Monday, March 26, 2018

6 Months in the Mission!

Hola mama! How are you? I love in your email that you told me you thought the jerky is spicy haha. Mom don’t you know where I am and what I’ve had to go through eating spicy foods??
If you can send it I really want to try it to see if my taste buds have adapted to the spicy food here! To answer your questions our recent converts are doing pretty good. As far as investigators, we have some new ones that we are teaching that are going okay. Some other new ones that we have we are struggling to teach them because they are either not home or are busy with other things.

This past week we had a zone conference and it was pretty good and inspiring. One of the things we talked about is that we are allowed to watch the movie Coco! It has many applications and things in it that we can relate to the gospel like families and family history, the plan of salvation, music and remembering the people you love. We get to watch it this week! We also talked about how important it is to have the youth as well as the young adults help us with missionary work. In any way possible we should be utilizing them. There really aren’t a lot of either of those groups in our ward but we have a plan to work more with the members during the cambio.

During our studies Thursday morning we devoted a lot of time to researching a question that a sister member had about the anti-christ and if he came from a specific place like a country or city and what not. We went to an internet café to research as well and during our time there I looked up videos about comfort in trials, adversity and family so I could send them to you guys. It was super awesome because as I was looking, watching videos and reading, I was being uplifted, comforted and strengthened myself. I could feel the spirit so strongly. I found them all on LDS.org in the media library and never realized before how useful that site is. You can find basically anything on there. It really is super awesome!

We also worked with members to teach them about the importance of the Book of Mormon. We asked them to write their testimony in it, mark their favorite scripture and then pray to receive revelation to know of a neighbor, friend, coworker, anyone that they could share the Book of Mormon with. The Book of Mormon truly is powerful if we know how to study it correctly and if we share it with others and teach them how to effectively read, study, and search the Book of Mormon to receive answers to questions and understand the will of God.

Friday was a good day with visits that we planned, the only problem with the visits that we had was that I needed to talk more. I’m still struggling with talking during lessons. I’m just a reserved person but I really am trying. It’s a work in progress for me but I know God will help me, and my companion both, if we keep praying, are humble and diligent too.

Saturday we went to visit a less active member who we found while walking in the street. He is 18 and his name is Ivan. He’s been a member for a few years, but hasn’t been able to attend church for about 6 months because of work and some other things going on in his life but he wants to start coming back to church. We talked to him about serving a mission and he told us he wants to he just needs to talk to the bishop to receive the Melchizedek priesthood and start preparing more to serve. It’s our goal to help him prepare but we told him we are going to take it one step at a time. What an awesome experience we have to help him! And his family too because only 3 out of 5 or 6 people in his family are members.  

That afternoon there was a baptism of a boy from a family in the ward. Anaid, one of our investigators, really wanted to see a baptism so we invited her to come. We’ve explained to her how simple it is and quick but she still wanted to see it. We explained to her as well that baptism is also about the meaning and what baptism by immersion represents. She is traveling for a little bit but hopefully after that we can confirm her baptismal date. She has been investigating the church for about 5 years now and we are praying that now is her time to be baptized.

That’s about it. For conference this weekend we have to go to the stake center to watch it. To watch the Saturday session we have to have a male investigator with us and we don’t have one right now so I don’t think we will be able to watch the Saturday session. We will be able to watch the Sunday session though!

Thanks mama, you're the best! Love you! Have a great week!



Monday, March 19, 2018

The Spirit is the Key Element to Teaching

Tuesday was a really good day. Elder Rojas told me he needs to start learning English and asked me to help him. Okay! We also decided that day we are working more with the members to get more references. We have 12 investigators right now that we are going to continue working with, but we aren’t going to contact in the streets or knock on doors because we are going to work a lot with the members to get them more involved. The bishop has a great plan for the ward to get them involved too. We also had a lesson with Anaid. She has tons of questions but only relies on us for help to answer them instead of searching for herself. If she would just use the tools she has, she would understand a lot more.

Wednesday we had district meeting and talked about contacting and the importance of it. Yes we can receive referrals but it is important for us to contact to obtain more investigators and not soley rely on getting referrals. Our ward really needs the help though and by helping them or visiting with them and using this program of sharing Books of Mormon, we can help the members and receive referrals at the same time, and also continue to teach the investigators we have.

Thursday during study time I read and studied more about the talk I had to give on Sunday titled “The Hearts of the Children Shall Turn” by Elder Bednar. It is a very interesting talk about the prophet Elias and his ministry on earth, the spirit and about family history work. I had an outline of an idea with what I wanted to share, so I just needed to take the puzzle pieces I had and put them together. I’m going to be a pro at giving talks by the time I leave this ward, at least I hope to be.

