June 9th

Family,

This week has been a good week. Elder Villar and I were able to visit and teach all of our investigators that we've been working with this past week, which was awesome! D____, M____ and the T_____ Family are the ones that we are continuing to work with. They are progressing little by little. In due time, I know they will accept the gospel in their lives. 

Another exciting thing that happened for us, was that an investigator that our Senior Couple in the ward have been working with for about 6 months, was baptized this past weekend. Her name is Leila. This was the first baptism for this ward in over a year and a half. Although we didn't teach her, Elder Villar and I participated in her confirmation and I also got to conduct her interview for baptism. So that was pretty neat.   

Not much else is happening for us. The time is going faster and faster each day... I basically have the game plan of what I want to accomplish from now until the time I go home in 3 weeks. All my goals have been set and now is the time when I am landing the plane. Which means I will not have any regrets. 

Let me know if there is anything else I need to get done here before I come home. June 22nd is when we will be in Boston for the entire day, so I will most likely write my final email to everyone next week Monday.

​I love you all:) Go Sox! 

​(pic: The Fernandez family, Elder Stones and Elder Slade from the Elder Holland fireside last Sunday)​

Elder BerthelsonBostonStrong

August 25th

Family,

I am doing well as always:) I am blessed to be kept safe as well. Dad- I heard about the earthquake that happened in Northern Cal. That's crazy! Be safe on your travels. I can say the same for myself as well. 

Last week Monday for our P-Day, after playing beach volleyball down in Bridgeport, my companion and I got into a minor car accident coming back from the beach. I was asleep in the passenger's seat so I didn't really see everything, but we are O.K. nonetheless. Because of the damage that was done to the car (we were hit in bumper to bumper traffic) Elder Ripplinger and I had to ride bikes for the majority of the week. Basically I've been riding bikes for my ENTIRE MISSION, they just can't take me off those things haha. Heavenly Father just wants me to stay fit I guess:) But because we didn't have a car, we were able to pick up a new investigator on the street, T___ R_____, who was thoroughly interested in hearing our message. We ended up teaching him our purpose as missionaries and we have a return appointment with him tomorrow; along with another investigator, M_____, that we were able to shortly meet yesterday. We are blessed to- First, have safety in our travels. And second, to be given opportunities to share the gospel, even in the most inconvenient situations that were presented to us. Last Friday, we ended up getting a replacement car because of the amount of area that we cover and the other responsibilities that we have. So we will not have any further problems when it comes to our efforts in the Lord's work. Plus I'll be the one driving from now on.

I was able to do the Confirmation for L____ yesterday. It is always a joy being able to exercise my Priesthood Responsibilities and to receive promptings from the spirit that are strong. This week as well, I was able to study a lot about faith and how our firm belief in Christ will determine the outcome of any given situation that we are faced with... along with answering, of what I believe, the commonly asked question that people have asked us as missionaries is, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" That question relates back to Faith. How it is essential that we are tested and tried in this life in order for spiritual growth to occur and to prove if we will remain faithful unto Him till the end. (Ether 12:27)  

MARTHA BALE IS GOING TO AFRICA!!!!!!!!!! I am still shocked even typing this right now!!! And she will be speaking Portuguese!!! :):):) Tell her I said: Parabéns. Você será um missionário incrível!!! (Congrats. You will be an amazing missionary!!) I'm so excited for her as well as for those that are leaving or about to leave soon for their missions. What an amazing experience they will have. 

Karen- Thanks for the pics. All your family seem like their doing great! I thought maybe there was a chance that you were able to hit up Lake Powell as well while you were on your trip lol:) That's great how you were able to be with your family up in CO. Let me know anything I can do to help out with family names as well. FYI pants are great, thank you. And if you could send some music on CD that would be great too!

Dad- Great times and Great memories my man, you know it!! Some places here in CT actually remind me of a little bit like Oakland... Oh sweet seats by the way for the A's game! Glad you were able to enjoy your birthday:) (Don't let me be the one holding you back from the Bay area man. Make sure to go to a Giants game for the next time)

      

​Jazzy- Consejo por la semana- Remember the Acronym: B.O.B.O.D.I. (hint: ​B= Bizness:) hahahaha creed. Te quiero J!

​

Thank you guys for all your love and support. It sounds like everyone is happy and doing well. Keep working hard.   

​Les Quiero Mucho!!​

Elder BerthelsonBostonStrong

March 17th

Family,

Esta mision es bien loca! Thats all I have to say... haha. I could write more about everything that went on with you guys back home with: Abuelita, Rich's wedding, etc., but I'll leave it as it is. You guys already know the relationship I've made with these people on the mission. Its amazing just how much the Lord has blessed me. 

This week was pretty good. We had the baptism this past Saturday for G___ Z____. Although he's already 8 years of age and not considered one our investigators, we still considered it a success and a blessing that we were able to be a part of his baptism. Elder Johnston was able to perform the baptismal ordinance, which was also his first time doing so on his mission. So that was pretty exciting for him! I was also able to do the confirmation for G___ in Spanish right after the baptism. So overall this weekend was very special for us.  

As far as the group is going, we are still working hard with the less acitves and our investigators. Unfortunately, yesterday we didn't have as many people show up to our sacrament meeting as we have from the past couple weeks. But nevertheless we are continuing to work hard and by doing everything we can to invite. A couple of our investigators, O____ and his wife B_____, are taking more and more interests in the discussions. Elder Johnston and I are hoping to maybe extend a baptismal date out to them pretty soon. Our other investigators, P___, M_____, and M____ are also slowly progressing little by little. The work this week has been somewhat slow for us but we're doing our best.

I'm glad you guys had a great week, and especially a great weekend with Abuelita! Let her know that I'm not able to call her on the mission but I can definitely write her emails. If you could forward this to her that would be great!

"Abuelita" Argueta,

Gracias por visitar mis padres en Arizona! Ellos estuvieron emocionados a verte y cononcerte mejor. Todo villa no puedo creer que tu podias visitar Chase Richardson por su boda y mis padres... Que fantastico! Y mi papa me dijo que el le encanto tus tortillas tambien, jaja. Ellos te quieren muchisimo!

Unfortunanamente no puedo llamarte en la mision por que es contra de las reglas a llamar otras personas afuera de la area que esta serviendo... Pero por los menos, este es mi correo y definitivamente puedo mandar los correos a ti! Te extrano a ti y otras personas en Rhode Island. Ustedes estan los mejores!

Te quiero mucho!

- Elder Berto  

Thanks for taking care of her, that honestly means a lot to me. Its awesome how the Lord puts people in your life for certain reasons one way or another. Again, I am very blessed to have the relationships that I've had and will continue to have on my mission. 

Keep working hard. I love you all!