Monday, October 29, 2018

Finding more investigators, some good lessons and thoughts about families!

Hola Mamá! ¡Me va muy bien! Y tu? Last Monday after p-day we were able to have a lesson with a new family of contacts and teach them about the restoration and them make them new investigators. We had 5 new investigators and it was only Monday!

Tuesday, we had a couple lessons with recent converts to see how they are doing and to start teaching them the missionary lessons again to help them continue to progress and grow their testimonies. Luz Maria was one of them. She got baptized the Saturday before my companion and I got here. She is in her 30’s and has 4 kids. She is now separated from her husband and it’s a tough situation, but we are going to do our best to help her and the family. Another recent convert is a 9-year-old boy who is just hilarious. We’ve been to his house before to eat lunch with his family. They are such a fun and awesome family so the lessons we have are always entertaining. Humberto, the 9-year-old, and his little sister call us their uncles! I like that a lot.

Wednesday we went to an appointment we had with Marcus. He lives in an area we had never been to before and honestly, we didn’t know it was part of our area. Any-who, Marcus is a really cool guy who has dreadlocks and has worked in construction his whole life, helping his dad when he was younger and now starting a business with some family members. He believes in God and Jesus but isn’t in any religion. The lesson we had with him was just super awesome. We taught him about the Restoration, asked him questions throughout and gave him a Book of Mormon and invited him to read it, pray about it and the lesson. Then we invited him to be baptized and he accepted! The baptismal date we put for him is December 1st and he seemed really okay and happy about it!

Thursday we had a lesson with a couple named Jonathan and Lesli. Jonathan is an inactive member and has been for 15 years. Lesli isn’t a member but is very interested in learning about the church and even wants to get baptized. The only problem is that they aren’t married and he doesn’t want to get married. He doesn’t think it’s necessary but also is afraid of divorce because he has seen many people in his family get married and then later get divorced. He is a very cool and nice guy and doesn’t want to change from being a member of the church but is very confused in many aspects of the church and doctrines. He told us his "wife" can come to church if she wants but she’s not going to progress because he doesn’t want to get married. He also told us it will be rough for her to understand what we teach her, but he doesn’t give her the credit she deserves. So for them, we first have to help Jonathan to get Lesli but at least for now we are going to continue lessons and try to get her to come to church.

Friday we had a short lesson with the son of a woman who owns a small tiendo named Ismael. It was short. He hasn’t been progressing and told us he wants to learn more about our church and the word of God but that he doesn’t want to get baptized and change his religion. We are going to pass by a couple more times to see if we can change his mind, but if not, we are going to have to drop him. Then we went to visit an inactive girl named Tania. I think I wrote about her before but she is from Idaho and grew up mainly in the US. She hasn’t been active for a while and has been in Mexico for 5 years with her husband and 2 daughters who are super adorable. She’s is stuck here in Mexico because her papers and ID got stolen a couple of years back but she is working with her parents to get whatever documentation she can so she can go back to the states. We are trying to help her start reading the Book of Mormon, pray and come to church to re-activate her.

Saturday we went to see Joel, Maria and the kids. At first we were just talking outside with Joel and it wasn’t going good. He told us he doesn’t like reading the Book of Mormon because it is the same story over and over again and he doesn’t understand it (even though he’s only read 1st and 2nd Nephi). He only reads the Bible. He also said he doesn’t need to go to church or talk to anyone to get the help he needs because he has Jesus to help him so that’s all he needs is Jesus and the Bible. We were all getting frustrated, until Maria came out and told us God told her she needed to come out into the cold and talk with us to hear the Word of God. We decided to go into the house and say a prayer so we could talk more calmly. In the end we apologized to each other and he told us that he and Maria would be at church Sunday with the kids. Maria is a really special woman and I feel bad for a lot of things she has been through in her life.

Sunday was great! We had 6 investigators during sacrament meeting! Izabel and Gilberto, then Maria with her 3 kids and Joel came! Joel doesn’t count for us because he is a member but it was still super awesome he and Maria were there with the kids and also Izabel with her husband Gilberto. We also had the primary program and it was really cool and fun to see.

