So transfers happened this last week and my mission president threw me a little curve ball… After only one transfer in Campana and 8 months in my mission, I got transferred to Jardines, as a Zone Leader, of the biggest zone in the mission, the zone of the assistants to president, and President McClellan is in my ward. So yeah, unexpected changes happened!
I am not going to lie, I have been super stressed but it's getting more and more chill by the day. My companion is Elder Cano from Guatemala! He is an absolute beast and he and I knew each other and were super good friends back in my first zone. He is also a pretty new zone leader so we feel like little kids trying to run the show out here. He has already helped me so much to become a better missionary and is truly showing me an example of an incredible missionary.
I feel like I am back in the United States but just in Spanish. I am in an outer sector of the main and massive city of San Pedro Sula and there are massive apartment buildings and malls, gated neighborhoods, McDonalds, Little Caesars, Denny's, Walmart, you name it. Also, the new temple is in my area which is super lucky. We are teaching doctors and lawyers and using Über to travel everywhere. Literally everything about what I “thought” about my mission changed.
Although it has only been a few days, we have seen soooo many miracles and I am loving the special opportunity to celebrate every little success of the 22 missionaries in this zone as well as help them with whatever questions or struggles they have.
I was asked to give a talk in church yesterday and they told me to speak for about 5 minutes but then they announced me as the closing speaker and there was still about 20 minutes left of Sacrament Meeting. With my notecard of a few lines of notes, a few scripture references, and a whole lot of help from the Spirit, I was able to speak about 15 minutes about how as people of faith we can help bear each other's burdens and overcome the adversity we will face as members of the church.
The ward here is incredible. It is mainly older people which causes the church meetings to be super reverent and the Spirit is soooo strong. Everyone is so missionary minded and so willing to help us.
Miracle List:
---A woman named Julissa who has listened to the missionaries for 6 years finally received an answer to her prayers and has chosen to be baptized! Her schedule is crazy but it should be happening this next Sunday if all goes well!
---A 14 year old boy named Francis approached us during a lesson with a recent convert and asked us when he could be baptized like his friend who we were teaching at that moment. We told him “slow down, slow down” and began to teach them all about baptism and ask his mom for permission. He understands and remembers everything we have taught and came to church yesterday!
---At church yesterday, a woman brought her attorney friend Mario for the first time. During the 2nd hour, we taught him the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in front of the baptismal font and at the end he accepted the invitation to be baptized! This lesson was one of my favorite lessons ever. Mario was analyzing everything we taught along with the feelings of the Spirit he had and we literally watched it all click in his head. Such an incredible and beautiful experience.
The area of Jardines is a pretty famous area in this mission. As I walked into my apartment for the first time and began to unpack a little, I saw my study desk and a bunch of names of past missionaries written on it. Not just random missionaries, but the most well-known names of some of the most powerful and looked-up-to missionaries that this mission has ever seen. I immediately felt so inadequate for the new position I am in and fear just cascaded into my mind. But then I remembered that there have been others who have been through similar experiences. The scriptures helped me calm my fears.
Doctrine & Covenants 84:88 “And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.”
2 Nephi 32:9 “But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul.”
I bear witness that these scriptural truths are real. I have seen countless miracles and received confidence and strength in these past few days to serve in this situation. The Lord consecrates us and does not let our God-given imperfections keep others from feeling the Spirit.
Love you all so much!
Élder Snyder
P.S. We have a lesson with a friend in the house of our mission president this Wednesday, so the pressure is on. Prayers would be appreciated.
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