Christmas Eve 2012

Hey, hey we're the beatles
    Life has been pretty good. This week we had some good little partys for Christmas which was way nice but killed all of the work ( that we didn't have) we don't really have any investigators right now, and we are working way hard with the members but we have dried up all of our giving wells. So that stinks, But we will get there. We might have a bapt. this next sat. which would be way cool. Tato has been our investigator for 3 weeks and is super cool, we taught the word of wisdom and law of chastity and the next time we showed up he had taken down all of the Tecate posters in his house ( a beer company ) and  he is trying to get married this sat to be bap. So we have an appointment in Tecate ( the city were the beer comes from) wed. to see if he can get married or not. Im praying hard that we can. But It's not easy to marry down here, you need pre maritail chats and tests and drug testing, medical test. a whole bunch of stuff oh and money. What everyone lacks down here. So I'm hoping that we can pull it off.

Thursday we had our mission christmas party. It went well. they tried cooking roast beef and other american food. well it was a nice thought haha. but we had a sweet play. I was the angel. Two little kids wanted christmas but they were jeahova witnesses and so they couldn't have it. So I showed up as an angel and well there wishes were granted in the end of the play. I brought two missionaries to them and they got christmas and gifts. A bible that had all the verses and bap. clothes. While there parents were out buying ugly ties. It turned out really well actually then we all sang the first chirstmas.

Well tomorrow I'm going to call at 12 so thats like 1 oclock your time. I'm going to do it on google. So I hope you can figure that out. I'm not really sure if I know how to do it either but I'm going to try. Its in google plus. So in your acount you can figure it out. Anyways. I love you all tons.

Merry christmas to all

Peace, love, and I hope in heaven youll get your white christmas, cuz on the other side of the spectrum we've got no chance down here.

Rained and Rained Every Day

Hey fam.

   Well I don´t have alot to say this week either. And the letter is going to be short because I had alot of things to tell to the president. But To start it all off, well I´m glad christmas is coming and I´m way happy that there is alot of snow there, that is sweet to here. I´m super jealous and realy jonesing to go skiing. Z your trinks look good. And you eating trash looks even better haha. Thats how we like to ski. Hows price doing. Still skiing way well. Anyways.

 

   This week went super bummer, to gaint bummer. the week rained and rained everyday. Everything was crazy muddy and super cold. And because of the rain, or something we haven´t had anylessons. Everybody is gone, Not sure what happened. And the people were way grumpy this week. We taught a ton of lessons in doorsteps that the people would leave us out in the freezing rain... Thanks haha. Then we were going to have a bap. Tuesday. But the girl was way excited and then here mom started to fight with her and boom. Well she doesn´t want to get bap now. So thats a super bummer. I was really looking forward to that. We did´n´t have terrible numbers but it just felt like a bad week. But I guess there isn´t much I can do. Just pray more and fast harder.

 

Then sunday I took the numbers of my district and they were terrible. But absolutly terrible. And they are actually all working way hard. So its way lame to see that they aren´t having any success either. But well I guess I´ll just keep trying to animarles. Ask collin I´m not sure what it is in english it doesn´t really make sense

 

    We do have two new investigators that are way sweet. Erica and tato. They aren´t married, dink a good amount. He has the girls of Tecate on all his walls. And well we started teaching them last week. They both went to church. We taught them Chastity and they want to get married, Taught them WofW and they don´t want to drink... Well he is alittle stronger willed then her. But he doesn´t want to drink. They may progress way sweet, if they can get married soon. If not well I´m going to drip them But they are way sweet. I hope the best for them.

 

Sorry that my letter is lame. This week the fleas have eaten my flesh right off haha. No  but I do have some 100 bites. I don´t have time to wash my blanket in clorox and do a flea bomb and all that jazz. So well Ill tough it out for another 6 weeks I think haha. LOve you all tons

 

Peace, love, and not being able to open my package is killing me.

 

Love you.

The pres. Gave us new seats. Well the church were throwing them out so we went to central to pic them up. Then we did homemade rootbeer as a zone. Way sweet. and a dry ice bomb... My touch in the party and coming home well. I an Elder here said if we got on the bus with the seats we had to take the picture. It was so cramed that I could even move haha. But I managed the pic.

 

oh and thats my district.

Hola familia

Hola familia

    I´ll be honest, I´m going to keep it kinda short. I´m jut not feeling it today. I¨ve been way good, and having a great time with my comp and everything. He is getting better. Sometimes he acts like a good missionary. But I´m still beating him up here. trying to get him to like his mission and be a missionary. Transfers come next weeek but I wont be going anywere, I´ll be kickin it here for another 6 weeks. But thats nice. I´m going to call you guys by skype the 25th not realy sure when it will be. Oh and about my glasses, its not a hge deal, you don´t need to rush, and yeah I´ve still got a years supply of contacts here, I havent used any of the new ones yet. But what happened with my glasses shouldn´t happen so I was just wondering if there is something I can do. Cuz its pretty lame. But whatevs.

Anyways this week went pretty good. We´ve been teaching way well, or well we´ve been having a bunch of lessons and with members to. So thats nice. we have to be an example for the district and so far we are doing really well. But the big problem is the we had 6 investigators come to church and out of them 0 were the people that had bap. dates. But It was nice to see people there in church. actually 8 but 2 don´t count cuz they can´t get marriend yet so we took them off the list. But anyways. It was way sweet to see so many people there. I´m hoping big things are going to happen here in the next couple of weeks. Maybe I´ll get a white christmas. I got you christmas package today, thanks for everything that was in it. It was way sweet, but Eldr bankhead ate all the chocolate.... just kidding I won´t open it till the 25th. But man thats along ways away. So yeah we had 6 poeple in church and 0 bap. dates.... super lame. But the work goes on. I hope that we get somehting going on in the district. this months we havent bap. and last month we bap 2. So we are wy behind in everything.

I wish I had a sweet story to tell you about an investigator but I can´t really think about anything. We tried cooking popcorn in the oven....that doesnt work. The bag just burnt to crisp in the over. I also bought a sweet electronic muscle messurer haha. I´ve got 13 inch biceps unflexed... well I´ve only lost like 2 or 3 inches here. They used to be close to 16 and now like 12.5 But Its all good. I also bought a new watch It takes heart rate and measures your steps and how fast your going and how far you´ve gone. Its pretty sweet. Oh and a camera that puts your face above an animated body and sings and dances for you. Anyways it costed a fortune but was well worth it... in the end I spent 60 pesos for it all. Like 5 dolars haha thats the best part about mexico. Its like shoping in a gaint nps everything used or in bad packaging but it comes out really cheap. Love it.

Anyways thats it for the week. I love you all tons

Peace, love and well tell my lil bro he needs to go bigger haha

no but really bro be safe up there. and don´t get to good, I still want to ski with you when I get home

kickin it here in TJ.

