Feb 23, 2015

Feb 23, 2015

 

Well, today I am going to be a little more "frito" as they say here and just talk a little about the life here where I am working. It is weird because I am so used to it now but there are a lot of things that are very different here in Mexico and even more here in Huejutla. Some of the things are...... Little gas station type stores in one or two houses on every block. That happens because there are fewer families that have cars here and it’s more convenient to just head next door and do your shopping at the neighbor’s house. Our area is huge so for the same reason we use a lot of taxis and trucks.... haha yes trucks... here in the Huasteca there are tons of little towns outside of town and there are little Nissan trucks with flatbeds and wooden benches in the back and that’s how you get from place to place..... speaking of we are in charge of a little town called Panacaxtlan (panakatzlan "inglish") where there are only about 400 people and the majority make Bread... sweet bread. The only problem is the majority speak a dialect  called Nauat.  They don’t understand very well Spanish so I am now going for another language ahah.... we have picked up a little bit but it is pretty rough......

 So aside for playing in the sticks and eating bread all day we also enjoyed another luxury here in Mexico the other day when my comp overdosed on grease (from egg rolls, French fries, fried bananas and you know it a funnel cake... all homemade) we went to a doctor who charges 35 pesos for a checkup (about 4 bucks) and he tells you what’s wrong and what medicine to buy and all is done in a little room out back of a pharmacy ahah... how convenient right!!!!

 Unfortunately my time is up but I will have you all know that I am loving it here and I am loving the culture (as explained above) I will try to get something better out next week but have a good week everyone and as they say here..... Don’t pet that dog it’s not as friendly as it looks!

Feb 9, 2015

Feb 9, 2015

Well, finally I am able to repent and get out a decent blog! I Had to show up earlier and ask for more time because I made the mistake thinking that things would be a little bit more relaxed this week haha but today there were changes and I was called to open up another area.... again. This will be the third since July and my 7th area in 8 changes.....haha Well, it’s good that time isn’t on my side because even though it is always a great experience opening up an area it is hard work and you don’t sleep much and well ya... haha enough of that.

 Things have been going really well here in the Huasteca...... the enchiladas (]photo 1) are great! The people are super nice and we are having a ton of success with them! (photo 2) and  life is good. Over these past few changes I have learned a lot and hope to be able to put it into practice my whole life. One thing that I have learned is that no matter how busy we are we have to know how to prioritize! Here, with the assignment that I have, it has been hard to make sure that I am doing enough spiritual stuff so that things throughout the day go well. This is an important lesson for all of us! As we get involved in our lives we often fall into the oh so famous pride cycle...... Which means that we follow the declaration in Helaman 12:1 which states that -

 

Y así podemos ver cuán falso e inconstante es el corazón de los hijos de los hombres; sí, podemos ver que el Señor en su grande e infinita bondad bendice y hace prosperar a aquellos que en él ponen su confianza.

 We need to always be worried about this cycle and what point we are on a daily basis. We decide to learn quick or we can decide to learn slow but the sooner we find that starting the day with the Lord in our lives we will be able to get along a lot better in this gift of life God has given us.

But anyways being in a new area I am with a new comp (Photo 3) His name is Elder Harris and he is from Utah! We think we might be cousins haha (I’ll leave you in charge of that mom) but things have been different. This is my first gringo compañion and it has been pretty funny. We’re pretty alike so we have been laughing since about last Monday. The weirdest things have been happing too.... for example..... we showed up to meet some members and as we were talking to the Dad he kindly mentioned to us that our zippers were down haha.... my comp started laughing because he didn’t understand that they were OUR zippers and so after I got mine taken care of the guy mentioned to him again and well it just turned into a funny moment as he had to awkwardly fix his zipper.... and well that has been a little bit of our life this week haha... It should be a good change.

 Time is winding down but for now things are going great here and the mission life is the life to be living!  I think that is so because as we (the missionaries) live 100% in the gospel every day there is very little that could go wrong. So apply that a little more in your life today and it’s probable that you end up just a little bit happier.

 Love ya all and we will talk soon!

