Not-so-Heavenly Protection

So this week was a little disappointing because we had like 5 people that were 100% ready to go to church and were going to go and everything, but for whatever unknown and irritating reason, they didn't go. We were going to baptize one of them this week, but since she didn't go yesterday she cant be baptized. but we'll see what happens in this week if we can get them to progress more.

The cool part is that 5 or so people that I was teaching in my last area are getting baptized. It sucks to not be there in the area with them, but it nice to see that they are going to follow through still. It's nice to see the fruits of my labors.

Also a super awesome part of the week. We had interchanges with some other areas, and when we were heading back to the house a group of gangsters wistled at us and told us to go to them. So we went to them. Then the boss of these guys, (obvious he was the boss for the head tattoos and the way he controled the others) asked us, "Hey what are you guys doing here". So we responded "preaching the gospel of Christ", then he said, "uh huh. okay, but like what exactly do you preach?". So we shared the message of the restoration with them, gave them each a pamphlet of it, and the restoration movie to watch in their house. During our lesson, we asked them, "and do you guys pray?" and the boss said, " oh of course, everyday!" we said, "Oh really?! And what do you pray about?" He said "Well I ask God to protect me and my friends and I ask him to protect me from whatever bad guy (malvado) that comes and tries to hurt me." ...... Then he told us, "Yeah, it may not seem like it, but we do have feelings as well. You may only see this side of us, but when we get home we need time to relax, and reflect on life." So that was one amazing lesson we had. We just forgot to pray at the end and invite them to be baptized. The hardest question one of the guys asked was, "If I die right now, will I go to heaven or hell?" Yeah, that could have been risky... but we just told him that he would go to the spirit world and wait to be resurected and judged. Then when we had finished we asked them what their names are and they said, "well, we do have names, but people here just know us by our nicknames. His name is baldy (pelon), his is bee (aveja)........." and they all told us their nicknames and then said that if anyone messes with us or if we need anything at all that we just need to tell them, and theyll help us out. So if anyone was worried for my well being, you no longer need to worry! I've got the protection of the boys fromn the hood. Have a great week, love God, and be good boys and girls.

Elder Vaughan

Pic from a cool viewpoint in the area, and in the streets and what not.

A Pretty Bland Week

So this week was fairly bland. Nothing too crazy to report on. One day we were looking for some less actives that the bishop asked us to look for and we had gotten a little lost in the streets. So we decided to ask a guy that was sitting on his front steps for help. We couldn't see him very well just his legs and his hand that had a cigarrete in it. (for the angle that we were at in the road) so we got up to him and sitting right next to him was a gangster that we had seen before. Hes super inked up on the head and body and everything (its amazing bro, you gotta trust me) and a member told us that his nickname is "Fósforo" which means "Match" because he is super white and hes got super red hair. So I thought to myself, "Ah crap not this guy" But he was super cool, helped us with the directions we shook hands and said bye. I almost sayed "Hey thanks match!" But I dont know what he would do to me... hahaha

We contacted a house in a different part of town, and a 20ish year old guy told us to come back later at night. We returned that night and only is sister and mom were there and they didn't believe us that he told us to come back. So after a little bit of convincing they let us in. A couple minutes later this guy showed up to the house and was all drugged up and said "Ah I didnt think they were going to take me seriously!! I don't even believe in God!" then his sister got mad at him and scolded him for being a turd to people that preach about God. Then she listened to us. It was pretty sweet. Turns out here dad had passed away a few years ago and when he passed away her brother started doing bad stuff. It was pretty sad, but it was a pretty cool lesson.

Have a good week my children, follow jesus and don't be doing stupid things. Elder Vaughan

Found a kid with a Seattle Mariners shirt, Elder Williams practicing his "Haka" Face.

Bonus note from Josh: Tonight, an old friend of mine from my mission in El Salvador, Arnulfo, was in Ilopango visiting his girlfriend when he ran into Elder Vaughan, who was visiting Arnulfo's girlfriend's family. So naturally Arnulfo took a picture with him and sent it to me via Facebook tonight.

Temple Trip and a Broken Table

Well nothing really interesting this week. A little rough in this new area, because the missionaries that were here before us are the assistants and they basically never worked in the area and were in the office all day. So we have had to start from scratch and as of right now we don't have a whole lot of positive people (like 1 maybe) so we gonna go nuts in these weeks trying to find new people.

Other than that we had an activity in the temple with the whole mission and with investigators, and basically everyone in the country. Pretty sweet, I got to see a bunch of people from my old areas, and I just handed out cookies and juice and roasted the little kids when they tried coming back for seconds and thirds. And I broke a table... Other than that nothing really new. I'll hopefully have something sweet to tell next week!

Peace out dudes.

Elder Vaughan

The district in the temple, me with my son and grandson.

Back in a Familiar Place

So I have now been moved back to one of my old wards. It's pretty cool to be back with these people again, but also really weird. We only have a couple people that the other missionaries were teaching before, so it's pretty rough, because we have to start from scratch. It's also hard because my area is like 30 min from the church building (by bus) and where the church building is at belongs to a different gang than my area. So that's also pretty rough. But I'm excited to start over and get back on top of things. To work well and to really help people out here. I know it will be hard, but Im excited for the opportunity to work hard here.

We were looking for a new house because our current one stinks and we entered into this private community and we checked out some model houses they have and I legit felt like I was in the US the houses are so nice. I told my comp that I would easily buy one of those if it were in the US.

But yeah that's basically my week. I am not in the most dangerous are of the district which is pretty sweet. But it's not really that dangerous because there is only one gang here, its just that half the population of my area are gangbangers hahaha have a fantastic week my children and keep the commandments. Don't be stupid please.

Elder Vaughan

Also here's a baptism that we had on Sunday that is from my old area. This guy is super awesome he always talks to me about soccer. Some awesome people that we said bye to, and a dope sombrero.

Oh, and my comp is Elder de Los Santos from the Dominican Republic.