HOLA FAMILIA COMO ESTÁN USTEDES!! This week has been awsome! we have done soo much work here in my new area!! so before i came here they were having like 20 to 30 lessons a week and this week we recorded 43 lessons!! we have really decided to work and focus and be more obediente! this week has been a huge blessing!! i feel healthy and strong and a lot more closer to the spirit!  we have recieved about 10 more investigadores y están progresando mucho! we are teaching these twins and they are funny and they should be baptized real soon!! we are teaching this lady named caridad and she is awsome! she knows so much about the bible and loves hearing form us! she should be baptized this next month sometime as well! we are teaching the family and they are awsomw they have a son and they love the church we are going to put a date for baptism really soon for them and im really excited!! you guys cant imagine how hot it is here i was sitting in front of my fan and was still sweating! its soo cool!! i couldnt be any happier! each and everyone of the people we are teaching are really sweet and are wonderful people! they love the lord and are willing to anything to get closer to him! i havent gotten any fotos from ustedes! yo quiero fotos de ustedes y de mi camioneta! yo espero que todo esta bien allá! me siento mal porque mi Green Bay packers chupa ahora! Familia e tiempo aquí en la misión esta pasando rápido!! yo voy a enviar fotos de la camera de mi compañero! yo se que esta es la obra del Dios! yo quiero que cada uno de ustedes puedan hacer lo correcto! nosotros no somos perfectos pero con fe y diligencia seremos muy bendecidos! En tres meses yo hablare con ustedes por Skype! me siento muy bendecido por los desafíos que yo he pasado en la misión! Madre yo te amo mucho y yo te extraño! Padre mio te amo y espero que tu sabes que tu eres el mejor padre en el mundo! Mis Sobrinos yo les amo mucho y yo extraño sus caras! bueno familia esta es mi carta!! ç

Elder Westenskow

hola familia yo espero que ustedes se encuentran bien! La semana pasada fue llena de bendiciones! yo he tenido muchas experiencias en la misión pero en esta semana me sentía mas cerca de mi padre celestial! Yo estaba pensando mucho en mi primer ano en la misión, me sentí que yo necesito cambiar algo para tener mas éxito! entonces yo decidí a ser mas obediente en todas las cosas de la misión, y ahora hemos tenido mas éxito! yo amo la misión! yo he crecido mucho! Well family i really do love the mission and hope that everything is good with you guys! to answer a few of your questiones this area really is alot hotter than any of my last areas!! but i absolutly love it! the people here are great! the investigadores are progresando a lot! my companion doesnt know english and its awsome! me and him get a long very well!! some of the people we are teaching are going to be really difficult because they are very catholic! i really feel like my spanish will grow here because they are great in helping me out if i have problems! there is a lot work here and im grateful for that! i feel that the mission has changed me for the better in all ways! the blessings cant be number!! i love you guys soo much! soo grandma i dont have a mcdonalds here but they got a little pica pollo stand! well family the area im in is a little like farming and has a ton of rice fields!! its awsome!! well i dont have a lot of time to i love you guys and hope that you guys are all good!!

YO LES QUIERO MUCHO

ELDER WESTENSKOW  

hey Family! this week has been full of blessings and suprises! so we had transfers today and i feel happy here in my new area! it was a surprise because im now the District Líder!!! im really excited for this responsabilidad! i feel blessed that President has the trust in me be a líder! well i got a new companion named Elder Ayala y he is really sweet! he is from Peru!! he speaks really fast and smooth in spanish and im glad that i understand him! he is really wanting to work hard!! the area that im in is the hottest area in the mission!!! im in A Villa Vasquez its really hot here!! its really close to the border of Hiati!! im really far fom the mission home but i love it! this area has a ton of potencial! i really love this work! the baptism in my last area wont be baptized because he not just quite ready yet! he felt bad but its because the spirit told him that he wasnt ready and needed to change a few things! As i said buy to a few people in my last area i really had a hard time because i few cried when i left and it was really hard for me!!! these people here are amazing!! they are soo loving!! it was like leaving my family again!! im really excited for this next transfer and the oportunidad a cambiar como misionero! Esta es la obra del Senor! Elder Cornish de la setenta vino en la reunión sacramental y El nos dijo algo muy importante ¨Lo que vale cuesta¨ me encanta este frase porque en realidad la vida eterna vale mucho pero también cuesta mucha! nosotros tenemos que sacrificar algo de nosotros para podemos regresar en la presencia de nuestro padre celestial! yo espero que todo esta bien aya y que ustedes pueden pensar en las cosas que ustedes están haciendo y que y si algunas cosas no están en armonía con Dios que podamos cambiar!! esta es mi carta! yo les quiero mucho!!

Elder Westenskow!!!  

hello my family !! I love them very much !! this past week gave me many blessings! were two missionaries who have problems then we made a special move! I learned here in the mission that sometimes we need to know what God's will is better than us! I was wrong! I love the people here! good family I hope each of you are receiving many blessings! This week we focused a lot on families! We are ensenando many families! I had to talk to people here about family and this week I have felt the spirit over me! Family is very important! I love each of my family members! I know that families can be together forever! I want to live with my family for eternity! I hope that each of us are trying to achieve this goal! we have a responsibility to do our part for us to have this blessing from God! we had an appointment with a family and they told me that God will not separate! But really if we are not keeping the commandments or we're not reading the scriptures and praying and attending church on not give us our family! we will live in sadness or in peace with our family !! This Saturday we have a baptism! His name is Mario and he is very encouraged by his baptism !! I am thankful for my family and they gave me strength! I love them very much !!!