Feb 2, 2015

Feb 2, 2015

 

Jan 19, 2015

I love you all I just don’t have time....... haha this is so sad as I love preaching through my blog and writing but I can’t focus on writing while thinking about all the things I have to do this week! I have to take advantage and leave my mark..... so I will do my best to get a letter in next week if I’m not too busy with our zone plan and if so surely in two weeks when the zone class and leaders council is over!  love ya tons!

Jan 26, 2015

I hope you guys know that I love ya tons..... And for next week the zone class should be prepared and everything put together because today I finished and hour of making the cards and the little tedious stuff. Changes are coming up soon and I hope that president takes away a little bit of my responsibility. I have tons to do and even though I like to be busy I am also a perfectionist and that is hard when you are doing three jobs in one (Zone leader, district leader and trainer) one always gets left out.... ha and if it’s not one of my assignments it’s my family. I hope this doesn’t reflect how hard it is to balance a family. Love ya tons and well we will talk next week! Thanks for the letter!

 Feb 2, 2015

Thanks family for the update!!! I finally got your Christmas package on Friday haha! The beef jerky is awesome and thanks so much for the letter. I especially liked the one from Dawson explaining to me how he is trying to read and pray to prepare himself for the mission! But anyways things are going to get ridiculous again .I THOUGHT that I was going to be finishing up in the area that I just opened this change. I was excited for that as we are having a ton of success but it looks like I am going to have one more area. President sent me to open up another area.....  I love opening areas as this will be the 4th or 5th that I open but opening an area is really hard and it requires a lot of work and you never get to stick around to see all  the blessings but oh well..... I guess that’s what I am good at and so that is what I will keep doing ...... but as promised I asked for a bit of time to write you all a good letter so this is for you and I will get out a blog as well! Love ya tons and have a great week!

I lied..... i ran out of time I will finish it next week!

Jan 7, 2015

Jan 12, 2015

Jan 12, 2015

 

Well it’s been getting kinda cold again haha.... I think we may have even got down into the 50´s the other day!!!!! Never thought that 50 degrees was so cold.... and it gets even colder when none of the houses have central heating and in our house we don’t have a water heater.... haha so those showers in the morning wake you up really good! I have been practicing my traditional Mexican yell when I turn on the water......

AYAYAHAJAJAJAJAJAiiiiiiiiiiii !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HAHa but anyways things have been going great here! I have been super busy with a few different assignments and because of those assignments I haven’t been able to write much because I use up my computer time making formats and typing up plans haha,,,,, but I am lovin it so oh well!!!

I don’t know if a have explained on the blog but here in the mission I have been assigned to what I believe to be my final area. I have been jumping around a-lot and even though I have gotten really good at opening areas, Helping "prodigal" missionaries and battling to lift some of the struggling areas here in the mission I plan to have a good moment here to stick around and see the fruits of my work. We are in probably the most beautiful area in the mission and one of the most difficult. We only have 2 active members in our area and here we haven’t seen a baptism for over a year. However, me and my greenie Elder Vargas are loving it!!!! We are finding tons of people (teaching in one week the lessons they had taught previously in one month here) and we are having a blast...(see the photos)

There is something really special about working in a pueblo. I am afraid I am going to find it very hard to go home. I love it here. I love the work and I love the people. As I ponder on all that I have experienced over these past few years I am amazed and what I have done but more so what being here has done for me. The Gospel is amazing.  Working for the Lord in the salvation of souls is an amazing thing and that is why I am so fond of a wonderful promise in my patriarcle blessing  which states, "Through your missionary activities while on your full time mission, in you church assignments, and in you daily activities, you will continue to share the gospel with those around you and be an instrument in the Lords hands to carry the gospel to many" .  I know that this blessing is not just for me but for all of those that want to partake of the fruits of the first resurrection and the highest degree of glory with our father in heaven.

 invite all to come unto Christ.  Love your Savior enough to put some deep thought into the atonement and put it into practice.  Like Sister Jordan recently said... if you’re not happy here you’re not doing it right...... and well that applies outside the mission as well.... be happy, love everyone and let’s get to work! To work in the only work that we can do side by side with our Savior!

Love you all and have a great week!

https://www.lds.org/training/wwlt/2013/hastening/special-broadcast?lang=eng#media=16902107223790014226-eng

Dec 8, 2014

Dec 8, 2014

We are hoping to see some big results with the video that is being shown as well as the invites that have been givin out.....

