Worst house to best house

How’s it going?  It’s true.  I have a lot of responsibilities.  My companion Elder Jacinto is also a zone leader. 

Yes, my apartment is way different.  We have a microwave, two bathrooms, running water, working toilets, warm water for showering, and a place of privacy to be able to dry clothes.  The house is definitely a ton better than the other house.  Actually, Sister Wagner said a couple weeks ago that the house in Villa Hidalgo is the worst in the mission.  Also now, my house is considered the best in the mission because we have a microwave.  The only critters we have had are two roaches and an average sized spider.

We do have investigators.  We have ones named Jorge and Erendira that are going to get baptized in early March.  We have to get them married now and they do have the desire. 

I too have heard of Jabari.  I heard about him when I was in San Diego.  That is super cool.

Where does Yadira’s family live here in Guadalajara?  

What does Adriana and her family think about me being in the same ward as her sister?  I’m in the same ward, but there are two areas of missionaries.  I’m in the other area.  But I still see her every Sunday, when we eat with her family, and at activities.  Her sister is also very nice to me and the missionaries.  She’s great!

Yes, there are also a billion changes from Villa Hidalgo too.  The air isn’t as fresh.  The roads are paved.  It’s not flat and there are very big and steep hills.  We take buses sometimes to get places.  There are tons of people outside always.  There are lots of immodest women, but that’s everywhere in the world I’m sure.

We get fed by members every day.  Most of the time, the food isn’t as good as it was in Villa Hidalgo.  We live by a big gorge (canyon) which is awesome.  I get to see it every day.

    

Well I love you family.  Do good, be strong and BE OBEDIENT!!!  Love ya!

It's a small world

Crazy week and full of emotions!  Well again, I am a zone leader in the Independencia zone/Stake.  My ward also as my area is Arquitectura.  There are two companionships in my ward.  The other wards are Independencia, Auditorio, Huerta, and Huentitan.  I’m in charge of this zone and the district leaders in it with my companion Elder Jacinto. 

Elder Jacinto is from Villa Hermosa, Tobasco, MX.  He is a really good missionary, and he really shows his love towards others when he teaches.  He is also obedient.  I’ve been pretty blessed with companions on my mission so far. 

I also saw Adriana’s mom and sister this week two times.  I actually ate at her sister’s house, sister Corral, yesterday on Sunday.  When I got there it was a bit normal, until her sister told me to look at some of her pictures.  She asked me if I recognized them and I told them that they look familiar.  Then she pointed out her sister Adriana to me.  I also noticed her mom in the picture and freaked out a bit.  Basically we talked a lot while eating, and they really liked talking to me having that connection.  They were so nice to me.  I was very grateful for that experience.  It really was one that I needed after a week not being in Villa Hidalgo with all the people I love.  Anyway, that was a small world experience.  But that’s not it!!  

I also ate with another family this week named the Calzadas.  When we were there, the parents told me that their son was serving a mission in San Diego.  I asked them when he entered, and they said May of last year.  I started freaking out in my mind.  I remembered back to an experience in San Diego.  We were at the transfer meeting in San Diego, and it was the one where I got transferred to Ramona and Julian.  There was an elder from Guadalajara that entered the mission at that transfer meeting.  At that time, I looked at my companion and told him (In San Diego with Elder Higbee and Elder Heredia), “Hey, that’s the mission I should be in.”  In the transfer meeting, I actually talked to that elder and told him that I was waiting for my visa to go to Guadalajara.  So I told the Calzadas family about my experience and they treated me very nicely.  When we finished eating, they showed me his pictures.  I recognized him, Elder Campbell, Elder Guier, and a couple other missionaries in the pictures.  It was so neat.  I let them know that their son is in a good mission with a good mission president.

I also did get the packages.  Thank you so much.  I really did enjoy the candies, white shirts, and shirts.  I sleep with my Captain America shirt every night.  Thank you so much.  I’m thinking about throwing out all of my stained white shirts.  So if I could get a few more short sleeved white shirts that would help a lot.  

I have gotten the quote by President Benson.  It is pretty neat.

