Bee sting, a lesson about faith and getting out of our comfort zone, and fasting for help

Hola mama. I’m doing good, how are you? To answer your question about did I get the package: YES I DID!!! Thank you so much! I love everything! Also, Priscila and Vianey loved the quads that you sent!

For our week last week, Tuesday was a rather interesting day. In the morning Elder Aguilar went to light the boiler but he found out that we had no gas. So we decided to heat up water on the stove while we were exercising and were able to heat up enough water for both of us before the power went out for some unknown reason. We showered with the buckets of water… Our zone leaders also came to have studies with us and talk to us about some things we need to do to improve and bring our numbers up. Then we set goals and plans to achieve our goals. After that we were able to go contacting and found a couple really nice and cool people. While we were talking to the second person, a bee decided to attack me and sting my hand. :(

Wednesday we had a zone conference and it was super awesome. One of the parts I liked the most was when we talked about how we need to get out of our comfort zone to really learn and improve, but it takes a lot of faith too. President Urrea related that to when Jesus was walking on the water toward the boat and how when Peter saw Jesus he wanted to walk on water too; but he started to sink when he saw the waves getting bigger, got scared and started to lose his faith. We talked about how when things are going great and are hunky dory, that we have faith and are positive about everything and trust in Christ perfectly. We do that until trials, tribulations and difficult times come and then it’s like we forget all of that because we are distracted by our suffering and the things of the world. If we want help when we leave the boat (aka our comfort zone) and want to walk on water, we need to have faith, do our part and work with conviction, good desires, be faithful to the commandments and trust in Christ and he will help us. I really loved that! What a great reminder to me. After the zone conference I got the packages you sent!!

Thursday when we got back to our area, I opened the packages and took time to look through everything. One of my favorite things was the voice recorder with your recorded testimonies! Other than hearing your testimonies, it was even better to hear your voices, especially since I only get to hear you on Christmas and Mother’s day. Later we went and taught Victor about fasting and invited him to fast on Saturday so he can get help to stop smoking. He was a little hesitant but he agreed. We are also going to fast with him for support.

Friday we went to visit the less active member Noe and his family to see how they are doing. We talk about the same thing every time we go visit them (reading scriptures, praying, attending church) because we are trying to help them realize the things they need to do to improve their lives and get closer to God. We are going to keep trying with them but we’ll see what happens. We also found a few more contacts that day, then the Hernandez family invited us to Priscila’s graduation ceremony and then to eat at Victor’s restaurant with them. They have basically accepted us and taken us in as part of their family! After we ate with them we went contacting again and were able to talk with some really cool people and get their information so we can teach them again later.

Saturday we went to visit with Laura for a bit who is still struggling with a few things. We invited her to fast to receive the answers she needs for what she needs to do. Later we went to visit Victor and to remind him about his fast. He was getting ready to go to a party to cook for them and asked if he could drink water or juice while he was there. We told him only if it’s absolutely necessary but if he really wanted to get extra help to quit smoking then it’s better to not drink at all. He was super worried because he didn’t know if he would be able to go without drinking anything. Even though he had his doubts, I had faith in him that he would be strong and do what he needs to to quit smoking. Maybe faith isn’t the right word but he is awesome and I knew that he would be strong.

Sunday was an awesome day! We saw Victor at church and he told us how at the party people kept offering him drinks and food and coke but he didn’t accept any of it and stayed strong with his fast. We were joking together saying that we were going to eat a bunch of really good foods when we ended our fasts. During our gospel principles class we talked about sacrifice, what it is, etc. It was a super awesome lesson with the Hernandez family and Victor. During the class Victor participated a lot helping us explain stories from the scriptures and stores from his own life of sacrifice. It was great! After church it started to rain like crazy but we had planned to go contacting so we went. We talked to a bunch of people and were able to make 2 contacts. Then we went to have a lesson with the Hernandez family and after they invited us to eat dinner with them and oh man it was so good! While we were eating we showed them the video of the restoration to remind them how important prophets are and what Joseph Smith had to go through to restore the gospel. Oh and after the lesson Vianey gave me a leather case that she made for my quad scriptures by hand! She liked the case I made from a fruit loops cereal box but thought I needed an actual case/bag to put them in :). It is so awesome!! I love it so much!

So how are things at home? It sounds like you guys have been doing lots of work and still have a bit more to do. That’s really cool though! oh ps for you, and for everyone who sent me their testimonies and who has a testimony too, I want you to prove to other people that you have a testimony of what you sent me in the recording! Prove it to others and to Heavenly Father! I hope you have a great week!

Love you Mama!

Rain, Rain and More Rain....

Hola mama! As far as what’s happening here? Rain and lots of it. Things have been good though! It rained every day except Saturday last week which made it a bit hard to contact but still we were able to find some new contacts and help our investigators. When it rains here sometimes, or I guess a majority of the time, it pours super hard! It’s the rainy season here and will be rainy a lot until October-ish. 