As my last chChristmas here in the mission I am prepared to take advantage of every bit of it..... I am still loving it more and more every day and well Ive got to take advantage because the time is coming to an end......But that just means I have to work harder and teach better to make sure that I have left a mark here in good ol Tampico... and well I think that is how it should be for all of us.... the year is coming to an end... the store are liquidating, accountants are closing and well we are just stuffing our faces with food haha..... maybe this year could be different. Maybe this year we could make it the most memorable.... I think that is done in more than one way.... 

Take a little bit more time this year and look for what more can we do to make this year a better one....how can we capitalize this year with something better than all the rest.... We probably wont find it in gifts or food or vacations but I know that as stated by president Thomas S. Monson that "the spirit of Christmas, is the spirit of Christ" ... Look for him, find him, and then share his and then maybe it make be the best year yet! (https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2009-12-41-the-christmas-spirit?category=topics/christmas&lang=spa)

Love ya all and have a great week!!!!

Dec 29 2014

Dec 29, 2014
Well, it was a very good Christmas!!

Thanks for all the emails and Christmas wishes! 

Unfortunately I've got to run to Tampico so my time is short. But they say a picture is worth a thousand words so here´s a couple thousand!!!!

November 24, 2014

Nov 24, 2014

Well every time a new month is coming up things get kinda busy..... so I am gonna take advantage and get ya´ll out a good letter! 

Winter here has been trying to show up lately. We´ve gotten down to the lowest of 14 degrees....celcious haha thats about 60 degrees in the states.... haha the bad part is that even though its only about 60 out it still is stinkin cold! I have gotten used to the warm here and that’s got me worried. I’m gonna die when I get home... or maybe I´ll just head back to Hawaii haha 

The weeks seem to be going by faster and It seems that I begin to enjoy the work a little more each week. It’s gonna be a hard one when it gets to be time to go home but  I learned young that if you leave it all on the mat you might miss it later on but you won’t wanna go back to get rid of regrets and that my friends is a good feeling. 

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2014-06-005-true-christianity?category=mormon-messages/mormon-messages-2014&lang=eng

I have really liked this video... 1- because it has motorcycles and 2- because it is in my hometown.... but 3- because it teaches a principal of the gospel that is very important. It talks about how we should be... or our CHARACTER. Character is something that all of the LDS members need. Many times we proudly declare that are members of the True church of Christ... but then outside of the church we forget how powerful that phrase is! We must never let our guard down or never begin to lose the value that the restored gospel has for each and every one of us.

Sometimes it’s hard to always hold precious what we always have. So how can we always remember the importance of what we are doing without having to lose this perfect gospel that we have? One thing that has helped me is always recognizing that what I have is never sufficient. Sometimes we get comfortable and Nephi clearly explains how dangerous that is. We must understand that whatever amount of knowledge of conversion that we have... it is not enough. That is why Nephi says "Wo be unto him that saith, we have received, we need no more" That is a Phrase that is as applicable inside the church as outside of it. We must be careful and always be looking forward. If we do so we will be blessed in ways that we cannot imagine and we will be able to create a relation with our father in heaven so strong that we will be surprised at how well we know him as we return to his presence. 

I am learning this and it is helping me take advantage of my time here and well I hope it to be as the same help for all of you! Love you all and happy Thanksgiving!

Oct 20,2014

Oct 20, 2014

Oct 20, 2014

Well I have really had some great experiences but due to my lack of time, as of late, they are getting kept in the journal! However, I have asked for extra time today to make sure I get time for the zone and to be able to get out a good letter to all who are reading....

  Things have been changing so fast I don’t thing you are all up to date. I have had 4 areas in 4 changes all with a little work to get something  started (I usually get to be the fixer-upper of some of the minor problems here in the mission but it’s a good job!) But right now I am in Tampico but a new area just north of my last and well, it has been going good! However, we have found several difficulties.  For one I am in a trio and I guess sometimes  three is a crowd. That has been the blessing and the burden as of late because recently  have been finding how I want to be and also how hard it is to change... especially when you get easily bugged by your companions haha....