Yes little g, I read the Book of Mormon every single day of my life…haha

I don’t really like doing exchanges with other missionaries even though I’ve had good times and learned a lot.  I like to stay in my area.

For personal study, we study in our native language.  I study my Preach My Gospel in Spanish.  I just began Alma today in my studies.

    

I love my little sisters!!!

    

Also in the interviews two weeks ago, President Wagner told me that I was going to be a zone leader in Guadalajara.  It was interesting.  He also said that he was pleased with what I did in Villa Hidalgo.  These pictures are the last day I had with Elder Montiel.

Anyway, I love you.  Do good, stay strong, and trust in the Lord.

Zone leader in Independencia

Well I don’t have much time or much time to write now. I was called to be a zone leader in the stake and zone of Independencia. My new companion is Elder Jacinto and he is going to be a good companion. I’m freaking out a bit. I’m nervous, sad, and excited at the same time. I’m sad for leaving Villa Hidalgo. I really do want to go there with you guys after my mission. Will we be able to visit there? I’m nervous to be a zone leader. I’m going to be a leader of 8 companionships and three district leaders. I will now have to report to the assistants of the President every Sunday. Actually, my zone leader in my old zone is now an assistant. I’m excited because I have a super better house and the weather is better.

I would like to start receiving references from your friends now for the people here in Guadalajara. It’s cool to see some of the places that I saw on google Earth. 

Also, I did receive two Christmas packages; one from A, (his girlfriend)and one from Grandma C. Thank you so much. I will write more about this next week. Love you all!

Elder Montiel

Reach the goal

I’m doing fine, and I’m a bit nervous for what is going to happen this next week.  We have mission president interviews on Wednesday, and it is the end of the transfer this Sunday.  I will be done with training Elder Montiel, and I have a feeling that I’ll be transferred to a different area.  I really don’t want to leave here despite how difficult it is here in Villa Hidalgo.  I have seen so much progress.  Two people have been baptized; I have reactivated a few people and families, the church attendance has risen from seventeen people to fifty five people, missionaries have gained member trust, I’ve learned how to be a senior companion, and a trainer.  When I first arrived, President Wagner also gave me a goal to get two Sundays in a row with at least fifty people.  He said that when I achieve this goal, he would come to Villa Hidalgo.  I’m not sure what he’ll do, but I really want to stay one more transfer so that I can see Villa Hidalgo reach that goal.  I have seen so much progress.   I can say that Villa Hidalgo has been a success for me and for here.

Oh wow, I think I have five packages coming my way now.  One from Grandma C, one from home, one from Ashley and one from M Hartmann.  Hopefully I can get them this Wednesday. 

We were actually going to have a baptism this Saturday, but there is a district conference now, so we had to postpone it.  Now I’m not sure if I’m going to see his baptism.  His name is Carlos, we have been activating his family and he has been coming to church.  Yet another reason I want to stay here one more transfer.

Again Mom, I want to thank you so much for writing to me every single week.  I really appreciate it more than you think.  I can tell that you love me.  J  Please know that I am truly grateful for you.  I really have had a couple of dreams of where I arrive home, and I just give you such a great big hug.  Then the normal happens in my dreams.  I can’t remember the last part of my mission.  Hahaha  I remember having a dream like that in San Diego and I was like, “What happened to the majority of my mission?”  Haha  Well, eleven more months of serving the Lord and then I will be able to hug my mom.  Again, thank you.

As district leader, I went on exchanges with the elders in San Blas this past week for three days.  Their members give them so much food.  I tried oysters this week.  I liked how it tasted but the texture was terrible.  It was like chewing on gew with a tad bit of meat.  I ate quite a bit.  I also went there to see how the obedience was doing, to help train and to help them.  Their house is also like ten times better, but that’s fine.  I’m used to my house here.

I love you all!  Do good, stay strong, and live as if Jesus was going to come today.