Friday we had 2 lessons, one with Sandra, the tia de Alisson, and then with the Tapia family. The lessons went really well. I talked a lot more, was able to share scriptures, experiences and teach with the spirit during both lessons! It was great! My companion ended up helping me teach the lesson with Familia Tapia and I was so glad for that. I would have done a decent job myself, but because he helped me, we did a really good job. Also because the Spirit helped us teach them too. We definitely couldn’t have taught without the spirit. He is the key element to teaching a lesson correctly and helping our investigators hear and learn what they need to in order to progress closer to God.

Saturday my companion wasn’t feeling too good so we slept in for a couple extra hours. He really hasn’t been doing so good lately because his back has been hurting him and he has allergies. To top it off, he has a cold too. Hermana Urrea gave us permission to say in the house for 3 days so he could rest, but he decided we were going to work the days she told us he could rest... We had 2 lessons that day. One was with an inactive sister who doesn’t have any problems with the church but at the same time, doesn’t feel the need to come back. She has been inactive for about 5 years. Her husband is catholic and their son is just there. They don’t take him to either church. It’s really sad to see here in Mexico how many people get baptized in the church and then go inactive. Some have reasons or excuses, others just left because. We can only do so much as missionaries, the wards and the people themselves need to support and help each other, visit the less active and inactive and try to get them to come back to church. They depend on us to do a lot of that for them though.

Overall things are going pretty good with our investigators. We also have some new ones that I think will progress really quickly! And yeah we definitely need to come back and visit all the Book of Mormon landmarks and whatnot! PS you guys should totally buy that book I sent a picture of last week. It’s like 900 pages but it’s super awesome and I think you guys, especially dad would like it!

That's good you got the house put back together but dang that really sucks about the news that grandma got. I pray for her all the time and even if a miracle doesn’t happen where they can get rid of the cancer, at least we have the plan of salvation and we will be together forever! It’s hard now but it will all be worth it in the next life.

Thank you for that quote by Elder Uchtdorf. It is very needed right now. Thank you for everything mama! I love you so much! Have a great week!

Monday, March 12, 2018

Another Baptism!!! And staying in Tepalcapa with Elder Rojas

Tuesday we went to the temple with the Tapia family. The ward mission leader came and helped us explain to them about the temple and a little bit about the ordinances that take place inside. We also went to the visitor’s center and the sister missionaries took us around, talked to us and showed some videos of family. It was super awesome and I know they were able to feel the spirit while we were there. On the way home Alberto was talking to me and told me that they were willing to move their baptism to the Saturday before cambios because their family is super comfortable with us and they want us to be the ones to baptize them. After he said that I felt so happy and honored by them and loved by God.

Wednesday we had a zone meeting to talk about the Book of Mormon, the importance of it and how we as missionaries can use it to teach and find investigators. We also watched a broadcast where they talked about some of the same things and also about the power the Book has, even the power that one verse has is incredible. There’s so many things we can learn from the Book of Mormon if we simply read it. Later that day we had a surprise house check and they took the keys to our casas so they could see if they were clean and safe to live in. That night we ended up talking with the Valencia family for a bit, who live in our same complex, and they told me that if I ever want to come back and visit after my mission, that I have a place to stay. They would even take me and you guys to visit old Book of Mormon lands in the southern part of Mexico. How awesome!

Thursday we were able to find a new investigator, he was a referral from a ward member; and he told us he is interested in learning more about the church. Then the member told us of a few inactive member families that have some major problems they need help with and asked if we could stop by some time to visit them and help any way possible. I didn’t know what was going to happen with transfers on Sunday but we found out Elder Rojas and I are staying here another transfer so of course we will!

Also the Valencia family, that live beneath us, gave me a book called Exploring the Lands of the Book of Mormon. It is about geography, history and culture of certain parts of Mexico that are Book of Mormon locations and landmarks. It’s super interesting. I never knew there was so much history of the Book of Mormon here in Mexico! I’m super excited to be serving in the country where a huge part of archaeological sites existed during the time period of the Book of Mormon and learn more about it here on my mission, and then even more after as well!

Friday the Tapia family had their interviews and even though they still have some things to work on, they passed their interviews. They also chose me to baptize them. I feel very honored that they chose me, but at the same time I didn’t feel I deserved it as much as Elder Rojas. It is because of him and his hard work that they are baptized. I struggled a bit during this last cambio. Instead of doing what my companion said, I took what he said personally instead of trying to change and be a better missionary. He really is a hard worker who knows how to receive revelation from the spirit and use that to teach good lessons. He knows the scriptures really well and he knows how to connect with people. I have a lot of things to work on but thankfully I have my Father in Heaven to help me.

