rained literally every day. The last three days the clouds have not cleared for longer than 30 consecutive minutes, and there has been rain most of the day. It's wonderful for two reasons. One, everything is very cool right now. Two, all the rain has washed the smog out of the air. Breathing clean air is rather rare in the San Salvador metropolitan area, so I am thoroughly enjoying it while it lasts.

I found out in this change that people are actually reading the blog. Honestly, I had kinda forgotten about it. Two weeks ago, a new elder in the zone (and new to the mission) mentioned that he had read some of the blog before he left for the CCM. Apparently, someone has put a link to it on Facebook, on the San Salvador Este mission moms page I believe. Wow. So "hi" to all of the blog readers! Hope you're enjoying what I have to say. And if you have any questions for a real live Elder, send them to the curator of the blog, and she can pass them along.

Time's up! Gotta go shopping! Have an awesome week!

Love,

Elder Colton West

El Salvador, San Salvador East Mission

Editor's Note: I'm not certain why his "one year left" day was last Monday, the 12th. He left for El Salvador on 10/28 with a report date to the MTC (CCM in spanish) of 10/29. So, yes, next Thurs 10/29 is his mission birthday! Perhaps their "one year left day" is a bit earlier because they process them for home before their actual report date so they are home by then? I'm not sure. Does anyone out there know? All I know is if they want to send my boy home around the 12th next year instead of the 29th I would be JUST fine with that! MISS HIM LIKE CRAZY!!!