Elder Perez, The Second

So we had changes this past week and my companion left. For the longest time they kept moving me around, but finally, I'm staying! My new companion is Elder Perez from Guatemala. Some of you might say "Hey what happened didn't he have Elder Perez from Guate as a comp?" Yeah, it's a different Elder Perez that was companions with the Perez that I was with. If that even makes any sense. He has about 15 months in the mission and is pretty dope.

This past Saturday we had a ward activity celebrating father's day and mother's day (the both of them together) and it was pretty dope. We (the missionaries) had to do a little skit there and it went alright, I guess, and one of my investigators has a mariachi band that he brought and they played there. It was pretty sick!

We also had a baptism this past week. An 8-year-old girl named Jenifer. Technically it doesn't count for us because her parents are members, but they are inactive, so I'm gonna count it for us because we did all the work to get them to church. Well, We might have another baptism this week. Depends on this woman. If she is still mad at us or not. She's been avoiding us and hasn't talked to us in over a week now... .

Later kids. love God and do good things.

Elder Vaughan

A Visit From Elder Renlund

So I'm running out of time, but this Tuesday Elder Renlund of the 12 apostles came here and talked to the three missions of El Salvador. It was a great talk. Mainly about missionary work and of the Seventy, ELder Alonso also came. What I remember right now and what I liked most was the testimony that I received of his calling as an apostle of the Lord, and realidad of the Church of Jesus today. I received a strong witness that those men have been called of God to work in what they are working on.

Bad news, we were supposed to have a baptism today, and the lady told us beforehand that she didn't want anyone to come, NO ONE AT ALL, and other missionaries planned their baptism for the same time . . . So, long story short, she canceled her baptism, won't talk to us, and said: "Let's just hope they have changes this week." So I guess we will see what happens.

Obey the commandments and dont do drugs.

Good bye, Elder Vaughan

Eating Butter

Sorry I forgot to write, and now I'm like out of time. But I played Uno with a family last night after dinner and the losers had to eat butter. It was lit. We didn't have a baptism this past weekend the lady had to work, but we will have it this coming Sunday. and the Sunday after that we will have one for a little girl (we should have one) other than that things are good. We had 8 investigators in sacrament meeting which was dope and I think the best from the whole zone (not trying to brag just stating a fact). But yeah that's pretty much it oh and tomorrow Elder Rasband from the 12 is coming to speak in a multi-mission meeting. A big meeting with all 3 missions of El Salvador.

Later,

Elder Vaughan

Pics of them eating butter, the birthday of the wife of our cook, and the view at night from our balcony.

Sunday Escort Service

Greetings children! So this week was good! We were able to have the baptism of 2 people, Salvador(his name is "Savior" how cool), and Ester. Before the baptism we had the wedding service then they got baptized. they were found by the missionaries in september last year, but had to wait a long time to get divorced from their old spouce then to get all the papers ready to get married, then baptized. They have testimonies that are honestly stronger than half the members here... Salvador cried just about every time he prayed or talked about baptism, because he was scared to die without being baptized. They are super amazing people. and the iceing on the cake is that a guy from the ward baught us all pupusas to celebrate.

other than that nothing too crazy. the wife of our chef just turned 20 and her favorite food are shrimps. so our chef made us shrimps again.... super amazing.

we should have another baptism this saturday as well! and maybe the following as well! See ya kids. dont do drugs,

Elder Vaughan

Pics of the baptism and wedding and eating pupusas after the baptism.

Sunday Escort Service

So this week was fairly interesting... 3 people got killed a block away from the church building... We had to escort people to church, because they were too scared to go. But we all chill here. Jesus has got our back.

On tuesday we saw our chef in the street (the guy that makes us lunches) and he he said to us "Hey! I want to break a rule today!" So he told us that he wanted to make shrimp for us (we´re not allowed to eat seafood here in the mission) he explained the sauce and everything and lets just saw that after a year of no fish I was tempted and we gave in. I ate shrimp for the first time in a year and I was in love. Sorry for breaking the rules, but it was super delicious.

Cool lesson this week. So think about the Book of Mormon. I don't remember where the scripture is but it says "Al grado que guardáis los mandamientos, prosperareis en la tierra." (you translate). So let's look at the commandment of the sabbath day, the things that we should do or shouldnt do.

Read the scriptures pray sing go to parties or other passtime stuff (sporting events) visit the sick other stuff you can think of.....

The scripture bassically says that you will prosper in the world depending on your obedience to the commandments. So if I am only good with 50% of this list of things. I will only prosper or recieve 50% of what I could normaly recieve. I'll let you guys do more evaluating on your own lives there.

Also in 2 Nephi 5. Nephi seperates from the bad people in his family to have peace with those that will keep the commandments. We too need to separate ourselves from the bad influences to be able to keep the commandments. (read it on your own time)

Have a great week children

Elder Vaughan

My district, the new addition to my desk, my shoelaces after 1 year, we ice bucket challenged people, because they lost a bet.

Mother's Day

So this week, nothing too crazy happened. Wednesday is mothers day here, so we went outside of the mall with a little banner thing that said happy mother's day and we took some pictures with families there. Below is a picture of the activity. Then Sunday we had stake conference. Six months again I had stake conference in this same stake, then I returned and saw a bunch of people I knew before. A girl that I had contacted and started teaching is now baptized and all the families from before are inviting me over for dinner. In stake conference one of the 70 spoke. someone from Guatemala. He talked for like 45 min or so... One of the things I remember that he talked about was that he warned about the usage of social media and as well as sabbath day observance. He said that too many people are losing blessings that are waiting for them, just because they have to go buy a soda or something from the store, and that social media distracts us from the most important things in our lives from family church and all that falls in between. He said that we should try to create some ways in our homes to control the social media so that it doesn't take over our lives. He also said that as missionaries (also applies to every person) we should represent three things. 1: our last name, 2: our nation, 3: Jesus Christ. Don't be bringing shame to your family, nation, and most importantly to Christ.

Also happy mothers day.

Elder Baughan

A dope family from Ilopango that I saw, and me and some of the guys taking pics with families for mothers day outside of a mall.

Return to Ilopango

So President just loves to move me around here. After 1 change in Santiago de Maria, I got moved back to Ilopango. I now have 5 areas in 1 year... My companion only has 3 months left in the mission and he has 5 areas as well. My companion is Elder Garcia from Mexico. He was in my district in Chalatenango 2 changes ago and now hes my comnp. So before I was in the area "Las Canas, Ilopango" and now Im in "Alta Vista, Ilopango" My area is just the other side of the street of my old area. I attend church in the same chapel as before, just at a different hour. So I said goodbye to everyone from Las Canas, thinking I would never see them again only to return 3 months later. Its cool though because its been my favorite ward so far. I hope to stay here for 6 or so months, but we'll see what happens.

When I saw the bishop up from las canas he said to me with a big look of suprise "HEY! Que onda vos?!" (Hey whats up) Its how people talk with close friends or family members. (Or how the gangsters talk with everyone) so that was cool. His baby boy whenever he hears "elder" he says "Vaughan" did I tear up when I heard that? Just maybe. No jk. another baby is WALKING. When I was here he didnt walk, no he walks! I'm weirded out here.

FINALLY I am no longer the district leader! And thank goodness, because our district consists of the DL, ZL, sister leaders, and the APs. And me and my comp... we are the Junior companions of the district... haha oops.

Later kids. Don't forget to love your mothers this week.

Elder Vaughan

Pistol laser pointer, santiago de maria, the bonilla family, Edwin with the kids, melvin, daniel, and bryan. The view from my new house, ZL in san miguel Elder Murillo.