New Years is Comin'

So cool story with the baptism of Zuleika! This week I interviewed Zuleika and she was very nervous. She is nine years old and was super anxious for the interview. So as I met her I got to show her the photos of my mom at her baptism and tell her about how she had been very nervous as well:) So as we began the interview it was the most amazing experience. I gave the first prayer and as I offered it, the Spirit was so powerful! In that prayer everything that needed to be said was said. The Lord had clearly told me as I prayed that she was ready and that He wanted her to be baptized. So when we began the interview it was not difficult. On Sunday she was baptized and it was a very powerful amazing baptism! Zuleika has such an amazing light. After her baptism we asked her how she felt and she said, "I felt something good, I dont know how to describe it but it felt really good!" (but in Spanish;) 

This week we had a great experience with the Mendoza fam. Sister Mendoza had been struggling - her tia is a Jehovah Witness and kept trying to bash her beliefs saying that there could be no more word of God that the Bible is everything. We read with her 2 Nephi 29 and afterwards was hilarious! She screamed out "Elder this is it this is it! Its all here! Why didn't you share this with me before!! There is so much right here!" They came to church again this week and brought the whole family. It's been amazing watching them grow again in the church:) 

Well Christmas was amazing! I love you guys! Thanks for writing me and sending pictures it means the world to see peoples faces! Love ya and see ya next week! 

My wonderful mission president & his wife. 

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Ok so this week was super cool. This family

is the best ever! We have been working with them for a long time. When we first met they had been super afar from the church. Well we went over this week and we saw a Christmas miracle! We knocked the door and they opened it with the biggest smiles asking if we wanted to come in. We had to get home and so we invited them to the Christmas dinner and they said they would be going and they'd be coming to church and I was shocked beyond belief. As we walked away Elder Newns said, "I think they saw an angel". We went back the next day in the morning to see what had happened. We knocked the door and again they all greeted us and we ate breakfast with them. Well to make an amazing long story short they had had an experience that changed everything for them. The mother, in her time away, had been trying everything to experience the same joy of having the Spirit in her life that she enjoyed as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ. She had gone to other Christian churches, political parties, service groups, she really ran the whole gauntlet. Well she described experiences she had away from the church and in short it had brought her back with a testimony stronger then ever! She shared her testimony of the divinity of the Sacrament and that nowhere else is it the same. That nowhere else is there the power to do so. That it simply just isn't the same and that the light in her life was not there without it. She told us about how her Heavenly Father throughout the whole experience never abounded her and that she was so eternally grateful that her Father in Heaven had thought her, that she truly came home knowing something she had never known before with a testimony stronger than ever. It was amazing! They came to the party, they came to church, and they brought three families with them, the kids are going to seminary and tonight they are having us over for a family home evening. It was amazing! It was the most real life prodigal son story I've ever seen! And wow is the light in their eyes amazing! 

Also this week I got a call, who remembers Pepe? Jose Luis? Well he was Elder Moss and I's brother we helped bring into the fold. Well they gave me a call and his wife is getting baptized and I do believe that he will be doing the ordinance. I was soooo happy all day I could not have had a bigger smile on my face. Part of it was that they called and me wanted me to be there. Well in the past I had wondered to myself if I had really done anything to help them because at the time I could hardly speak or understand the language. Well them remembering me and calling to tell me - wow that made my joy complete. I knew that that was a tender mercy from my Father in Heaven. Now in a year that family will be able to be a celestial family! I was sooo incredibly happy. I know this is God's work, this is His church. And God's plan doesn't work according to man's timing;  however it is perfect timing with a perfect plan! I love you guys and hope you have a great week,

The ward dinner

Our Christmas tree.

The district. 

The sisters left their door open when they went shopping?

Mission Christmas celebration.

Christmas is Coming!