So I’ve been thinking a lot about families and found some quotes I want to share with you about family and marriage and how it is the little things that keep us happy together. They are some lessons I want to take into my future marriage, when I get back from the mission haha, and some different and fun ideas to do!

"I give counsel to husbands and wives. Pray for the love which allows you to see the good in your companion. Pray for the love that makes weaknesses and mistakes seem small. Pray for the love to make your companion's joy your own. Pray for the love to want to lessen the load and soften the sorrows of your companion." Henry B. Eyring

"True love blooms when we care more about another person than we care about ourselves." Jeffrey R. Holland

"A happy marriage is the union of two good forgivers."

I gotta go now but I love you so much! Be safe on your trip!


With my amazing Halloween package!

One of the fun "Coco" cookies in my package

Sharing treats with my district

Another fun "Coco" cookie



Monday, October 22, 2018

Finding 8 New Investigators!!!

Hola Mamá! Have no need to fear! Your favorite missionary is here! :) I am doing pretty good! We just ate chilaquiles with carne and pollo asada! mmm. It's chips with salsa verde and diced onion and lettuce, you should look it up online! This week was really good though! We found 8 new investigators! 

Last Monday after p-day we had an awesome lesson and found 2 new investigators that day. Also Elder Donkersgoed shared a really awesome talked from the June Liahona with me called Bearing One Another’s Burdens. I absolutely love it. (He wants us all to go read it). The couple we had our lesson with are super nice. The husband is from Argentina, the wife from Mexico. They told us they are from a strange religion called “Movimiento de los Focolares.” I don’t know exactly what that translates to but it is some sort of movement from the Catholic church. While they told us they don’t plan on changing their religion, they are still open to listen to us and accepted to read the Book of Mormon and pray about it.

Tuesday we had intercambios and I went with Elder Yagual. He is from Ecuador and just ended his training this last cambio. It was an awesome day! We were able to find a ton of contacts and a couple new investigators. One of the contacts we found was a girl, Emma, who bought a fridge; and the guy who brought it to her house needed help. So she came and asked if we wouldn’t mind helping. I gladly accepted to help the man take the fridge up to her casa on the 4th floor. We got a contact out of it too so it was awesome! 

Wednesday after our studies in San Marcos we came back to our area and had some time for Internet so I went and downloaded all the sessions from this last General Conference onto a flash drive. I’m excited to go back and listen to them! After Internet time we went to an area we’ve never really been too because we wanted to find a family of members we haven’t seen for a while and to ask for references. We found this family and they took us to visit a few of their neighbors. One of the families they introduced us to are interested in learning about the gospel!

Thursday was a really great day. We had our zone conference and this time it was a lot more interactive and fun, plus the lunch they fed us was pretty bomb too. We mainly focused on Chapter 11 in Preach My Gospel, which is about how to help people make and keep commitments. It was a really great conference and what made it even better was when I saw Elder Zapata and talked with him, and he brought me a present that was from Vianey that had a really sweet tie! I also got a package from my parents with a bunch of goodies for Halloween! I’m going to do my best to not eat everything within 2 days but I will not make any promises! I’m very grateful for my family and friends too!

Friday we were able to visit some other contacts we haven’t seen for a bit and set appointments for other days as well. In one lesson/appointment we had, we asked the woman why she accepted to take the missionary lessons and what she hopes to gain from them. She said she wants to learn and understand more about the church and the scriptures. The interesting part was she told us when we invited her to be baptized, that she felt scared and pressured. We did our best to explain that the invitation isn’t when we want it, it’s after she has learned, studied and prayed to know this church is true for herself and when she feels ready to be baptized as well. If we minister and continue to help her learn and she really has a desire to change her life, God will help change her heart.