Hello Family.
   I'm just kickin it here in TJ. No well this week went pretty good. to start off. We barely had any lessons and every morning we had stuff to do. So we didn't have alot of time to work in the area. We had food appointments, as we eat at 2, with all families that live out of our area, so we had to take a bus everyday to eat. So basiclly we waisted a bunch of time. Thursday we had thanksgiving dinner. Canned cold gravy, hard rolls, cold ham. and mushy turkey... mmmm sounds like home no... Yeah I missed being there, and I missed good food. But well its mexico, I don't excpect much. Friday we had a conference. In the conference the presidente taught about tithing almost no one here pays it. So its hard for people to be blessed, or called to do anything in the church. Then he taught a new way that he wants us to teach. The last couple weeks, he asked us to memorize the lesson plans word for word. and no basically he wnats us to ive them just like that. Not skipping a point or anything. He asked for some people to be volunteer (there was 8) and to teach the lesson 2 plan of salvation. He asked us to do it point for point, but inside each point we have to have also everything that it says in the 30-45 min. lesson plan. and do it in 10 min. I have it all memorized. so it wasnt very hard. But my companion had the part of the 3 kingdom, he forgot the names, then started saying that the terrestre was beautiful and there would be jesus there and the HG and sure its all right. no apostasy, but he made it sound so good that who wants to go to the celestial. It was pretty funny. To end the conference the pres, said that the people who have bad numbers wont have P days anymore, he has been saying that he was going to do it for a lil while. But this time he is putting it in action. super lame

     So after that, well we hadn't had reallly anylessons. And I was feeling a lil down. I've been studing a lil about fasting so Idecided to fast. It was sweet. Friday we had 10 lessons in total. terrible. Well actually the ZL told me that my whole district wasn't going to have P day. They needed to have over 15 lesons. Well Saturday. we busted out 10 lessons. It was a pure maricle. We even had our food like an hour from the house. but we workedway hard and God super blessed us. But super super blessed us. It was pretty sweet to be honest. Needless to say, we had pday today

    Well to celebrate my B day we went to the mountains. I bought Hot dogs in the morning and we went to climb this mountian with 2 other Elders. Its a pretty big mountain, and I'm the only one that really had climbed before so it was slow. but there is a ranch half way up the mountain, so we used one of the roads and started going up. right below the peak there is a huge abondon ranch house. Its pretty sweet to be honest. We got to the ridge and well we actually turned back at the ridge line. We got down by the house, and there was a lil creek, well what once was a creek. So we put a fire there and roasted some hotdogs. We hadben siting there for alil and up came a truck. We were actually out of view but I figured it was trouble so I told one of the Elders to come with me, and we went to talk to the driver. He was some 23 year old punk kid. He was fist scared of us. he wouldn't even role down his window then. he finally got out, and he was mad saying he should throw us in jail. Well in the end he gave us a ride out. I gave him part of the 1st lesson. and he said to come back anytime and he would give us a tour of the palce and show us some cool stuff haha. Mexicans :)

Oh cool thing of the week, the other day when I ran into the sign contacting that girl (Leonor) Igave the ref. to other elders in my ditrict and she is way interested.

Peace, and Love family... Thanks for all the happy b day wishes.. come big or go home, Z but be smart eh;)

!Sin Felicidad!

What up fam...

   Man, the next 2 months are going to be bad. everyone over there is celebrating and here in TJ they don't celebrate anything. Super lame. but well hey, what can you do. Its way wierd to be honest. people don't give presents on christmas. they do everything different. And I"m just like 20 mins from Cali. Thats the worst part haha. Oh and that its snowing in Utah... man, I miss the snow haha. Tell me lil bro to take it easy for right now. he is going to get himself hurt the the start of his season and not be able to ski anymore. I'm sure he is smarter then I think he is bet just in case... he really smashed his helmet... wow. Thats pretty ballin. and why does he need new boots he bought some no? Fill me in on skiing, thats the best thing to hear haha. Oh and food. man, I miss food. I'm learning alil to cook like a mexican. basicly blend everything together, and then burn it. and well. it comes out alright. tasting very much mexican. Today is a holiday. the people don't know why, neither do I. only that they don't have school or work so thats pretty cool. As far as my boils go in the armpits I'm on medicine again. I've been taking injections all week long, and amoxocilin or somehting like that and one other drug, its an antibiotic. so I hope that it grets rid of it all. It looks like it is getting better. Don't worry about me, I'm doing great to be honest. The mission is way stressful right now. We changed the plan so we don't contact anymore and so right now we haven't had any bap. in the mission for awhile. the pres is way stressed out. usually in my area I can have or should have 30 lessons in the week. this week I worked way hard and we came out with 15. and we were the best of my district, and above avereage for the mission right now. Wow. Its crazy. I wish I could say that I have alot to say about my investigators but I don't have any.

    Gabriel and Ismeralda need to get married before they can get bap. so  we are working with that right now. we are supposed to have a bap. this weekend. but It doesn't seem like it is going to happen. a 11 yr. old girl, that drives me crazy. And to be honest those are the only two people. Vanessa, the other lady, well she needs another couple months before she can get bap. says the mission pres. so that stinks... bad. But we are working hard. and hoping that it will all trun out well

 

    My comp is getting better, I thought in the first couple days I was going to kill him. But last week he made a comment about some chick here and I tore into him hard.... and well he figured it out. We now don't have anyproblems. He kinda gets up in the morning. he doesn't talk about wanting to go home. and well he is working better. haha so Well Im guessing that is a good sign. Hoping so.

 

One funny thing happened last week. We went to a members house to eat. My comp wants to be a chef but he hates food... a lil strange. but we got there and entered the house. The sister is a lil weird but who am I to judge. She had cooked a piece of flat meat. (carna asada) some veggies and zuccini that was cut down the middle and was stuffed with chesse. But when we got to the house, the meat was cold, the veggies cold, and the cheese even colder. My comp started to eat alil bit. but he kept looking at me as if he was going to die. I just ate, downed my plate and sat and watched my comp finish off his. or try to atleast. he got the meat down, eating ver much like a bird. Then he got the veggies down. time for the zuccini. Well he started panting like a dog, as if he was about to do something really hard, and tried to put the zuccinni in his mouth but he couldn't stomach it. I just looked at him and said eat it... now. haha, o he tried again. After the first 10 mins battling with the zuccini he finally made enough hand motions and faces like he was going to die that I figured I'd help him out, I tolk the sister that he was feeling bad. he got straight up after that went to the bathroom and threw it all up haha.  The next day we ate pezole with pork spine and hooves. He was just as grossed out. But this time he just couldn't handle it. the problem with the hooves is they have hair, they shave it down close to the skin. but its still there. It doesn't get to me, but my comp couldn't handle it haha.

 

Oh the other bad part about the week, I'm talking this medicine and its made me wasy plugged up. like 5 days plugged up... haha, the worst ever :) I try to keep everyone at home really informed no use in hiding anything.

 

Im pretty sure I got rid of the flees in my bed too. thank goodness. I had aton of bites. Or it may not have been flees but it was pretty ugly.

 

well I love you all tons, I hope you have fun on my b day. itll actually be a pday so I'll do something special. maybe sleep haha. I'm super tired. always :)

 

Peace, love, and send me some pics of my beautiful family... or even better of the snow.

