Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Email 21 Feb 2011
Things are progressing well! Juan Carlos will be baptised on the 26th! So, Happy Birthday to Mick! It´s his gift to know that someone will be making life changing covenants and entering into the straight and narrow path on his B-Day!!! Cool gift huh?! This kid is awesome! He´s so smart! He loves reading and learning, and his Mom (Rosa) is really nice! And the plan now is that after his baptism, he can receive the Priesthood and baptise his Mom once she gets married! And they are both really excited about that! Through them we have also found and are teaching Rosa´s sister Beatrice and a cousin of Carlos, Joanna! And they are great wonderful people as well progressing nicely! We are also working a lot with less active members and it really gets frustrating at times. We recently talked with one who we found was pretty much just baptised for the missionaries, maybe even because she just had a crush on them and she was just looking for any accusation she could make... really quite sad. Saying it´s just an American religion and we have a different culture down here and that Joseph Smith was just a yankee that wanted to start his own church! We get called yankees a bit, it´s kind of funny.
I´ve gotten some valentine letters, the one with all the scripture hearts and Alana´s valentine, and the one with Daniel´s letter and April´s Valentine! Good stuff! And I was actually going to tell you I need another card because this one is about filled!!! So... NICE!
Man.... I miss good American pizza, you can find real good pizza here, but it´s not the same and it´s not common, and expensive! So ya, we´ll have to go to Doc´s when I get back! And because there is root-beer there as well!!!! :) :) :)
I noticed that it was President´s Day today with my new calendar! If I didn´t have it, I probably would have forgotten all about President´s day! I´m moving a little slower through the Bible, I´m in chapter 33 mas o menos in Ezekiel... But That´s because I´ve been reading other stuff as well, I´m about half way through the teachings of the prophet Joseph Smith book! REALLY GOOD STUFF!!! I´ve been learning a lot about the prophet recently and I am groing even a deeper and more profound respect for him than I had before. Really a great man!
I also think that sometimes we are led to people that we really can´t teach, but it helps us realize our falts and humble ourselves and improve.... opposition in all things!
Alright, other little things that have happend lately!......One of the other missionaries here in Dolores got really sick and went to the hospital... while he was there we took some shifts so his companion could get some sleep, so that night I swapped him places at 3 in the morning and stayed until the morning so he could go sleep. Then, so he could go to the zone conference we had, abunch of members in the ward took shifts and watched the Elder while his comp went with us. Turns out they couldn´t really find anything wrong with him.... they said either he had a lot of stress or was missing home too much! But he´s out and working now, just taking it easy. The zone conference was really good, it was all about the Atonement! And I got to give a little talk, it was really nice and a great opportunity. I shared a story about a couple missionaries teaching and they were asked by a very excited and happy lady what is your favorite thing about your church, and one said living prophets, the other said personal revelation, then the lady lost here excitement and her smile went away and she said, oh... my favorite thing about my church is that sinners can be forgiven because Jesus died and suffered for them. The missionaries felt really bad afterwards. That wasn´t a personal experience, but I´ve had one similar. Sometimes we hear about it all too much or we look for the more unique things about our church and we fail to realize the very center and rock is Christ and His Atonement. Random Atonement fact.... Getsemani actually means oil press, what they used to squeeze the oil out of the olives, it gives ironic meaning to the blood that was spilled from Christ. Other things that happened... we contacted an Arabian named Hussan! And someone told us that they wanted to tar and feather us.....we didn´t even get upset we just were amazed that we actually heard that. Well... I´m probably forgetting something, but that´s all I can think of for right now!
So the photos .... we´ve got Rosa and her sister Beatrice at a Noche de Hogar (FHE) that we had, me being crushed on the bunk bed because my companion is pushing the pounds I guess (JK), and then my handy dandy workman photo when we repaired the bed... and the Elder Hancock sign that´s still hanging up! :) I hope you enjoy the photos! And I hope you all have had a wonderful week! I hope all is going well and that you are reading and praying every day!
Thanks for the update! Con amor! Chau!
I´ve gotten some valentine letters, the one with all the scripture hearts and Alana´s valentine, and the one with Daniel´s letter and April´s Valentine! Good stuff! And I was actually going to tell you I need another card because this one is about filled!!! So... NICE!
