Time flies really quickly when you`re writing and reading emails, and other things. The point is, this week my time is short to write, so I`ll try to make the most of it and write the best I can in these few minutes (I haven`t even written President yet...) that I have left.
This week was the last week of the transfer, and it was a pretty good week. Elder Pasapera and I continue working hard, and learning together. We were able to reach our minimum of 101 contacts, even though our goal was a bit higher. It was crazy. We had to do 40 on Sunday to make it, but we worked really hard and talked with a lot of people, and we were able to make it. We set at least one appointment as well, and we actually had a lesson that was a bit crazy.
We didn`t have a single change in the District, all eight of us are staying the same, with the same area and companions and everything. Sometimes change is hard, and sometimes staying the same is hard. However, I know that the Lord has a plan for each and every one of us, and that there is a reason that we are all staying the same for six more weeks. There is something that we need to learn that we have not learned yet. There are blessings we need to receive, struggle we need to have, and He will be with us every step of the way. These next six weeks will be weeks of growth and learning.
With my current planner I`m going to be a lot cleaner, and organized. When I started off my mission, I was very organized. Lately, I`ve gotten rather sloppy with my planner and planning, so today is the perfect day to change. Whenever we`ve got something out of order, or that needs to be better, today is the perfect day to change. The Lord has given us each day so that we can learn and grow and become better. We are with the people we are with so that we can become better. I`d like to share something that my Grandma Sandy shared with me this week in her letter to me:
"...I'm sure you are enjoying your missionary work. It seems like you and your companion get along really well. You have been blessed with good companions. You have been able to teach them things and I know they have taught you as well. Heavenly Father knows the people we need in our lives and places them near us at just the right time. Sometimes we don't know or understand why, but in looking back at my life I can see the lessons I have learned or the things I have been taught by knowing them."
I testify that these words are true. We are with the people we are with, where we are, for a reason. The Lord has a special plan for each of us, and He will help us to achieve it. I read a talk this morning from the July 2014 Ensign by Bishop Dean M. Davies that I liked a lot. He talked about how the Lord will not send us trials to impede us, but rather He will send them to help us grow, and that the Savior is always there to help us.
I testify that the Lord loves us and sustains us. I know that I will have trials in the next few weeks, and I know that the Lord will help me overcome them and learn what I need to learn. This week I have felt the love of my Savior Jesus Christ, and I know that He knows everything that I go through. I am grateful to Him for everytrhing that He does for me, as well as my loving Father in Heaven, and the Holy Ghost, who helps me feel this love.
Monday, September 8, 2014
Week #97: Miguel Alemán 1.2 - XVI - Week 11
Here´s an excerpt from my letter to President Bird this week:
"This week I´ve felt pretty good overall, especially last night with the weekly phone calls. I wrapped up late, but I felt that they were efficient and powerful. Elder Pasapera has told me that I need to be tougher as a Leader, and I´ve tried to apply it a bit, be more assertive and direct, and it´s been good. The capacitation for District Leaders has helped me to improve my daily and weekly reports as well, as I´m trying to talk to them more about their day and people, along with the numbers. It´s been good, and last night especially I had a lot of ánimo to work, and we´ve been watching the District 1 this past week for the First 12 Weeks, and it´s helped me as well. I am glad that I get to end my mission training, re-learning the basics. Thank you for this opportunity."
I am still learning a lot, and growing. I am ready to work and continue being better and better, I am grateful for the blessing of being a missionary, and for the blessing to be able to repent when I make a mistake.
This week I have been trying to improve my personal prayers (again), following some advice that I receieved from my Mom, and it´s helped me feel better a bit. It´s still a work in progress, but I´m trying to make my prayers more meaningful. I am trying to open myself more to My Father, and express my feelings better. It´s been good, and I´m going to keep working on it, and little by little becoming who I need to become.
I hope you all have a great week, and my time is almost up. Sorry that the letter is short this week. Have a great week, and I love you all!