 

that pic pheasent hunting is pretty good. 

 

Oh this week, I was contacting a girl and walked straight into a sign... leaving a nice goose egg on my head... no way haha, the worst ever :) noking my glasses off and everything.

I couldn't write you.....well that's a lie.

Hey fam, whats up...
   Sorry about last week, I couldn't write you.... well thats a lie. I could but I only had 5 mins on the comp, so I just wrote my lil brother :) no worries it won't happen again.
Alright to start, 2 weeks ago went well, we had 3 people ready to get baptised but I talked to the pres. about vanessa, and he said that because of what she did before she couldnt' get bap. quite yet, that she needed a time of rep. first. So that def, stinks way bad but well I hope that she can get bap, soon. Then the next 2 people are way ready, gabriel and Ismeralda but we learned they werent married, so now we are working on that. Its been pretty good. Saturday night we got the transfer calls, I am still in Villa del Camp but my comp that I just finished training left to another area and is going to train there, I asked the president to do it, and he did haha. but Its cool to see that my comp was ready, we worked hard together, he isn't all that obedient, but whatevs. Then they told me that I was going to train and I"m the new district leader here in Ojo de Agua, I have 1 pair of missionaries and 2 pairs of sisters in my district plus me. Its pretty good. But the district is pretty dead right now, the other areas arent really working. My area, is the half of all the numbers, but its good that we are showing an example. I'm hoping that we can get some results.

  Well my new comp is.... hmmm. Well he showed up and only brought pink ties (we can't were pink ties) and purple sweaters (we can't wear purple sweaters) he is from bachuca hidalgo. Well wow what an experience, his parents sent him on the mission, he didn't really want to go. He is always talking about his girlfriend. They have 4 months together, she isn't a member, and he thinks she is going to wait for him....hes got no chance. He is always telling me he is going to break his leg or make out with girls in the mission to go home. He is quite the character. and 630 in the morning he is dead asleep. and won't get up, usually he got out of bed at 715. but today I got him out of bed at 640 he wasn't all that happy but he is going to have to get used to it. If he is with me. He is going to be obedient. Thats just the way we role. Nothing more about it. But I think we will be alright I've got 3 months with him here, but I shouldn't have any real problems with him. As far as his testimony, he has none, and far as his desire, unexistant. As far as I will push him.... the end of the world. Hes going to be sore and tired. But he will leave with a testimony and desire.

As far as me, I'm doing good, Its pretty cold here, but a member gave me a cool coat so I'm doing alright. I'm not really sure whats up with this zit thing in my armpit. This week, I got them on my pecs again, and my groin, and in the last 2 days one arm got it terrible. But up and down the arm, like 30. but big. I'm guessing that my arm is something different because they itch they don't hurt, so I"m guessing that is it bed bugs on my arm. I put a blanket on my bed and so it proly is that. I"m washing is right now

Oh I bought a months supply of food last week (it was on sale) it is now gone, my comp ate it all. We will now be eating our own food and not sharing everything haha.

We sorry I do't have much to say, I love you all tons.

This is what the kids swim in haha, and its like 50 degrees out side and this is in middle of pure trash

Peace love and take care of the snow for me:)

No Letter this week :-(

No letter this week. We are not sure why, just keep Andy and the other missionaries in your thoughts and prayers.

TR

Life is going well.

Alright,

      Life is going well, the mission is still great, I'm in Tijuana, we comfered our convert this week... What else is there to say... nothing

    To start, I saw the drunkest guy I've ever seen in my life try to drive a Taxi. No way, he backed it up over the curb to start. Swearing and cusing he threw it in drive and took it foreward... about 2 feet. Only to once again put it in reverse and this time, already on top of the curb, he slammed the taxi into a gaint metal fence. Puting some very big and stylish dents in the back of the car, he sobbered up really quick actually and got the car to leave the sidewalk and drive down the street. Driving head on to traffic nearly getting slammed by an on coming bus. Well he made it alright, but wow it was crazy.

   The mother that I asked you to pray for this last week is super cool. We had alot of good lessons with her this week. She really wants to change, or so it seams but once again she didn't show up to church. Super bummer, So I won't be having that baptism this week. She was supposed to get a job saturday, but we haven't been able to see her to ask how it all went, so I'm hoping that she got it and can quite her other work. Other then that actually we had 4 Inv. in the church. Thank goodness, it has been a very long time since I had anyone in the church. The lame thing is is that all our stats or number look great. We teach more then anyone, well everything is more. But we fail hardcore with getting them to church. And because our numbers look good, the leaders don't tell us anything. comments, concerns, tips. Nothing. Just that we are doing good and to keep working. Well this week finally we got somepeople to church, so I'm pretty happy about that. 2 of them Gabriel and alejandra I hope will be bap, this week but its doubtful. We have acouple people that are progressing well, so I'm hoping that Nov. looks better then Oct.

    Hey Z. Happy happy b Day bro. Your getting big. another year and a half and youll be in TJ just like me preaching the gospel. I hope your doing good bro and I love you tons. Keep worthy so that you can leave right after highschool ends. Oh and yeah momma, he can't put in his papers till 4 months before his Availability date.

    I wish I had something sweat to tell you all but I don't. Thanks aton for the package, I loved everything. Especially I'm enjoying the fire balls, Mexicans hate Cinammon. So it has been fun giving them to my companion, especially cuz he doesn't even like hot things. I've been feeling way better this week, and the shoes are great thanks. And I got your letters that was the best part. Of course I don't get tired of reading your letters mom, I get them once a month or once every 2 months so I love them. tell Z I wan't a pic of him decked out to ski and his skis. and thats my fav. disc or all time (well of all church :) ) I'm actaully going to buy a speaker one of these weeks thats super cool. you just put a usb in the side and it plays off that. But we also have a CD player. But can Z send me some more Music, tell him to put it in a zip folder. and send it like that to me. I can listen to everything church. Disney songs (if you can find them Z, mulan, tarzan, and lion king ;) ) and orchestra music. also if you can find them there is a band called 4 string quortet. Look it up and they have a bunch of covers for bands. If you can figure it out send me some. (the killers, queen, rolling stones) oh and some jazz music, ask dad for the best.... Love you tones bro and again happy b, day.

Well as far as other stuff happening here, there is nothing. Life is great, I will change companions again next monday. We will see what happens, I might train again, that would be kinda cool. or something else. Not sure lets see. Oh and as far as christmas well, I'll tell you next week as I don't know my comp. But I don't need to many white shirts, if your going to send those.

Peace, love, and Go big, Baptise, and well I've still got along time before I go home.

The battle continues!!

We will see how long this letter is. I'm prettty mad because I;m trying to type on a keyboard that has juice all up in it. and the buttons are way hard to hit. So I'll do my best,.