Elder Westenskow !!

hola familia! everything is good here this week! we were able to leave and do a lot of citas and it was great! this week has been pretty tough for my companion because our baptism that we wanted this saturday fell because he didnt go to church! he could be baptized in 2 weeks now! the mission is really going passing fast! anyway i dont have a ton of time but i really love you guys and i hope that eveything is good and that you are always trying to do the right thing in order to have the spirit with you! El espíritu santo es nuestra guía! cuando permitimos la presencia del Espíritu Santo podemos saber todas las cosas que debemos hacer! El esta aquí para ayudarnos con las cosas difíciles! La vida no es fácil porque satanás nos tienta todo día! pero cuando nosotros estamos preparado con el poder del Espíritu Santo Satanás no tiene poder sobre nosotros! yo estaba pensando en la misión y que yo he hecho y yo aprendí algo muy importante, que cuando somos obedientes con las cosas que dios nos ha mandado y tengamos fe y con un corazón dispuesto nosotros podamos recibir toda la fuerza necesaria para seguir el evangelio! Por las personas que han caído tienen la oportunidad a regresar y sentir mas feliz! La expiación de Jesucristo es la clave para nuestras conversión a la Iglesia! yo amo esta iglesia y las bendiciones que yo he recibido! yo no soy perfecto pero con una oración en mi corazón yo espero que puedo cambiar para llegar a ser como mi señor Jesucristo! yo se que La Iglesia De Jesucristo De Los Santos De Los Últimos Días es el reino de Dios! yo se que el Profeta Thomas S Monson es llamado por Dios para dirigirnos y darnos la palabra de Dios! Bueno Familia esta es mi carta y yo espero que cada uno de ustedes puedan meditar acerca de sus testimonios y tratar a fortalecer las cosas que necesitan mas trabajo! yo les quiero mucho yo espero que todo esta bien!!!

Elder Westenskow 

hola familia ¿como están ustedes? la semana pasada fue llena de bendiciones! La misión es una bendición grande de mi vida!! yo he tenido la oportunidad a conocer muchas personas! entonces Jueves fue un día un poco tranquilo y nosotros no hicimos mucho! Viernes fue un día muy tranquilo y nosotros tuvimos una cita con Mario otra vez y nosotros hablábamos sobre El Libro De Mormón y fue una cita muy chevere! yo quiero compartir mi testimonio con ustedes sobre El Libro De Mormón! yo se que es un libro que podamos sentir mas cerca de a nuestro padre Celestial! El Libro De Mormón es la palabra de dios! cuando nosotros leamos este libro el espíritu santo more con nosotros! a través de este libro las personas puedan obtener un testimonio grande y fuerte! El Libro De Mormón es la clave para nosotros podamos a vencer las tentaciones de Satanás! yo se que cuando nosotros tenemos un testimonio de este libro nosotros tenemos mas bendiciones y nosotros no dudamos las cosas que dios nos ha mandado! yo espero que cada uno de ustedes puedan leer este libro y también que puedan obtener este testimonio porque la verdad de todas las cosas se encuentran en El Libro De mormon!! bueno familia esta es mi carta!! yo les quiero mucho!!

Elder Westenskow  

hola familia ¿como están ustedes? yo no tengo mucho a decir con ustedes porque yo no estaba trabajando mucho! en la semana pasada mi compañero tenia problemas con sus dedos! jueves al domingo no podríamos salir la casa! lunes y ayer fueron días de trabajo! mi compañero y yo lunes tuvimos un reunión de distrito, y yo aprendí la importancia de la conversión de nosotros mismos en la obra y también en la iglesia! cada uno de nosotros necesitamos a tratar a mejorar! Ahora tenemos dificultades o tribulaciones y podamos caer en los brazos de satanás! pero hay algo de esperanza aquí! La fe en nuestro señor Jesucristo! Con fe recibiremos la fuerza necesaria para vencer satanás! tenemos mas poder sobre la adversario! hemos recibido albedrío, Albedrío es un don de dios! podemos recibir muchas bendiciones, si escogimos la voluntad de dios! muchas personas piensan que yo no estoy asistiendo la iglesia y todavía estoy feliz y tengo todo que yo quiero pero en realidad esta felicidad no va a durar para siempre! la verdadera felicidad es cuando estamos guardando los mandamientos de dios y cuando tratemos a llegar a ser como Jesucristo! Esta felicidad va a durar para siempre! pensamos a veces porque tenemos este mandamiento pero Dios tiene razón con todas de sus reglas! quizás no recibiremos bendiciones inmediatamente pero con diligencia y obediencia podamos perseverar hasta el fin! podamos ser convertido cuando estamos leyendo las escrituras y orando y también! viniendo a la capilla cada semana! ayer tuvimos una cita con un investigador Mario y el espíritu estaba con nosotros! yo le di una fecha bautismal y el nos dijo que SI y que el quiere ser bautizado! entonces en 30 de agosto el va a ser bautizado!! pues bueno familia esta es mi carta y yo espero que todo esta bien! yo les amo mucho!!!