"This week I´ve felt pretty good overall, especially last night with the weekly phone calls. I wrapped up late, but I felt that they were efficient and powerful. Elder Pasapera has told me that I need to be tougher as a Leader, and I´ve tried to apply it a bit, be more assertive and direct, and it´s been good. The capacitation for District Leaders has helped me to improve my daily and weekly reports as well, as I´m trying to talk to them more about their day and people, along with the numbers. It´s been good, and last night especially I had a lot of ánimo to work, and we´ve been watching the District 1 this past week for the First 12 Weeks, and it´s helped me as well. I am glad that I get to end my mission training, re-learning the basics. Thank you for this opportunity."
I am still learning a lot, and growing. I am ready to work and continue being better and better, I am grateful for the blessing of being a missionary, and for the blessing to be able to repent when I make a mistake.
This week I have been trying to improve my personal prayers (again), following some advice that I receieved from my Mom, and it´s helped me feel better a bit. It´s still a work in progress, but I´m trying to make my prayers more meaningful. I am trying to open myself more to My Father, and express my feelings better. It´s been good, and I´m going to keep working on it, and little by little becoming who I need to become.
I hope you all have a great week, and my time is almost up. Sorry that the letter is short this week. Have a great week, and I love you all!
Week #96: Miguel Alemán 1.2 - XVI - Week 10
This week was a pretty good one overall. It was actually a week and half, so it has been a while since we´ve had a real break, so it´s been pretty good. In these past 10 days I´ve been able to go on two different intercambios, and they were both pretty good overall. The first was with my Zone Leader Elder Fry, and it was fun. We only had one lessons (which was quite the visit), but we were able to have 30 contacts in the street, which was good. It was fun talking with Elder Fry. The other intercambio was with Elder Gómez, and it was pretty good too overall. We talked and got to know each other a bit better, which was pretty good.
We had a baptism this last Sunday. I already sent all of you some photos. Aneth´s baptism was an experience for sure. We didn´t prepare very well, so it was a bit chaotic to start with, but in the end everything worked out for Aneth and she was baptized by her uncle. She was confirmed that same day in Sacrament Meeting (we had the baptism in the morning before Church). Now we have to help her continue growing in the Church and learning more. We´re going to be reviewing the lessons with her to help her deepen her understanding of them.
What else has happened these past days? We´re going to have Elder Paul B. Pieper of the Seventy come and train us, or so in September, which should be good. He is in the Mexico Area Presidency, and is either in the First or the Second Quorum of the Seventy. It should be something good that will help us. We all had to take a survey this week about how well we apply Preach My Gospel, so that he can know what we need to learn more about. Something like that. It was good. We took it on Monday, since today is our P-day, but they needed the surveys by Wednesday at the latest I think.
We went to the Temple today, and then we went to Citadel to do some shopping. The plan was to find some new shoes (didn´t end up buying any), we went to Krispie Kreme Doughnuts and I got a Mexico World Cup Jersey. It was on sale too, which was a great suprise. Should be cool to have in the future. Of course I´ll bring other things home with me (like the lessons learned, memories, friendships, etc.), but it´ll be cool to have this too.
Still no more news as far as the itinerary, but it shouldn´t take much longer now to arrive, and then I´ll forward it home. It´s crazy to think about the fact that I only have 8 more letters home to write, and then I´m there. Time sure does fly sometimes. Life has treated me good. These days I stress myself out to make sure I wrap my mission up the right way. I expect so much from myself. I know that Heavenly Father loves me. He is perfectly just and perfectly merciful, as is our Savior Jesus Christ. They will not make a mistake in how they treat us. We need to trust in Them, do our best, and trust in Their love and justice.
I will be writing again soon (on Monday). I hope to have good things to report. I love you all, and wish you a great week! Bye!
We had a baptism this last Sunday. I already sent all of you some photos. Aneth´s baptism was an experience for sure. We didn´t prepare very well, so it was a bit chaotic to start with, but in the end everything worked out for Aneth and she was baptized by her uncle. She was confirmed that same day in Sacrament Meeting (we had the baptism in the morning before Church). Now we have to help her continue growing in the Church and learning more. We´re going to be reviewing the lessons with her to help her deepen her understanding of them.