                  

                

My success in Villa Hidalgo

How are you doing?  (I know I always begin by saying that.)  It is official. We now have 45 minutes on the computer now.  My week actually went well, and was really successful.  Carlos and Susana came to church.  They are two different investigators.  We also had seven less actives come to church.  We also had more lessons than normal.  We also had more new investigators than normal.  Thank you all for the prayers.  Keep on praying.  :)

Also, please don’t worry. The Lord is protecting me and us. There are much more dangerous places in the world. These are missionary experiences that I will be able to tell the rest of my life. Please have faith and don’t fear. The lack of faith is fear. Please know that and have faith. The Lord is protecting me. I invite you to read my blessings in my setting apart as a missionary, again. Angels are here to protect me. I love you all.

My zone leader also came this week for exchanges for a couple days. While we were on exchanges he helped our branch to where we are finally going to have a branch mission leader and branch councils.  Also he helped me to notice all of my success here in Villa Hidalgo. Starting here, our average was in the 20s for church attendance and now the average is about 46 or 47. We have gained trust of members. We are activating less actives. We have found and taught a lot more lessons, and I have much more spiritual knowledge, etc. This week definitely was a week that I needed.

I only have about 2 weeks left in the transfer. Who knows what is going to happen? I have been in this zone longer than any other Elder. Something is telling me that I’m leaving.

I’m enjoying this extra 15 minutes. Now I can write a bit more through email.

Also now they have put all trainees as the senior companions now so that they can learn. Elder Montiel will be finishing off the transfer as senior companion. I have seen a lot of change in him. I know I was meant to train him. The Lord has a perfect plan.

This year really is a big year.

A read the whole Book of Mormon?! (in 24 hours) Way to go!  Keep reading that and Preach My Gospel.  There is more deep gospel in Preach My Gospel than there is in any other book.  You just have to study it. 

I sure hope that everyone is reading their scriptures, because one day we will be judged according to  everything they contain.  We should know the scriptures well.  We don’t have them to just carry to church or to have on the shelf for long periods of time.  I would like you all to read 2 Nephi 33, and specifically verses 10-15.  In fourteen, it specifically says, “for these words shall condemn you at the last day”.  We will be condemned according to the Book of Mormon.  But not only what is in the Book of Mormon, but also in the Doctrine & Covenants, Pearl of Great Price, Old and New Testament, church manuals and patriarchal blessings.  We must study the scriptures and apply them to ourselves and our lives.  In fifteen it says, “with that what we do and the scriptures will be brought against you at the judgment bar.”  The scriptures will condemn us if we haven’t read and studied.  Also, Nephi, Lehi, Alma, Captain Moroni, Mormon, Samuel the Lamanite, and every other prophet of the Book of Mormon and in history, will be witnesses against us.  Let us study and apply the scriptures.  Let us repent and endure to the end so that we are not condemned. I really care about you all.  I may be losing much vocabulary in English, but it is true.  I wish I could help you learn how to really study the scriptures, but I am limited to English as of now.  I want to teach you all when I am home from my mission.

 

I’m sorry for not writing so much this week.  I lost a bit of time and it really is tougher to write in English now.  I had my first Spanish dream this past week, and I think in Spanish a lot now.  I’ll make sure to write more next week.  Feel free to ask specific questions.  I love you!  Do good, stay strong and study the scriptures!  I love you. Have a good week. <3

Prayer is definitely real

This past week we have been contacting on the street a lot more.  We are seeing fruits from that.  We have actually found a couple more investigators by doing that. 

Here’s a fun short story.  On January first, we went to San Blas for a district meeting.  Well, to be able to get back to Villa, we hitch hiked and it was rainy and cold.  My companion and I were in the back of the truck.  The rain was slamming my face and I was sitting on the edge.  Then, all of a sudden, the side broke off a bit and dropped off a bit.  I almost flew off.  But don’t worry!  I’m a live and doing well.  :)

Also, Elder Montiel and I had a pretty freaky evil experience this past week but I’m not going to tell that story.  Maybe when I’m back from my mission.  It’s not good to talk about the Devil or his servants.  Let’s just say for now that the power of prayer is definitely real.  Refer to D&C 10:5.  Remember that scripture whenever you are in that kind of a situation.

Anyway, I love you all so much.  Do good, stay strong and remember to pray!  I love you!