 But I mention this with a purpose. There is a phrase that I heard from President McKay, I think, that says, “The atonement is to make bad men good and good men better and to change human nature.” What a powerful phrase but how true it really is.  I think that we often lose focus on the part that says, “and good men better.” How does one use the atonement when they are obedient? or clean? or even just a good person?  You can use it applying the powerful effects of the divine power that it gives us. I believe that there are few greater feelings than those of seeing the good changes that have been made in a span of years or only months and well this comes through the atonement of Christ!

  I invite all to search out how we can do better and act! God has given all of us gifts that if found can become talents which  is one of our greatest purposes here in this life... to prepare! "Y serais tal como yo soy" 3 nefi 28:10

 I love ya all and wish ya a happy week!

Sept. 9, 2014

Sept. 9, 2014

                                                      Some photos of downtown Tampico

 A little boat that takes us across the River to another area

 

Well, these past few weeks have been nuts. The work is picking up and we are having a blast! Things are good here in Tampico and I just about couldn’t ask for more.... maybe just a few more months extra in the mission haha.....

My time is short but the experiences are great and many. Here in the city I have learned to look both ways 3 times (even when it’s a one way), to look down because who knows what you might step in, but also to look UP! Since  the average Mexican is shorter than I and in perfect line for my forehead and lastly the longer, darker and smellier the alleyway the more future investigators you will find haha
But anyways I have had just about one thing on my mind all week and that is the power(s) we receive through the atonement. I have found my favorite Mormon message that talks on just a fraction of the feelings and changes we can make thanks to the atonement!  Here it is!

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2014-07-006-the-hope-of-gods-light?category=mormon-messages/mormon-messages-2014&lang=eng

No matter where we are or where we’re headed the power received, even if in small increments are what will perfect us on the road to salvation. Don’t wait, don’t hesitate, look forward, move forward, be better, be a Saint.... perfected in Christ and if that occurs you will have found the greatest joy that one... in this world can find!  I have been so blessed to have experienced this joy, for short moments here in the mission. These moments I will NOT be able to forget and are the most precious moments in my life.
As my wise father this week wrote me, I remembered that what I feel and experience is not entitled to just missionaries or even fully active members of the church..... It is available to all and we are all invited to take part in this great plan of happiness!

Love you all have a great week!

July 28, 2014

July 28, 2014

Well I am lacking on the pictures as of late so I’ll have to get back on that one, but it is chevere (means cool in Spanish) (as my comp would say) here in Victoria!

This week has been full of good and funny experiences. We are constantly laughing here and this week we also found a few good and very promising investigators!

We have decided that we are going to start a dictionary by Elder Stoor on spanish ... haha It seems like every week I am coming up with new words that make life a little more lively. For example, one day I wanted to say that I was very gassy and well gassy in English makes sense but as I tried to form the word into Spanish (which I think would be gasoso) I decided its better as gastado.... which in spanish means worn out or used.... so now we have secret codes for when we are really ´gastado´ haha...

Lately I have been coming up with a theme or a focus for every change and so this change It is based off of a scripture that I have recently shared in efesios que dice that we shouldn’t  serve with eyeservice, like those who please men moresoever like servants of christ, happily doing the will of God. I truly testify to that. This change I have been learning how to work harder and harder along with my comp as we are basically opening a new area. Sometimes the late nights or early mornings pay off so that we can become better. But it isn’t worth much if we are doing it with the wrong attitude. Learn to love life. I know I am still learning but this week I have recognized how much I have learned!

In church on Sunday several key events helped me remember some key events in MY life that have helped me get to where I am today. The change that I was seeing was immense and well kinda surprised me! But the surprise was a good one! Throughout our lives there are many changes that we make or that God helps us make and sometimes being impatient humans we look for the ´instant´ when God works little by little.

So this week I invite you all to take a look at your life... read your journal, ponder experiences, etc and most importantly ask God for help to help you recognize the changes that you have made in your life!!

This is one of a series of videos that I really like that focus a bit on change!

https://www.lds.org/pages/mormon-messages?lang=eng#daily-bread-change

Love you all and have a great week!

July 21, 2014

July 21, 2014

 

Well this week was a little rough. Everyone has been out for vacations and so we haven’t been able to find hardly anyone here to teach..... Lots of walking with lots of heat....

 I feel really out of place here in Victoria.  Bigger houses and cars and I feel like I am closer to the U.S. haha ..... Aside from the 100 degree weather....