What else has happened these past days? We´re going to have Elder Paul B. Pieper of the Seventy come and train us, or so in September, which should be good. He is in the Mexico Area Presidency, and is either in the First or the Second Quorum of the Seventy. It should be something good that will help us. We all had to take a survey this week about how well we apply Preach My Gospel, so that he can know what we need to learn more about. Something like that. It was good. We took it on Monday, since today is our P-day, but they needed the surveys by Wednesday at the latest I think.
We went to the Temple today, and then we went to Citadel to do some shopping. The plan was to find some new shoes (didn´t end up buying any), we went to Krispie Kreme Doughnuts and I got a Mexico World Cup Jersey. It was on sale too, which was a great suprise. Should be cool to have in the future. Of course I´ll bring other things home with me (like the lessons learned, memories, friendships, etc.), but it´ll be cool to have this too.
Still no more news as far as the itinerary, but it shouldn´t take much longer now to arrive, and then I´ll forward it home. It´s crazy to think about the fact that I only have 8 more letters home to write, and then I´m there. Time sure does fly sometimes. Life has treated me good. These days I stress myself out to make sure I wrap my mission up the right way. I expect so much from myself. I know that Heavenly Father loves me. He is perfectly just and perfectly merciful, as is our Savior Jesus Christ. They will not make a mistake in how they treat us. We need to trust in Them, do our best, and trust in Their love and justice.
I will be writing again soon (on Monday). I hope to have good things to report. I love you all, and wish you a great week! Bye!
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Week #95: Miguel Alemán 1.2 - XVI - Week 9
This week I got a phone call during our weekly planning session on Thursday. It was about 1:45 or so, and it was a call from the Executive Secretary. He had a very important question for me: "¿A cuál aeropuerto quiere llegar a su casa?" (Which airport to you want to arrive at?) or so. I used to make the call, and on Thursday it was my turn. According to the phone it was about 1:51 when the called me back (it seems), and I helped to request my flight home. Time is running out.
This was a pretty good week overall. We had Zone Conference on Tuesday, which was great. We talked about finding Red Tomatoes (the elect who will listen), contacting, planning, and learning English. It was a good meeting for sure.
I´ve been doing pretty alright this week. It´s been good working with Aneth. We have her baptism coming up. This Sunday, and it should be great. She´s really prepared.
Here´s an excerpt from the letter I´m still writing to President Bird: "This week we were able to have a good experience with the Book of Mormon. One was with an investigator named Jorge Aguilar. We talked with him on Monday about reading the Book of Mormon and praying, and he said he would. On Wednesday, he had read up to 1 Nefi 12, and he enjoyed what he read, and took notes, and shared stuff that he learned and applied to himself (such as 1 Nefi 3:7) and it was cool. We have hope that he will progress."
Time is short.I love you all, and will talk to you again on Thursday the 21st. Have a great week!
This was a pretty good week overall. We had Zone Conference on Tuesday, which was great. We talked about finding Red Tomatoes (the elect who will listen), contacting, planning, and learning English. It was a good meeting for sure.
I´ve been doing pretty alright this week. It´s been good working with Aneth. We have her baptism coming up. This Sunday, and it should be great. She´s really prepared.
Here´s an excerpt from the letter I´m still writing to President Bird: "This week we were able to have a good experience with the Book of Mormon. One was with an investigator named Jorge Aguilar. We talked with him on Monday about reading the Book of Mormon and praying, and he said he would. On Wednesday, he had read up to 1 Nefi 12, and he enjoyed what he read, and took notes, and shared stuff that he learned and applied to himself (such as 1 Nefi 3:7) and it was cool. We have hope that he will progress."
Time is short.I love you all, and will talk to you again on Thursday the 21st. Have a great week!
Week #94: Miguel Alemán 1.2 - XVI - Week 8
I´ve got quite a few letters now, don´t I? Things have been going pretty good overall this week, with lessons and contacts, and progress, etc. I´ve only got a few things to write about, so I´ll get right on to it.
To start off, this week we were able to reach 102 contacts! It was pretty great, we put forth a lot of effort during the week to reach the goal, and we were able to surpass the 101 contacts goal that the Zone has. It was pretty great. Three of the four areas in the District reached the goal, which was cool. It was nice to see some success in that aspect of the work. We were also able to work with some members of the work and have lessons, which was nice.
