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!