Started off the week by saying goodbye to my first companion, Elder Ortega. Sad day but he's going to come visit me in the U.S. someday so it will be alright. My new comp, Elder Rodriguez is a total baller. He's from Panama, we call him the Panimal, and likes pupusas more than anyone I have ever met. His record is 14. So I have high hopes for this transfer. I'm currently still at 8. We will get there.
Another sad goodbye this week, Rafael Lopez (the shoemaker)decided last week that he wanted to head up to the U.S. with a caravan of people. I'm sure everyone has heard about that. Super sad tho, I saw him the day before he left and he didn't tell us a thing. But hey, asi es la vida, and I know things will work out for him, they always do. But that brings me to my main point, and that's that everyone needs a friend. Sounds like a cheesy plot from a Full House episode I know, but its a lesson I have really got to learn down here in the promised land.
I have a firm testimony of this church, of my Savior. I don't have a doubt in my mind that everyone needs the love and support that is found in the gospel we are preaching. That being said, sometimes people just need a friend. I have talked about Tomas in the past, dude is a stud I love him. He lives alone with 9 cats and a broken down old dog, but when we started meeting with him you could see a change. There's a lot of loneliness and depression in the world and witnessing that is one of the hardest things about being a missionary. But seeing the changes in Tomas; in Norma, who we go and cook with; Marvin, who's Dad is halfway through Mexico right now; in Elsie, who's kids are in university and are building lives apart from her; in Kimberly, the little girl in our branch who had been putting off baptism until the missionaries started visiting her family more; in the few members of our branch who live here in Santiago Texacuangos and feel alone and isolated because we are so far from the rest of the members. And in all the people we get the chance to talk to, everyone needs a friend.
Ultimately I firmly believe lasting happiness and peace comes through Christ, and his message. But sometimes people just need a person they can turn to. And I know its more interesting to read about the sketchy jungles we get lost in, the attacks I get for being American, the time I was leading music in church and nobody was singing so the branch president came up and chewed me out, when an angel came and saved us from a gang, stories from one legged Carlos, the week we had without water, the parties for the new Catholic saint down here, or the time I got swung out of the bus and hit a car. That stuff is great, wouldn't trade it for the world. But sometimes it feels like a different world down here in El Salvador, I mean facing down female pastors in the street or fighting off dogs with sticks or having to brush my teeth with orange juice cuz of our mini drought in the middle of rainstorms, none of that was an issue back home. But I know that no matter where you're at, you can be a friend. And in every part of the world there are people who need that friendship. And hey if Rafael ends up in one of your areas, I know he could definitely use an amigo right now. That being said I am super grateful for the support and love from back home, and around the world, and hope everyone is doing well. Keep my people in your prayers and keep me posted. Salud!
Juan 15:12
Elder Moulton
ps Happy Halloween
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