New Transfer

Hi everyone! Sorry it's been a while since my last update. Haha lots been going on but all good things! To start off transfers were last week and my old companion Elder Lopez finished his mission and went home to Mexico City! He was a super funny guy and we got along super well and it seemed we were always laughing! We drank a martinellis on his last day to celebrate. :)

His last Sunday we also had a baptism and it was a lovely ceremony! Her name is Sullivan and she has an awesome testimony of the Book of Mormon and is part of a less active family we are reactivating. :) She looks like she's 13 but is actually 11 and she's extremely smart and mature for her age.  In the photo is a little image of the Mexico City temple. We have been focusing a lot on the Temple when we teach her and her family so they can be sealed together as a family for time and all eternity! 

My new companion is Elder Hernandez! He's super awesome and is my first companion that has less time than me. Woooooohhh! Hahah.  He just finished his training so he has 3 months and he's super awesome! He's from the state of Hidalgo Mexico, which is south of Mexico City, which is only like 3 hours from where we are. Haha.  We get along super well and we are learning a lot of things together every day! 

A lot of you probably don't know this but I've been starting to teach English classes every week as an act of service and because there are a lot of people in Poza Rica who want to learn English.  About 2 weeks ago Elder Lopz and I were walking the streets of Mexico as usual.  All of a sudden this guy stops his truck right in front of us and starts speaking in broken English. "Hey my friend. Hey hey!" At first I was a little weirded out because normally the only people who come and talk to us like that are drunks or crazy people.  So I thought in my mind, "Aww man here we go again."  But he came up and asked me how to pronounce a word in English.  So we talked for a bit and then I told him I offer English classes in our church and he could come if he liked.  Then I gave him my number and we went our separate ways.  I didn't think he would call to be honest, but he did.  Hahah.  About a week later he called and came to class. Haha.  He's a super funny guy named Carlos and he actually lived in Oklahoma for a while but then got deported because he helped people cross the border. Hahahahahahahahahahhahaha. Anyways he told me he wants to change his life around and come to church so now we're teaching him. Hahah.  Little miracles like that makes my love grow for the Lord everyday. :)

Thank you so much everyone for your emails, comments, and for being interested in my adventures here in Mexico. Being a missionary is the greatest thing in the world! I don't have much else for this week but next week I promise to write a lot more! :) God is good!  He loves us and I get to see His love touch the hearts of men every day!  The Book of Mormon is the truest book on the face of the Earth! Christ lives! This is His gospel and his church!

Love you all! 

October

Conference was super good, but I had to watch in Spanish and it was not as satisfying as it would have been in English. Hearing a translator talk over the speaker made it really hard to concentrate. Haha. Plus hearing Spanish and watching someone speak it are completely different things. Hahah. So I had to really concentrate to understand the message. So yeah, this next Liahona you can be sure I'll study the heck out of it. Hahah.

(Twice a year there is a world wide church conferences where leaders of the church speak. This happened the first weekend in October. You can read what the Prophet and apostles said here. The Liahona is a church magazine that publishes stories from members, lessons to share, and uplifting thoughts. Twice a year it publishes a transcript of the General Conference addresses.)

Hope all is well at home! Everything is as good as the Coke here in Mexico! (The Coke is super good!)

I won't do an update this week because I didn't bring the cable for the camera, but we baptized this last Sunday! I  also had a ingrown toe nails taken out last week. It was super painful. That's all here. Tell everyone I love them.

Mexican Independence Day

De cierto de cierto os digo, este semana fue bien chido.  (Most assuredly I tell you, this week was well cool.)

Hahaha what a week and man did it go by fast! Its probably because a lot happened.  On Tuesday it was Mexican Independence Day.  I must say Mexicans go pretty crazy about their independence. Hahaha so crazy that our mission president told us we had to be inside our house with the doors locked at 6 pm.  Hahaha.  But it's all good Elder Lopez took advantage of the opportunity and cooked up some huevos rancheros and drank a coke. Twas tranquil but very nice. :)

The next day on Wednesday we had a conference with our Mission President who shared with us as a mission how we can have more success in our areas and retain investigators.  It was such an inspiried and uplifting experience.  I received so much revelation for me and for my investigators.  I love receiving guidance and direction from my leaders.  I'm always looking for ways I can improve wether it be in teaching, leadership, or Spanish.

