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.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
September 26,2011
Transfers are next monday. I have I feeling I`m going to be staying, but you never know. I figure I`ll only have one more area before I finish my mission. I kind of want to get sent to some little branch out in the middle of no where, just to see what it`s like.
I`m excited for General Conference. It will be that last time I see it as a missionary.
Elder Scoville and I are still having a hard time working with unity. I`m just not sure how to motivate him. We put some good goals during our weekly planning session, but we haven`t been achieving them. I hate to see him leave without feeling like I really helped him in any way.
I still feel like I`m not reaching my potential. Elder Hurtado was giving me some advice and sharing with me some of his successes the other day and I just couldn`t believe. He said that that week he and his new trainee had taught 18 lessons with member and that there was one week in which they taught 21. In one transfer they`ve already baptized 6 people. He said that the work has been pretty easy now that he understands how to do it. I know I shouldn`t compare myself with other missionaries, but I just wish I could be as happy and successful as that guy sometimes. I feel like I should be able to achieve the same things seeing as we`re all children of God, but I can`t. Why? It`s funny, because Elder Hurtado is always the one that brags about me so much in front of everyone, saying I`m a wonderful missionary and everything. The other day he even told the President to not fear making me the asistant. I was like hey, hey, I don`t want to be the asistant. It`s hard enough to be district leader.
Hope all is well, love,
Brett
I`m excited for General Conference. It will be that last time I see it as a missionary.
Elder Scoville and I are still having a hard time working with unity. I`m just not sure how to motivate him. We put some good goals during our weekly planning session, but we haven`t been achieving them. I hate to see him leave without feeling like I really helped him in any way.
I still feel like I`m not reaching my potential. Elder Hurtado was giving me some advice and sharing with me some of his successes the other day and I just couldn`t believe. He said that that week he and his new trainee had taught 18 lessons with member and that there was one week in which they taught 21. In one transfer they`ve already baptized 6 people. He said that the work has been pretty easy now that he understands how to do it. I know I shouldn`t compare myself with other missionaries, but I just wish I could be as happy and successful as that guy sometimes. I feel like I should be able to achieve the same things seeing as we`re all children of God, but I can`t. Why? It`s funny, because Elder Hurtado is always the one that brags about me so much in front of everyone, saying I`m a wonderful missionary and everything. The other day he even told the President to not fear making me the asistant. I was like hey, hey, I don`t want to be the asistant. It`s hard enough to be district leader.
Hope all is well, love,
Brett
September 26,2011
Marc, I love you. You`re awesome. What more can I say? I miss you just as much as you miss me, but I think we will find that we have grown even closer during this long time we`ve been apart. It`s like they say, you don`t really know what you have until it`s taken from you. Luckily, it`s only 6 months left until we can see each other again. I hope that you never doubt your own potencial and that you learn to trust in your Heavenly Father with all your heart while you are still young.
Love,
Brett
Love,
Brett
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