So I forgot to write last week that President Urrea wanted every missionary to start a fast on Tuesday at 4 p.m. and go until Wednesday at 4 p.m. He wanted us to fast to open our hearts more to God, complete our baptismal goals, be more diligent, and to leave our comfort zone. I really wanted help with these things so I tried to do my best and focus on being happy that I had the opportunity to fast.

Tuesday right after we started our fast it started pouring outside. Luckily I had my rain jacket and my bag is waterproof so none of my things got wet but my pants and socks got soaked through while I was out with Elder Martinez. my trainer. It was good to go contacting with Martinez and talk with him about when we were companions. With all of my companions and other missionaries, I watch and learn how they do things and if I think it’s good and will help me, I will apply it. If it’s not something I like or that I think will help me, I forget about that and try to do the opposite.

Wednesday was a rough day because well both of us were super weak from not eating. When it was time to break our fasts we headed to the casa to do it. The Hernandez family made us food for lunch and oh my lanta it was so good. Probably because we were starving but also because Laura is a really good cook. While we were finishing up eating, Vianey and Priscila told us they want to go contact people one day like we do to see what it is like and to help find more people to come to the branch. We decided that we are going to give them a few Books of Mormon and pamphlets each and teach them what they need to do and then have a competition to see who can contact more people. I think it will be great practice for them to help them prepare for a mission. We tried to go out contacting in the streets after that but it was pouring rain so there was hardly anyone in the streets to talk to. I love rainy weather but it is tough to contact people in.

On Thursday we went to the casa de Oracion to meet with Alejandro and have a lesson with him. We’ve only been able to meet and teach him once and that was during my first cambio here in VDC. He is a really cool guy though and likes to read the Book of Mormon. He is still waiting for an answer to know if the Book of Mormon is true and the church too and when he receives an answer he will decide whether or not to be baptized. We are praying that he will receive his answer soon. After our lesson it started pouring rain. The black lab who we decided to just name Black followed us again today and when we came home for the night, she sat outside the gate whining and crying. Ah poor dog!

Friday was a crazy day. After we visited with a less active member, we got back to Villa Del Carbon and it started raining. It gradually got harder and harder and then just started pouring. We ran and went into the little shop of the Hernandez family for cover for a while. The black lab started following us again like he did the day before and hid with us in their shop. We were soaked, at least from the hips down. We quickly ran back to the casa to change and then went to an appointment with Fernanda. Our lesson and talk was about the Word of Wisdom. She is a really smart and logical girl. She has lots of questions and doubts about the Word of Wisdom, specifically with coffee and tea. She was confused and confused my companion as well but in the end after I prayed and thought about what to say, I ended up bearing my testimony on the Word of Wisdom and why we have it and what not. 

Saturday was the only sunny day of the week. We went to see a new investigator named Fernando. He works in a little shop by his house with his wife where they make leather shoes. It’s actually crazy how many people here have work making leather shoes and how many stores there are that sell things made of leather. Villa Del Carbon is really well known for the leather products that get sold here. Fernando is really open to learning about other religions and beliefs, specifically the Mormon church. When we were close to being done talking with him we invited him to read the Book of Mormon and pray about it, and we also invited him to be baptized which he accepted! Not a date specifically but at least to be baptized. We also had another lesson with a reference from a member who has lots of questions and doubts in life about a lot of things but feels like he can find answers in the Church of Jesus Christ. This was our first lesson with him and it went really well. He is reading the Book of Mormon and is curious to keep reading and learning about the church. We also invited him to be baptized, not for a specific date but sometime after he receives an answer that the Book of Mormon and the church are true. He was hesitant because he doesn’t feel ready and doesn’t want to feel rushed so he didn’t actually accept the invitation but we are still going to keep teaching him and praying for God to change his heart and find his answers.

Sunday was Father’s day and we got to hear Vianey and Priscila give their first talks as members and they did a great job and gave super awesome talks. We taught Victor in Sunday school and unfortunately found out that he smokes. He doesn’t a lot and is trying to quit but he still isn’t over this addiction completely so we had to push his baptismal date back a bit. He was completely understanding and is going to keep pushing forward and working to change. After church it started to rain very lightly so we went contacting for a bit. While we were contacting it started to pour and I literally mean pour. While we and a bunch of other people were hiding from the rain we decided to contact them and while most rejected us, we were able to still talk to a few people who were interested in having us come by and talk with them another day. After that we went to the casa of the Hernandez Family to celebrate Father’s Day with Hermano Juan. We made carne asada that I bought Saturday and marinated, Elder Aguilar made mashed potatoes plus we had a lot of other food. It was fun to be able to celebrate Father’s Day with them. Overall it was a really good, spiritual day. I hope dad had a good Father’s Day back in Utah.