Man.... I miss good American pizza, you can find real good pizza here, but it´s not the same and it´s not common, and expensive! So ya, we´ll have to go to Doc´s when I get back! And because there is root-beer there as well!!!! :) :) :)
I noticed that it was President´s Day today with my new calendar! If I didn´t have it, I probably would have forgotten all about President´s day! I´m moving a little slower through the Bible, I´m in chapter 33 mas o menos in Ezekiel... But That´s because I´ve been reading other stuff as well, I´m about half way through the teachings of the prophet Joseph Smith book! REALLY GOOD STUFF!!! I´ve been learning a lot about the prophet recently and I am groing even a deeper and more profound respect for him than I had before. Really a great man!
I also think that sometimes we are led to people that we really can´t teach, but it helps us realize our falts and humble ourselves and improve.... opposition in all things!
Alright, other little things that have happend lately!......One of the other missionaries here in Dolores got really sick and went to the hospital... while he was there we took some shifts so his companion could get some sleep, so that night I swapped him places at 3 in the morning and stayed until the morning so he could go sleep. Then, so he could go to the zone conference we had, abunch of members in the ward took shifts and watched the Elder while his comp went with us. Turns out they couldn´t really find anything wrong with him.... they said either he had a lot of stress or was missing home too much! But he´s out and working now, just taking it easy. The zone conference was really good, it was all about the Atonement! And I got to give a little talk, it was really nice and a great opportunity. I shared a story about a couple missionaries teaching and they were asked by a very excited and happy lady what is your favorite thing about your church, and one said living prophets, the other said personal revelation, then the lady lost here excitement and her smile went away and she said, oh... my favorite thing about my church is that sinners can be forgiven because Jesus died and suffered for them. The missionaries felt really bad afterwards. That wasn´t a personal experience, but I´ve had one similar. Sometimes we hear about it all too much or we look for the more unique things about our church and we fail to realize the very center and rock is Christ and His Atonement. Random Atonement fact.... Getsemani actually means oil press, what they used to squeeze the oil out of the olives, it gives ironic meaning to the blood that was spilled from Christ. Other things that happened... we contacted an Arabian named Hussan! And someone told us that they wanted to tar and feather us.....we didn´t even get upset we just were amazed that we actually heard that. Well... I´m probably forgetting something, but that´s all I can think of for right now!
So the photos .... we´ve got Rosa and her sister Beatrice at a Noche de Hogar (FHE) that we had, me being crushed on the bunk bed because my companion is pushing the pounds I guess (JK), and then my handy dandy workman photo when we repaired the bed... and the Elder Hancock sign that´s still hanging up! :) I hope you enjoy the photos! And I hope you all have had a wonderful week! I hope all is going well and that you are reading and praying every day!
Thanks for the update! Con amor! Chau!
Monday, February 14, 2011
Email Mon, 14 Feb 2011
HAPPY DIA DE LOS ENAMORADOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ya the parrot was a pet, there are actually a lot of pet parrots! And some of them talk, but they say bad words....... :(
Carlos now has his date for the 26th so his father can be there but it is pretty much set in stone now! He is cruising along! He could be teaching me about the doctrine! His Mother is also working on divorce paper stuff so she can get married and then get baptised, it´s quite the process! The other day we had a great lesson with them and our bishop on chastity, fasting, and tithing! The bishop ended up teaching a lot and did it very well! He talked about how we can love our future spouses even before we get to know them! Just by keeping ourselves pure! I really liked that thought! And it was a great lesson!
I can´t believe the Foreigner has already come up! That was soooooo fast!
Anyhow, sorry this is shorter! We have a FHE to go to, but all is good out here!
Luv ya tons!
Ya the parrot was a pet, there are actually a lot of pet parrots! And some of them talk, but they say bad words....... :(
Carlos now has his date for the 26th so his father can be there but it is pretty much set in stone now! He is cruising along! He could be teaching me about the doctrine! His Mother is also working on divorce paper stuff so she can get married and then get baptised, it´s quite the process! The other day we had a great lesson with them and our bishop on chastity, fasting, and tithing! The bishop ended up teaching a lot and did it very well! He talked about how we can love our future spouses even before we get to know them! Just by keeping ourselves pure! I really liked that thought! And it was a great lesson!
I can´t believe the Foreigner has already come up! That was soooooo fast!
Anyhow, sorry this is shorter! We have a FHE to go to, but all is good out here!