Elder Westenskow!!! 

hey family!! so anyway i love you guys soo much!! so this is another day transfers!! Im still here so another 6 weeks here in this area! i have the same companion and everything!! President is really proud of my work with him! this week hasnt has the best stories but still full of blessings!! so anyway thursday was really good!! we had taught this lesson with this less active named simeon and it was really a spiritual experiencia! we had talked about in finding our lord Jesus Christ! i read the scriptures and it was amazing! it tells us that if we look for the Christ that the profetas have talked him then we will gain a testimonio that will be with us forever! i love this verse because as we look for Christ we can recieve his love and the grace of God the Father and also we can feel the holy Ghost which gives testimonio of them and it will be with us forever! this a testimonio that we all need to have, is in the lord Jesus Christ! Sometimes we dont  why we pass through these hard times but if we have a firme and strong testimonio en Jesus Christ we can feel at peace and know that everything is just a small moment! the life is not easy! but i know with Jesus Christ we can overcome all things! Friday we taught this old investigadora named Marta about La fe Jesucristo and i really feel like lately that  the spirit here has been trying to focus his teachings in getting people to think more about Jesucristo!we had a lot meeting but nothing really special! Domingo was really sweet because we had a cosecha with the ward and soo us and 10 other missionaries!! and like 30 members left and taught a lot of less actives! it was great because we got a ton of new people to teach and also the members are now excited to work in this work of the lord!!  well family that is my week i love you and i hope that everything is good!!

Love Elder Westenskow  

hola familia!! so anyway these last few weeks have been full of adventure!! i have been so grateful for the spirit and for its guidance here in the mission! quik story form last week! on last tuesday was really interesting! we finished everything that we had to in the mourning, and then at 3 o clock in afternoon we left the house thinking maybe it was just quiet turned out to be something totally different. we had been walking in the street and couldnt find really anyone outside! when all of a sudden a cop came and asked why we were outside we said because we had citas to go to! he said that we better head back and go home because there was a riot going on all around my area!! i realized that as we hit another street that it was true what the cop had told us! there were bombs in the road that had exploded and garbage everywhere!!me and my companion had this feeling to go home because it was too dangerous to be outside, but as we sat there for a minute in the road we decided to go to a cita with a less active real fast but as we were walking down to her road a guy on his motor pulled a gun out to shoot at a dog right next to us! after scaring me and my companion half to death we decided to go back home and then stayed in the house! the riot lasted until mid afternoon wednesday and so thats why i didnt have that much time to write last week! so this thursday we had a cita with one of my new investigadores named mario and he is really sweet! As we talked about what the Gift of the holy Ghost and he put so much attention on this tema! As we taught this lesson i realized how grateful i am about the Holy Ghost in my life! as i think about all the things that i have done in my life has had the influence of the Holy Ghost! He is A GUIDE for us! he is peace and joy and the strength for us in order for us to return to the presence of our heavenly father! he is the reason that we can know the will of God! As we ponder on things that we need to do, Listen to the promptings always because as you listen to him you will always do what is right!! so friday was really good as well!! we taught this investigador named Gorge and he is really sweet! we talked about the ministry of Jesus Christ! I love talking about his ministry because it is such a blessing that he was willing to give up his entire life in order for us to have the doctrine and teaching that would get us back to our heavenly father!! he is a huge catolico andi really believe that he will that our church is true! he is awsome because he always has comments and questions! the people who have questions are the people who listen!!! Saturday was alright not much to say! Lunes was really sweet because we had had a cita con un investigador named Raimil and he is soo cool! i have been teaching him for a while now and at first i didnt really think he wanted to learn and actually listen but as we got in more doctrine that was really interesting to him he really showed attention!! he really has the heart and willingness to be baptized and to follow his example and im grateful for him! I ask you guys to put his dad in your prayers because he is not doing very well!! So yesterday was kind of boring but it was full of walking!! So today and not to scare you guys but me and my companion and the sister in our area here had to go to the hospital and get tested for TB and so we are all dong ok and i pretty sure that i dont have it!! but i love you guys soo much and i feel great! 

Love Elder Westenskow!

¿Hola Familia y Amigos como están ustedes? entonces yo estaba pensando que la obra misional es una bendición grande en mi vida!! yo he aprendido muchas cosas y en verdad yo espero que ustedes están orando cada día! esta semana fue muy rápido y la misión esta pasando! Me gustaría compartir mi testimonio acerca de La Oración! Antes de la misión yo sabia que la oración fue importante pero yo he realizado cuan importante es la conversación con nuestros Padre Celestial! Un noche yo estaba pensando mucho en mi área y las personas que estamos enseñando y yo sentí muy preocupado! entonces esta noche yo ore y hable con mi Padre Celestial sobre mi preocupaciones y el me dijo que todo esta bien y que El es feliz con nosotros! Yo sentí un sentimiento de gozo y paz que yo estoy haciendo su voluntad! So this last week has been full of blessings! So thursday was good and we had a few great lessons about El plan de salvación and it was amazing to see the people to feel the spirit and to feel at peace with themselves!! so friday was good and we recieved another family to teach!! Saturday was really good but a little hot and reallt long because no was really home! Sunday was a good but bad day!! the part where we went to church and part took of the sacrament but as we finished with our clases one of the investigators of the sisters ran out crying!! we found out that her DAD had passed away! she said to us that morning that she felt that someone was pushing her to church! i felt like crying with her because i remembered something about the people that i have lost and im grateful for the knowledge of the plan of salvation! two weeks ago i gave this father of hers a blessing! this guy doesnt know spanish just french! but as i gave him that blessings i said to him and i dont know why but that he will leave this earth with peace and as i said that he had gave me a hug and started crying! when he passed away he family had said that he died in peace! im grateful the priesthood and its wonderful power!! Monday we had went to this mans funeral and that investigator had asked me to say a pray in order to bring peace to the family and as i said the prayer everyone went quiet and the spirit was so strong! On tuesday or yesterday was good and i really hope that we can have the spirit with us always like this!! 

well family this is my week!!! love you guys soo much!

