Make the days count

How was everyone’s week?  Have you talked to or seen Elder Hartmann lately?  I really miss him a lot.  I can say he was my best companion so far.  All the time here while I’m in Villa Hidalgo, tons of memories of us two just pop into my mind.  It makes me a bit depressed.  He was so good to me and taught me so many things.  Also, it doesn’t help when people here bring up his name.  There are some points in the day where I am on the verge of crying.  I hide it though and smile all the time.  My companion isn’t a smiler but he appreciates the smile I always have.  It’s hard to hide my feelings but I do it. 

Well now I am a trainer to Elder Montiel who is from Mexico City.  On top of that responsibility I am also a district leader. 

First, I’m a trainer.  My new greenie, Elder Montiel is twenty five years old.  He is obedient to the rules.  He knows a bit of English, about as much Spanish as I knew entering the MTC.  That’s a tad bit difficult.  We can communicate though.  He also participates in the lessons a ton.  Almost too much, but it is good he is trying.  He is also pretty humble.  He is in the middle of three brothers.  His older brother served a mission, and his younger brother entered the field the same day he did, but his brother is in another part of Mexico.  As the trainer, I’m training his with just about everything, from cleaning the house, lessons, scriptures, rules, to not saying he doesn’t like the food at member’s houses.  I also teach his the area, planning, diligence, etc.

As a district leader I have to report to the zone leaders that my district is in the house by nine at night.   Then I have to get reports from the other companionship in my district that work in San Blas every night.  Then after that, I call the zone leaders to give them the report of the district.  Also three or four times a month on Tuesdays, I give the district meetings.  Also when San Blas needs to get an investigator interviewed for baptism, I go interview the investigator.  Let’s just say I have a ton more responsibilities now. 

I haven’t received the Thanksgiving package yet but thank you.

The kids better be good to mom.  Help her out with cleaning.  Do what you can for her before you leave on your mission.  Trust me…  You only have her for a short time and then you grow up.  It’s a bit depressing, thinking that I’m not going to be able to be able to live in the house with her, dad or the kids anymore.  Time flies.  A little quote for a mission but also for life:  “Don’t count the days.  Make the days count.”  Don’t have regrets and remember President Uchtdorf’s talk from general conference.  Love each other and make the days count. 

I’m not sure if you have seen Elder Hartmann yet, but if you have I hope you enjoy the surprise. 

 My Spanish has improved.  I wonder why?  Probably because that is all I can speak to communicate with people besides an American in my district, Elder Longhurst.  I also have an American Zone Leader, Elder Turby.  Elder Turby was actually in my MTC district.  He was also my companion two days.  Haha

We have another investigator names Jessica.  She has a baptism date set for November 24^th.  I believe she will be baptized before Sergio.  It’s just that Sergio isn’t quitting his addiction.  It’s been pretty disappointing with him. 

 Anyway, I love you all a lot.  Please pray for Jessica, Sergio, Antonio, Xochitl (?), and Sandy.  They are our main investigators that we are working with.  Do good, stay strong and make the days count!

Ready to teach

Querida Familia,

How is everyone? Again, thank you all for the package and for my birthday. It really did go well. Thank you so much. I also did get a ton of emails two weeks ago.

Well today, I actually head up to Guadalajara. I will be staying the night there, and I will be picking my new son up tomorrow. I will be training. This will be interesting, but it is what I need and it is time. This will be training me as well. I will learn more in this part of the mission, more than any other part so far. Im ready! Im going to teach him worth ethic, obedience, and the missionary purpose. The next transfer will be tough, but I will remain positive and teach my greenie how to be an effective missionary. I will be setting his trends for the rest of my mission, and how his mission is, is going to effect him for the rest of his life.

We have more investigators now. We have two with a date right now. Could you please pray for Xochitl to have her and her husband married and for her husband to want to marry her. They have been together for 22 years now. Also continue to pray for Sergio to be able to conquer his addiction. We also have a few other people to work with now. We have a woman named Jessica that seems like she will be baptized this month.

I enjoyed seeing all of the Halloween pictures. Haha

Once again, you are asking for more details and more things about my mission… I do not like it. I do not have the time to write a book. I keep my journal, but I don’t have enough time to write all the details and make a book. I can either spend a lot of time writing and break that mission rule, or I can write the time that I'm given and not break the mission rule. I'm going to obey the rule. Please please please. I'm trying to write you with the time I have and I'm being exactly obedient.

Elder took home a surprise for you and hopefully that will help you know more about my life here too. He also wants to spend time with you guys in a couple weeks, he was saying, so that he could let you know about Villa Hidalgo and our experiences together.

Anyway, I love you all. Do good, be obedient, and stay strong.