So this week was great we had interviews again with Prez. This week we have zone conference and next week we have mission conference so it's a fun packed little bit around here. We had one cool experience this week. We went to this area to tract and started walking down one street and felt we should turn around. Turned right and felt we should go left. Not entirely knowing what our plan was but feeling very cold and a little bit like Nephi not knowing beforehand whither we should go. We then thought at the same time we should head in the direction of a LA named George. So on our way over we heard a little boy whistling outside so we stopped to talk with him. He let us in and the fam came together to let us share a message. So we taught the Plan of Salvation. Turns out this family had lost their uncle/brother recently and had been having a really rough time with that. The mom had also been struggling with depression. So we explained where her brother was, how she would see him again, how their family could live together even after this life with God again. We gave the mother a blessing and left. The next time we came back she had read the whole pamphlet we had left her and she loved it. Today we go to see them again:) 

Also this week we found a family in like manner when we talked to some boys in the street. Then their mom came rushing out to leave. She allowed us the chance to share just one quick video, so we shared our message and Elder Newns gave a great prayer! After the prayer we looked up and the mom was crying and said that they'd be coming to church! The next time we taught them the kids got it great! At the end they told us they used to go to their aunt's church but they weren't going to anymore because it wasn't the true church that they were going to come with us now hahaha, These kids were smart as a whip man! 

Well this past week was freezing! It was like 50 degrees (sometimes more, sometimes less) and I had on: wool socks and normal socks, thermal tights and my slacks, a sweater and my REI jacket, gloves, beanie, and a scarf! The wind with the humidity gets ya! After a summer of 100-125 degree days with the heat index to make a switch from last week week 90-100 to this, wow got me hahaha. I'm not used to it anymore! But its back up to a cool 65:) 

The members here are great! Last night we had FHE and it was all about loving your wife so Elder Newns and I just sat there and added little gospel bits to it hahaha:) So thats it because I've got to run, I love you all! 

Texas McAllen Temple

Well I really don't know what to write this week. Go Christmas! This week on an exchange we woke up at 4:30 to go pray with an investigator at 5 hahaha whatever it takes to make it. We put up our Christmas tree.. its a cactus. We met some pretty cool people this week, one asked if they could be baptized the next day at church, so that was exciting. I starting working on my family history this week, it is super cool to be able to work on the salvation of my family members on this side and the other side of the veil at the same time:) Prez is doing interviews this week, hurrah for that. But I don't have much to report this week. promise more news and photos next week, sorry family and friends, but I love you guys! 

For our district activity, we built our version of the future
Texas McAllen Temple!

Turkey Week :)

Most exciting news ... the Torres parents got married and baptized by prez! It was so awesome! So in one year from today they are heading to the temple! Maria asked for me to be able to come down so I was given permission:) The other missionaries are the ones who replaced me and continued teaching the Torres parents, Lundberg (in the red tie) is the one who replaced me in Beeville and baptized Cynthia. We make a pretty good team;) 

We had some cool experiences this week, here is just one: We were talking to this man on the street who was clearly not interested, he was telling us about he was part of Islam and Budismo (his words not mine) and I looked over and saw these girls behind this house and was impressed that we needed to go talk to them. So we venture off and we turn around the back of the  house and they are having a birthday party. So we announced we were there for the party and the people laughed and one lady pointed to this young woman and said she didn't speak Spanish. So we turned to her and just about opened our mouths when she lets out a sigh of relief and says, "I'm a member of the church." Boy was she glad to see us! A long story short, she had been adopted at a young age and grew up in Washington as a member of the church. Well after her baptism at the age of 8 her family went inactive and she came back on her own at the age of 15. She had been going to BYU-I and had in a moments notice found out about her biological family in the most southern point of Texas. Feeling that she needed to figure out a few things for herself she took a two day straight bus trip down here and found out indeed it was her family. Well her mother being sick and currently facing her death bed, this young woman had been down here for close to two weeks. Just before we came over she had been texting her mom back in Idaho that she didn't believe there was any church members, chapels, or missionaries down here. Well after that conversation she came outside and saw us and still didn't say anything but the Spirit prompted us to come over and we began to teach her family. While sharing our message her aunt's eyes began to well up and it was amazing! Now we are teaching the whole family and extended family, I know God used us to answer her prayers whether they were spoken or not and that our Heavenly Father has a plan for them to receive the gospel and that she is a part of it and that we were blessed to be there that day! I know God uses his children to bless one another and he has a plan for each and everyone of us. He prepares us line upon line and precept upon precept and he won't stop until we come home! I love this work and I know this is the same church Jesus Christ established when He was on the earth the first time. I know He is our Savior and Redeemer and leader even today. He never quits on us, even if we quit on Him!