Luv ya tons!
Monday, February 7, 2011
7 Feb 2011 Email
It has been a good week! Really long, but really quick at the same time! I wish I could have been at the court of honor.... but I´m where I need to be! I´m proud of my bro..... his chops are lookin a little too unruly though :) ha ha! Sounds like quite the process!
I´m sure a lot has happened this last week, but I´ll just share the best parts, besides a parrot pooping on me! Our saturday was quite the tough day..... it was one of the hottest days, if not ´the´ hottest day I´ve had out here, everything we had fell through, we also were fasting and low on energy! and we were getting rejected quite hard...... we actually had to take a breather at the house and we made a cake for an Hermana in the ward that was having her cupleaños! That we booked it out delivered the cake and continued the day, hot and sweaty we were having a hard time finding the drive, but we continued.... and as we reached the end of the day the little miracles started! So Carlos and Rosa (the 2 that went to church) told us that they would be out of town for quite a long time. Somehow, after getting kicked out of a lesson with a less active member because she had to cook!, we just happened to pass by Rosa´s daughter heading home from work, we asked about the trip and found out they didn´t go! So.... last lesson of the day, we ran by! Somehow we were able to swing by a member and got her to acompany us! Which is easier said than done! And we got to the house, and it just so happened that they invited a friend, someone who had been contacted earlier by missionaries, but they never found her in her house! So we had a very nice lesson with them all and the member about a great many things! The Restoration, Prophets, Relief Society, the Liahona, geneology, fasting and more! It was great! and the greater miracle! ALL three of them made it to church the next day! Carlos has a date for the 19, and I hope soon the others will have one as well! Oh.. it just goes to show you that God does bless us for the work we do... first comes the test of our faith and endurance, then comes the miracles and blessings! This is God´s work, even when sometimes it is hard to see, it is his work and he does bless us when we work and strive and perseverar hasta el fin! I love this church and it does bless lives for those who accept and embrace it.
And yes, the time does fly! An Hermana yesterday told me that 10 (now 11) days have already gone by since my 1 year mark! Oh, it flies!
Thanks for everything, the package again! and I hope all is well over there! Luv ya tons and I´m grateful for the love and support! Keep reading, praying, renewing your covenants, and perseverar hasta el fin!
Anyhow, the package did come today!!! Thanks a bunch, I really miss those little fruity candies! and good cereal from the states!
I´m sure a lot has happened this last week, but I´ll just share the best parts, besides a parrot pooping on me! Our saturday was quite the tough day..... it was one of the hottest days, if not ´the´ hottest day I´ve had out here, everything we had fell through, we also were fasting and low on energy! and we were getting rejected quite hard...... we actually had to take a breather at the house and we made a cake for an Hermana in the ward that was having her cupleaños! That we booked it out delivered the cake and continued the day, hot and sweaty we were having a hard time finding the drive, but we continued.... and as we reached the end of the day the little miracles started! So Carlos and Rosa (the 2 that went to church) told us that they would be out of town for quite a long time. Somehow, after getting kicked out of a lesson with a less active member because she had to cook!, we just happened to pass by Rosa´s daughter heading home from work, we asked about the trip and found out they didn´t go! So.... last lesson of the day, we ran by! Somehow we were able to swing by a member and got her to acompany us! Which is easier said than done! And we got to the house, and it just so happened that they invited a friend, someone who had been contacted earlier by missionaries, but they never found her in her house! So we had a very nice lesson with them all and the member about a great many things! The Restoration, Prophets, Relief Society, the Liahona, geneology, fasting and more! It was great! and the greater miracle! ALL three of them made it to church the next day! Carlos has a date for the 19, and I hope soon the others will have one as well! Oh.. it just goes to show you that God does bless us for the work we do... first comes the test of our faith and endurance, then comes the miracles and blessings! This is God´s work, even when sometimes it is hard to see, it is his work and he does bless us when we work and strive and perseverar hasta el fin! I love this church and it does bless lives for those who accept and embrace it.
And yes, the time does fly! An Hermana yesterday told me that 10 (now 11) days have already gone by since my 1 year mark! Oh, it flies!
Thanks for everything, the package again! and I hope all is well over there! Luv ya tons and I´m grateful for the love and support! Keep reading, praying, renewing your covenants, and perseverar hasta el fin!
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