Alright, to start, I wasany better last moday, I was still way sick, And finaly tuesdaty I was sick of being sick. I had bee up 3 nights in a row with a fever but something fierce. So I called up the mission pres. wife. And she didn't aswer so I got permission from the DL to go to the Doctor. A lil sketchy pharmacy that has a doctor in it. It cost me 35 pesos. like 3 bucks and the lady was crazy. I told her my symptoms. she took my temp (102 and I was feeling way better then the otherdays ) and she gave me 3 different pills to take and an injection to put in my but 4 times. Oh and the worst part of my sickness, is that monday witgh my fever under my armpits were a bunch of boils/zit or something fierce that hurt like thedickens to the point I didn't want to move my arms.I still have them but not so bad. She said it was a allergic reaction.

Alrright, I really am sorry this is going to be short but my forarms are burning from using so much muscle trying to hit the keys.

The good thing is that this week, We did have a bap. Carlos showed back up i town on friday, and so we bap. him on sat before hecould run again. we had stake con. so we will confir him a member the next week.

Oh and I could use your prayers for a girl named vanessa. She is super cool, she has 2 kids, and wants to change her life. She wasn't interested at all when we first started talking with her, but after a sec, something hit. She is ready to be bap. But in the first lesson, I felt that she was lacking something. And the spirit told me it was a problem with the law of chastity. (super cool experience to recieve such clear revelation as to what a investigator needs) I gave her the pamphlet and asked her to readit before ournext visit. Well my comp and  I left and he told me there was no way she had a problem with that.... Well boy was he wrong. We came back and she is living with her sister. And she hasn't had an income for along time, at one point they were starving so she tured to selling her self on the street. She wants to change, needs to change. She is at the bottom of a pit right now, and its dark, damp, and deep. She needs a different job. so if you could all pray for that for her... Thanks aton. and love you tonns.

Peace, Love, and will you put my address on my facebook :)

Super, super super...... bummer week

Super, super super...... bummer week. To start it all off we went to and climbed mnt. colorado. A hill here that says jesus the savior. Pretty fun hike. I went up in 25, the first up ;) with an other elder of course. and it took most people an hour or 2 to start trickling up. It was like 1/2 mile but pretty steep. It would have been 10 min, before the mission but I can honestly say Im no were close to what I was, how I looked, or who I was before the mission. Some things change for the good, others change for the bad. But its all Gods plan so I'll stay happy with it.

Bueno.

No the reason why it all went so bad is to start after we hiked we came down for a carne asada one of the member prepared. It was delicious and I ate 8 or 10 good tacos. So far so good. with the tacos I crammed down a good amount of jalapenos and serrano peppers. Still going good.... Until that night. When the flood gates opened and it all came out. appearing somewhat like that time the US bombed the dams in Europe. My stomach tightned up, and my intestines crammped up. Literally there was something shredding my insides as it dumped the parts it didn't want into the fire torrent below. And trust me, it was a fiery torrent. serrano peppers go in hot, and if not degested properly the go out even hotter. At the end of the war, I was down one point and feeling low. The carna asada was winning.

No fear I thought, the next day I will conquer it. And with ditermination I marched on. Only to wake up three times in the night, to fight the same battle, each time lossing. The morning came and the war went on. As I studied that day I did most of it on the battle field with Jesus the Christ in hand. Not eating anything in the morning we went to work and I left my throne of battle hoping that the battle would stop there. But as I retreated the other armies did not. They began to burn the gates down. And my fortress was quickly weakening. As the gates began to burn (due to chilies) the armies hurled rocks, and what felt like gaint spike slashing and gashing trying to win. The day went on like this. That night, the I returned to my throne and fought again, over and over again. Until... Wednesday, the day the earth stood still. Or that is, after a particualarly bad battle. Loosing many forces and strenght. I went to leave my throne and the water didn't come. It wouldn't flush. There was no water. No water to flush, and no water to shower. No way Using the water straight from the boiler, The boiler is on the roof and you can drain the remaining water... boiling water, from it. I got a bucket full and went to the fridge pulling out every piece of ice I could find. I threw it all in and took a very hot but cleaning bath in a bucket. The war only got worse, the days grew longer. My strenght grew weaker, to try to end it all I fasted on thursday, to gave me nice relief in the day, with no food, there was no pains but once again on friday they started up. I'm getting better, I hope now but we wil see.

 So now we see the internal battle I was fighting. Now for the external. As the week went on, we got ready for our baptism. Battling hard with the leaders to see what we could do. He only had one time in the church and trying to see how we could help our investigator Carlos show up to church and be bap.. We did our praying, and we got everything sorted out. His partner left the house, so he was no longer in danger of breaking the law of chastity. his interview, although stranger, went well and he was all ready. We had to leave the area, sat in the morning to tract in a different colony but gave the responsability to a member to bap. him and bring him to the church. As we showed up at the church we sat there pactiently happy as could be. having a bap, is a great feeling, but as time went on and no one started to show up. Well the worried began to come. To be short He didn't show. and we can't get in contact with him. We have a goal of 5 bap. this month have got 1 yet, and don't have anyone that looks to terribly promising.

Sorry the email, came out with a total killer vibe. But I to am sitting in a room hotter then satans arm pits. thinking about what has happened, and nowing this week is a new week a better week. Learning from the mistakes and the hard times, to be better and bigger in the future. Next week I'll see if something better happens. I hope and pray it does.

Peace, love, and I sure hope my family is doing great, and my cousins to.

My Mind is BLOWN!

No way, did he just say that or I'm I way bad at spanish... 18... 18 my lil brother will be leaving at 18... Thats epic... and wait 19 for the girls... What does that mean... That there may be beautiful girls that have gone on missions and only are 20 years old??? Does that mean, I may just wait 3 years and marry a return missionary... well lets be realistic... NO. sister missionaries are crazy... but this may change the sister missionaries aton. After the first conference. Elder Holland held a pres conference and said that you can now turn in your paper 120 days before also. and that this was going to bring a huge surge in missionary work. He said this is happening because most certenly the lord is hastening the work and needs more missionaries. Elder Holand said they will be exanding the "flagship" MTC in Provo to acomadate for the new "fleet" epic conference. To be honest I paid good attention and was way excited the first session. In the bigging I was thinking no way my lil brother will leave way soon but, thats just better. Elder Holland stressed way hard the before mission prep. So get him to read. He also said that this was the work of the parents. So i'm shure he is alot better then me but youll proly still have to get him up in the morning, and if like me he acts sick or says hes not going cuz he is tired, kick him in the but and send him off anyways. The truth is that here in Mexico missionaries are sent out at 18. and they come in way inmature. So Z prepare yourself. They come in and don't make good learders and come in way pridefull and don't wanna change. Don't worry pops, I lost my pride in the MTC :) I listen sometime out here haha.

And for all my cousins or any women in the world that reads this... Go out on the mission. you now have the chance to leave before starting school, before getting married, do it. It will be the biggest blessing of your life. Like Elder Bednar said in Conference, the mission will effect, who you marry, your family, and your eternity... Think about it, pray about it... yeah that means you sammy, and chelsea :) I'm not calling you guys out or anything,,,, but I"m straight up calling you out... do it. Fast and pray, then read the book of Mormon and talk to your bishop. present the idea to him and thru this all youll know if its right for you...