P.s.. mom can you guys sendme a an oil container to give blessings!

Elder Westenskow

Hey Family!

 Sorry for the late letter but yesterday was a way busy day!!! this week has been an adventure but has been full of blessings!!! so this week we had a lot more people to teach and i strongly feel that the work in my area is now becoming the way the lord has wanted!!! me and companion are getting a long and i feel like we will see miracles as a companionship!! this week i have had more energy and now im becoming a lot stronger!! the mission is the biggest blessing in the world!! For thos who think they want to on a mission dont think anymore just do it!! well my week!! so on thursday we had a few lessons but nothing special but friday was just full of blessings!! so friday we were teaching this new investigador named Jose!! he is amazing!! so we taught him about Jesus Christ and his Atonement! and i have never felt the spirit so strong in during a lesson like this one!! Jose has had a hard life he an accident and lost part of his foot and his leg doesnt really have bones because of this accident!! so he is really humble and very smart! he doesnt have much but he thanks his Father for this test he has recieved and that touched my heart that even though he cant do very much he was still able to love life and just be happy! he has a great spirit to him and i hope that one day i can have that kind of Faith!! so saturday was really good!! we taught a few people and i feel that it was a very relaxed day! so Sunday was amazing only because we saw like 15 more people sitting in sarement meeting so we are definetly building the lords kingdom here! so monday we had a few lessons and we had a family night and it went great!! so tuesday was really sweet we had more lessons than a normal day and i was able to see more people willing to listen and that we stayed busy all day!!
 well family thats my week and i hope that every one of you can can have a great week!!

Elder Westenskow

hola Familia y amigos como están!!!

 hey Family I'm soo grateful that its finally Wednesday and that i can tell you about this wonderful week!! so this week has been great and soo many blessings and miracles that i have seen!! so last week President Douglas gave me a missionary in order for him to learn how to be missionary. i realized that night what President was trying to do was to put his trust in me and lords trust as well! I prayed to Heavenly Father to find out what i should do! I decided that i will find something to get him motivated and that is P90X and we are working harder as ever!! so those who don't know what P90X is its a work out program in order to lose all your fat and gain muscle! i found a few things that he has gone through in the mission and even before the mission and i really feel humbled by his story! he is a great missionary and friend! i really feel that it was a blessing form the Lord because its opportunity to grow and learn more and more! Ya so im going to get really strong!! well Thursday the first day this week was really sweet because we were teaching this new investigator about the Book Of Mormon and i felt the spirit soo strong there because these people told me that they really do believe that its a true book and that they feel that the Lord is telling them to follow listening to us and that what we are teaching is true! its really hard to find people in this area that are willing to read and know that the Book Of Mormon is true but when the people do there part in the work they will recieve that testimonio!! so Friday was awsome but it was a normal day!! Saturday was cool because we were talking to this one new convert about obediencia and about the Sacrament! he was having a lot of problems in his family and he started crying to us about how he doesnt feel like Jesus Christ is with him and that he doesnt deserve to go to church!! So we talked a little more about the love of Christ!! At the end of the lesson we had asked us to give a blessing! this was one of the best experiences that i have had! i gave him the blessing and a the end he started crying because he felt the spirit testify that everything would good!! He said that he had never felt the spirit so strong!! it was the most spirtual experience that i have ever felt!! so any Sunday was great because we recieved 5 more people that we can teach!! this work is really growing and really feel like now we can start working the way the lord wants! Monday was good we had a family night with these members about Obedience again and it went great because i really believe that this family will start to grow and become like a family that can enter the temple and be sealed! this is a wonderful opportunity to have temples and to have families that can be forever! we need to all stay worthy to enter the temple in order for us to feel closer to our Heavenly Father! Families are so important and such a blessing but if we arent doing what we need to do then there goes that blessing! we need to all be worthy to recieve a temple recommend and try to better every week!! this is the only way to live together again!! Tuesday was awsome because we had another family to teach and i really think that this family will become a important part in the ward! I love this work and blessings that we are receiving!! Judy and Dave i love you guys soo much!! im sorry for the trials that you are facing! i will have you in my prayers!! this week was good! thanks for prayers and love!!!

p.s. mom is it ok to out Beef Jerky in my package!

Elder Westenskow!  

So this week has been pretty good but really long for me!! so transfers are today so im going to serve here again this area so im pretty excited!! so i got a new companion from the united states and he is from Wyoming and I'm really nervous about him! his name is Elder XXXXXXX! he showed up to the house with sunglasses and a backwards hat and doesn't know any Spanish!! President told me that he thinks that im that person that can change him!! he is cool but he needs to learn obediencia because we cant do the same things like back home!! anyway i will see how this first week goes!! so Thursday last week was great because we had a meeting with the bishop about the ward and i really think that the leaders can finally grow and be leaders that the members can look up to!! Leaders of the church have to be good examples in all things!! So Friday was really good we were that teaching that family again and they are really progressing and I'm excited for them because they have such a strong testimony!! their kids are great and one of them want to be a missionary!!! Saturday was really good as well because we were contacting people and there was a lot of people who wanted to hear a message!! so i realized something about the mission is that I'm really bummed because as missionaries we have to be good examples always it doesn't matter if people are looking or not because we need to receive the trust of the people we are teaching!! right now we have troubles with trust and its because a missionary did really bad things and now we are paying for it!! this goes for every member is to be examples in every way!!Sunday was fantastic because we received this reference to teach these Haitianos and they are really great!! they ont speak very much Spanish and they don't speak English!! they speak crol y francés so it may be different! well Monday we went to these people and there were 20 people waiting for us and I'm in love with the humility that they have!! so this is my week mom and I'm grateful to be a missionary!!!