I have to go now. I love you so much mama! I hope you have a great week!

Finding New Investigators Plus Elder Aguilar's Surprise Birthday Party

Hola mama. How are you doing? I’m doing a lot better today and this week too. I’ve been eating lots of yogurt with probiotics and being a bit more careful with what I eat. Also we were talking with the family Hernandez a couple days ago and Vianey and Priscila want to serve missions! (That’s so cool!!)

After we wrote last week we went to visit Victor and he made us some delicious tacos for dinner. We passed by the ice cream shop and Fernanda told us a lady took one of the pass along cards that we left there. So we went and talked with her while she was eating her ice cream and she told us she has a bunch of questions but never received answers. Questions about life and where we go after death and other questions about religion. So we gave her a pamphlet about the Plan of Salvation and a brief explanation, then asked if we could pass by her house at another time and talk with her more and she agreed!

Tuesday we had lunch with a member family and their son introduced us to a friend of his, Daniela, who is catholic but really wants to change religions and is looking for the truth. We taught her pretty much basic doctrine but it was really awesome because she kept asking us questions and wants to continue learning more. We gave her a Book of Mormon to read along with a pamphlet and she told us she felt super happy. She’s a little scared because her mom is a super hardcore catholic but she still wants to learn more about our church. We also had a lesson with Victor. He is just like a sponge that absorbs and pretty much understands everything we talk about and teach him. He has lots of difficulties in his life but he knows that as long as he trusts in God and does his best to do what is right and keeps continuing on the path he is on that everything will work out. It’s incredible to see how humble he is. We have his baptism date for the 30th of June!!

Wednesday we had district meeting and on the bus ride to the meeting, I got to do like a self-evaluation and think about what I can do to improve myself, which was really good. The district meeting was good too. We talked about how to involve members more in the mission. Later we had a lesson with Vianey about how to pay tithing and fast offerings. Then we went contacting in the town square and were finally able to contact two guys and give them each a Book of Mormon and get their information so we can have a lesson and talk more with them about the gospel.

Thursday we took about an an hour trip, in our area, to meet up with a member in a smaller town and visit his nephew. His nephew and his wife are members but they are not active. One of the reasons being that Noe, the nephew, had an accident at work where he basically shattered the lower part of his left femur. He was bed ridden for a few months. They pray but don’t read the Book of Mormon and haven’t for a while because of laziness. We can’t force them to read but we reminded them of the blessings and promises they can receive if they read, pray and come to church. Later we went contacting in the plaza. We do a lot of street contacting.... people generally know who we are and if they don’t want to hear us they are polite and tell us no. At times we find some really solid contacts that way, but I think it is more effective to knock on doors. It’s a lot more fun too because you never know who is going to open the door.

Friday was Elder Aguilar’s birthday so after exercise, showering, and getting ready I made French Toast for him for breakfast. After visiting with the Hernandez family and Andrea in Date un Roll, the family Hernandez told us we had to leave because they were preparing a surprise for my companion and told us to go to Victor’s restaurant at 6. So we went contacting and went to visit a few investigators until then. We also found an old lady gathering Nopale so we decided to help her and do some service. She was super funny and sweet and was telling us all sorts of stories. She also told us about her neighbor who used to talk to the missionaries a long time ago, but when we went to go talk to her, she wasn’t home. We’ll try and pass by another day. At 6 we went to Victor’s restaurant and my companion got surprised by Vianey and Priscila when they threw cake in his face. It was quite funny! Then we ate some super awesome food that Victor cooked for us. He had a ton of food too, holy cow. After food we had dessert that they made, a chocolate cake and also flan. It was super good but I was so stuffed when we were done.

Saturday we had quite a few things fall through. We had an appointment with a guy who is a dance instructor. He told us to come by the studio where he teaches so we could talk to all of his students and see if they are interested in learning about the church. He is an awesome guy but unfortunately, when we got to the studio, there was no one there. We also went to visit a new investigator but we had to reschedule with him so we went contacting in the plaza. I don't know why but my companion was having a hard time because he was feeling depressed so I tried my best to help cheer him up.

Sunday on our way to church we found our black lab dog friend and her mate, who we haven’t seen in a while. They followed us to church and tried to come in with us too. We told them to stay and wait outside and that is exactly what they did for all 3 hours of church till we came out :). Church was really good today because Victor and the Hernandez family came. The Hernandez family brought their nephew with them who is interested in the church. We gave him a Book of Mormon to read before we started our Sunday School lesson. We also went to visit a reference from a member family who told us he has lots of doubts and questions about things. He works in a small market and sells fruits and vegetables. He told us we could come by any day in the afternoon and talk with him. We don’t get a lot of references from the members here so it was really awesome to finally get one who is interested in the gospel and has lots of questions.