Allright, to be honest my mind is so caught up on the announcment that I can barely think of anything else. We had 6 bap dates for the next sat. Well none of them came to conference. So we wont be bap. anyone. But 2 new poeple showed up to conference, members brought them. So I taught them and set a bap date with them both...; cha ching.

We watched tangled this week for a zone activity.... love that movie. and it makes me miss Blonde girls... Then we had a pretty good weak, we picked up 15 new investigators this week and 8 the week before, so I'm trying to turn around this area, I came into it pretty dead. We have 2 people that are doing really well, Carlos and felicitas. We taught the word of wisdom and she dropped drinking and smoking, just like that.... Well I hope so. And today we passed by them selling clothes in the streets and carlos had the restoration pamphlet in his hand and felicitas had the BofM so that was pretty cool to see. The people in this area are way cool. Which is good cuz the town isn't. Its nice but its all the exact same. Its like nuke town in CofDuty 4. or for those that don't play its like a gov built town so that they can blow it up. Everything looks the exact same... way weird.

I also went on trade offs this week with Elder Newell from Ogden. It was pretty fun, we talked to a good investigator and asked her about her experience reading and praying, she said she never felt like that before and that she knew it was true. Way sweet. Well more then that i don't have anything.... Oh thats a lie. My comp. locked the house then put the keys in his pocket. His pocket with a hole. So when we got back home we couldn't get in. So I scaled the house, and just to put in some style thru up a heel hook on the window sill, well I got in the second story window. and came down. Well here in mexico you have to have a key to unlock the doors, so I took off the back of the plate with my pocketknife and was looking inside, I found everything that I needed to do but didn't have the right tool. Well we called up a memer that is a lock smith and he came and passed me the tools and told me how to do it all. Pretty fun. We switched out the locks and everything. We got in at 10 30 at night haha. 

Love you all

Peace love, and hey gramsie, love you postcards thanks.

Ojo de Aqua

Allright,
  The new area, Ojo de Agua. well it is gigantic. We took 1 hour in bus to go to another part of the area. Really there are only 2 different colonies, but they are way far apart. And we have 4 missionaries in the ward. So the ward boundaries are also huge. some 20 miles. but for TJ and terrible public trans. its not that cool. I did get alot of cleaning done on the house this week. instead of working out cleaned everymornign. It looks amillion times better. I hope it stops giving me allergies. Its the first problem I've had here in Tj. But its getting bettter. I got inventive becasue we don't have a closet or anything. I've now got everything, even a dresser :) it may be made out aof cardboard but its actually pretty legit. I've enjoyed this area alot so far. Its pretty clean suprisingly, and the people are a little wealthier ( they hhave homes, well apartments) and so thats pretty cool. My companion Elder Castelan is pretty cool. He is a bigger guy and walks way slow (we will work on it) and I'm actaully training him. The pres called me this week and told me I needed to do the training with him. His last comp only finished 6 weeks and trained him bad. So I now need to correct a bunch of apostasy that he teaches and well hope for the best. The bishop is lazy, and has hair past his eyes... no way.... But he only has 4 months being bishop so we can still change him. We don't have ward council or meetings with our mssion leader, and our ditrict leader is well a goood guy but doesn't understand how to be an example or how to use the member. But all in all there is alot of work to do, and well I'm here to do it. So thats the best part. I think that most of the changes will b3e simple and a couple may take more time but. Hey itll get done.
   As far as investigators here, We have a couple. not many but acouple. Ill tell you more about them next week when I know them better. We picked up 7 new ones this week which was good and set dates with them all. But only 2 went to church so big bummer there. We do have a church bus which is cool here. the other terrible thing about here is that I feel like I"m in africa. Everyone breast feeds there babies in public in this area. The last area it wasnt so bad. but this week we taught a lesson for 40 mins and in the middle the mom just stripped half her shirt and started feeding her baby like we werent there, and like we didn't represent christ. Well that part I don't look forward to running into anymore. But the area is pretty cool, and people seem way open to the gospel here.
    We got the oportunity to give alot of priesthood blessings this week, which is always something really special. So that part of my week was the best. Being able to feel the spirit working through you and knowing that you are an instrument to help the lives of these people. We had some other good times this week to... Ohh I pulled a (well an idiot move) and was putting out matches in my mouth. Well I let one get way big, then tried to put it out. Well my roof of my mouth blistered and burned pretty bad. but hey I got the match put out. Then my whole mouth peeled haha. Pretty sweet. Sorry its going to be short today, The next week I'll get you some better stories and I'll throw in something spritual.

Yahairra, and her fam. we bap 3 of them.
my comp and me

A good week.

A good week. This week  went pretty well. To start it all off, we well had a normal week, with some good lessons and some bad ones. But I did get my package (thanks) it was great, and a letter from you guys and one from gramsie, so that was nice to read. I love you all and I'm working on letters, the best thing to think if I was you is that I've sent a ton but they got lost in the mail. I'm pretty sure somehting like that  happened. Well I went on trade offs with Elder Anderson so I headed to Fuentes. It was a pretty good day, we had some good lessons, one was a new investigator and in the end we taught her to pray. Well she started to pray and just couldn't finish, she got done saying thanks and just broke down in tears. Way spiritual, way cool. The lame part is she doenst have time to go to church so well there is no point to teach her more. But it went well. Then we had another cool lesson with the mother of a recent convert. Well the kid got bap. then started smoking weed. What a good example to his parents eh. Well we talked about being an example for her kids and I hope she gets it. The family has huge potential.
    Thebest part of the week was sunday, we got up early and headed to the church, as we arrived at the church (6:30) we learned we had no keys to get in, so we hopped the fences and yeah well I'm more mexican than most mexicans so lets just say we got in :) Then we started to fill up the bap. font. And well yeah everything went well. until we returned home (7:30) we had forgot our keys and the bap. was at 9 but we needed to leave the house at 8:30. We jumped in the car again and ran back to the church, getting back to the house (8:00) we raced and showered way fast and threw together all our clothes. Well we made it to the baptism and everybody was waiting for us there, we were late but Hey the show goes... actually its pretty hard to start with out the baptisimer himself. Well we took some good pics (one with Elder Welches nametag so that he has 2 bap, the work in MI is slow) and we started the bap. I dunked Yahaira and Delia (Jahara) and it was way spiritual. The baptism was way sweet. After that they were confered and it went way well. It was nice to see them both make the steps necesary (oh and yeah Yahaira got married on thursday so she could get bap)
     Latter that day we went to her house to say goodbye and it was way cool she said it was the first time that she could feel the spirit and the love of God in her life like that. By far my fav convert so far. Today in the morning she called us crying haha "thanks wetto for everything" haha it was pretty good. and last night at her house I went to say goodbye to all of them. Well everything went well up until I went to say goodbye to her sis in law. She is 18 and kinda a rebel. Well I shook her hand, and she wouldn't let go. It was like she was trying to keep me there,,, no actaully she was trying to keep me there. Well my heart started racing way fast, a super adrenaline rush on the mission. Trying to stay away from sin is the best thing we've got down here. Because I looked up from my hand and she was all puckered up and not just moving towards me but was in full lunge, literraly her feat were off the ground and she was coming in hot. Wellin my years of training I've learned a couple good things. One of those is how to avoid sloppy girls and their sloppy kisses, so using all the skilss I had aquired over the years and what I learned in football I did a beautiful swim move but pulling my head back at the same time. Half way threw the swim I span and boom the move was completed. She was no behind me, she didn't have my hand and I left with my missionary virtue. Well I feel alittle bad cuz It looked pretty bad for her, it was a straight up reject but my comp thought it was the funniest thing in the world.
    Alright tradeoffs, to be short about it. I'm on the other side of the hill, like 2 mins from my old area, well if I left the church in terrazas its like 5 mins in car to get to my area but terrazas and Ojo de aqua are sie by side. I am here with an Elder (don't know his name) that has2 months in the mission so that'll be interesting, the area is gigantic, they actaully just opened up new parts to the area so it is now officially gigantinic beyond all measure for mexico. but I think I should do allright here. My comp has his quirks and well the house is a mess but all in all I'm doing good.
   Oh and if you can send my shoes :) I would love you for ever haha, Like i don't already love you guys, but my shoes are now soled with duct tape because I got a whole in my shoes. So I'm going to get them re shoed I think but Yeah my other ones would be nice to.
    Love you all tons, I'm so gald your all doing well, and well send me letters but from random addresses and with girls names and perfum, just so I feel loved out here. or even better just tell Isaac to get his friends to right me, print off a pic before the mission with out my shirt and put it up in the school :) that might work and another that I have a shirt and my hair combed over so I can also be attractive to the girls that actually know a thing or too, what I'm saying is those that don't have blonde hair

