New Monthly High

In Apr the mission achieved a new monthly high 160 converts (highest total this century!)   Added to the 151 from last month, the mission is ahead of schedule on reaching the 4 month goal of 600.  A flyer is posted in all chapels with the goal.   This Fri we have a Film night where the members will invite their friends to the chapel to watch a film.  We will show Joseph Smith the Prophet of the Restoration.  The missionaries wanted to show 17 Miracles.  Even though it only has spanish subtitles, they love it and have watched it in the office at lunch time several times.  We didn't bring it with us.  They watch Pres. Prince's copy.   They are planning on 170 at the film night.  Tonight we have a planning meeting for the activity on Friday.  We are on the refresments committee.  Sister Oliver is still looking for 58 baptisamal records to enter into the computer by Friday, the deadline for recording April baptisms.

Last night we went to the baptism of Hugo who is 73.  He was so happy!    He has never married and lived with his father.  About 7 months ago his father passed away and Hugo moved in with his sister, Veronica, who is a member.  She has been a member for many years and said how much the gospel has blessed her and her family.  Since this week was transfers which includes the arrival of new missionaries, we had a chorus of 18 elders with Elder Novoa on the piano.  They sang Praise to the Man.  It was very impressive.
[You will have to imagine them at the front of the chapel since I wanted to take a picture but didn't because we were in the chapel.]  Elder Novoa, exec secretary from Chile, is amazing on the piano.  He listens to the Tab choir and then plays what he has heard, including key changes.

We had 14 new missionaries this week, 8 from the US, and the other 6 from México and Guatemala.  All from "home".  Hoy tenemos capacitación de los nuevos y se van a sus areas.  Today we have training of the new missionaries and they leave for their areas.

We bought our first canned goods (2 cans) last shopping trip and after getting them home realized we didn't by a can opener for the imported refried beans.  We thought saving time was a good justification but missed an important detail.  The Colombian cans are pull top but there are no Colombian refried beans.  They import a lot from Mexico.  Our intranet is even with TelMex the same company we had in Mexico.