 I have been loving my change with my new comp Elder Ordoñez. He is great and a very talented Elder. I am supposedly training him but feels like he is training me. We have been working great as a team and when people start getting home this week they’re not going to be able to stop us haha! We have taken this area and done a full turn around in these past few weeks. I have felt like my calling in the mission has been in the repair department with Branches and Elders. There are very few things better than to hear compliments from members and see the confidence you are gaining with them and also the changes that I have seen with the people with whom I work.

 That leads me a little to my spiritual thought today. As I have been working my booty off to get things done and do them right, as many of you I am sure are doing, I have had the thought at times ..... man, only if the President knew...or if the members knew what I was doing for them ... ect etc . Because we are a people that like gratification and we like to be commended for what we do. However, sometimes these thoughts aren’t the most righteous to have, as we are counseled in Ephesians....

 This is some of the greatest advice that I have received here while on my mission and I think its great advice for us all. I pay special attention to the work Eyeservice..... What is eyeservice and how would it be different from service?? And also that I testify to the truth stated that we will receive our reward from God of from our leaders.... just in time and with humility.....

 Being a wrestler I have learned to love the instant gratification that can be received when we do or excel in what we should. But as Jesus said, those who pray so that all may hear have their reward and those in secret will be edified in Christ... which would you prefer??

 This week take some time to do the things you should and don’t tell a soul.... don’t boast or make a show. You may have to do this week after week after week but your  prize shall come and it is sweet.

I share this with love and hope that we might all become more Christ like and I share it in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

July 14, 2014

July 14, 2014

A great family in Panuco!!!

Another family that while i was in Panuco I helped their son get out on a mission and the parents go to the temple! Great experience!

          This is how I slept all the past hot changes in panuco!!!! It fixed my back!!!!

 

Well changes have gone down and I have been moved to Ciudad Victoria!!! It’s good and a big change. I’m not in the sticks for once haha. I feel so weird walking around here because it’s not the Mexico I’ve gotten to know the past year. Everyone has cars and there is a little more money here.

 The difficulty of the area however has not changed. We will be working hard and hope to see lot of success here. I also continue serving with outsiders.... my 4th one in a row. I have been called to train here in Victoria and my son is from Ecuador! He’s great and we’re surely going to have a great change!

 I’m a bit short on time making up for not writing last week but I just wanted to share a bit about how sometimes the little things make all the difference. Cada vez a missionary changes areas it’s an opportunity to change.... to make the changes that are necessary and keep progressing.  I have decided that this area I am going to include a lot of the little things.... little things like an extra prayer or waking up a tad bit earlier to get in some more study.... but most of all I have learned and gained a great amount of love for this marvelous work and I am going to make the best of it!

 Sometime missionaries make a bit mistake and become comfortable in their teaching and missionary attributes and stop progressing and  it’s really as shame to see it happen. But for a missionary lack of change will only pass by for a second. When a member or someone in general falls into a trap of not progressing it can last years or even decades! For some of us sometimes things happen like they happened to the brother of Jared..... not zane but the other one..... In the book of Mormon. In Ether 2

 5 And it came to pass that the Lord commanded them that they should go forth into the wilderness, yea, into that quarter where there never had man been. And it came to pass that the Lord did go before them, and did talk with them as he stood in a cloud, and gave directions whither they should travel.

 6 And it came to pass that they did travel in the wilderness, and did build barges, in which they did cross many waters, being directed continually by the hand of the Lord.

 7 And the Lord would not suffer that they should stop beyond the sea in the wilderness, but he would that they should come forth even unto the land of promise, which was choice above all other lands, which the Lord God had preserved for a righteous people.

 13 And now I proceed with my record; for behold, it came to pass that the Lord did bring Jared and his brethren forth even to that great sea which divideth the lands. And as they came to the sea they pitched their tents; and they called the name of the place Moriancumer; and they dwelt in tents, and dwelt in tents upon the seashore for the space of four years.

 14 And it came to pass at the end of four years that the Lord came again unto the brother of Jared, and stood in a cloud and talked with him. And for the space of three hours did the Lord talk with the brother of Jared, and chastened him because he remembered not to call upon the name of the Lord.