This week we've been teaching una joven (a youth) whose name is Gloria and she is sooooooooo awesome! One half of her family is Christian and the other Jehovahs Witness and so she came to us very confused and wanting to finding the truth. We taught her the message of the Restoration and she felt right away that it was true. She loves to read so she reads everything we give her and underlines the important parts. She's already almost done with first Nefi (Nephi) in the Book of Mormon. Hahah She went to church this last Sunday for the first time and really really enjoyed it! Also her mom owns a bunch of restaurants including one that's a sushi shop. So every time we teach her its in her moms sushi restaurant and she offers us free food every lesson every time without fail and its quite delicioso (delicious.) :)

This Sunday we also had a baptism and I had the amazing opportunity to baptize one of my favorite people I have met in the mission. His name is Didier and he's nine years old and he is so funny! He loves playing Minecraft and other video games but he's also super intelligent and leaves a lot of people dumbfounded by how much he knows. Hahaha. Elder Lopez and I always leave our lessons with him cracking up by some of the things he says and does.  At his baptism after the ordinance and the primary president gave him a CTR ring which means choose the right. Afterwards the bishop got up to welcome him to the ward and as he was getting up Didier says "Hey bishop, remember to choose the right" and the bishop said "thank you so much Didier for reminding me." It was so funny I was dying! 

Well that's all for this week. More to come next week:) I'll leave like always with my testimony that I know Christ lives. Here on my mission my love for the Savior and for what he did has grown immensely.  The fact I can represent Him in all things that I do and say is truly an honor.  Something that my mission president said this week truly touched me.  He said God loves every single one of us more than we can imagine, however He only trusts a chosen few. The few that are willing and desirous to do His will, to seek Him diligently and to follow the example He lead. I try to go out every day inviting and teaching and doing everything possible so I can have the trust of the Lord on my side. Some times I mess up and fall short however when I repent and start over again that is truly when my love for Him grows and the joy and thanks that come for the saving atonement.

I invite everyone who reads this email to search, to question and query.  What are you doing to earn the Lord's trust?  What are you doing everyday to draw closer to Him?  How have you strengthened your relationship with Him?

I love every single one of you and I love this gospel. Take care till next time!

September?

Hey everyone around the world that reads this email!  Hope all is going well with school and work and life.  Work here in Mexico doesn't seem to hold up but being busy is a good thing.

Some updates: transfers came last week and I'm still here in my area in Poza Rica with makes me super happy!  I have a new companion named Elder Lopez who is a champ and also going to finish his mission in October.  He's from Mexico City and loves eating just as much as I do haha. :) I don't know why but all of my companions in the mission have had more than 22 months in the mission, but I'm learning a lot from their experience.

Oh, I also got moved up to district leader which is a change.  Hahaha.  Everyone in my district has more than 18 months in the mission so at times its intimidating but they trust me and I trust the Lord and His ways and He truly helps me in the areas where I lack.

Last Sunday the 30th of October we had a baptism! Woooooooh their names are Yunuet and Jose and they are golden!  They have such strong testimonies and love the church.  The gospel has changed their lives so much that their mother who at first had no interest in church, is now attending and wants to take lessons because of the difference she's seen in her children.  It's so amazing to see whole families be blessed by the gospel. :)

A lot of people have asked what my area is like here in Poza Rica and or what my favorite food is, so here's a little break down for you: its small, old, and really fancy.  It is not like other areas here in Veracruz to be honest. The majority of people here are well off and so its sometimes hard to find people willing and humble enough to listen.  We work a lot with the members and they help a lot by passing references or inviting friends to activities. The ward is very big and a lot of people go each Sunday.  There's actually a handful of people here who speak English which is at times pretty nice. My favorite foods that I've eaten here are bocoles with eggs and ham and tacos al pastor. Yummy. :)

Thank you all for your love, prayers and support each week!  I love being a missionary of the Lord and serving others each day.  I'm so grateful to represent my Savior and help Him in progressing His work and His glory.  My prayers go out to all of you.  This gospel is the only way to true and everlasting happiness!  Love you all!

PS here's a picture of me and a baby armadillo.  Everybody say, "awwww."