Celebrating with the Torres family.

My favorite people in the whole wide world came down to visit!

Elders Browning and Ivey yes both single for all the single ladies out there, 

hit em up, they're in Utah! 

Me, Ivey & my first comp ever, Elder Stewart

Me & Browning

Turkey bowl for the zones.

The district after the turkey bowl.

Confirmation!

Well the week was swell:) We are teaching a ton of less active members right now and we have some pretty cool peeps we are teaching too. We had chilly mornings this week so I took every chance I had to wear a sweater, I love them so much! 

Marco was confirmed and it was so great! We walked in right after the first song and I thought at first he wasn't coming and then out of nowhere he walked up to be confirmed, haha, It was such a great moment and a powerful confirmation! After we removed our hands from his head he looked up and had this amazed look on his face and was filled with joy it was so awesome! I was ready to give a good shout but in the middle of the sacrament meeting probs wasn't the best place to do it haha:) 

Right now the ward here is growing so quickly! People are coming back, and for the first time in forever we are having baptisms here! The attendance used to be 60'-70's and now we fill the chapel with about 100 people. It is such a blessing to see the Lord's hand at work here in La Joya preparing the valley for a temple! I know this Church and the Gospel of Jesus Christ are true and I love it with every fiber of my being. I love you guys and I'll talk to you again soon! 

Lunch with the district.

Abandoned soccer building.

Trying to look suave ... it's not working. :)

This cool paneria has the best churros!

Stayin' Put for the Holidays

First sweater day.

So this morning when we came home from getting our food from Walmart, we came back to a swarm of bees at our door and then they started crawling under the door in a crack, so there is probs about 20 bees in there right now. We turned the temp down to 45 degrees hoping it will put them to sleep so we can kill them.

Some cool up dates I found out about recently: 

I don't know if ya'll remember Cynthia or not but I taught her in Beeville and got bounced out just before she was baptized and she was baptized right after I left. Well when she was there all of her extended family had come down for the funeral and we taught them the first three lessons and got them started on the Book of Mormon. Since then all of her extended family have been baptized and Cynthia's daughter will be turning 8 soon and so she will being baptized soon enough, and in less than a year Cynthia will go to the temple to be sealed for time and all eternity to her husband and family! 

In Mission we baptized the Torres team, well we were working hard with them on teaching their parents when we left. News is that they will be getting married and baptized hopefully this coming weekend! So that was awesome and then they too can go to the temple to be sealed! God is busy at work down here in south Texas! 

Marcus was baptized yesterday and it was awesome! I asked him why he wanted to be baptized and he said he wanted to be a disciple of Christ and help other people! He is so converted it is awesome! This coming week we are going to get him a white shirt and tie and he will be confirmed and receive the Aaronic priesthood this coming week and then the following week bless the Santa Cena! He was so happy when he came out of the water he bounced up and had the biggest smile on his face it was amazing to see! So hopefully soon his sister will follow suit and go down into the waters of baptism with her husband (hint: pray for it please)

The district here did not change at all so we'll be here for Thanksgiving and Christmas together haha:) Well I love you all - the work is alive.

Marco and his family on baptism day.

Week 5 with mijo is over!

So this week was dope. Prez called us all up for another MLC and he taught us how to work with members, I don't know how he does it, it's all from Preach My Gospel but I swear what he teaches us is nowhere in there! Prez teaches with so much power and authority it's ridiculous! Hey someone vote for me please, but do a write in: Jose Torres! 

This week has been crazy we have been consistently running all over this place and teaching people. All was good on Saturday night for all of our peeps to come to church the next day, well each one having small children in the families, woke up Sunday morning with sick children and decided to stay home to take care of them. :(

This week was pretty much the same thing as always. We went to seminary this week, all the norms. So I guess I'll share something I've been thinking about this week and I'll leave the rest for you to think about. 

When we are baptized we make a covenant with God, part of that promise is that we will take the name of Christ upon us. So not only do we believe in him but we are literally His disciples and we represent Him. So our purpose should be to become like Him. In Alma when he talks about Adam and Eve it says that in the moment they partook of the fruit they became like gods so that's what God wants for us. So in the scriptures there are two things that we can do to be saviors and so be closest to the savior of the world Himself. 

