Have an eye single to the glory of God and not let your mind wander.

Hello my wonderful family! 

I hope all of you had an amazing week! It was a tough one for us here in the Price Bilingual area but we keep strummin' along! Well it all went sour when I got sick wednesday. I woke up just fine, but between like 3-4 in the afternoon my body like shut down :/ we still don't know the cause but I have yet to shake it. Hopefully it's gone soon though. But that's the only thing going on really. Miracles happened this week! So with Daniel, the middle-aged catholic man we are teaching, has come to a knowledge that this is where God wants him to be! We were like, dang it Daniel, if you just read and pray and ask you will get an answer. Andddd, he did. haha unfortunately, he feels tension about leaving family tradition. But it's progress! Also with the 15 year old, Zaharah, she told us that she has felt the holy ghost when we teach and when she reads and prays and agreed to get baptized on the 24th. With her it might be rough because her parents aren't members, but they are super supportive of her. Sooooo I held our district meeting this thursday and guess who showed up!? Our mission president and his wife.... :-O haha talk about turning up the heat. haha but all went well and he took us out to lunch afterwards. And if that wasn't enough, he invited my companion and I to eat dinner with him as well! :D A little nerve-wrecking but he is way awesome! And sister center is like, zee best! haha I don't have pictures for you this week because i've been taking videos with my videocamera haha so I attached one of like 5 minutes ago...the rest are too big to send :/ but i'll send the extra sd card home with them on there! Other miracles: We hit standards again and had 6 of our investigators at church! We were pretty excited. 2 of them we didn't expect to see them there! and we had 7 less actives go too. It was such a great week. We learned a lot, and received many blessings. 

So in this week's DTM our zone leaders wanted us to review "Lock your heart". Surprisingly, yet not, I learned something new! So the principle is to have an eye single to the glory of God and not let your mind wander during your mission. Well, if you think about when you get home, one day when you are serious dating or sealed with your wonderful wife, the eye has to be single to her. If we can't lock our hearts on our mission to our objective at hand, how can we prepared to lock our hearts to a precious daughter of God when there is much more temptation. God has an eternal perspective for our families. All us young folk need to prepare to make everlasting covenants. Craziness! :O

haha, i'm grateful for my mission. I know I will never truly comprehend how much it has made me grow, but I know it is where the Lord wants me to be, and where I will learn the most for what is to come. I love and miss you all!

-Elder Castellanos

Scriptures teach us that fear comes from Satan

Hello!!

Hope everyone has had a fantastic week!!

This week was a true test of diligence for the Price Bilingual Area. I left Tuesday morning and drove to St. George because we got a new car since I'm supposedly District Leader now. I was sketched at first but then we got the car and was like...mmmm, I kinda dig this haha still strange why they do that though. I attached a picture of it! Haha But I stayed in St. George overnight and went to a training meeting Wednesday morning, then got my greenie in the afternoon. Strange to say greenie when I still feel like one myself o.O But his name is Elder Velasquez! He is from New Jersey but his parents are from Mexico. (Puebla and Guajaca) He is very sharp and ready to teach but still a bit shy. It makes me think a lot of where I was 3 months ago o.O It's strange that they have greenies training greenies haha but the rest of the week I put him through the test of fire. I promised him when we first got together that we would hit standards so we would get his name on the communicator and we fought hard and we were able to !! :D He was so happy! The sisters in my district also hit standards and I sent them an easter basket to congratulate them haha From this last DTM I talked about what keeps us from opening our mouths. We made a big list and came to the conclusion that they all arose from fear. I offered the question of what on the list our Heavenly Father couldn't help us with. None was pointed out. Then I went into the fact that the scriptures teach us that fear comes from Satan. Therefore, if we let fear get in the way, we are playing for Satan's team. Each member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is a representative of Jesus Christ. Let us not let fear shake our desire to preach the blessings of the gospel. If we do, we take off our JC jersey and we put on Satan's. I love you all. May we all remember what Easter truly means. The power of the Atonement is not limited to anyone in particular...it is available to EVERYONE. Let's help our brothers and sisters realize that, and remember the sacrifice Jesus Christ did for us. Miss you much! Til' next week!

Pretty much visited a zoo with how many animals I was able to see.

So I totally let time get away from me today so quick updates!!

Baptism of Michael!! AHHH:DDD Super spiritual! He had about 7 family members  there and they all went to church and had a great time!

We went to a super good spanish conference in cedar city on how to find our lamanite brethren and how we should emphasize work there. 

Pretty much visited a zoo with how many animals I was able to see.

Corchet time!!

Towed a truck on a highway that we found stuck.

Got an amazing easter box from home! :D

Renewing my license here this week! fingers crossed I pass the test haha

Transfer Call:

E. Samuelsen is going to Gunnison as senior companion to E. Joens.

I Finished Training

I will be staying in my area, Price

Senior Companion

Training new Greenie

District Leader for my area.

Prayers are much appreciated :/ so nervous!! 

Please review conference talks!! There is so much to learn!!

Love and miss you all! I promise more info next week!

Who is my Hero? What do I copy from them?