Elder Westenskow!!   

HEY family of mine!! so im excited to write you this because i just love the mission!! this week has been really good and im really enjoying the fact that my area is getting better!! so this week me and my companion decided to get rid of all the people who were not progressing and start over again!! we are recieving many blessing through this decision because now we are recieving more references and it makes me soo happy!! we are actually teaching more people even though we got rid of a ton of people! so anyway thursday for my birthday this ward member had a suprise party for me and cake and bought me a shirt to remember them! it was a great birthday because we recieved 2 more references! so friday was great because we had talked to this one less active named Angi and she is really hard to teach because she says she needs to go to church but doesnt want to! she told us that her dad passed away and wasnt a member and she said that she wants to see him and live with him again and i said to her that the only way to do that is to keep your baptisamal convenios and then be worthy to enter the temple and do his work for him and she started to share with us the love she has for the gospel and how she believes that everything is true! that was the first time that we had heard her testimonio about the church in a long time and she cried all the way through it! i really believe that if we can just hear the testimonios que tenemos we can surly come back and do the things we need to be a eternal family!!! Saturday was great but it was a pretty normal!! Sunday was amazing because we talked to a new family to teach and it was amazing they have such great spirits and i hope that they can read the scriptures and pray and get there answer because i can see this family being that can become a eternal family! this past week has been about the family and how we can become eternal with them!!! Monday was sweet because i recieved my packages and made the cake and everything!! thanks for everything that i got!! im grateful for the pillow!! the cake tasted really good!! monday we had a intercambio so i was with this other elder from utah an it was amazing! he has problems with his companion but it was a good break for him!! we made the cake and it was good!!! Tuesday was great to and i really hope that my companion will start being a little more obedient! well family of mine this is my week and i cant wait to talk to you guys next week!!

so family this week has been really fast and the mission is starting to fly by! Jordan has 1 year in the mission and pretty soon next month alex will have a year! the wierdest is that im coming up so fast on a year and its making me nervous! i love the mission and im grateful for all the people that i know down here and how awsome the church is!! well thursday was great we had a chance to talk to this one member about the importance of Keeping the Sabbath day holy and i loved this scripture that i found in Mosiah 3:7 which talks about the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and i used that as an example that if Jesus Christ can suffer that much we can sacrifice one day every week to show our love for God and his son Jesus Christ!! i love sundays not only can i can take the sacrament but i can feel closer to my savior and my redeemer Jesus Christ! This is a day where we can think of him and feel peace Joy and to feel his love! friday was fantastic because we talked to this one lady named Florangel about prophets and i really believe that the spirit testified with her that prophets in this dispensation are true!i truly believe that Thomas S. Monson is a true prophet of god and that through him we can know the words of god!! He is our strength in this day to keep moving forward and to keep a sure tesimony about this is the only true church on the face of the earth!! Saturday was a little frustrateing because all of our lessons fell and we couldnt teach anybody! Sunday was great because it was fast sunday and that the testimonies of these great people here and that i got to fast!! Monday was good and i love every family night that we have hear because the families are soo strong in the gospel!! so tuesday was ok but we could not teach very many people and i felt really tired!! but yesterday was amazing because we went to the beach with all of the missionaries and we played volleyball and it was good!! so anyway thats my week and i hope that your week will be great!! 

Elder Westenskow

first family i just want to say because i forgot to say it on my letter that happy birthday dad and i hope that it was the best birthday ever!! so this week has been hard but really good to! so we were walking thursday and i thought to myself to talk to this person named steven and asked him how he was doing and he told me that he was looking for light in his life and that he has lost almost everything but as i heard this i realized that we have the light and truth!! so we talked for about 20 minutes and i really felt like the spirit was really the one working at that time!! i just want to say im grateful for the spirit in my life and that im worthy to have him with me always! so if you feel that you dont have the spirit and that your not getting these great feelings then perhaps you need to change your life or maybe you need to listen more closely!! so friday was really good i had the oppportunity to talk to familia Rosaidio y i really think that this family is a familia de oro y they will progress and will learn the importance of baptism!! so saturday was really good i just was pretty tired but thats because i went running in the mourning and that was a bad idea!!! so anyway sunday was really good there was a lot more people in the chapel and i really feel like these are changing here in this area and i hope it can keep doing it!! my companion is really starting to change but still need him to study more but im grateful that my stress level is down a little more! so monday was really good and we had a family night and it was great we talked about the love of christ and that in every aspect of our lives is centered in the love that christ has for us!!! well tuesday was pretty sweet because i was able to teach a little more and we recieved 2 more references and i really am glad that we have more people to teach and that the members are willing to teach with us little more!! well family that is my week and congrats AMANDA that you are having your baby but i will pray really hard that everything goes well with you and the baby!!! no family i havent recieved my package! but i will be ok but i love you guys soo much and know that all you guys are in my prayers!! 

Love Elder Westenskow!

So grateful to hear from him this week!! It seemed like the longest 2 weeks ever!!!

Family I'm sorry for last week because I didn't write you but I was SANTIAGO almost all day! 

So first I think I will tell you that I'm feeling soo much better and starting to gain a little more weight back! The doctor said that I have parásitos and so now I will take some medicine soon and I will be just fine!!