Love you all
    Peace love and its basically rock and dirt here, wow.... nothing changed...looks just like terrazas.

!Viva Mexico

Allright, sorry but I´m going to keep it pretty short. Not much happened this week. And more then anything i just don´t feel like writing haha :) No I´ll see what I can jam out for you guys. allright. this week to start went really well. Monday we went and played soccer at the stake center, but it was pouring rain, so It was pretty fun, We are going again today but it won´t be the same. After that we walked to Terrazas, to the house of Jahara, its like 30 min. no biggie. but with all the rain there is no streets in the area, and there is aton of electrical lines in all directions because all of the light is stolen there. So it was pretty fun but way slick. The dirt roads were way slushy, and we ended up pretty muddy but it was pretty fun. We are actually going to bap. her this week. Which makes me way happy. She is super super strong in the gosple. She is finishing up 3rd Nephi right now. and is way cool. She is always fighting people that tell her the church is bad. And she has had aton of problems stoping drinking coffee. She was in the hospital abunch because of it. Yet through it all, it hasn´t phased her. And she is pretty funny. She is always talking about the wetto, (that may be how you spell it) but basically it means blonde hair. And so everybody in the area nows me. She is pretty funny, not sure what I did but, I think its just that we showed her the happiest thing she could have and we are helping her getit right now. She is going to get married thursday so we can bap. her sat.

We have some other investigators but to be honest not many are progressing. We have one investigator that is way cool Nike Mike. Who was in the prison his whole life. We pass by once a week because we don´t want to waist time with him. But this week he asked if he could get bap. So its time to look for permission from the first presidancy. So possibly in a year or so he´ll get bap. But he was a hit man in the jails. when he was out he was a bank robber. But he says that he has killed alot of people, there wasn´t a number he just said alot haha. But he has changed aton. And has been coming to chruch so its way cool to see that change.

We are going to start soon, the no contacting rules. The mission has told all the leaders that we are doing it but to us they tell us to keep contacting. So its kindof a confussion. Everybody is always asking how it is going and we have to lye and say that it is going well haha. When really we are still not doing it. More then all that, I´m not really sure whats new. I´ll get my pack. on tuesday because we have a conference, so I hope there wasn´t anything that I needed in these last 3 weeks. And tuesday I´m leaning towards 80 percent that I get transfered. But that´ll be the next week. We will see though. I hope that life and the green side of the fence is going well. Try not to spoil my little brother to much and remember that I did buy all my own stuff :) But hey later in life you can make up the many wrong doings haha :) no just kidding, I hope my bro. loves me and whil he is on his mission he will give me his pants. But they are freaking sick.

Love you all

Peace, love, and 110 degrees again here in Mexico, literally it feels like your skin is melting.

Just like home!

Well home sounds like a wonderful place. And seems like your all doing way well. One thing, mom can you access my facebook and add my friends here in Mex, well those that have added me, and then post that I´m here in mexico and need support and cookies:) with my address, if you love me. Thanks a ton. Man, ski season is coming up soon. When I get home I get a new helmet right :) hopefully Josh still hasn´t figured out his is busted haha, well he will now know, better that he doesn´t ski in it haha. But Clark is a punk, tell him in two years I´ll have to kill in the mountains again. But for now I´ll let my little brother do it.

This week went way bad haha, to be honest, we started off the week terrible. Every lesson fell through every investigator fell through with their commitments. I was way bummed out. We had a couple of people that we thought could progress, sit back and do nothing, so the week started off way slow. But it was mixed in with a couple of good parts thank goodness. On tuesday the zone leaders came here for an interview. So we hiked them up the mountain and they were both dieing trying to climb it. They house is at the very top. They werent very happy. But they are both pretty fried in the mission so atleast we made them work. That put a smile on my face. Then on wednesday we had 2 baptism. One actually was a girl of the ward. But the other is the son of Jahara, it went way well. We got one of the Elders preparing to leave on his mission to do the baptism. And the 2 kids were pretty bummed out that I wasnt going to do it for them, but hey lifes hard ehh. Enrique the boy freaked out the first time he was dunked and didn´t want to enter the water again, till the little girl showed more guts then he did, So he couldn´t back down again. The spirit was way strong and we had 40 members there for the baptism.

Then the rest of the week, well went slow again, and really really hot. But saturday night we passed by some people and got in some lessons, and worked way hard to get people to come to church. Sunday it all paid off. The last couple weeks has been a bummer because we have had 1 or 2 investigators at church. This week we had 8. So that felt way good. Nike Mike, who killed a guy and spent his whole life in jail (not going to bap. him soon haha), Roberto (who we met sat. night and was extremely drunk, I have no idea how he remembered about church he is a bum so we will see what happens, not holding onto any hopes there) but a mom of one of the members, a brother of a member, and 2 other girls, the 2 girls gloriela and Dennis are the next ones I think we can baptise. They both seem pretty promising. The mom is a little hessitent to get bap. But it will happen.

So sunday started off good, then got better. We went to a stake leadership training. Or something like that in English. And the mission pres. gave the training. Well our Bishop started saying all this garbage about how he can´t do the things that the pres. asked him because he doesn´t want us missionaries to ask people to bap. so quickly and he doesn´t want people in his house (yeah way lazy and has no confidence in us) so the mission Pres. chewed into him. In spanish we say (le plancho) He ironed him haha, But the mission pres. ironed him nice and crispy. Like grandpa Glens old uniforms, solid as a rock with lines that you can shave with when your done. So that part of the day also made me pretty happy.

