Elder Spencer's Mexico Mexico City North Mission: Lots of Lessons this Week, Elias' Baptism, Listening to the Spirit

Hola Mamá! To answer your questions, I am doing muy bien! yes Elías did get baptized and I did get my package! oh and no we don’t know what’s going on with cambios yet......so we wait.

Last Tuesday in district meeting, we talked about family history and how we were going to focus on contacting people and talking with members about the pamphlet “Mi Familia” to help both non-members and members realize the importance of the family in the church. I’ve never tried to contact people with the pamphlet and talk about family history but I’m excited about it. Later we had a second lesson with Miguel Angel where we taught him about the Plan of Salvation. He was super attentive and absorbed what we taught like a sponge. Then we had a quick lesson with Diego and Melani. Melani is 9 and her mom doesn’t think she is able to learn or remember things very well so she wants her to wait until she’s 18 so she can decide to be baptized. We’ll continue teaching her though and hope that her mom has a change of heart.

Wednesday in the morning we had an appointment with Luis where we taught him about the Plan of Salvation. He accepted and understood everything but said he still wants time to keep learning and understanding so he can be very sure about his decision to be baptized. Then we had a lesson with Cirilo and Gloria. They have a strong desire to keep learning and going to church but he has to work almost every Sunday in a gas station. We are hoping and praying that things will change for them so they can start going to church.

Thursday we tried calling Isaias and his wife to pass by but he told us he was busy. We haven’t been able to go by with them since the second lesson. We didn’t have a lot of appointments so we were able to contact a bit. We also had another lesson with Diego and Melani. She continues to keep learning and understanding more and more. We just need to keep hoping and praying that God will help change her mom’s heart and let her be baptized.

Friday was a busy day! We had to get ready at 4:30 a.m. so we could go to the offices then the government building so my companion could get new identification. Then we had to get back to our area, have a quick visit with Jorge Auila to see how he is doing then we went to the church to fill the baptismal font for Elias’ baptism. The baptism was super awesome and seemed to bring his parents closer. I was privileged to direct the program, and after the mom told us we couldn’t leave, we had to stay to eat refreshments and things they brought. We happily agreed! It was a really awesome time and we are grateful we were able to teach Elias and help prepare him to be baptized.

Saturday we had an appoint with Abram and his wife Concepcíon. When we first got there, Abram wasn’t home but his wife told us he would be there soon and we could wait for him. A thought popped into my mind that we should go visit a contact we had quite a while ago named Jorge Ceritaiño. We tried passing by quite a few times and even called but he was never home and never answered the phone. I had the thought so we followed it and this time we found him home and he invited us in to talk with him. He is a super smart man and knows a lot about the Bible. We taught him about the Restoration but at the end we didn’t feel it was the time to invite him to be baptized but we have another appointment with him this week. Then we went back to Abram and Concepcíon and had a lesson about the Word of Wisdom. Later we went to another lesson with Jose Antonio where we taught him two lessons. He wanted to be baptized the 23rd of February but his mom told us they are leaving for vacations this next week and we still have more to teach him so we have to change his baptismal date to March 9th.

Sunday at church Jose Antonio and amazingly to our surprise Edith and her son Jahir came and were on time! So we talked with them and invited them to a baptismal date in March. We also set an appointment to go and teach them this week. We also got a surprise visit from Vianey, Priscilla and their parents who stopped by to say hi and bring us sandwiches on their way to the district. Later we went to visit with the Familia Olarte to visit a couple that live in the same street as them and who are friends of theirs. Their youngest daughter gave them a Book of Mormon then Sister Olarte set a time for us to go by and visit. It was really awesome. This couple, Gabriel and Jazmin, were born and raised Catholics but they have been looking for a new religion. Our lesson was to get to know them, explain about us as missionaries and basic beliefs about the church. We are hoping to continue to pass by and help them feel and know that they’ve found their religion.

Thank you so much for that thought! PS I heard a great talk by Gordon B Hinckley titled "Slow to Anger" you should look it up and give me a report next week!

Love you guys so much! I hope you have a great week!