 This week and a half or so has been like a roller coaster and I loved it!!! Thursday we had taught a lot of people and hopefully we can start having days like this! Friday was absolutamente amazing and iIloved it because we had talked to this one family for soo long and finally they are starting to do nuestros compromisos y I know that they are progressing more! I love everything in this area but it rains everyday now!! Saturday was great we were teaching this one family about the importance of why we are here as missionaries and I really think that they will finally know that we are here for a reason! They have had 4 diferente grupos de misioneros y ellos necesitan el evangelio de Jesucristo en su vida pero vamos a ver! I hope that we can all know of the importance of the gospel en our lives in order to receive the blessings that we desperately need!

Sunday was really sweet because I had the oportunidad a hablar y yo espero que los miembros puedan saber que la obra es para todos! I really love this work here in my area!!! Monday was really good but my problem was that it rained all day and everything was just soaked but... it makes it a little less hot!!!!  We had a family night with this member and the reference that they gave us and I really hope that we can get this family progressing because they are the best!!!  And they have a great spirit to them! Tuesday o ayer was really good it rained again but my companion is starting to change a little!! Today was great we played basketball with some elders and 3 different members and it was great!! It was a great time but I realized that I'm  out of shape from being sick  and need to get back into to shape!!   

Elder Westenskow!!! 

Hey family I haven't said this in a while so ewwwwwww!!! Amen!!

This week has been really good but a lot of rain and mud and rivers in the calle! so today was the end of this transfer and im with my same companion and same area but its all good!! my companion is really starting to change and working better i hate being the bad guy but i just want to serve like we should! this week has been really short!! so thursday was really good the only problem was that there are a lot of people who dont really realize that we arent perfect! we have contacted this week 5 less active members and everyone isnt going to church because they got affended and the funny thing is that its by the same family! the members here have a lot of orgullo and they cant seem to get rid of it!  Sunday I need to talk again about the work and I'm  going to be direct but with love! Friday was really good it rained a lot and there were like rivers in the streets but anyway we found out that this one investigador gave up his coffee and now we need to work on his ear rings! so ya hopefully he can be baptized this month!  Sunday was really good here and i absolutamente think that the work is really starting to grow!! I love the people here and I'm glad that I'm in this area! I don't feel like the same Mitch anymore!  We had a talk with this one lady named Empetatrize and she is so smart! We have heard some tough stories about her life but yet she is always soo happy!! She calls me her mas hermoso precioso hermano en todo el mundo!! she is great and I hope that you guys will pray for her so that she can feel gods love and know that through the gospel we can feel it better! Sunday was ok! W asnt many people getting up for church but the stake president talked and it was great! i really hope that the lideres de este barrio pueden trabajar con nosotros! this week rained a ton!!!  Monday was good and I love family nights here! The people are so great and the some pretty fun card games!Tueasday was really good but it rained all day and the streets flooded again and we only could teach 2 people! For Mothers Day!! I'ts been really hard finding a place that will be open on Sunday, but any who I can talk with you guys  7p.m.- 9.p.m. and in utah it will be 5-7 p.m. I cant wait until I can talk to you and we will be using a members tablet!!  I love you guys so much and will talk to you Sunday!!!!!!!!!!

ewwwww

Elder Westenskow

Im so grateful that today i can write you guys and tell you guys about my week! this week for me has been one the hardest for me in the entire mission! i love this work that im able to do! first thing i want to say is that have you thought of your testimonios about the book of mormon?? i have learned that the book of mormon isnt just a book! its the love that Jesus Christ and Gods has for us!! if you dont have a testimonio of this very book then i challenge you guys to get this testimonio! through this book i have never felt closer to God! i wish that i would have studied before the mission because this is really the book of god!! i want everyone of you guys to watch a video of Jeffery R Holland in order to hear a real testimonio of this book!! on youtube!!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_M8asSSGvw! Anyway i love each and everyone of you guys and i hope that everything is good with you! so thursday was great because we were teaching this one family in this really torn down house about Joesph Smith and the Book Of Mormon and during this lesson i have never felt the spirit stronger in my life about what we have in this life! As members of the church we have the blessings to know that Joesph Smith was a true profeta of God! This Gosple can bring blessings that we cant count but if we are not doing the things are supposed to do God will with hold those Blessings! So Friday was ok but i had troubles with finding people in there homes! i had a hard time with having the energy to walk but as i thought of what i was feeling i realized that i should stop and talk to this person and as a started to introduce us he started to tell us that he was waiting for people like us! im grateful for the spirit and that im worthy enough to recieve the help and his promptings! Saturday was ok and i wish that people would be in there houses! we didnt have anything special and i just wish that people would know how important this gosple really is! Sunday was great because i was able to take the sacrament and renovar mis convenios con Dios! I love to hear other peoples talks and testimonios! Monday was good but i really wish that we could recieve more apoyo con los miembros! this work is for everyone! Tuesday was good and i hope that we could teach everyone and feel the spirit like this day but sometimes it just doesnt happen!! anyway family that is my weekly letter and know that i pray for you guys all the time and that i love you guys soo much!! i dont know what time i can write you guys yet for mothers day but we will see! 

Grandma Westenskow!! 

I just wanted to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

I LOVE you soo much! i hope that you are doing alright and that you have the best birthday in the world! Im so glad to have a grandma like you and to know that you love me to! you have been a great example in my life in the gosple! I am also grateful for the oportunidad to spend time with you at DisneyLand and also just me and you at the house! i know that grandpa would be proud of your strength and your faith!! he still lives and loves us and watches over us!! 

love you with all my heart!!!