PPS quick shout out to the Gorby family and their letters that finally came the other month. Thank you so much for everything! 

Elder Christofferson

Yesterday I had the amazing opportunity to hear from an Apostle and it was such an amazing experience!  We had to take a bus from Posa Rica to Xalapa at 3:00 in the morning, so we were all pretty tired and exhausted by the time we got there. But it was worth it for sure!  Being in the presence of an Apostle of the Lord is such a powerful experience.  From the moment he stepped out of his car you could feel the Spirit and authority the man had.  Everyone was super anxious and nervous and I was super happy.  I couldn't stop smiling:)  He talked to us about the importance of the Spirit in the conversion of an investigator and how we can use it to find their needs.  I learned a lot and received loads of personal revelation.

This week is going to be a good week!  We're going to baptize hopefully 3 people this Sunday.  I hope everyone is doing well and adjusting back to school and what not. I am so grateful for the opportunity our Father in heaven has given us to learn, grow, and change everyday. I see it happen all the time. Oh how the gospel changes lives and hearts. The Atonement is incredible and imperative in our journey back to our Heavenly Father. It is the message I share every day with others that no mistake is permanent or lasting but can be made clean and new through the sacrifice of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  I am so grateful for Him and what He did.  He lives so that I may live again. I love you all and hope you have a great week. :)

Work, Work, Work

These past couple of weeks have flown by!  My companion Elder Maimo and I have been working super hard finding and teaching some of the most wonderful people.  We're teaching this guy named Alan who's super awesome and also going through some rough times in life right now.  He loves coming to church and learning about the gospel.  He has a date to get baptized next Sunday and he's super pumped!

Last Wednesday we had an Area Conference with our Mission President where all of the missionaries in Posa Rica came.  President Greer talked about how we as a mission need to focus on getting our investigators to the temple, not just baptism.  It made me think about all the blessings that come from the temple and how blessed we are to have temples all around the world.

These last couple of weeks we've been teaching this couple named Armando and Dani who are accepting the gospel super well!  After our lesson my companion and I saw they had 2 raccoons tied up in the back of the house, like a pet dog. Hahahahhah.  So we went and played with them and took pictures.  It was pretty funny! 

Being a missionary is no walk in the park but my Heavenly Father has truly blessed me so much and everyday I am truly overwhelmed with gratefulness.  On Thursday my companion and I got to go to the hospital and give a blessing to a member recovering from surgery.  It was one of the first times I had given a blessing in Spanish and it was such a powerful and touching experience.  At the end I could feel how much the Savior loved this man.  I know the Savior loves each and every one of us the same and that he knows us personally.  Being a tool in His hands to bless the lives of others is truly a privilege and a blessing.

I love you all so much and I know without a doubt this is the Lord's church!  Until next week!

PS P-day is on Tuesday next week.  We're having an all mission conference on Monday. Not sure why.  Something about an Apostle named Elder Christofferson coming to visit. ;) Anyways until next Tuesday.

Time is flying by

Wow this week came and went like a flash.  I guess that's how life is when you're working hard. I have a new companion named Elder Maimo and he's super cool and also super crazy sometimes haha. He's from Argentina but in the Patagonia, which is like almost the end of the world. Antarctica is a 2 hour flight from his house.  He has 2 months left and so he knows a lot. I learn more and more every day how to be a better teacher. He also jokes around that he'll have 3 kids in primary by the time I get home. Hahahaha probably true.

My companion and I found more new investigators this week than all of last transfer and this sunday we had 5 at church and we could have 10 this Sunday. Woooooo!  Life is moving so fast I have no time to sit and look around and take it all in sometimes! It's already August 2015, soon it'll be August 2016 (that makes my head hurt.)

This week I decided  to put all my English books in my suitcase and just go all out Spanish and it's been helping a lot!  Sometimes I just feel weird speaking English and other times I miss speaking it. Hahaha it's a real love hate relationship. I'm getting roasted out here in the sun. I'm thinking about buying a sombrero so I don't die. They say that it's going to be like this for the rest of the month (so just a heads up I may look Mexican when it comes September.) 

More next week and pictures also! love you all! I love this gospel and I love the work! It's truely a blessing to be a servant of the Lord and bless people's lives.

Cuidense todos les amo y dios les bendiga (Take care all I love, and God bless)