December 30, 2013

So talking to my family felt like a weird dream that never really happened. It was really weird leaving that skype conversation the other day as I stepped back into Missionary Life.

The past 2 weeks have been really different for us Singles Ward Elders. Finals week, then Christmas Vacation. It felt as if though NO ONE could meet with us for lessons. And as if though, NO ONE were walking the streets. It was probably one of the roughest "teaching weeks" I have had on the mission as far as teaching actual lessons go. BUT BUT BUT, we did have many miracles this past week. Joe came back to church after 7 years of being less active in Peru. And Yicela came back to church after being less active 7 years from Peru. And they do not even know each other. Joe is 19, and a potential future missionary and Yicela is 26 and studying at University of Ottawa. They came back to church on the same Sunday. it was awesome when they met each other and started talking in Spanish and saying stuff like: "yeah, I haven't been to church is 7 years" ... "NO WAY. ME TOO!" ... it was quite a site.

I skyped my family at a less-actives house who's name is Braedon Murphy. He is 20 and has never thought about a mission until we started meeting with him. He's super awesome. he's the buff blonde guy you saw with my companion Elder Rock. Transfers are next week and it feels like I will be getting another new companion. Everyone is prophesying that I will train again.... holy moly. I don't know how I feel about training again. Responsibility responsibility ... blagh. I don't know haha.

Anyways, Christmas was awesome. Thanks for your package. I should be getting it in a week :) my companions family sent me a package as well, so i had some stuff for Christmas and not to mention the stockings the ward made us haha.

The missionary work in Dows Lake is very different. It brings out a different side of me. teaching people my age, and getting on a personal level with people just like me is so different. I love it though.

Being in this area has confirmed to me over and over and over again that i am supposed to be here with these missionaries and members and investigators. Oh how I love it here.

I will be taking awesome pictures of ice sculptures soon when the winter festival down here starts. I'm so excited! :)

anyways, I love every single one of you. I hope you all know that.

Until next week!

Elder Castrejon

MORE PHOTOS

Photo shoot in Ottowa.

December 16, 2013

 

MERRY EARLY CHRISTMAS. Photo shoot in Ottawa.
Elder Castrejon

December 9, 2013

I don't have much to say, but if you vote for me... all of your wildest dreams will come true.

- Pedro (Napolean Dynamite)

I think about that quote all the time when I'm starting to write my weekly email home hahaha.

No but seriously, I don't have much to say but, I will say a couple things.

 

My district is performing at the ysa talent show tonight. So that'll be cool.

I had a photoshoot today with a less active member who is studying to be a photographer.

So expect super cool pictures of me in the snow and stuff for christmas.

 

Um, I love all of you. Have a great week!

Elder Castrejon

December 2, 2013

I LOVE MY NEW AREA.

This week I have gone through many experiences that have confirmed to me, that this is the place where Heavenly Fathers needs me.

Ottawa, Ontario in the YSA Dows Lake ward.

So since I am in the young single adults. I am always working with people my age and always walking around the universities here. Mostly the University of Ottawa. I don't have a car, or bikes. So our transportation is our bus passes haha. We take the bus everywhere and walk everywhere. YES, in the SNOW. I LOVE THE SNOW so far. But everyone I meet says:

 "Where you from?"

"California!"

"OH. THIS IS YOUR FIRST SNOW!!! HOW YOU LIKING IT!!"

hahahahahahaha...

Its fun.... fun stuff.

Also, 

Being called as a District leader has allowed me to not only serve the people, but my fellow missionaries. I LOVE IT. More responsibility but, maybe its good for me. I don't know.

Anyways. I don't have much more time because there are a whole bunch of missionaries at the church waiting for us to get off the computer so they can email their families as well.

But I would like to share a powerful experience with y'all.

So we found a less active Edward, through Facebook and he invited us over to his house warmly.

(yes we use facebook now............)

When we got there, he was sitting on his couch with his non-member friend Roberta, who he invited as well.

We met with them both.

We had a very good visit with him and it was very spiritual and uplifting visit.

After we left, apparently Roberta started crying for about 30 minutes but she didn't know why she was (after we had left) ... She asked Edward "WHY AM I CRYING? WHAT IS THIS?"

and Edward(less active) testified to her... "that is the spirit".

Edward described it to us that it looked like a woman who stood in the presence of Jesus Christ and did not feel worthy.

Edward then told us, that he knows who we represent and he knows that we brought the spirit of The Savior into her life and that she was feeling like she had found what she needed.

It was a beautiful experience to know that a 20 year old & a 18 year old

(yes I'm serving with Elder Rock, he's 18...) could be representatives of The Lord Jesus Christ.

There is nothing like the mission.

(oh yeah, and we got to decorate a christmas tree with Roberta and Edward! haha so fun! and the 3 other Elders in my apartment surprised me with another birthday cake!!!) 

 

Elder Castrejon