Monday, August 25, 2025

Week 83: I love Cubans

So we have been on a grind this week and have literally been talking to everyone we possible can. We found a lot of people, but I wanna talk about one guy specifically. So basically, we were walking around this complex, and we knocked this one cuban guys door. He was basically just like 'yeah I'm busy talking to my wife, do yall have a card or something?' We didn't think anything of it and didn't even put in any info on our phone. We did not think he was interested. And then he called us Sunday morning and was like "hey I'm coming to church." We didn't even remember who he was for a min, but he was like "yeah you guys gave me a card? And I wanna come to church." He got an Uber, and then we had an amazing Member Present Lesson, and gave him an Book of Mormon. We got another Member to give him a ride home, and he started reading the Book of Mormon while he waited for the Member. And then we introduced him to Yaline, our incredible recent convert also from Cuba, and turns out they're from the same city in Cuba. They hit it off super well, and Yaline was planning on having all the missionaries over for dinner that night, and so we Invited him to come to dinner and he said yes! And he came, and brought his Book of Mormon, and then we had an even more incredible lesson where we talked about the Book of Mormon, the restoration, and praying to know the truth. It was just so cool. He was a miracle. He and Yaline are super similar too. The biggest being that they both talk a lot. Our lesson after dinner was 2 and 1/2 hours...



It's been a good week. I love my companion Elder Ball. He's super fun and he's a hard worker. We're having a great time here in Odessa. I don't wanna leave this city, so much is happening. We also went public contacting at the lake, which was a lot of fun. There was one guy from Andrews who said he wasn't super interested, but he had his camera with him and so we asked him what he was doing. And he said he was filming stuff about the lake for the county website. And so I was like, "Do you wanna film us?" And he was like "sure 👍." And so he gave us Mics and recorded us sharing a Book of Mormon scripture and inviting people to come to church with us. He said they might put it on the Odessa county website... so that was pretty fun. I also apologize, because those are the only pictures I got this week

Monday, August 18, 2025

Week 82: Temple Trip!!

Yaline was able to go to the temple for the first time on Saturday!! We got there early enough to do an endowment session, which was very much needed, and then we did baptisms for Yaline's Grandma and Grandpa. She was super emotional, but it was a very sweet experience. It was definitely worth the 2 hour drive. It always is. We also had the baptism for Noelie last week, and Yaniuska and Reimel's baptism yesterday after church! There's tons of Cubans here in Odessa, and it's pretty fun to teach them. I don't have much else to say for this week, but it's been good. Please pray for Tim, Jose Zabaleta, and Rigoberto! We're hoping to help them get baptized soon. Anyways, love Yall!











Monday, August 11, 2025

Week 81: Zone conference, Stake Conference, and Tim

So this week was super cool. We had zone conference. There was a lot of cool takeaways for me, but we applied something that the mission president's wife talked about. She talked about earning referrals through members. While we were on Exchanges, Elder Adam's and I decided to knock a members house and we were like hey we're looking for more friends to teach, and she referred us to her neighbor 2 doors down, and we had a really awesome lesson about the restoration. He basically said yes to baptism. We also went public contacting at the park and met Tim. He is recent life is pretty traumatic and he talked about trying to find God and more healing in his life. He came to both the adult and regular session of stake conference. He loved it and is super open about everything. But God has for real been preparing him so much. About a week and a half ago he happened to be driving through midland and stopped by our church building. He had no idea what church it was, but he just walked inside. Idk why it was unlocked, but he just walked in, went to the chapel and started praying. Anyways, he loved coming to stake conference. It was a powerful meeting. Also there was a baptism this week! Noelie got baptized yesterday, and it was just so cool. And I get to go to the temple again on Saturday!! Yaline will be going to do baptisms for the dead for her first time. She said she wants everything. Step by step, but everything. Paso a paso, pero todo. Please keep praying for Odessa!!





Monday, August 4, 2025

Week 80: Faith brings Miracles

So this last week was so so cool. Odessa Spanish has been very blessed. As a district, we have 4 people that are planning to be baptized in August. Noelie, Yaniuska, Reimel, and Idalmis. Please pray for them! Yesterday was especially awesome thoughm a few days ago the sisters called my comp and I and asked us to give one of their friends a blessing of comfort and council. She was likely going to be separated from her family and not be able to come to church or meet with missioanries anymore and anyways, it was just super sad. We had a super spirit filled lesson with them though, and then we gave her a blessing. Then we all fasted and prayed for her, and they were all able to come to church! She bore her testimony about faith and miracles, and another member of the family bore her testimony on the Book of Mormon, and neither of then are members. The spirit was super strong and definitely the most memorable sacrament meeting I've ever had. Odessa is just so blessed. Please keep praying for the people here!! Love you guys

- Elder Wride








The other Elders in our district thought it would be a funny prank to put raw chicken under our sink and not say anything. It was disgusting

Week 83: I love Cubans

So we have been on a grind this week and have literally been talking to everyone we possible can. We found a lot of people, but I wanna talk...