In a couple of weeks we should be having a baptism. Aneth is getting really close now, and her date is set for the 17th of this month (the day that I complete 22 months in the field!) and she´s right on track for it. We only have a few more things left to talk about with her, the interview, and voila! It´ll be great to have a baptism again. The Lord truly blessed us with being able to find and start teaching Aneth. We found her weeks ago after being pretty consistent with contacting in the street. The Lord rewarded our efforts and desires with the opportunity to find and teach her. It´s been good.
One of the best experiences this week was when an Hermana in the ward chewed us and the Sister Missionaries out after the food. We´ve gotten into this bad habit of spending the food time mostly to chat amongst ourselves, not really involving the sisters who give us the food, etc. It was a great eye-opener, because she was right. She told us how she felt with love, and that she still loved and respected us, but she pointed out our fault in this aspect, and she was so right. Since that day we´ve been doing better at involving the Sisters / families in the meal, and it´s been better, more spiritual overall, and it´s just felt better, really. I´m very glad that she had the courage to tell us where we were wrong, and to correct us. Sometimes we just need a call to repentance in our lives. I testify that because of Jesus Christ, we can repent, and we can have hope that everything will be good again. I am grateful for this gift, and the effects and hope it brings into my life.
Well, tomorrow we have our Zone Conference with President and Sister Bird, so that should be good and edifying. I hope to have good experiences there. He´ll probably say something about how old I am in the field, haha. We´ll see. I love you all and wish you all the best! Have a great week!
To start off, this week we were able to reach 102 contacts! It was pretty great, we put forth a lot of effort during the week to reach the goal, and we were able to surpass the 101 contacts goal that the Zone has. It was pretty great. Three of the four areas in the District reached the goal, which was cool. It was nice to see some success in that aspect of the work. We were also able to work with some members of the work and have lessons, which was nice.
In a couple of weeks we should be having a baptism. Aneth is getting really close now, and her date is set for the 17th of this month (the day that I complete 22 months in the field!) and she´s right on track for it. We only have a few more things left to talk about with her, the interview, and voila! It´ll be great to have a baptism again. The Lord truly blessed us with being able to find and start teaching Aneth. We found her weeks ago after being pretty consistent with contacting in the street. The Lord rewarded our efforts and desires with the opportunity to find and teach her. It´s been good.
One of the best experiences this week was when an Hermana in the ward chewed us and the Sister Missionaries out after the food. We´ve gotten into this bad habit of spending the food time mostly to chat amongst ourselves, not really involving the sisters who give us the food, etc. It was a great eye-opener, because she was right. She told us how she felt with love, and that she still loved and respected us, but she pointed out our fault in this aspect, and she was so right. Since that day we´ve been doing better at involving the Sisters / families in the meal, and it´s been better, more spiritual overall, and it´s just felt better, really. I´m very glad that she had the courage to tell us where we were wrong, and to correct us. Sometimes we just need a call to repentance in our lives. I testify that because of Jesus Christ, we can repent, and we can have hope that everything will be good again. I am grateful for this gift, and the effects and hope it brings into my life.
Well, tomorrow we have our Zone Conference with President and Sister Bird, so that should be good and edifying. I hope to have good experiences there. He´ll probably say something about how old I am in the field, haha. We´ll see. I love you all and wish you all the best! Have a great week!
Monday, August 4, 2014
Week #93: Miguel Alemán 1.2 - XVI - Week 7
This week has been pretty good. On Tuesday Elder Smith and I were able to go to the offices to find out the transfers. Elder Quevedo is going to finish the last 6 weeks of an Elder`s training before he goes home, Elder Smith is off to China, Nuevo León (the farthest area in the mission), and I am training one last time. I am pretty happy about that - I like to train, and I like the program that we have here in the field of "The First Twelve Weeks." It`s a good program that helps me a lot when I review it too. That`s one reason why I like training, because I get to go back to the beginning and relearn and remind myself of the important basics of successful missionary work. It`s great.