Elder Mitch Westenskow 

Hey family how are you guys doing!! 

This week was even faster! This week has been beyond hot and I really hope that it will cool down just a few so that I won't sweat all the time! 

This week we have been working really hard and we have received many blessings! I was worried because my companion didn't want to be obedient and follow a lot of rules!! But I decided to sit him down and talk about why we are here and the importance about being obedient! So after my little talk me and him are ok but  I think he needs some time to think.... that I am only trying to help him! Thursday was really sweet because we had like three more people to teach and I really believe that they can progress! We had talked to this a less active in the ward about the word of wisdom again so that he can stop smoking tobbaco but he has had some major problems with members being really mean and judgmental and now its becoming really hard to get him to come back but we will keep praying! so Friday was really hard because I realized here that they celebrate Easter all week and  no one was home. Everyone went to the beach or some family members  so we didn't really teach very much! That night we had a activity in the ward and I had to speak about the birth of Jesus Christ and I loved it! I thought it went really well and the others talked about the life and the resurrection! 

They have this food or drink here called abichuela con dulce and its not good at all!!! It's like a mix of hot chocolate and beans and potatoes and crackers! The people think that it is sooo good but not me!! haha so anyway, Saturday was alright but we really didn't have many people to teach and most of the members we visit don't like to listen to our message they only like to talk! 

Sunday was soo good because there were soo many people there at church. I was really excited!! The whole Stake Presidency talked and their talks were really good! Easter Sunday I really missed you guys a lot!! 

Monday was soo sweet because we had a Family night with this a family, and we talked about the goods and the bads of technology. It was really good! They are such a good family and the dad knows so much doctrine! We had troubles with a member there because he thought he was always right, but wasn't bu we made it work and it was great. 

Monday was a really good day but it rained all day and I'm glad that my shoes are water proof! We taught a lot of people but we are really praying for this one investigator  because she has had a tough life. She doesn't have a floor in her home and almost nothing for a roof.. but, she loves her Savior and just wants to follow his example! But ya tha'ts my week and I hope that everything is good for you guys as well

Love your Elder Westenskow

Mom's note:  Just a quick note..Mitch has been losing so much weight.  Over 50 pounds now and we know that he is walking a ton, and his diet probably isn't the best.  But would appreciate prayers his way.  THANKS SO MUCH!!!  

Hey family! 
This week was really fast and I hope that all you guys had a good week too! Thursday was a good day! I've been great but tired from lack of sleep, my companion decided that he wants to snore..and its really loud! haha  But Thursday we had like 7 lessons and they all went great I really feel that we are receiving a lot of blessings right now because we have a lot more people to teach and all of them are progressing! Friday was a good day but i was really frustrated! My companion is new in the mission and he doesn't want to get up in the morning and doesn't study, I am trying to keep my patience so we will see! Any ideas of how to keep him motivated? Friday was a really good day with the all ouri investigators in their home but we are going to have to work hard with them because they have a lot of problems con the word of wisom. We taught this one guy and he is really old and loves Jesus Christ. He  is also Haitian and he is a baptist.  He knows a lot of doctrine so I have been studying my bible more everyday and he loves our lessons and he says he might want to be Baptized so that we will have to see! 

Saturday was sooo good! my companion and I were talking in the morning about that we need more people to teach and references from the members so we were walking in the street and this random guy came up and turns out he is a member and has a lot of friends in our area so we talked and now we have a new family that we can teach! 

I love when the lord answers our prayers! This work is great!! Sunday  was kind of sad because the guy that was supposed to be baptized can't because he needs to go to church he can be baptized....please pray that he will come so that we can help him be baptized. I really love it when we have fast meetings.They tell the people to its time to share our testimonies and they call out my name to come up first!! I love to testify of the gospel.  So this was pretty good but it's is going to be hard to teach a lot of people because the people call this week "The Holy Week and almost everyone goes to the beach.  But we will pray that we can receive lessons to teach during this week!  We had a ward social and I had to speak about new things going on in the Santiago Mission! The talk went really well I just really hope that the members know that they have to work with us in order to bring more people to the kingdom God!! Today during the afternoon we played baseball and it was missionaries vs a professional team and it was fun but I don't have a baseball glove... so if you guys could send me one next package or for my birthday that would be great! 

My Testimony:

First of all i know that this church is true!

I know through our diligence in the scriptures and our prayers we can know for ourselves that this true! 

We all have difficulties and problems as members of the church but I  know that Jesus Christ knows our challenges and with him we can overcome all of them! God has made a lot of promises to us and he wants us to be happy but if we don't go to church or read the scriptures and keep our baptismal covenants we can't receive those blessings and promises that he has made! The lord has commanded that we obey his commandments! I know the second coming is near and now is the time to change our lives in order to be happy and live with Christ and our families again!  

I know that Joesph Smith was a true prophet of God! And through him we have the restored gospel of Jesus Christ!

We all have families and we all want our families to be with us and only through Jesus Christ is it posible to do it! We can always return and it doesnt matter what others think, the lord knows and loves each and everyone of us! If we have faith and love for our Savior and do all that we can to be obedient it is possible. I know he still lives and guides his church today through Thomsas S Monson and we can hear the voice of the lord through him! This I testify in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Hey Family!!
This week has gone by really fast and i really wish that I could take a breather but the time just flies by! Anyway... so everything here is very sweet but the only problem Is that its starting to get really hot! 