My future "son"

Thank you all for the birthday wishes!  I really appreciated it.  My week went pretty well, and a bit shocking and nerve wrecking!  Hahaha  We had interviews this week and on my birthday we were in Guadalajara going to the temple.  I also got the package there when we were in the mission office.

It’s going to be hard having Elder Hartmann leaving.  He has been really good to me.  His homecoming talk will be November 18^th at 11:00.  I will be getting a new companion on Monday.  This is where it gets pretty interesting… In interviews, President Wagner asked me if I was ready for a responsibility.  I took in a deep breath and said that I am still not comfortable with my Spanish, but that I would do whatever the Lord wants and asks of me.  He said that the Spanish won’t be something too big.  He said that I will train a native.  He said that the main part of me training him is that I teach a missionary obedience, work ethic and how to be a good missionary.  He said that it will be a great responsibility and that it will affect the greenie for the rest of his mission.  I am really nervous, but I know this is what I need and what the Lord wants.  “The trainer learns more than the trainee.”  I have heard that from President and I know it’s true just by seeing Elder Hartmann.  Now we will see what the future brings with my future “son”.  Haha  I’m going to be a father  in the mission. 

The white shirts I need are short sleeve, 16 ½ inch neck, and medium.  Thank you. 

How is the presidential election going there in the U.S.?  I hope Mitt Romney wins.

So about the temple….we did a Spanish session because it’s all they have.  We also went to the sealing of Elder Hartmann’s converts. 

I can’t believe I have officially been out on my mission for more than ten months now.  Time flies.  Before I know it, I’ll be out eleven months and then a year!

Sergio’s baptism didn’t go through.  Elder Hartmann and I have been pretty disappointed.  Sergio relapsed and smoked a couple days consecutively.  We are praying that he will be able to end it.

The Day of the Dead is coming up so I will let you know if there is anything worth writing about that.  Haha

I will also let you know about my new companion in a couple weeks and let you know how things are going with him.  

I love you all and pray for you.  Do good, stay strong and serve others.  Love ya!

I won't have a birthday

How is everyone doing?  I hope everything is going well there. 

My week has gone pretty well.  The baptism for Sergio should be this upcoming Friday.  I was hoping it would be on Saturday (my birthday).  We can’t though because Elder Hartmann  wants to go to Guadalajara for a convert’s sealing on my birthday.  I am basically sacrificing my birthday this year .  I’m not going to be in my area nor am I going to be with anyone that I know besides Elder Hartmann.  He can only go if I go with him there and back which will cost about $70 in American money.  It’s been tough thinking about how I won’t have a birthday but I am making this sacrifice for Elder Hartmann.  If you could, could you put more money in for travels, and also I bought a memory card so you won’t have to send me one.  Thanks!  On the bright side, I will be able to go to the temple and go in, which is a once in a mission thing in this mission.  I could possibly get my packages on Wednesday too. 

The weather is finally cooling down a tiny bit.  The rainy season ended but it was strong for about three months. 

Please tell Grandpa B, “Happy Birthday” for me on Friday.

When does A get his patriarchal blessing?  It’s exciting to hear that he could possibly go on a mission next year.  The only bad thing is that I wouldn't see him leave and I won’t be able to see him three more years. 

Wish Allen, "Good luck for me and tell him that he is making the best decision of his life so far.  Tell him that I love him and that I will write him when I am done with my mission".

We might be getting a house check up  this week.  We still hadn’t gotten one.  Don’t worry!  We keep our house clean.

The situation with the members is getting better here.  We are gaining more and more trust.  People are more kind to us and they help us out a lot more now.  Thanks for the prayers considering the members here.

I killed a chicken last week or it was two weeks ago but I couldn't give details.  So we went to a less active’s house.  We grabbed our chicken and put it in a metal thing.  We slowly cut the head off while we were holding it.  Then the blood started running down and I had the head in my hand.  It still seemed alive.  The beak was opening and closing when it was in my hand.  It looked as if it were gasping for air and the body was going crazy, so I had to hold it still at its legs.  Then we skinned our chickens.  Then we fried it and ate it for lunch.  That was a fun pday activity.  Now I can say that I have killed a chicken.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this new way of writing.  (He’s taking pictures of his hand written letters and sending those since he doesn’t have much computer time.)  I love you all so much.  Stay strong, do good, and do what the Lord wants you to do.

New rule

Bad news... New rule.. Only 30 minutes on the computer each week. So emails are going to be much shorter. You can still send emails to me before and I will print them off. I will send pictures of my letters that I will send each week. I will respond to emails a week later from what I receive. So I will read the emails today and throughout the week and I will respond to them through a picture of letters that I am going to write. I'm not too happy with this change, but I must move forward and adjust to the circumstances.

