I like my new area and my new companion. We ride bikes everywhere. So, I`m always way tired when we get back home. We have a brand new chapel that was just built a few months ago. The ward is pretty small, though. Not many showed up this sunday. We had one investigator named Angel go to church yesterday. He`s really surprising me. When we first taught him he didn`t seem that interested. He`s a pretty care free guy. But he`s really progressed a lot. There seems to be a little bit of a lack of enthusiasm in this ward. I hope to change that before I leave this ward. The ward mission leader is great though. He just recently reactivated was sealed in the temple with his family after leaving the church for many years and now he wants to give all he`s got to help build up the kingdom of God.
My companion is from a city in the middle of the jungle in Peru and he`s great. He`s only been a member for about 2 years. So, he has a very sincere testimony and is really great a expressing his feelings for the gospel with people.
I have to admit I was kind of frustrated the whole week because I couldn`t figure out what would be my approach to the work in this new area and because I didn`t even know where we were half the time. However, I felt great peace on sunday as I sat in Sacrament meeting. I still don`t know exactly how I`m going to lift and encourage this ward, but I`m not quite as worried about it now as I was before.
It felt really weird to do divisions with the zone leaders in my old area on Tuesday, even though we didn`t visit that many people I knew when I was there. It was cool to find out that a couple of people that I had found and taught were later baptized after I left the area. Although, it was sad to find out that the majority of the people I baptized while I was there have gone inactive now.
How are the kids doing in school? Has Austin gotten in a wreck yet? Just kiding.
I love you
Monday, November 21, 2011
Nov. 14, 2011
Today they took me out of my area, Valsequillo, and guess where they put me. I`m back in Tlaxcala, in an area that borders, Totolac, the area I was in before. Actually, tomorrow we`re doing divisions with the zone leaders and I`m going to be going back to my old area. I couldn`t believe it. My calling said Mision Mexico Puebla, but for me they should call it Mision Mexico Tlaxcala. I`m excited though. They just barely built a chapel in this ward and I feel like there`s a lot of work to do. I`m with Elder Cabrera. He`s from the jungle of Peru and seems pretty cool. I`m going to miss my old companion a lot, Elder Foster. He`s training a new missionary now. He`s just so funny. He always made me laugh and made things a lot of fun. Elder Hurtado went home today. I got to see him one last time last night at a member`s house. I`m going to miss him. He taught me a lot. Memo got baptized on saturday and confirmed on sunday. I don`t know if I told you about him. He`s an 11 year old kid that`s living with Norma, the one who got baptized about a month ago. He`s such a good kid but he`s had a difficult life. I would love to talk more, but I have to go do a baptismal interview.
Nov. 7, 2011
I realize posting this letter from Brett is rather personal, but his testimony is so true and firm that I thought it might actually bless others as it does our family:
I know the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is true and that it is the only sure foundation for happiness in this life and the only way to live with our Father in Heaven again and become like Him. Mom, Dad, please whatever you do don´t stop doing the things you know are correct. Don´t stop reading the scriptures or praying or going to church or living the commandments. Don´t let this trial distance you from your Heavenly Father nor from his eternal truths. I know He lives and loves all of His children, and for that reason I will love and serve Him forever. (Rom. 8:35-39) Please don´t let differences and misunderstandings turn into hatred and animosity. The only real battle in this world is between us and Satan (Ephesians 6:12). We must not let Satan get hold of our hearts or we will end up mistakingly fighting against our very brothers and sisters that we lived with before we came to this earth. One other thing I feel I must tell you is that people can and do change all the time. We all make mistakes and, therefore, we all must repent, but if there´s one thing you learn serving a mission is the power of the Atonement and the Gospel of Christ to drastically change lives regardless of who they were before.
I love you all very much. I pray that you may be able to get through these difficult times and the other trials that lie ahead with your faith and hope still burning brightly.
Brett
I know the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is true and that it is the only sure foundation for happiness in this life and the only way to live with our Father in Heaven again and become like Him. Mom, Dad, please whatever you do don´t stop doing the things you know are correct. Don´t stop reading the scriptures or praying or going to church or living the commandments. Don´t let this trial distance you from your Heavenly Father nor from his eternal truths. I know He lives and loves all of His children, and for that reason I will love and serve Him forever. (Rom. 8:35-39) Please don´t let differences and misunderstandings turn into hatred and animosity. The only real battle in this world is between us and Satan (Ephesians 6:12). We must not let Satan get hold of our hearts or we will end up mistakingly fighting against our very brothers and sisters that we lived with before we came to this earth. One other thing I feel I must tell you is that people can and do change all the time. We all make mistakes and, therefore, we all must repent, but if there´s one thing you learn serving a mission is the power of the Atonement and the Gospel of Christ to drastically change lives regardless of who they were before.
