Word UP!!

So, yesterday was mad-real. First baptism!!! His name is Lalo, nickname for Eduardo, lol. His wife is a member, and even served a mission! He was one of the first people we taught once we got to our area. He was supposed to be baptized a week ago, but he was drinking coffee haha, and idk if he was taught not to or not, but we covered that for him and he totally understood. 

I never thought my companion and I did much because HE told us he wanted to be baptized the first time we taught him, but once my companion got done baptizing him yesterday, his wife leaned over to me and said  thank you and everything and told me that there was something special about us for some reason. I still don’t know what or why or how, but that doesn’t matter, lol. I guess he had been talking to the missionaries for over a year now and coming to church forever, but we were able to get him in the water within two weeks!! So I feel like that might speak for itself! Haha… it was an awesome experience though!

Soooo, also something that supports my understanding that everything happens for a reason happened to me and my companion this week, also. It was my turn to contact someone and so we were on our bikes riding through a neighborhood and saw a random house with a guy outside doing some yard work, I said “Hey!, do you need some help?!” He said no, so i went on to ask if he’s talked to missionaries before etc. Sooner or later, he goes si pasan! (which means we can come in!)..we go into talk to his mom or abuela I don’t remember lol...but we start talking to her, we sing a song by ourselves and then pray for the spirit and go on to explain the restoration..then, another lady walks in and BASICALLY says, I need you guys to leave, so the lady we were talking to says, do you have a problem with them here? She says yes, I have a problem, so we were like oh no she’s atheist or something..lol but we sat there for a second cause we didn’t know what to do then she goes ´bueno, su abuela fallacio´ which basically means, your grandma just passed away. Room goes dead silent. I’m just sitting there like uhhhh oh.....sooo my companion and I just hand her a plan of salvation pamphlet and leave with a prayer.. super weird! But for some reason I knew we were supposed to be there at THAT time whether we knew exactly why or not. It was crazy..I love those moments though!! Don’t know why yet.. haha

Anyways….other than that, my Spanish is getting so much better its crazy to me. lol I had my first contact the other day all by myself without the help of my companion! AND, I understood everything and all. It was sweet! People still don’t believe I’ve been here this long. Lol (only 2 weeks).

It’s also funny because almost EVERYONE gives me a funny reaction when I tell them my name. lol In English it means valuable. haha so everyone always laughs and what not.

My companion and I were at a members house yesterday for almuerzo, (lunch) and they were awesome, taught me some more Spanish, and made me feel at home it was sweet! I told them I like to make music and write and stuff he goes AH! perfecto! Rancagua has elder archuleta and we have elder preciado! hahaha. It was funny. 

Lots of people have been telling me only certain people get sent to the area I’m in… haha whatever that means, but they were saying how only certain people can help the people here?? Idk, just kinda cool I guess. lol. 

Oh, and today was a great morning though, because I finally got to REALLY wash my clothes. The past two weeks I’ve been using a bowl! Hahaha it was pretty dope, and sweet experience, but I’m glad we found a washing machine to use lol. 

I’m loving it still!! learning Spanish every day is fun, and eating the food here is bomb!! The people are awesome, I didn’t think I’d be able to relate to the people here and stuff but once I start talking to someone it always works out.!!

I contacted a lady yesterday whose kids are baptized and all, but she doesn’t understand anything about the money stuff, she doesn’t think it’s right how the tithing and stuff is sorted out or something..idk. All I heard was “I wanna be baptized, just clear my worries of tithing and fast offerings lol” J I can do that!

Days are starting to go by so quick, I know I just got here but there’s times where I feel like I’ve been here forEVER and other times I’m like oh I just got here. haha kinda weird...anyways. I got love for anyone reading this and hope all is well with everyone!

K and, scripture for the week is 1 Nephi  chapter 3, all of it! You can do it! J

Love,

Elder Preciado  

P.S. I added some pictures this time! The blue house is where my companion and I live by ourselves! It’s sweet! …I would pull the weeds out front if I had the time haha always on the go! lol! And then, the other picture is Lalo in the baptismal clothes. And then I added one of my Mission President and his wife & Mason Porter! Last one is my companion! I'll try and send more next time!