I haven't  received your package yet but im not im worried Eventually i will get it ! My companion is really sweet! He has a lot of energy and sometimes I have a hard time keeping up with him but the people absolutely love him! It's different  when you're the Senior companion. I have to have the answers to questions about the mission and doctrine. It makes me feel old in the mission ! 

Thursday was really sweet so we had a new investigator  and she is really cool. She is really Catholic . I have to just be patient. She was trying to say That she does not need to be Baptized again because she was already! I decided that was a good time to read Moroni 8:11. She did not know that there are scriptures on baptism. I Read these scriptures and she kind of thought about it for a minute and then said it is true! Wahoo!! 

Friday was very cool but It is hard when a person has many problems and they want the missionaries to fix their problem. Especially when the problem is money!  They think that since I am white I have the money to help them. It's hard not to help all the time, but they kind of understand when I explain that I am here serving without getting paid for my service.

Saturday  was amazing Because We watched conference and me and the other missionaries from Utah got to watch in ENGLISH ! ! This conference was so powerful and was really different for some reason as a missionary ! i felt the talks were fantastic! I am really thankful that we have prophets and apostles! Sunday was the same we listened to conference and then had a few lessons afterward ! I really loved the talk of President Thomas S Monson about loving one another ! We have almost every member saying they everyone they know is part of another religion....and they aren't comfortable talking to them about the church. But it is so important we need to open our mouths and talk to people! Noy everyone needs our help but there are people out there that do. What a huge impact 15 million members could have if we just loved everybody and served others more regularly ! 

Monday was  good but not a lot of people we home.  We had 2 lessons but iihope That the baptism That we have planned for the 26 will follow through. We just need to fast and pray really hard for Reimili ! Tuesday was good because  I got to eat at Burger King and That sure tasted good !  We are working hard to help the members here to Know the blessings of attending their meeting regularly.  Because we have only been having about 70 people in sacrament meeting ! well that is my week family just know that I pray for you guys all the time and cant wait for mothers day !

Love you Elder Westensko

Hello Family!!

 I hope last week was very good! This past week for me has gone by very fast! The mission is so cool! 

Thursday seemed like it was soo long, it was good but, I'm not used to large areas! San Francisco is much bigger that Porto Plata, and each lesson that day was long because people here Like to talk a lot! My new compaion, Elder Saldana is from  Mexico and he has only 3 months in the mission! I'm senior companion now! And excited about it. Elder Saldana is very knowledgeable about the doctrine and can cook very well! My head does not hurt much now because I'm drinking lots of water! I think I was dehydrated! 

 Friday went  very fast, we were in a home of an individual and he is very old and hasn't been to church for a while, but the reason he is less active is because a member said he couldn't go to church because he is not paying his tithing, We can learn from this member!  He is not paying his tithing,  but if he wants to return to the church he can!!  He needed to know that all of us are not perfect, But we need to help the people to feel that they can always return! 

 Sunday was so cool because  we had another baptism and many members were there and the spirit was very strong! When we have a lot of church members to a baptism, it helps them feel welcome ant it  a way he can always remember his baptism! Sunday was very good! I had to talk in Sacrament about the pure love of Christ! I was very nervous... but I know now that when we have the Holy Spirit with us, we can talk in any form and they can feel the spirit and understand. I also needed to pray in a class but in English! You would think that I should be able to do that..since I speak English, but I could not think of any English words!  Monday was so cool and I'm learning the area and they are used to me! I hope we can get four more references to teach, but the members haven't been doing as good with the new system.  We will work on it.  Tuesday was very cool but very hot and we walked a lot! I hope that in three weeks I can get another baptism but we have to see! It's a family we are teaching.  Pray for them please. 

 Family hopefully next week you can receive many blessings! Family I love you guys so much and you have no idea how much I miss you  and I want more pictures! Mom I hope everything will be good and that You can find another job and One That pays good and does not take advantage of you! love you! I will talk to you guys next week! I want pictures of my car Please and Chloe and my room! (mom note: the suburban and his room??)

Love you Elder Westenskow

Yay for Baptisms!! First Transfer!

Hello family !

 So I will have to be quick today, sorry, I am with my new companion today in my new area.

Thursday was great our investigator went to his baptism interview and passed so we are good to go on him baptism!!!

 We also went to a members home with some new investigators we talked about the Restoration. Members also need to learn  the doctrine of the church. The father said he couldn't believe The Book of Mormon because there wasn't anyone named Alma in there. haha But we can learn many things... First he's not reading! We might all be members, but we need to continue to read and learn! If we read the scriptures we can gain a testimony, a srtong testimony that Satan can not destroy!!

Saturday was wonderful!!  We had our baptism! His name is Carlos and is 14 years old. Only 14 years old but he has such a big strong testimony! I am thankful that I can see more people coming to Christ !

Sunday was good but I had a very large and sharp pain in my head so bad that I couldn't see, but I know it was a migraine, I just need sleep. However Sacrament Meeting was very nice and all members could feel the Spirit so strong!

Monday was quiet..which was good. Because everyone had the flu that has been going around. Tuesday was very sad ! We had a meeting with the area president and I have to be transferred from San Marcos, and go to San Francisco ! It's hard because I feel like my work there isn't done, So today I'm in San Francisco and my new companion is Elder Saldaña from Mexico. He is very cool ! I think that I will love it here, but it's such a big area!!

Family.. this is my week and I hope everything great there in Utah and Happy Birthday My Grandma Christensen ! love you all and i hope That you will all have a wonderful week !  Also Happy Birthday last week to Alyssa!!

 Love you all!!

Your Missionary Elder Westenskow