 15 And the brother of Jared repented of the evil which he had done, and did call upon the name of the Lord for his brethren who were with him. And the Lord said unto him: I will forgive thee and thy brethren of their sins; but thou shalt not sin any more, for ye shall remember that my Spirit will not always strive with man; wherefore, if ye will sin until ye are fully ripe ye shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord. And these are my thoughts upon the land which I shall give you for your inheritance; for it shall be a land choice above all other lands.

 How many of us have been foolish like unto the brother of Jared and have forgotten to call upon the Lord or to keep looking for the land of promise? When was the last time we made a change to better our relationship with Christ? I invite you to all reflect as I am reflecting to make the changes necessary to come unto Christ..... I love you all and have a great week!

 

http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=1101413031001

June 30, 2014

Baptism of a family of three!

The reason Elder Stoor is getting fat! Full Fridge!

Rio Panuco! I have lived next to this river for more than half my mission as it has passed through 2 of my areas! The only problem is its super dirty.....

Well this will be a general letter as I am out of time to do anything but write on the blog so I hope I can answer the questions and get out a little explanation of what and how I am doing!

 I am still in Panuco and things are going great! I now have 4 almost 5 changes here or 6 months and well it’s been a blast!

 What is happening  here is I have been called as the missionary leader for Panuco and  its made things interesting.  There are 2 branches here and of the 2 they both struggle a lot so we are working for better Branch councils and also have better services, retention ect.  It has been hard as well because I have doubled my work.  It has helped me learn A lot more patience as well as how to cope with stress}. But it’s been good and  I have been learning a ton! hahah for those of you who know what Manual 2 is that is given by the church I think I have the book almost memorized because of all the trainings I have given to the Branch and the District haha!

 But anyways as seen in the photos we had three Baptisms this week and it’s a great family! We hope to see lots of progress with them and well we hope as well to see many more baptisms soon!

 This week has been full of revelation and well some good experiences. Here in Mexico just about everyone is Catholic and because of that everyone believes in God and well that helps a lot when teaching. However for the same reason I have no Idea how to teach someone who doesn’t believe in God. We tried to teach someone that doesn’t have that core belief and even thought I turned out horrid.. like bad enough to make a believer not believe... haha ... he turned up in church and at the baptism and now is a believer! haha cool experience.

 But anyway this week in church there was a focus on church history. It is amazing to see the sacrifice of all the members in the past. The United States isn’t  the only one where the saints have suffered . I believe every country has their own story and  I got to know a little about the story of Mexico and the Church. But something that is common and found in the church no matter where you go in member’s past and present in Consecration. The one thing God has given us that he cannot take away is our will. The right to follow or not to follow, to act or not to act, believe or not to believe. It’s also the only way we can truly show our love and devotion to God and our Savior.... so I invite you to watch the video that is Linked below and to think what it is that your holding back from our God

 https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2010-07-139-treasure-in-heaven-the-john-tanner-story?lang=spa&clang=eng

have a great week and love you all!

June 9, 2014

June 9, 2014

Well with the little time that I have I would like to tell all that things are wonderful here in Mexico!

The heat has turned on and so has the work.

 The funny story of the week comes from my companion. He was relating to us (me and the Branch President) about his trip here to Mexico because he is from Nicaragua. He mentioned passing over Salvador took forever because they put the pane in Neutral. So we asked why they were just letting it glide  and he said no no no we weren’t gliding we stopped. He was trying to tell us that the plane was stopped in midair for like half an hour...... hahahahaha me and president couldn’t help but laugh and we had to then explain how a plane work and how it stays in the air and that it is impossible that a plane just stops in mid-air.

 Haha but anyways to finish up with time I would like to share a thought from my personal study. This week I finished the book of Mormon and what an amazing book! I love it more every time I read it and hope the same goes for all of you that are reading or that are going to read! But this time around I read it with a question in mind. I wanted to learn how I could truly be an instrument in the hands of the Lord and so I surely got my answer Finishing it and backtracking all of my highlighted versus.

 I found verses of Faith, diligence, courage, charity, Love and many more. Even examples of service and teaching by the spirit but to my surprise all of that  came in a very far second to what is found in every great history of Prophets, missionaries or Jesus Crist himself and that was a humble and sincere prayer to our loving heavenly father. That is how the book begins. Lehi praying for his pueblo and that is also how it ends. Moroni praying over the plates for whomever might read them. I found that to learn we must pray, to find we must ask and as the brother of Jared learned we must never stop asking or looking  for the guidance of the Lord.

