August 1, 2011

hola Familia!!!

wow what a week, faster than ever!! i have changed to a area called Trapiche, in the zone Sam Felipe. and i think i have finally had a tast of why south america is mission heaven. day and night difference between my old area. this week alone we had more lessons than we had in 6 weeks. . . 47 to be exact. we have 1 baptism scheduled for next saturday and 6 more in the next 2 weeks. and the ward here. . . . amazing much better than the ward san german II.

my companions name is elder portillo from guatemala. he has the same amount of time in the mission as i do, and i am currently surving as senior companion. the only down side of this change is that they changed elder gonzales also. so what ever work we had in lampa de oro is now in the hands of two new missionaries, and you saw the pictures that area is kinda confusing.

hmmm i can only imagine what the next (at least) three weeks will bring? the lessons we had this week were just slightly less than amazing. we felt the spirit in almost everyone. we tought old folks and young folks. extreamly rich folks and of course increadably poor ones. but the work continues. and there is always something more we can do.

well mom to answer your question, there is one thing that i have realized over the past 6 months and that is . . . really we dont know how much affect we have on people. we just need to try our hardest to make sure it is a good affect. i recently read a talk from general conferance a few years back (but i dont remember who or when) but he told a story about a man who thought his mission was a failure. he had only baptised one person in two years, and the thought he had wasted 2 years of his life. well come to find out down the line he had a hand in over 250 baptisms and growing. really we can change peoples lifes just by how we are. just by smiling as they pass us on the street. and when we have the courage to open our mouths and share what we know. that affect will grow and grow and grow with out end.

and now dad . . . big trouble mister. i better have a huge email from you next week. i want to know all about scout camp and the expieriences you are having with them and also the other people that you have changed their lives. just by that last sentance alone i know for sure i am loosing my english :) i hope it makes sence, i am not really sure another way to write it.

I love you all and no matter what, come hell or high water, or bad gas :) i am working as hard as i can!!

Chau

Elder Landon R. Welch

p.s. the pictures

i am in peru but it is amazing that is the first llama i have found yet.

the little girls are cute and all but either i am going crazy or the little one looks alot like lils!!! Right? to be honest i am not sure what lily looks like now i am sure she has changed, but the picture i have of her is alot like this little girl named melanie.