I love you all very much. I pray that you may be able to get through these difficult times and the other trials that lie ahead with your faith and hope still burning brightly.
Brett
October 24, 2011
Just got back from playing baseball again with the zone. It was cooler this time because the cuban wasn´t burning in fastballs like last time. So, people were actually able to hit the ball.
Rosario, the wife of Carlos, a 32 year old returned missionary from Chiapas that just moved in right in front of us, was ready to be baptized next sunday, but it turns out that they´re not legally married. I think they would already be married if it weren´t for the fact that they both still have to finalize divorces. They such cool people though. Carlos speaks perfect english and Rosario is so receptive to the gospel. She´s already felt her answer that the Book of Mormon and the Church are true.
Maru and Javier, the older couple that went to stake conference last week were also willing to prepare for baptism the 6 of November, but to our surprise they aren´t married either even though they´ve been together for about 10 years. Maru started telling us about the problems her and Javier have had. Javier was willing to get married the next day. However, he hasen´t been the most faithful companion and, therefore, Maru still isn´t ready to marry him yet. I felt like a marriage counselor when they started telling us all about the problems in their relationship. It´s funny how much these probably 70 year old people trust me, a 21 old kid. They listened so atently to my advice. Javier is already like half through the Book of Mormon. So, I have faith that they´ll decide to get married and baptized soon.
Two other families went to church on sunday and it seemed like they enjoyed it. One of the families, the family gonzalez is getting very close to baptism even though they never want to accept a specific date when we teach them. They experienced a huge change in their life and their state of mind.
My birthday went pretty much just like any other day. Norma, the most recently baptized person we´ve taught, gave me a really nice blue sweater and made me some tacos dorados and that was about it.
I promise I´ll respond to Marc´s email next week. Right now I don´t have time.
Rosario, the wife of Carlos, a 32 year old returned missionary from Chiapas that just moved in right in front of us, was ready to be baptized next sunday, but it turns out that they´re not legally married. I think they would already be married if it weren´t for the fact that they both still have to finalize divorces. They such cool people though. Carlos speaks perfect english and Rosario is so receptive to the gospel. She´s already felt her answer that the Book of Mormon and the Church are true.
Maru and Javier, the older couple that went to stake conference last week were also willing to prepare for baptism the 6 of November, but to our surprise they aren´t married either even though they´ve been together for about 10 years. Maru started telling us about the problems her and Javier have had. Javier was willing to get married the next day. However, he hasen´t been the most faithful companion and, therefore, Maru still isn´t ready to marry him yet. I felt like a marriage counselor when they started telling us all about the problems in their relationship. It´s funny how much these probably 70 year old people trust me, a 21 old kid. They listened so atently to my advice. Javier is already like half through the Book of Mormon. So, I have faith that they´ll decide to get married and baptized soon.
Two other families went to church on sunday and it seemed like they enjoyed it. One of the families, the family gonzalez is getting very close to baptism even though they never want to accept a specific date when we teach them. They experienced a huge change in their life and their state of mind.
My birthday went pretty much just like any other day. Norma, the most recently baptized person we´ve taught, gave me a really nice blue sweater and made me some tacos dorados and that was about it.
I promise I´ll respond to Marc´s email next week. Right now I don´t have time.
October 17, 2011
Just got back from Africam Safari. We went as a district it was sweet! It was cool because the majority of the animals aren´t kept in cages. You just drive through in your car and see them roaming around freely. We also got to see, supposedly, the largest and most intact T-Rex skeleton in the world. I attached some pictures.
We had our stake conference yesterday. There were some great talks. I was a little disappointed because the gran majority of the people we´re teaching didn´t show up. However, this older couple we contacted in the street one day and then later taught went and sat in the very front row. They´re awesome! I can´t believe how receptive they are. Most people their age (I think they´re about 70) don´t want to know anything about our religion. They even met the mission president because he came to see a baptism in the ward.
