week 27: rumors of war

visiting the beach in Catemaco for pday

Well this week was interesting...

I found out America's going to war with Iraq which was fun to hear from everyone. 

We celebrated New Years Eve with some members and it was really fun. They also gave us some cake for my companion's birthday. It was fun and we were in our house by 9:30 listening to two massive parties not too far away. When 12:00 hit, fireworks and gunshots went off all over.

We had the baptismal interviews for Carlos and Flor and they both passed! We have their baptisms scheduled for this week which is really exciting. They're both awesome and I'm pumped.

Not too much else has gone on, I've been studying this book called The Infinite Atonement, and it's really changing my perspective on the Atonement. Something interesting I learned is that the word atonement doesn't come from latin or greek, but it comes from english. Then when you break it up it basically explains itself. At-One-Ment, or the process of becoming at one with God. The Atonement of Jesus Christ allows us to become at one with God by living with him, and by becoming like him. The book talks about how if there was no Atonement of Jesus Christ, there would be a ''negative atonement'' where we become at one with Satan himself. 

I cannot express how grateful I am for what my Savior went through for me. I know he suffered in a way I cannot understand, and through that suffering I can be made clean and perfect.

--Elder Thompson

bits and pieces from family phone calls:
Don't worry, I know we're not actually at war, but down here, everyone thinks it's happening!
My black shoes are about done for...there is a crack in the bottom...didn't notice until it rained the last couple weeks...the water just soaks right into my shoe, so I'll be looking for something new soon, hopefully before it rains again!
Many of the teens here learn English in school, so when they see me, they are always excited to come talk to the gringo and cuss me out using all the American swear words...haha.
The last couple weeks have been slow with the holidays...everyone is busy with their families, and they don't want to make time for missionaries, so we're hoping things start picking up this week.

I feel like the picture is self-explanatory

the beach at Catemaco