Saturday we went to the church early to clean the font, start the boiler, start filling the font and set up chairs. Everything went smoothly with the baptism of the Tapia Family. There was a good amount of members who came to support them and welcome them to the ward after they were baptized! Before they got baptized they were a little nervous, but you could tell how happy they were after. It was a really good day!

That’s great you got to spend time out in Duchesne! I love that talk by Elder Uchtdorf “The Greatest Among You.” It’s one of my favorites, and thank you for updating me about grandma! I love the pictures! and the carpet look so good! I have to go here in a sec so just want to thank you for your prayers, thank you for taking care of everything, and thank you for being the best mom ever! I love you so much!
















Monday, March 5, 2018

There is Power in the Book of Mormon

Monday was a great day. I’m just super grateful that I have an awesome, loving and supportive family. I’m so grateful for the plan of salvation as well. We had interviews with President and Hermana Urrea on Tuesday and for me the interviews went really well. President told me that the stress I have from my companion pushing me to do more is a good thing because I am learning, growing and becoming a better missionary. Without sacrifice, we are not able to have victory. One other really good piece of advice he gave me is to learn everything I can from my companions, both good and bad, but only remember/keep the good things.

Wednesday we had district meeting and talked about the importance of companionship study and all the things we should do during that 1 hour each day. Elder Rojas and I haven’t been having comp study for a while because we’ve been using our time to try and help our investigators/the ward progress, but since we haven’t had it in a while we haven’t been progressing in our companionship as much as we could have been. After district meeting we had intercambios so I went to Colinas with Elder Call. It was really nice to be able to be his companion for the rest of the day. Some of the lessons he had scheduled fell through but we did have 2 or 3.

Thursday after we switched back companions we had a lesson with a reference named Zoyla. We have met with her before but that was clear back in November with Elder Martinez. We had tried and tried to pass by and visit with her but she was either busy or not there every time, luckily we were able to meet with her and talk with her about her family. She told us the next time we come she wants to make us food :). Then we talked with her about the Book of Mormon and gave her a copy and a chapter to read. After that we invited her to come to church on Sunday and at first she was a little hesitant to agree because she doesn’t like to wear dresses. We told her it is recommended but not required to wear a dress. She will be welcomed either way! After we said that she agreed! She has a big desire to learn more about the Church and the Gospel. If this is the time for her, God will help her.

Friday we had a great lesson with the familia Tapia to teach them about the Word of Wisdom. They like to drink coffee and tea so we explained why we have this commandment and the blessings that come from it. Then we talked about their baptism. They told us they would commit to live the Word of Wisdom to help prepare them for baptism. We originally had their baptismal date for the 24th of this month, but when we told them we have cambios on the 13th and we don’t know if we are going to stay or leave, they told us they want to get baptized on the 10th so we can be there!! They are awesome and we are actually going to visit the temple tomorrow with them!

After our lesson with them we had planned to go try and find some old contacts we found. When we had intercambios a few days before that, Elder Call told me how we should always carry a Book of Mormon in our bag and more importantly in our hand as well. So I had a Book of Mormon in my hand and we went to find one of the first contacts on our list. We knocked on the door and a woman answered. We were looking for her son but he wasn’t there. She said she recognized us as being missionaries because of the Book of Mormon I had in my hand. She had seen it before but hadn’t read it and told us she was curious about it. So we talked about it a little bit with her and then gave her the one I was holding, which she gladly accepted. We then scheduled a day this week to go back and teach her and her son! How awesome! The Book of Mormon truly is powerful.

Saturday we had a lesson with Sandra, the aunt of Alisson the little girl we just baptized. She has sat in lessons with Alisson in the past. She is catholic but doesn’t go to church. She is actually very interested in the Church of Jesus Christ and likes to talk, have lessons with us and learn about the church. One thing she and the whole family said is that they love it when we come over and teach them because of the spirit we have with us, and also our willingness to serve. And with me they expressed how crazy but awesome it is that I have been able to learn as much Spanish I have in only 5 months. It was very awesome to hear them say that. I have heard a few different people say about us that when we enter their house they feel a peace and tranquility that they have never felt with anyone else. It is a special calling and privilege to be a missionary!

I gotta go! Love you so much mama!
Make it a great week!

Chad and Elder Call