Elder Ethan Walbom -Orlando & Bogota, Columbia Mission experiences!

These past 2 weeks  I had another baptism and confirmation, exchanges and Thanksgiving!  The baptism was great- she's a 15 year old superstar! She reminds me of how grateful I am to have been born to parents who raised me with the gospel because I don't know if I could've accepted the gospel truths as a teenager. The fact that she is 15 and accepting the gospel and choosing to be baptized and keep Christ's commandments blows my mind! She wasn't without her bumps and struggles and doubts but she made it and I got to baptize her.  I went on exchanges again with the zone leaders (the other one this time). It was a good exchange and I learned that in some situations you just need to laugh and give people the benefit of the doubt.  Thanksgiving was fun! We got together as a zone for 5 hours and played football and made shirts. After that we just did studies until we went to a member family for dinner. They were super cool and it was interesting to have a Thanksgiving...

(Elder Ethan Walbom with parents at the Orlando Temple) I went through the temple [last week] which was an enlightening experience. The highlight of that day was that I got to see my parents again. Which was much needed.  These past two weeks I ended up going on exchanges with the zone leader and even got to lead my area when I was with the district leader after. It's a little bit stressful to lead an area in spanish but i was more than thrilled for the opportunity to be in charge. I learned a lot from my zone leader specifically in ways I can teach the gospel and how to involve members in lessons. It was all really great and its what I hope i can emulate.  I made some guacamole as well which was pretty fun but other than that I haven't dabbled in any culinary exploits.  We've been on the hunt for new investigators and we've found 3 this week that all seem like they are promising. One even attended church already via zoom granted.  I'm still trying to learn Spanish ...

(Elder Walbom performed a baptism in Spanish on his 2nd Sunday in the Orlando mission.) (His companion, Elder Marshall, gave Maribel the gift of the Holy Ghost.) So I didn't write an email last week but I actually had a baptism and was the baptizer which was an awesome experience. We almost didn't confirm her because we were going to wait until the next Sunday but then I remembered that she was leaving the country on Halloween so we avoided that catastrophe. We have a couple people on date and the work is progressing really well as far as getting investigators and committing them to dates of baptism. Ive been learning the language and try to use it with any Spanish speakers I find but most of the time they will just speak English to me which is disappointing  My mission president gave an announcement that we would be returning to our original assignments in the next month or two so im super excited to get the chance to go to Columbia.  I am still not endowed but at least I fin...

  Family selfie before entering the Huntsville Airport Elder Ethan Walbom Masked in the airport due to Covid 19 A final hug before going through security Elder Walbom with Orlando, Florida Mission President Ashcraft and his wife (It was so nice of them to send this pic to parents right after Elder Walbom arrived safely in Orlando.) Elder Walbom in his first area. He was assigned to serve in a  Spanish ward in an area with lots of Spanish speakers First email from Elder Ethan Walbom: It's been a crazy week, I've already had 2 companions [since arriving in Orlando] and seen a missionary have to go home [because he severely hurt his back]. Orlando has either been really hot or rainy but I don’t mind. I'm in a Spanish ward and was able to get up in front of them and introduce myself and bear my testimony in Spanish, which was a really good experience. My current companion’s name is Elder Marshall who has been on his mission for 19 months in Orlando.  I've taught nonmembers ...