I´ve struggling with my leadership position a little lately. I love my district. They´re all really cool and I´m glad I don´t have to worry about any problematic missionaries. However, sometimes I just feel like I´m supposed to train and help other missionaries when I, myself, still haven´t figured it out. I also feel bad sometimes becaue I have to be on everyone´s back about certain rules when I don´t even obey them all.
My companion actually talks, which is cool. But sometimes I feel like he distracts me a little. He´s always talking and likes to talk about things that don´t relate to missionary work. And I´m still planning everything and making the majority of the decisions. He sure does make me laugh a lot, though.
The muddy buddies you sent are delicious and the beef jerky was a little dry, but at least it wasn´t moldy this time.
We had our stake conference yesterday. There were some great talks. I was a little disappointed because the gran majority of the people we´re teaching didn´t show up. However, this older couple we contacted in the street one day and then later taught went and sat in the very front row. They´re awesome! I can´t believe how receptive they are. Most people their age (I think they´re about 70) don´t want to know anything about our religion. They even met the mission president because he came to see a baptism in the ward.
I´ve struggling with my leadership position a little lately. I love my district. They´re all really cool and I´m glad I don´t have to worry about any problematic missionaries. However, sometimes I just feel like I´m supposed to train and help other missionaries when I, myself, still haven´t figured it out. I also feel bad sometimes becaue I have to be on everyone´s back about certain rules when I don´t even obey them all.
My companion actually talks, which is cool. But sometimes I feel like he distracts me a little. He´s always talking and likes to talk about things that don´t relate to missionary work. And I´m still planning everything and making the majority of the decisions. He sure does make me laugh a lot, though.
The muddy buddies you sent are delicious and the beef jerky was a little dry, but at least it wasn´t moldy this time.
October 10, 2011
Norma and her son, Kelvin Alan, got baptized on saturday and confirmed on saturday. This was by far the weirdest baptismal service of my mission. Everything went fine with the 18 year old son, but after seeing him be baptized Norma freaked out and didn´t want to get in the font. Luckily we convinced and I got her all the way under the very first time. However, right after I pulled her up from the water she rested her head on me and just passed out. Seriously, she went totally limp in my arms. So, with the help of her son I just calmly brought her over to the side and she later recovered. but everyone was freaking out and trying to help. Later Norma told me about the experience she had and the things she saw when she was baptized. I don´t feel totally comfortable sharing them with everyone right now. When it comes to spiritual things she´s a little unusual, but the good thing is she feels extremely happy to have made the decision to be baptized and she says that she feels an enormous burden lifted off her. And her son is amazing. He is such a fast learner and has such a powerful testimony of the church. I´m almost positive he´ll serve a mission in the future.
My new companion is awesome. He´s a really funny guy and loves baseball and cars, and the best part is he actually talks when we teach a lesson or contact a person. Everyone thinks he´s mexican because he has way darker skin than me. He´s really easy to get along with. The only problem is he´s a huge fan of Utah football (haha).
The bishop of our ward is really awesome. He really is the motor behind everything in the ward. The assisstants left our ward for another area and now my zone leaders are in my ward. I was disappointed yesterday because the family that seems to be closest to baptism didn´t go to church yesterday neither did any other investigators. However, Patricia, just as faithful as always, did go. I´m so glad to have met her.
Where are you guys going to go skiing? How is Sean doing in school? What about Austin? What´s Marc´s favorite subject? When is Austin´s birthday? Is he excited to get his permit?
We went to the offices today for some visa stuff I had to do and I got your package with the beek jerky and the socks and everything. Thanks so much. You´re the best mommy.
My new companion is awesome. He´s a really funny guy and loves baseball and cars, and the best part is he actually talks when we teach a lesson or contact a person. Everyone thinks he´s mexican because he has way darker skin than me. He´s really easy to get along with. The only problem is he´s a huge fan of Utah football (haha).
The bishop of our ward is really awesome. He really is the motor behind everything in the ward. The assisstants left our ward for another area and now my zone leaders are in my ward. I was disappointed yesterday because the family that seems to be closest to baptism didn´t go to church yesterday neither did any other investigators. However, Patricia, just as faithful as always, did go. I´m so glad to have met her.
Where are you guys going to go skiing? How is Sean doing in school? What about Austin? What´s Marc´s favorite subject? When is Austin´s birthday? Is he excited to get his permit?
We went to the offices today for some visa stuff I had to do and I got your package with the beek jerky and the socks and everything. Thanks so much. You´re the best mommy.
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