 

Please keep praying for Sergio. We believe he will getting baptized on my birthday weekend. He is getting better with the smoking. He is going 7-8 days at a time without him smoking.

 

We did watch conference in the Santiago district building. There was a little English room for all the American missionaries. I loved Elder Holland, Elder Uchtdorf, and Elder Nelson's talks. The part I liked about Elder Nelson's talk was his quote. "Ask the missionaries! They can help you." Its true. The missionaries know a lot and can help you with almost anything. I challenge you all to come up with a question or some type of service and ask the missionaries in your ward. They can help you. :)

 

Also, in the next package that you send, I am in desperate need of at least two more memory cards and some new white shirts. My shirts have been stained orange on the sleeves and collar because of sunscreen. It looks horrible. Also snacks are okay to send according to other Elders. Just make sure to put Virgin Mary stickers on it, and to put Virgin Mary's neck over the seals of the package.

 

I love you so much. Stay strong and be good!

If you're interested in sending him a package let me know.  I'll get you his address.  :)

Praying really hard

Before I read these emails that I printed out, I’m just going to say that I’m probably  not going to like what I read in them from what happened in General Conference. I’m actually really nervous to read them. I will be emailing you in four hours. love you.

I don’t have much time today. I’m sorry. This morning I killed a chicken and then prepared it and then ate it. That was something fun to do on pday. I’m not quite sure what to think about with the new age change with missions. As soon as I heard that, my jaw dropped. The first things in my head were, I’m probably not going to see Austin for another 3 years, and Ashley is going to want to serve a mission.

I enjoyed conference. I liked Elder Holland’s and Elder Nelson's talk. I liked the quote "Ask the missionaries, they can help you" Oh and I really enjoyed the talk of president Uchtdorf on don’t regret not spending enough time with the ones you loved.

My week has been good until the email today. I have been praying quite hard for help and answers to my questions.

That’s cool that all those girls in the ward are deciding to serve missions.

I haven’t played the piano yet. I have stopped that because we don’t have enough time for me to practice constantly.

I also received more dear elders this week.

I love you. Stay strong, do good and be who He wants you to be.

Dear A,

      I am reading in Ether right now. I'm actually exactly where the Brother of Jared asks Heavenly Father to touch the stones. What great faith he had to have been able to ask that. We should have a lot of faith. Also I love the last chapter of Mormon with faith. I challenge you to read that chapter and look for prayer and faith. Please give me scriptures that you like from it and why. I encourage you to serve a mission A. You can be ready by next summer. Just read the Book of Mormon and gain a testimony of it. Then read Preach My Gospel. These two key things will help you for when you go to serve. I love you Brother. Bring others unto Christ and prepare yourself to serve a mission. You will learn so much. I love you and I hope to hear an answer soon about if you will be serving once you turn 18. I love ya!

Elder Hartmann got stung by a scorpion

How is everyone? My week has been pretty good. Some pretty good things have happened and some pretty scary things have happened. Something scary was that Elder Hartmann got stung by a scorpion in our house this morning. He just put his hand into one of his book containers and he got stung. We then rushed to urgent care for him to get a shot. We were both freaking out a bit. We have heard some pretty scary stories of people getting stung by scorpions.

The last time I sent pictures, they were pictures of our pila, a bathroom, and kitchen.

I don’t think I have told you this yet which is weird, but Captain America has been my most favorite superhero for the past 8 months thanks to the Christmas present I got. Thanks!

I'll be sure to keep Julie Roos and her family in my prayers.

Something else exciting this week was that I was called to give a talk 3 minutes before Sacrament Meeting started. So I prepared a super quick talk on testimonies. 

Sergio is doing better. He went 3 days without smoking and then he relapsed. Now he is at least day 4 without smoking. We have another appointment with him tonight. Please pray for him to give up is smoking completely. His baptismal date is for October 13. He is changing so much. He is giving up more and more. He is being more obedient to Gods commandments, and he is much happier than our first couple visits with him.

Our assistance in church was 31 people. At least it wasn’t in the 20’s. When it gets to the 20’s, that is when it is bad.

Villa Hidalgo is doing pretty well. It is super-hot in the day and is cooling up in the evening. What do you want to know about Villa Hidalgo?

Spanish is getting better. I can hold conversations with people. There are still a bunch of words that I don’t know but I know enough to communicate. My understanding of people has also gone up a lot more.

I'm doing well with Elder Hartmann. He is such a good companion. I'm going to miss him when he leaves to go home in the first week of November.

Please pray that we will be able to find more investigators. We are trying really hard, and we haven’t been able to find some more good investigators.

I love you. Stay strong, do good, obey the commandments, and remember that I love you.

PS. No more tarantulas in my pants.