 We have heard many times that the missionary work begins on the knees and  the Book of Mormon is a living testament to that! I invite you all.. young, old and in-between.  Believer or non-believe to open you heart as Enos did and pray this day to your heavenly Father and ask him what you must do. I know along with millions of others that if you do the Lord, through the holy Ghost will respond and make you too and instrument in the Lords hands.

Jesus himself stated, “ ask and ye shall receive, knock and it shall be opened unto you.”

To this I testify in the name of Jesus Crist amen.

Love you all and have a great week!

May 19, 2014

May 19, 2014

The best Zone in the mission! and the largest haha!

We got to stay in the presidents house for a training session with the area president.... nicest night in the whole mission!

We had a steak out today haha! going away party as Elder Miss is headed for home next week!

 

 I have to start this letter off expressing the Love I have for the mission. This week I made it (very unhappily) to my one-year mark and l I did some reflecting and what a joy it brings. First off for all those who are thinking or preparing for a mission...... Ohala! I had always heard it is the best two years of your life. This first year was good but I did reflect a few times on high school, old girlfriends, and my toys, of course. However, these past few months not one time has any of that crossed my mind. I have figured out the language, how to teach, how to work and other things that have caused me to be lost in the work. What a marvelous feeling to wake up knowing, not hoping, that it’s going to be the best day, that my friends are the obra misional and I hope all get their chance to participate in this joy!

 This week I have had on my mind some of our less actives and some others that I am working with in context of conversion. Are you converted? One thing that we can to do to check our conversion is take the best quiz ever written.... Alma 5. Throughout alma 5 we are asked about 30 different questions some of which are very penetrating and reflective (like the kind of questions a good missionary asks haha) that I would invite all to reflect on .I will only focus on one right now that can put things into perspective.

With that in mind remember after doing a job or completing an activity poorly and after doing so the regret and sickness you felt. Now try and put that into perspective with every action that we make in this life. That is why we as missionaries and parents focus soooo much on reading, praying and going to church because with these we will be guided in whatever situation that we need.

I invite you all to find true happiness in your lives and in preparing. As stated by the Lord himself stating that he who finds his life shall lose in and he who loses his life for the Lord shall find it. I testify to this in the Name of Jesus Christ our Savior Amen.

love you all and have a good week!

April 28, 2014

April 28, 2014

We were playing with the lizards in our house one night

Me and Elder Mis when we went to Rancho Chico again

That is today ... inside our house .... its summer again!

Well, this weekend I ended up in the tiny town of Rancho Chico with Elder Mis and it was once again quite the adventure.  I got to see a chicken fight (super cool)... I fought with a chicken haha and  we had some really great spiritual experiences as well. One I would like to share....

 We met with a single adult that is less active to try and give him some excitement for the mission.  I will call him Bob. Bob went to sacrament meeting where I and my comp gave talks.  Later we gave him a surprise visit before he headed to work. We shared a really good message on the priorities in our life and some answers to some pretty profound questions in Alma chap. 5. We finished by helping  him recognize that he needed to repent and explained  what repentance is. The lesson came to an end and this young man gave one of the most sincere prayers I have heard in my whole mission. Praying to God, Bob asked for forgiveness and acknowledged his faults and asked for help along with giving thanks for the wonderful spirit he felt in the lesson.

 What a high point for a missionary! But that’s not all. After the prayer he mentioned that what I spoke on in church was exactly what he needed to hear to open his heart and thanked me for that.  What a blessing to have spoken by the spirit.  Then he bore his testimony of the wonderful feeling he had in his heart and that during the prayer a back pain that he has had constantly had disappeared.

Even then it still wasn’t over. Recognizing his weakness he then asked for a blessing to help him know what to do to keep the feeling he had in that moment. So we were able to give him a priesthood blessing and we sent him off to work. What an amazing experience that can’t make the half of it into words.

I wanted to share this to remind you of the importance of always being prepared spiritually. You never know when you will be called upon to change someone’s life!

 Love you all and have a great week!