Hola mi familia! :D

Que semana! Un poco de estresado pero eso viene con ser un misionero no? Jaja Sorry for the accents missing...super old computer and I can't get the spanish keyboard up. I tried combinations on the keyboard but I get stuff like ºóñ⌐¿ª╟ä so you can understand my frustration haha

Well...what a wonderful week with just about the best finish their could be. We were able to have 13 of our investigators watch general conference :D Each one of them loved it! We stressed much about how they should go into it with questions and the ones that did said they received answers. Ahhh! :D We even had Cord attend it at the conference center! We watched Saturday morning session with Damon Davis and his family. We then watched the afternoon session with Richard Herzet his mum, Kalea, and a non-member guest. We finished up the day watching the priesthood with Brother and sister Pendray and their son Justice. What a session that was!! Sunday morning we visited with Michael Hunter who is getting baptized this week! He loved it! Unfortunately I left my camera there so there will be no pictures this week :( wah wah wahhhh. I know right. I was devastated this morning. But is ohtay. In the afternoon we spent some time with Zaharah and her fellowship family the Fultchers. Such a great session for her! So I thought I'd share my notes from conference and see if we maybe caught some of the same things. I saw a general them of love, importance of family, and discipleship. Of course...the spirit testifies to each individual differently. Ready, set go!

Saturday Morning Session:

Jeffery R Holland - 

A time will come when we each will have to defend our beliefs.

It's hard sometimes to be a missionary

Courage+Courtesy

Is it worth it...? YES. The alternate is a desolate household.

"If your eye offends you, cut it out. If your hand offends you, cut it off."

"Love one another as I have loved you"

*Pure christ-like love can change the world.

BE STRONG. LIVE THE GOSPEL

Ronald A Rasband - 

We ALL have the responsibility to share the gospel

We are the Lord's hands

Lay up our spiritual treasures in Heaven

When ye are in the service of your fellow man, ye are in the service of your God.

Bear one another's burdens, however small.

Carlos H Amado - 

He will come as the king of kings to redeem His people

Endure to the end.

Choose The Right

Linda S Reeves -

 Learn to control our bodies

The spouse must become pre-imminent 

Listen w/ love and understanding.

Don't lead yourself to loss of self-control.

Remember how merciful the Lord is

The Savior has the power to clean

We must WANT to change our hearts

...rejoice in Christ...

Neil L Anderson - 

We are subject to spiritual whirlwinds without knowing it

Sin always has been and always will be part of this world.

REPENTANCE

Trees raised up in winds are stronger.

Each person is infinitely important to God

How should we prepare? Build upon the rock of salvation, and stand in Holy Places.

Henry B Eyring -

 Eternal happiness comes from family bonds.

There are things to wait for faithfully - they will come in the Lord's time

Families are FOREVER

Saturday Afternoon Session

Russell M Nelson -

 Faith is the antidote to fear

Our faith WILL be tested

Always have faith in Jesus Christ

Are we securely tied to God..?

Where is our faith...?

Faith is always safe with the savior.

Doubt not-Fear not

Truth is truth - All truth is part of the gospel.

Let your faith SHOW!

God's laws must always be our standards!

Danger lurks when we try to divide ourselves.

Even if everyone is doing it, wrong is never right.

Courage which can't be compromised brings a smile to our Heavenly Father's face.

Richard G Scott - 

Serve the Lord FIRST

Always seek to strengthen families

Keep sights on the temple

We all grow line upon line

ETERNAL FAMILIES <3

Robert D Hales - 

OBEDIENCE

Be careful who you follow

Let the Lord's will always be done

Claudio D Zivic - 

Keep the commandments without reminders

We must not fear man more than God

Exhort others and ourselves to repent and come back to the right path.

W Craig Zwick - 

Use compassionate language

Spouses need to communicate

Hazardous situations are not holy places

Quinton L Cook -

 Hasten the work with the spirit of Elijah

Temple work is necessary

We can become saviors for our families.

Priesthood Session

Dallin H Oaks - 

The priesthood is for both men and women

By the power of priesthood, we will be resurrected

Joseph Smith received keys for THIS dispensation

Women still act under & with priesthood authority

Men are not the priesthood.

Companionship of a wife is essential

Marriage is an equal partnership

Wives should not be silent partners

Both men and women are endowed with equal priesthood power.

Donal L Hallstrom -

 Are we willing to act? To Change?

"That's just the way I am" <- gives up our ability to change

Who we are is not who we can become!

What do I need to do?

Be a priesthood man:

Maintain spiritual maturity

Put away childish things

Be humble/meek

SERVE

Our wife, children and callings

Be worthy

Can't trust anyone but JC, even myself.

"What manner of man should I be... ; Even as I am"

Ronald Ridd: 

Generation of choices

What does my heart desire? That is the key

If you are not active in leading your desires the world will do it for you.

Know who you really are

Plug into a source of power

You were chosen to be here at this time to do these things.

Dieter F Uchtdorf -

 Don't sleep through the revolution

Are we sleeping through the Restoration? 

Let go of selfishness - Those who serve will not sleep

Avoid addictions - We ate designed to soar in heaven, not to be shackled to this earth.

Prioritize**

Be sons of LIGHT

Henry B Eyring -

 Who is my Hero?

What do I copy from them?

Who are models of priesthood men?

Lord puts us on a candlestick to lead the way.

Let your light so shine!

Keep a pattern of prayer

Habit of service

&  A rock hard habit of honesty

Sooooo I accidentally hit send before I was done, but it also made me realize I was out of time haha funny how that works, no? I will write more next week...can't wait to hear your thoughts! Love you!

Elder Castellanos