Oh I have to go now! I love you so much Mama! I hope you have a great week and stay cool in the heat! Have fun and look for God’s helping hand every day!

Elder Aguilar's Birthday Celebration

My Zone Leader Elder Wegner and I

Food from Victor - called Alambre with tortillas

Picture of dance clothes from a lot of different countries that
I found in a cultural building here.

Pictures of the lightning storm from a while ago

Teaching, Cambios and Another Stomach Infection...

Hola Mama! Life in Mexico is going good today. I had another stomach infection last week (more on that later) but luckily I didn’t have to go to the hospital, just medicines. I’m doing better now. Guess what’s going on with cambios??? I’m staying in Villa del Carbón with Elder Aguilar!

After writing emails last week we went back to visit the Hernandez family because Laura wanted to feed us dinner. The Hernandez family is super awesome. I know I’ve written it before but with all the trails and difficulties they have been through, and are still going through, but they are improving and becoming closer with God, it is amazing. They are always doing what they can to help other people and to do what’s right.

We had a district meeting on Tuesday where we talked about happiness. It was another good meeting. The commitment that Elder Martinez gave us for the week is to look for things each day that make us happy, big or small, and experiences that nourish our souls. It is a good reminder to me that I need to be happy and like Jessica once told me before I left on my mission, I am going to have rough days on my mission but if I can find one good thing or one funny/silly thing that happened and laugh about it or about a mistake I made instead of getting angry or frustrated, I will be so much better off. We had a lesson with Victor and taught him about the Plan of Salvation. He’s having some problems but is trusting in God to help him know what he needs to do to fix/improve things. Then we went to meet with the Hernandez family and finally made the Mexican Crumb cake you sent me. While it was baking, we had a lesson with Laura and Juan about the law of chastity that Vianey and Priscila helped us talk about and help teach. It was a good lesson!

Wednesday we went to see a new contact, Fernando, and talked to him about the Book of Mormon, the Plan of Salvation and also answer some questions he had about the church. It was a really great start to introduce ourselves and to introduce him to the church. He told us we could come back another day. Sweet! A new investigator! Oh also, sometimes when we walk down a certain street, there is a dog that just chills there on the sidewalk and if she sees us, she will seriously follow us all day. And if other dogs come near us, she will chase them away. We don’t even give her food or call her to come with us, she just saw us one day and started following us. I guess she is our guard dog. I want to keep her :).

Thursday we came up with a plan to find more investigators. We are going to look for service opportunities, post flyers around the town, contact more in the streets and in every place we go, fast and pray for more help and also visit recent converts, less-active members and young single adults. It will be harder to work with the members here since there are so few but still, some is better than none. This is a tough area to be in but I’m trying to improve it for the next missionaries after I leave. For lunch we got money from a member and then we bought a pizza and shared it with the Hernandez family to turn the tables and show them that we are grateful for them. Later that day Vianey told us she wanted to talk and she told us how she has been struggling a lot with her parents. She is doing what she can to support and love her younger sister, and she loves her family too, but she really wants to leave and travel far, far away. We weren’t sure what to say at first, but then I followed a prompting I got from the spirit and talked about the Gospel. I don’t really remember what I said, but I know it was exactly what Vianey needed to hear at that time. I’m glad I followed that prompting and was able to help her, and Priscila too. 

Friday I was feeling good during the day but didn’t feel good at all that night. I found out I had another infection in my stomach. Why do you hate me Mexico?? We were able to find a few contacts before we went to visit Victor. We also stopped to talk to Fernanda in the ice cream shop for a bit and she was kind enough to give me some apple cinnamon tea to help with my stomach.

Saturday my stomach hurt really bad but I took some medicine to help with my pains. Members and investigators were super nice and gave me advice for things I should and shouldn’t eat for a couple of days, which was really awesome of them. We did go contacting and were only able to find one guy as a new contact. Another guy we tried to talk to straight up told us he wasn’t interested. I actually respect that a lot, because he didn’t lie and say he’s too busy or many of the stories we hear. I would rather have someone say that than lie.

So, the pictures are of the area and a bunch of things. One is a dish we ate during the first intercambios with Elder Martinez and Elder Rivera. It has hot dogs, nopale (which is like cactus), beans, guacamole, longaniza, cucumbers, chicken and beef with cheese under the cucumber and onion! It was super good! I’m not a fan of nopale so I didn’t eat those (the green things on the side) but yeah it was delicious!

I love you so much mama! Have a great week! TE AMO MUCHO!!!!!!

Dish we had during intercambios

(I love this one!!!)

From my weekly thought calendar...

....continued.

Zone Conference

Zone Conference

Here are a few more pictures of the baptism 

the week before that Vianey sent.