Saturday we had a lesson with the daughter of our neighbors, the really awesome family who have a son on his mission in Argentina. Their daughter is Caren, the missionary is her brother. She is a bit older, is married and has a little girl too. The lesson was with Caren and her husband Carlos about the Restoration. It was a really great lesson but they are hesitant to join a religion. They have been to and visited churches of many religions and told us they are the most interested and feel better with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They have felt a change with their family since her brother left on his mission but something is holding them back. We are trying to figure out what it is so we can help them. We also had a lesson with Joel and Maria but when we got to their house, they weren’t there. We talked with Maria’s son and he told us he loves to learn about Jesus and the Gospel and told us that he was going to come to church on Sunday with his family. (no update on what happened there though…)

Oh thank you so much for the Halloween package!!!! I loved the cookies from Coco! (He promised to send pictures of the package next week 😀).

I gotta go. I love you mamá!! Have a great week!

Me and Elder Zapata

Zone Conference




Monday, October 15, 2018

Jimena Got Baptized!!

Hola Mamá. What’s going on in Orem? After P-day ended last week we went and taught Jimena lesson 5 then went to the church so Elder Donkersgoed could interview her for her baptism on Saturday. She passed and was ready to be baptized! We were super excited! 

Tuesday we had a lesson with a contact we found a while ago who owns a gift shop that is also a hair salon. In the middle of the lesson, her dad came by and decided to join us. We talked with them about questions they had about finding more peace and happiness and finding a happy marriage. We shared stories / experiences and scriptures and it was a really awesome lesson. They were happy to set another date so we could come back and talk with them again.

Wednesday was a pretty rough day. We got back late from our district meeting and all of the appointments fell through that we had planned except for one. The lesson we had was alright but in the end the woman told us she didn’t want to accept a Book of Mormon because she has her Bible and doesn’t need anything else. It was rough but we just need to keep trying, working and not get down because of one bad day every once in a while.

Thursday we had a lesson with a family we found the week before. The father told us he actually got baptized about 14 years ago, but we have no idea how because he hasn’t been to church in years, doesn’t think the Book of Mormon is necessary because he has the Bible and also doesn’t believe in paying tithing. We talked with them about the Book of Mormon and read some scriptures with them that testify of Jesus Christ. In the end, it went well and they accepted an invitation to read the Book of Mormon. Fingers crossed and many prayers that they do it!

Friday we had lunch with a super awesome family who are younger. The husband is a bodyguard and while he does that, his wife stays with their little daughter. They gave us a reference who is a close friend of theirs to work with! We also went to clean the baptism font in the church to get it ready for Jimena’s baptism. We were also finally able to talk to Jimena and get the program ready for Saturday.

Saturday Jimena got baptized! Oh it was so wonderful too! Her grandpa baptized her and there were quite a few members that came to support her. What was really great to see was how happy she looked after she got baptized. After her baptism, we went to an area to contact for a while and were able to find a few good contacts. We even had a lesson with an investigator who we’ve been thinking about dropping; but after our lesson where we talked about the Restoration and focused a lot on the Priesthood because she asked for a blessing, we decided to keep her for now. Last, we had a visit with Maria and Joel. Little by little they are progressing and it’s wonderful to see.

I gotta go now! I love you so much Mamá! I hope you have a great week!

Jimena's Baptism

Last day together as a district

Cool "CJ" sign



Monday, October 8, 2018

General Conference!! And Staying in Jasso for Another Transfer

Hola Mama! It’s crazy how fast time passes, especially on P-day. Like I said last week, time is something that I believe we don’t appreciate, take advantage of, or use as effectively as we should. I definitely don’t but I am trying to change that. Oh and here, well I’m staying the same with my comp for this next transfer again! After our p-day last week we went and looked for some references and contacts and were able to find some, which was really, really great! 

Tuesday we had district meeting and talked about how we need to adapt ourselves to meet the needs of our investigators. That we need to have daily contact with them to see how they are doing. We also had a short testimony meeting that was super awesome. I love this district a lot! Later we had a lesson with Jimena. We had a lot to teach but she was able to understand and learn what we taught, plus her grandpa was there helping her too. We also reminded them about General Conference and that it will be a great opportunity to hear our beloved prophet speak along with his apostles and other leaders of the church. 

