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