My companion is Elder Pasapera, who comes from Acapulco, Guerrero, México. He is originally from el D.F. (Mexico City area), but moved to Acapuclo years ago and comes from there to the mission. He is a great missionary with a lot of excitement for the work. He is already a good teacher, and we`re going to do a lot of good and learn a lot together. I am grateful for the blessing to be ending my mission with him as my companion. It`s nice to have a native Spanish speaker again. Don´t get me wrong - it was great to have American companions. However, it is great to be speaking more Spanish again, and I like that a lot. We get along really well, and it`s been good.
Aneth is getting closer and closer to her baptism. We`re getting close to having finished teaching her all of the necessary lessons and topics, and her baptism is now set for August 17th. Her uncle is going to come and baptize her. It should be pretty great, and it will feel nice to have another baptism. The Lord really has prepared her, and it was a "tender mercy" that we were able to find her. We found her dropping by for a different appointment with the friend of her Grandma. While there, we were told that she hasn`t been baptized yet, and we got all excited (at least I did). More updates as things unfold.
Santiago and Ceci have been harder to find, which has been difficulty. Hopefully things work out for them and they still get baptized. Pablo wrote me back this week, and he seems like he`s doing better now, which is great. We`re going to keep in touch, so that they can be hapyp and live the gospel to the fullest.
This week we want to work harder at finding new investigators (at least I do), and we`re going to contact a lot more. It`s something that we`ve been slacking at, and we`ve got to repent and move forward improving constantly. We can do it, and that is our goal this week.
It`s crazy to think about the time I have left in the mission field. I want to make the most of it, and do my best. I want to fix my mistakes and weaknesses, and become the best I can be, do the best that I can do. I need to be my best. I know that with the help of the Lord and His Atonement, I can do it. I`ve been reading in the "War Chapters" in Alma, specifically where Helaman is writing his epistle to Moroni, and it`s been good. I can see from their lives and examples that I need to trust in the Lord, be diligent and obedient, and He will take care of me. I testify that this is true. I bear my testimony that God lives, and loves us. I know that Jesus Christ lives and loves us. The Holy Ghost has helped me know these things. I testify of them.
Have a great week, and I`ll let you all know what`s new next Monday. I love you all!
My companion is Elder Pasapera, who comes from Acapulco, Guerrero, México. He is originally from el D.F. (Mexico City area), but moved to Acapuclo years ago and comes from there to the mission. He is a great missionary with a lot of excitement for the work. He is already a good teacher, and we`re going to do a lot of good and learn a lot together. I am grateful for the blessing to be ending my mission with him as my companion. It`s nice to have a native Spanish speaker again. Don´t get me wrong - it was great to have American companions. However, it is great to be speaking more Spanish again, and I like that a lot. We get along really well, and it`s been good.
Aneth is getting closer and closer to her baptism. We`re getting close to having finished teaching her all of the necessary lessons and topics, and her baptism is now set for August 17th. Her uncle is going to come and baptize her. It should be pretty great, and it will feel nice to have another baptism. The Lord really has prepared her, and it was a "tender mercy" that we were able to find her. We found her dropping by for a different appointment with the friend of her Grandma. While there, we were told that she hasn`t been baptized yet, and we got all excited (at least I did). More updates as things unfold.
Santiago and Ceci have been harder to find, which has been difficulty. Hopefully things work out for them and they still get baptized. Pablo wrote me back this week, and he seems like he`s doing better now, which is great. We`re going to keep in touch, so that they can be hapyp and live the gospel to the fullest.
This week we want to work harder at finding new investigators (at least I do), and we`re going to contact a lot more. It`s something that we`ve been slacking at, and we`ve got to repent and move forward improving constantly. We can do it, and that is our goal this week.
It`s crazy to think about the time I have left in the mission field. I want to make the most of it, and do my best. I want to fix my mistakes and weaknesses, and become the best I can be, do the best that I can do. I need to be my best. I know that with the help of the Lord and His Atonement, I can do it. I`ve been reading in the "War Chapters" in Alma, specifically where Helaman is writing his epistle to Moroni, and it`s been good. I can see from their lives and examples that I need to trust in the Lord, be diligent and obedient, and He will take care of me. I testify that this is true. I bear my testimony that God lives, and loves us. I know that Jesus Christ lives and loves us. The Holy Ghost has helped me know these things. I testify of them.