Wednesday we went to visit Paty and Mariana from the inactive family. They are a super great and nice family but they are very afraid to come back to church. We really are trying to help them, but they aren’t really progressing. We did tell them that our last effort with them is to do a fast with them so they can receive the strength and help they need to be able to come to church, overcome their difficulties and come closer to God. We don’t know all that they have been through, but I have been through my own trials and what really helped me was to have someone to help build me up and give me advice and encouragement. We are trying to find a ward member to be like that for them but man it sure is hard.

Thursday was a pretty great day. I was finally starting to feel better with my stomach but still need to be careful with what I eat. I was really worried though because we went to a member's house for lunch; and as soon as we got there, I smelled mole. I thought, oh fetch if I eat that I’m going to die. I ate the first dish of rice they served us very slowly so my companion would get done first to see if they would serve him the main dish with mole and sure enough they did. I felt bad but was about to ask if I could have it without mole when the wife asked if I would rather like to have some fried eggs with more rice. Oh my lanta I can’t even describe how happy I was she offered me that :). After lunch we went contacting and were able to find 5 contacts!! We also had an appointment with a couple named Ricardo and Carolina. The lesson went really great and although Carolina is a bit timid about it, she accepted to be baptized when she receives answers that the church, Book of Mormon and Prophet are true.  

Friday we got a call from Elder Donkersgoed telling us that the only session of General Conference that we were free to attend without investigators was the Sunday morning session. All other sessions we needed to have an investigator with us to watch them. So we did what we could to reinvite and remind all our investigators to come. Later we went to visit Maria de Lourdes and Joel. Sadly, Maria wasn’t feeling well and Joel had to leave soon so we had just a very short lesson with them about the Sabbath and also talked with them to start a program in the ward to help them get clothes and shoes for their family. We are also teaching Maria and her kids how to read and write. 

Saturday was a really great day. We went to breakfast at a diner and after, we found out that a family paid our bill, we don’t even know who they were. Then it was even better when we went to the church and were waiting for our investigators to show up so we could stay and watch the session. Just as it was starting, Jimena and her grandpa walked in! Before, I didn’t think anyone would come but I prayed and asked God for a miracle and he gave it to me. The first session was super good and also exciting for the changes that they announced. After lunch we went back to the church for the afternoon session and even though none of our contacts came, we ended up staying and watching it because well we were there. After the session, we contacted a ton of people and found one who said we could come back another day. 

Sunday we were able to attend the first session but not the second one. The sucky part was that I called all of our investigators at least three times each, but none of them answered. Well one did, Carolina who told us she wasn’t going to come because she didn’t have church clothes. I tried to tell her that it didn’t matter only that she came to listen to our Prophet and other leaders, but she didn’t come so we had to leave. I was able to feel an amazing spirit for the sessions we got to listen to, but I am going to download the talks and put them on a flash drive so I can listen to them in the casa!

A bit later on Sunday we had a lesson with Dulce. After that we went to meet with Paty, Mariana and Vere to see how they were doing, figure out why didn’t come to watch conference, and if they were able to fast and pray for help. Well long story short, no they didn’t fast or pray and are not reading the scriptures very much. They didn’t come to conference because Paty and Vere went to a party and were too tired to come the next day. Mariana really wanted to go but didn’t want to go alone. We decided to help them set small goals to try and help them start progressing; but we had to tell them that if they don’t progress, we are not going to keep passing by. It was sad and hard to say but necessary.

Oh PS a really cool story is that Paul Pieper (who spoke during General Conference) is the Seventy over our mission. He came a few months ago and we had a devotional with the entire mission. Then after we all got to go up and meet him and his wife!

I gotta go now mamá! I love you so much! I hope you have a great week!





