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!