As far as transfers, I´m not 100 percent that I´ll get transfered. But I´ll have 4 and a half months here, so I´m guessing I will. The pres. he doesn´t like the people to stay for very long in an area. Oh and I pulled out, or more like dug out with the tip of a knife an ingrown toenail, and it hurt like haddies. But can you get uncle mike to write me how to do it correctly. You know your son isn´t going to go to some mexican doctor to get his foot off when the problem is only the toenail. So some instructions would be very helpfull. And a picture of my uncle in his race of something like that. I like to brag about him. And the picture mads took of the temple still. I want to give it to a little girl here who isn´t a member but gave me a tie. Love you all

Peace, Love, and the gospel is true, that doens´t mean the Bishops have to be.

We also caught 2 black widows, and 2 brown recluses, then had them all fight. Brown recluse was winning, he killed one black widow then the other recluse but the other widow finished him off then sucked up all his inards. way sweat.

Just Like Home

Alright, warning I may keep it short because i played all day and used up my time :) but it went well none the less. The week was pretty sweet. We are actually going to have a baptism, and although he only is 10 well I still get to get wet so I´m happy. No it´ll actually be way sweet. He is the son of Jahara, the investigator that is the strongest right now. We are headed to her house after this to eat Mole. I´ll tell you if its anygood next week. The only thing I know is before the mission I didn´t like it. and her they say that if you eat Mole you´ll be using the restroom the next day alot. So I´ve got alot to be excited for. But hey its monday and we are going to buy toilet paper so all is well in zion.

This week, all went really well...until one morning as I bathed myself. the water ran out? what...? exactly the water ran out? we had no....absolutly no water. I didn´t even know that was possible. I thought water was an indespesable and never ending resource that came from inside tubes, chlorinated and ready for drinking. but mexico teaches everybody something. That worst part is that after that happened. The next day we had trade offs, and my companion didn´t know. So he squated down and did his bussiness, how do you flush with out water? you don´t and in a house that in the day is 110 degrees it stinks...bad. Fortunatly in the morning there was water in the bowl and we could flush. But there was no running water, so instead of flushing. We used the water in the back of the toilet to bathe. Well I did my companion didn´t bathe, he is mexican and didn´t like the idea. you cant pick you cake and eat it to... So yeah, I bathed with toilet water. Then the next day saturday. Well we ran out of paper, and forgot to buy more... So sunday came around and well a make shift Badaii (no idea how to spell that) cleaned my off pretty well. and by that I mean I showered from the belly button down with freezing cold water. But you can´t get any better then that.

So this morning came around and when we got out, I threw out the idea to hike the peak again. So we hiked the peak again but this time we went and bought hot dogs, water, bread, ketchup, and chipotle mustard. so the peak went well, it was pretty sick, Elder Ventura is from Oaxaca where there are mountain, but we got up there and he acted like sammies friend who came for her wedding, he was way scared to be so high in a mountain, and thought he was going to fall right off haha :) it was pretty fun. The days are great here, and its starting to cool off a little. I sweat like a pig, or like a Jdub in a Mormon sacrament service, talking about how jesus died on a cross. And so yeah, I´ll love to see it be alittle colder here. But I´m actually going to change areas in 3 weeks so I´m not sure what It´ll be like in the next area. So far though, I´ve loved Mexico, its everything a bo could want... well not exactly, I can´t think of anything here anybody would want. But as far as the gospel its needed so I´ll bring my A game. and trust me I play a good game :)

Peace, Love, and Look at me, on top of the world.

Yep Costco!

Well fortunatly today, went really well. That is we woke up on a p day, got dressed and drove to Costco... Yep Costco. Thank goodness. It felt like home, its been a long time since I´ve been there. The only problem is that it is my week to buy the food. My companion started throwing food in the cart like it was black friday, and when all said and done we came out of there at 1300 pesos, like 100 dollars. Well he will be doing all the shopping for this month, but we shouldnt need much, So thats nice. But we got a pizza while we were there, they also have jalepenos in the mexico costcos, so the pizza was way good. Mostly everything there is like the states though. Except in spanish, and usually the brands arent as nice.

Well this week has been good, I got my first letter here in TJ actually 2 from gramsy and one from you guys, and my package from Deb. Thanks debbie everything is great. My feet feel alot better with the orthotics, I actually havent tried out the new shoes yet, I´m to proud of how they look haha, but I´ll break them in this week. They are sweet though. and how do I use the powder? I´m not really sure what to do with it. Mix it with water or just put it on my feet. Fortunatly I´m pretty used to blisters by now but I¨ll start to try to change that. I have had blisters on my feet since the first week here, and they just keep coming. But hey I´m not here to be comfortable and live like a king, The Lord is my strenght and really my feet don´t hurt much, I´m blessed by God that everything is going well. This week also, I´m guessing there is flees in my bed, or something like that. One of my shoulders has like 30 bites on it, and they itch like the dickens. I´ve been using alittle bit of lavender oil on  them but mostly just ask god that they don´t itch... and they don´t usually. So today, I´m washing my sheets, thank goodness... Ahh man, I just remembered I forgot to wash my towell :(.

We also went and did some service this week, there was a cement floor like 30X20 that a inactive member wanted torn up. So we went over there to do it. It wasnt bad, but the only tools we had were a shovel and a pick(well an oversized piece of rebar) so it took some serious work to get it all up. And I was the only one strong enough to actually tear apart the concrete.(Because only my companion and 2 kids were helping) and I was also the only one that knew how to use a shovel. So I did alot of work. But I enjoyed it all. My companion started working, and he hasnt done much before so he got 12 blisters on one hand haha how terrible eh:). But the service went well.

This week had its ups and its downs though. We had a date for baptism with a man (30 years old) for this wednesday) but a couple days after we tought the law of chastity, he chikened out. He says he doesnt want to give up the women, he name is estephan, its wierd because he quite smoking and drinking and everything... well in time I guess. The good part is that one of our investigators that we have had for 6 weeks now, Christina we went over there yesterday, and brought along a member. They both got along really well and she opened up to him, something she wouldnt do for use. Her doubts about bap. were that she didnt´want to quite dancing and didnt want to get married was fast. She thought that, we didnt dance and that if you were mormon you needed to get married way soon. haha, well after explaining that this isn´t the case, she will be baptised this wednesday. hopefully along with a girl named chuwe, like chewey, its a little wierd thats the nik name for Jesus. hmmm, how respectful.... Anyways, her records are lost so we will baptise her again haha caching caching haha:)

Anyways, to end the letter, I´ll do it with the wildlife here. This week I was futunate to see the beuatiful wildlife of TJ in its natural habitat. That is as a dog crossed the highway it was struck by a car, and as it flew about 100 meters, The person in the car began to honk at the dog like it would help it in the air.. well thats one habitat. The other was the nice cat that was under the car, as two dogs began to prowell, they cornered the cat, and as one grabbed it by its head the other by its feet they started to yank and yank, the cat screaming, and screaming. and then... the silence.. hmmm the beauty of animals living there lifes right here in TJ. man they are blessed.