Monday, October 1, 2018

One-Year Mark in the Mission and Spiritual Thought About Time

Hola Mama! How are you? I’m finally starting to feel better. I’ve had stomach pain quite a bit this last week but thankfully no trips to the hospital. I tried a few different medications for the first couple of days but they didn’t work so now I’m taking some others that are working better. Also, I’ve got a bunch of fun pictures for you today that I just sent.

Tuesday I still felt sick with stomach pain. We had our district meeting that day and talked about how to contact people and it was a really great and awesome meeting. Then we had intercambios after and it was my turn to be with Elder Donkersgoed. It was super awesome to be able to go with him and teach lessons. We talked and laughed and joked and worked. I just love him for so many reasons. He is really good at ministering and helping people including me!

Wednesday was my one-year mark in the mission!! In the morning Elder Donkersgoed gave me a capacitación, which is like a training. It was super awesome spiritual and edifying. I wish I could have recorded it all with my voice recorder to help me remember all that we talked about. I also asked him to give me a blessing of counsel and guidance to help me. It was all wonderful!! He goes home in about 7 weeks, so around Thanksgiving! But I hope we can stay friends after I get home. He’s from Pleasant Grove.

Thursday we went contacting and found a girl who was from Idaho and lived there most of her life. She went to Texas and got married, had a daughter and then moved to Mexico and has another daughter. It was super awesome to find her and talk to her in English! Later we had interviews with President and Hermana Urrea and a teaching evaluation. That was the last thing we did before going home for the night.

Friday was a pretty rough day because both my companion and I were feeling sick so we didn’t get to do a lot that day. We were able to talk to some less active members, contacts from before and reschedule appointments. I was super tired and didn’t feel good, but at least we were able to find two contacts and also a family of really awesome less active members who have a huge, beautiful garden around and inside their house. They invited us to go back one day to eat carne asada and have a big food fiesta.

Saturday we had a lesson with Joel, Maria de Lourdes and her kids where we taught them about the law of chastity. They have the same challenges with Maria not being divorced from her husband, then not having money to pay for it and barely having money to eat each day, let alone buy clothes and shoes for the kids. It is a big trial they are going through but we are doing what we can to help. Later we talked with an inactive family to try and help them and invite them to come to church. This family is a very nice and great family, but they have been through a lot. And because of what they have been through and things they have done, they don’t feel worthy to go to church and doubting that they can go. We are also meeting with them to try and help them know what they need to do.

Sunday was a day I can’t even describe how happy and grateful I was. On Saturday I prayed and asked God that if right now is really Jimena’s time to be baptized then please help her and let her come to church. Well Heavenly Father answered my prayer because she was at church. My companion and I were helping prepare the sacrament when I looked out the door and saw her sitting with her grandpa. I almost yelled with excitement!! That was the best part of the day.

For my spiritual thought, one of the days of my journal entries I wrote a little bit about time and how I’ve been really stressed out with time. One thing I learned is that people mining gold rarely find the big gold nuggets, they find the little flakes and pebbles but only after working hard and looking for a long time. And as time goes on and they continue to find those little pieces, well those little pieces add up to be a lot! I'm having trouble remembering where it is and what exactly it says but there’s a scripture that says something along the lines of by smalls works are many mighty miracles brought forth. I’m pretty sure I totally botched that but a lot of times we only think about the big things we need to do but the small and simple things are just as important too! They take time and hard work as does everything, but we need to take it step by step, little by little. I hope that makes sense!

Another thought I had about time was, if we aren’t using our time wisely but want more because we feel like there isn’t enough or aren’t grateful for the time we do have, why is God going to give us more? I firmly and honestly believe that God controls time and can either make it speed up or slow down and give us more time if we are grateful and use the time we do have wisely. I’m going to study more about time but you know that can be related to a lot of things like blessings, talents and gifts, strengths, etc.

I have to go now but if people ask, clarify that the worms I ate were dead and cooked, not live and raw haha. Anyways I love you so much! I hope you have a great week!