Have a great week, and I`ll let you all know what`s new next Monday. I love you all!
Week #92: Miguel Alemán 1.2 - XV - Week 6
Well, only a few days have gone by since the last time I wrote, but there is of course news to be shared.
Another transfer has come and gone, and this transfer flew by pretty quickly. It doens`t really seem that long ago that I arrived here to the area. So far we`ve been able to find a lot of new investigators, and talk to a lot of people in the streets, but there is still so much left to be done. It`s a good ward and a good area though.
Elder Smith is leaving this transfer, and I am staying. Tomorrow we find out who my new companion will be. I feel like I might probably train again, but we`ll see. Elder Smith could also handle it I feel, but I`m not sure what`s going to happen. Elder Anderson is staying in Tamaulipas, Elder Carbajal is staying in Apodaca, and Elder Quevedo is going somewhere new for his last transfer. So, that`s what`s going on with my companions here in the mission. I wonder what`s going on with Elder Harrop and Elder Medrano. I just sent them quick messages, so we`ll see.
I`ve enjoyed working with Elder Smith. He`s a great missionary, and a hard worker. He and I have gotten along realyl well, and he has had plenty of patience with my quirks. I look forward to meeting my new, and possible last, companion tomorrow.
I took some photos today. I realized that my shoe is falling apart even more than I thought, haha. They`re lasting really well though - I`ve still got the same two pairs I started off with. I recommend them to all future missionaries. Don`t wear a pair out then switch - rather, use both pairs constantly and they`ll last great, and wear mostly equally. It`s advice I was given, and it`s true!
Here`s my study wall / desk area. I decorated it about a week or so ago, and I like it. I switched the framed picture today during my phot shoot to include more people on my wall. I love you all and wish you a great week! I am grateful for all that I have learned in the mission so far, and I am grateful for the time that I have left to continue growing, and that growth will not end when the mission does. Have a great week, and I`ll let you know the transfers next Monday!
P.S. About six letters ago I mentioned that a dog had attacked me and sent photos home. Well, I finally got to sewing up the pants this week. Here`s how they turned out. Good enough.
Another transfer has come and gone, and this transfer flew by pretty quickly. It doens`t really seem that long ago that I arrived here to the area. So far we`ve been able to find a lot of new investigators, and talk to a lot of people in the streets, but there is still so much left to be done. It`s a good ward and a good area though.
Elder Smith is leaving this transfer, and I am staying. Tomorrow we find out who my new companion will be. I feel like I might probably train again, but we`ll see. Elder Smith could also handle it I feel, but I`m not sure what`s going to happen. Elder Anderson is staying in Tamaulipas, Elder Carbajal is staying in Apodaca, and Elder Quevedo is going somewhere new for his last transfer. So, that`s what`s going on with my companions here in the mission. I wonder what`s going on with Elder Harrop and Elder Medrano. I just sent them quick messages, so we`ll see.
I`ve enjoyed working with Elder Smith. He`s a great missionary, and a hard worker. He and I have gotten along realyl well, and he has had plenty of patience with my quirks. I look forward to meeting my new, and possible last, companion tomorrow.
I took some photos today. I realized that my shoe is falling apart even more than I thought, haha. They`re lasting really well though - I`ve still got the same two pairs I started off with. I recommend them to all future missionaries. Don`t wear a pair out then switch - rather, use both pairs constantly and they`ll last great, and wear mostly equally. It`s advice I was given, and it`s true!
Here`s my study wall / desk area. I decorated it about a week or so ago, and I like it. I switched the framed picture today during my phot shoot to include more people on my wall. I love you all and wish you a great week! I am grateful for all that I have learned in the mission so far, and I am grateful for the time that I have left to continue growing, and that growth will not end when the mission does. Have a great week, and I`ll let you know the transfers next Monday!
P.S. About six letters ago I mentioned that a dog had attacked me and sent photos home. Well, I finally got to sewing up the pants this week. Here`s how they turned out. Good enough.
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