Well peace, love, and Well I pray lots for all of you

Elder Rushton

Peace, Love, and The gospel is true

Alright, This time I did it right. We had two baptisms this week, They both went well smooth. The first Christina, was way ready. And it was way cool to Baptize her, The other good part was that she only weighed like 100 pounds so, I was a nice break from the other one. Fortunatly when god thows you down, he is always there to pick you back up to.
       I wish I had some stories from this week, or some stories about our investigators but we have none 0 zilch nada. And its hard, we knock alot of doors but need to knock more, and we do alot of walking but need to walk more. The area is huge, but the best place we think to find people is on the other end of the area, Its the poorest part, The people don´t have shoes, they steal electricity with barb wire wrapped around the electrical lines, and they don´t shower are clean anything. So it is perfect for finding new people. .. We hope. This week went well over all though. We had a day were we went to help out a different area, all of the zone was there and we went and knocked everything, it was actually way fun. I was with an Elder from Cali. Elder Mayo, and though he was alittle wierd, He trusted in God aton and so we got along well. Thats one thing that drives me crazy in my companionship right now. Is that we don´t pray... ever. like twice a day. So I pray alot in my head but we would have more success for sure if we used God more. but my companion is good. And I´ll be switching to a different one in 4 weeks here. So I don´t have to much more.
       Our other investigators are Melissa and Zochi, and one more in that house hold that I don´t know her name. Mellisa is 16 and has a kid, the other girl is 17 and has 1 kid, and lost 1 kid. That is pretty normal for TJ, If you are 17 and haven´t had a kid its pretty unuasul. And its not really frowned upon to be 16 and pregnant here, so people don´t tryto prevent it from happening. They don´t have plans for there lives so they figure way not have a kid. Its pretty lame, after that they can´t do anything. Anyways, the lessons with them have gone well, but they always have stuff to do on sundays so we arent making any progress with them. We have one date for baptism Juan, but he is pretty scared for some reason to be baptised, also another investigator is Maria Montiel. She is the mother of a member, and wants to be baptised, then the next day no, then yes, no yes no. So its been a struggle with her. And so we don´t teach Juan or maria much. There are other people her prepared to be baptised we just need to find them. That can be pretty hard though.
     The other good.... terrible part of this week is that it has been 110 degrees here, most the week. Not sure why people keep saying that the sun is exploding or something like that. but it is hot... hot hot... and I always were glasses, I have worn contact 2 times in the last 4 months. But with the heat and so much sweat they don´t stay on my face very well. But life is great. Oh and no I haven´t gotten anymore letters, but no worries they will come. But could you guys attach the picture maddie took of the BNTfl. temple in an email. And get Isaac to send me some pics of me and will climbing mountains and stuff. That one is important. The kid is doing good but keeps asking for them.
   Anyways, sorry the letter is short today, Life is good, and Im happy and healthy.

Peace, Love, and The gospel is true

The kite graveyard, Christina, and Yep its all true, Christ lives and reigns

Peace, love, and Mexico.... hmmm

Well another good week here in Terrazas. Lovin life here actually. Elder Ventura is way cool and so I´ve enjoyed the time we have had a companions. He is old so he knows alot and comes from oxaca and it seems like a pretty sweet place. He had a pretty hard life growing up but is a convert to the church 10 years back and no has a way strong testimony. When he grew up he didn´t have much money so somedays for food his dad would just put serrano peppers in water and some salt and lime juice like a broth. So we eat that at the house pretty often. It burn like the dickens but its pretty good. After we ate all the peppers he drank allitle of the juice, so just to be dumb (and I mean really dumb) I put the rest of the juice in my mouth and gargaled the peppers haha. Man those peppers burn. But its fun, people think I´ve got mexican decent because I like peppers. then I tell them that my father told me it would grow hair on my chest, nd I wanted to be a man. (Well I´m trying)

This week we had a bunch of highs and a bunch of lows. We found a new family that has 4 kids and the dad. They are all way excited to hear more. It actually turned out to be a funny week because we didn´t contact we had 14 new investigators with 12 contact, when we need to have 30-60. but because our numbers where good the leaders couldn´t chew us out haha. We worked hard but we just didn´t contact, in all honesty its feckless. Thats why they are switching it. ( they haven´t switched us over to straight member referals yet) We have been working with a bunch of people this week we had 12 that promised to go to church, and had rides for all twelve. Sunday morning came and we headed out to visit them before church, and one by one they all fell through. out of 12, 2 came to church. what a terrible ratio. But one of them is Broulio who we are going to baptise at the end of this week. A way cool kid, and way strong in the gosple so far, he read aton of the bofm and the pamphletes and stuff. I´ll be happy to see him baptised. Thats the power of the holy ghost...and a girl friend that a way strong member to drag you to church:)

Hmmm well someguy just came in the computer room and smashed a computer???? not really sure his purpose but he it was pretty weird. Just ran in grabbed a computer and threw it on the floor???? Mexico??? what ever happened to logic????  This week another lame thing happened to. We were sitting there at our desk studying when all of the sudden, we got a phone call asking where we were. Then the zone leaders told us they forgot to tell us but we had a zone conference with the assistants and the president. and it started 10 minutes ago. Well? thanks guys. We called up a member and fortunatly got there quick but still pretty lame. The conference went well, alot of it was on shutting our hearts, 4 missionaries got sent home this week. pretty lame to see people make bad decisions especially on the mission. They lose all there blessings and share a bad image of the church. in Mexico they leave at 18 for there missions and its suprising but that extra year cuts down alot on their maturity. So in the mission here you see that the people from the states have better leadership and follow alot better. Not always the case but usually.

Other bummer of the week, we have a 15 yr. old girl that has a kid and her husband but they aren´t married, she is named korina. and yeah we have taught her alot. this week I was way honest with her, and I laid it down like it was, She is scared to talk to her husband about marriage because he always says he doesn´t want it, so I told her just that, she took it way well and they both a progressing aton. But once again they didn´t come to church, we waisted a ton of time with them and so it was a huge let down. We had a family home evening and watch other side of heanen. All in all I was way bummed out. Of all the people I wan´t to see baptised right now it is her. Its just lame to see that they don´t have dreams or ambition in life, and the gospel changes all that.

Ohh haha, well my story for the week. We contacted a girl named natalie, as we sat outside her house, she appeared to be way interested. Even as the 7 people inside smoked weed, she stayed outside and played with her kid. We taught her a bit, and had huge hopes. She seemed golden, come to find out we went with her neighbor yesterday, and she said that natalie had passed by asking for me, said I was handsome and that she like me aton. When we found out about that, we laughed aton. It happens alot down here, but we´ve never fallen for it before. (and we thought she was golden) well another investigator dropped. Unlike alot of elders here, I´m not into baptising like that haha:)

Love you all
Peace, love, and Mexico.... hmmm