April 21, 2014

April 21, 2014

Well this was quite the week! I headed to the offices to pick up a new missionary to train and ended up in the offices up until Wednesday and I am still without a new missionary! I guess he didn’t show because he is waiting on his visa. So I get put into special changes with two of the other missionaries here in Panuco and it’s been good! I’m with elder Pond from Honeyville Utah and Elder Castro from Maxalan, Sinaloa. It’s been a super hard week but it has been really good at the same time!

 I don’t have a lot of time but I did want to share a little on hard work and service......

 This week was rough as I was worried about how I was going to maintain 2 areas being in a trio and all that good stuff and I don’t feel like I was un-motivated. If anything, I was more motivated, but the worry got to me and by Sunday I was burnt out and was ready for a p-day hah..... good thing it got here.

 But one thing that helped me a ton was that Pâté Miranda, the Branch president, pulled me aside as he had noticed that I was a bit burn out and figured it was un-excitement.  He  let me know that I have been one of the more diligent and dedicated missionaries that he has seen (not to brag but to make my point) and well anyone hearing that I’m sure would perk up a bit, but more than anything it reminded me of the purpose or goal that I have here in the mission. Work so much that every day you can lay down and have no doubt that you had done all that is possible. Well, I have pretty regularly been able to do that and it brings joy to the soul! haha

 However, I have seen with other missionaries that it gets time to change areas or something of the matter and they leave with regret or they didn’t leave a good impression on the members. That hurts and creates a huge burden. I think that this applies in almost even aspect of life. I have seen it in school, wrestling and work and I have been on both sides.  Work at first is hard but there is no doubt that no matter what we’re doing if we do it with all that we have we will leave with a truly satisfying feeling.... and even more so when it involves the work of the Lord.

 That being said I invite you as Jesus has In Matthew 10 to lose your life for the sake of the Lord so that you might find it. Because with the good and bad feeling that we have looking back on our works here are pretty strong but they will only be magnified and we are standing to be judged by our Father in heaven...... so as Dad says don’t be a worthless puke and do something in your life haha. Whether it’s in studies, work or the gospel I promise that we will reap the blessings for the work and effort we put into our lives and this I share in the name of Jesus Christ amen.

 Have a great week and love you all!

P.S. it’d be fun to see some pictures of family and friends in their summer activities!

April 14, 2014

April 14, 2014

 Our very happy and energetic district

                                 My comp thoroughly enjoying my hammock after a good days work

Me and Elder Tuñon the day of changes and off went Elder Tuñon!

Well, sorry I didn’t get too much out this last week but we had ... well complications.

Well these last weeks have been rough. We lost just about every investigator that we had and we have been having a hard time finding people that are willing to progress. I feel as if I were Nephi when writing in the plates that these things will be for our own condemnation ha. I feel as if I am missing something that just is not starting up the investigators. So I did some studying and found some interesting stuff. But first......

This week we have had to be in the house a little more than normal for some ab-normal mission procedures and we have had extra time to study each night.  One can only study so much before getting so sick of being in a chair haha.... Like me.... so in boredom me and my comp began hunting cats. Yes you read that right. We have a ton of cats around our house.... wild cats and we have been baiting them luring them into the house and shutting all the doors so they freak out. It has been quite interesting and we have had so much success that we began tagging them to see how many times the same cat will fall for the same trick. I wish I had some photos to show you but I took video and so you’ll have to wait till I upload it to facebook in about a year haha....

 But anyways on a spiritual note.... this week I began studying the Old Testament a little more so that I can better copy the characteristics of Christ as well as some of his teaching techniques and I have found this that really woke me up...

In Matthew 10 it says this

35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.

 This kinda made me interested..... because this is Jesus Christ speaking and that sounds a little weird in line with the focus that we put on marriage and families however I understand much better what is trying to be said in the following statements....

 37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

 38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

  39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

 Now do we get it? He is saying that even if we love our family more than him, which is common, we are sinners and that above all he is...... have you thought in this way before??? He is saying that even the family , hopefully the most important thing  in our lives, can  become a foe if it gets in our way of the Lord. But how many other things do we put before him???  I thought about this and  I also want to testify to this. That I know that if we can find the love and loyalty in our hearts to love God and his son more that all..... all the rest will follow. It seems hard at first but once it is practiced it all makes sense. I promise and testify to this in the name of Jesus Christ amen.

love you all and have a great week!