Here Is Your Son... Now Get In There And Grind

I was not expecting to become a father.


What's good y'all, greetings from Lasagna xxx


Sorry, Lanzarote. This week has been nuts all over the mission, because we got 27 new missionaries. That means that during transfers on Tuesday, 30 missionaries got recalled to Madrid from all over the mission to become trainers. (The three extras come from a few training trios) We got so many at once because the Spanish government has been really slow about giving out visas for a while, but all at once a huge chunk of the visa waiters came though. 


When transfer news came though I got the news that one of them would be my new comp, but I figured I'd get one that had finished his training on reassignment in the States. Not so, the one and only Elder Romrell spent a quick transfer in Texas and got shipped off here. All these new missionaries have been traveling so much and they were so worn out lol. Let's hope the mission lets them settle down for a few transfers. 


Anyway we're here on the island of Lanzarote and ready for anything, which is good because we arrived here with less than 36 hours before José's baptism. The members here are great though so it turned out really well. José has really progressed and I'm happy to see him with his wife and son at church every Sunday. 


I did, however, say from the pulpit that that baptism was a funny day instead of a joyful day. Doesn't matter how quickly I corrected myself, the members aren't going to let me forget it anytime soon.


Manuel is an RM from Peru who served in Bolivia. Elder Nelson and I got a call from a member last week when he knocked on the chapel door after arriving here on the island, looking for the missionaries. We finally met him when we pulled up this week, and he's set on accompanying us to appointments. He also speaks pretty good English which is helpful for Elder Romrell. He came with us street contacting last night and it was legendary. You'd expect an RM out to relive his glory days to be a little intrusive but he was perfect, gave us the lead and even helped Elder Romrell have his section. We talked to a bunch of interesting people, and felt really guided by the Spirit to say the things we needed to, identify people's needs and beliefs, and share the part of our message that most connected with them. It was amazing. 


Yesterday in Sacrament meeting I gave a talk on the Atonement, because I've been trying to deepen my understanding of it as the chief doctrine of Christianity, and the most important principle of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I won't get into the whole talk here, but I wanted to share something I figured out. We talk a lot with faith vs works bashers, like Catholics who believe in seven ordinances that are critical and indispensable for salvation, or nondenominationals who believe that all churches are true because Christ saves everyone anyway. The eternal truth of salvation though the Atonement of Christ is that:
No one can earn their own salvation, but that salvation cannot come without some personal effort.


If we truly desire the blessings of heaven made possible by the Savior, we need to have faith in him sufficient to both rely on His sacrifice, and the faith and confidence in Him that leads us to repent and to try to become more like Him, and make covenants with our Father in Heaven through Him.


Hasta Luego,
Elder Curtis


Photos
Saying goodbye to Carmen, but Elder Nelson will take care of them.
Making arepas with a member.
Last P-day with José and Luca.
Talavera with the Drip! Hit up the current Talavera Elders, one is getting transferred and he's devestated, and the other is training someone else. Another missionary gets to start in Talavera and I'm pumped for him
Everyone with their trainees at Mexican food. It's weird to eat Mexican food here because we spend so much time trying to convince our friends, relatives, new missionaries, liberty, peace, wives, children (Alma 46:12) and anyone else who will listen that just because we speak Spanish doesn't mean we're in Mexico. Then we start craving tacos and throw out all our hard work. 
A lot of comp selfies 
The only picture the members have texted me from José's baptism, trying to get more.
Post- baptism paella. There's this member named Tomas who is an expert, and he made the huge paellas for the Christmas party that I ranted about a few months ago. Love this stuff.
NEVER forget where you came from. Viva Fuerteventura!










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