april 21, 2008

Dear Everyone,

I thought last week was crazy, but before I type another word I have to say that
I am moving on up!  This morning my companion called to see if there were
transfers (they happen usually every six weeks) and there was----ME!  I don't
know where exactly I am going, but my companion Eldere Miranda says its by the
coast.  I just packed all my stuff and I have to get on a bus by 5:30 this
afternoon and by tomorrow I will arrive to my new area ( it will be a ten hour
bus ride).  My companion, Elder Miranda, says this will be a good experience for
me to learn and I have to agree.  So, that is what is in store for me, all else
I can say is that Elder Miranda says that it will be even hotter in the coast
and I have to ponerse las pilas (get charged up) about this.  For now it is okay
and I have already realized that this is how the mission is gonna be.  But what
happened last week was a good experience.  I baptized my first person on
Saturday, Lily Rendon Rodriguez.  Her Mom and her brothers unfortunately "backed
out" of their baptisms, but my companion will keep on visiting them and maybe
they will turn around.  I have really learned alot about how to do missionary
work in this area, and I know I still have a lot to learn.  All else I can say
that I did a good job here and I will work hard to get more baptisms
in.....wherever I am going.  I just want  to end is that I know the Lord lives
and he helps me out every single day.  To Monica, keep going strong with
internet schooling, to Marlene, keep it up with regular schooling, and to the
rest of you, I miss ya and love ya.  Keep me posted.

Sincerely Elder Ben Arellano,

P.S.

Lesamo

april 21, 2008

Dear Nataly, Mark, Diana, Maria, and ......little guy,

I just wanted to wish Nataly a very Happy 28th (is that right?) Birthday. I feel alittle bad for not mailing you when you were on your mission, but I plan to mail you and the rest of you guys a letter. However, I don't know your address, or maybe I should send it to Orem and have....well you just tell me how you want the letter and I will send it to ya. I don't have too much email time left, I did better today, I just want to let you know that this mission is helping me grow everyday because it is helping me not only perfect other people, but myself. I can't wait till I see my new area, I am glad the Lord blessed me with one baptism a girl named Lily and I pray the rest of her family will be baptized one day. I know I am leaving out some details, but I just have so much to say and sooooo little time. Okay, I have five minutes left. Now I remember that Mom is with you. Say Hi to her for me and good luck with your pregnancy! (That is probably where you are right now as I am typing this...) Tell me all about it and send me pictures, if you can.

Sincerely,

Elder Ben Arellano

P.S.

I am moving on up,up, and up! Lesamo.