First is to be a savior on Mt Zion which is to participate in temple work and the other is to be a savior among men which is to do missionary work. So with that being the basis, I want to share this scripture from Helman 5: 

And it came to pass that the [people of South Texas] said unto him: What shall we do, that this cloud of darkness may be removed from overshadowing us? And [Elder Harker] said unto them: You must repent, and cry unto the voice, even until ye shall have faith in Christ, who was taught unto you by Alma, and Amulek, and Zeezrom; and when ye shall do this, the cloud of darkness shall be removed from overshadowing you. And it came to pass that they all did begin to cry unto the voice of him who had shaken the earth; yea, they did cry even until the cloud of darkness was dispersed. And behold, the Holy Spirit of God did come down from heaven, and did enter into their hearts, and they were filled as if with fire, and they could speak forth marvelous words. And it came to pass that there came a voice unto them, yea, a pleasant voice, as if it were a whisper, saying: Peace, peace be unto you, because of your faith in my Well Beloved, who was from the foundation of the world. And now, when they heard this they cast up their eyes as if to behold from whence the voice came; and behold, they saw the heavens open; and angels came down out of heaven and ministered unto them. 

So I was thinking about this and the absolute joy that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ receive when we participate as the Savior did and as we promised we would. I know that before this life we made promises to our brothers and sisters that we would come unto them and bring them the light of the Gospel so that whether it is in this life or the next, that they can have that joy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in their lives. I love seeing people's lives changes and the light in their eyes change too. I know that Christ lives and that he loves us. That God hears our prayers and answers them. I know that as members of His church that we've made that promise to act and that when we do God can use us to answer His children's prayers and change their lives. I love you all thanks for writing me! 

We did a quick, 5 minute photo session of a typical missionary morning so mamma wouldn't kill me for not sending photos. Enjoy!

We don't have many weights so I bought stretchy bands
to use to increase resistance.

Bueno

So on Sunday I was given the opportunity to talk in Church again and so I had prayed that I would be humble and that I could follow the Spirit on what the Lord wants me to say, well on Sunday morning I woke up sick as a dog I think Satan poisoned the frijoles lol. So my prayer was answered:) The whole experience led me to share this scripture from Alma 26:11-14:

"But Ammon said unto him: I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God. Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever. Behold, how many thousands of our brethren has he loosed from the pains of hell; and they are brought to sing redeeming love, and this because of the power of his word which is in us, therefore have we not great reason to rejoice? Yea, we have reason to praise him forever, for he is the Most High God, and has loosed our brethren from the chains of hell."

It was a wonderful sacrament meeting the sisters also spoke and sang and the Spirit was super strong - it was great:) During church we went out to the car to grab an airborne and the Bishop ran out after us and asked,"Elders! Where are you going?" and we said just to the car and he told us that Sister Cruz said that her son wants to be baptized and maybe his wife too! Well that 'bout made my Sabbath Day. So we are going to meet them this week and share a message. I'm super excited!:) 

This week was full of experiences like that. We knocked on one man's door and he yelled "what?" but when he came to the door and saw us standing there he gathered all his kids and asked us to sit down and teach them. They too expressed their desires to go to church, change their lives, and be baptized, It was super dope! This week we also were referred to a friend of a member. So we went to visit her friend Maria and she cuts hair for a living and right as we walked in she had just finished up with a cut:) Well we walked in grabbed her broom and she was like no no I'll do it but we told her she worked enough that'd we'd sweep it and so we talked to her as we swept and she said she had always had the question what is the true religion or church of God and well she was talking to the right guys we perked up instantly and shared with her the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and she was so excited! So we get to see her this week too lol:) 

I love you all and may the Spirit be with you! 

Solid Week in Texas

So I thought I'd feel you in a bit on the peeps here in La Joya:) 

We taught a lady this week named Maria De Los Santos, what a perfect name I thought being that the name of the church in Spanish is La Iglesia de Jesucristo DE LOS SANTOS de Los ultimas Dias. So when we were first teaching her we had stopped to look at our map and I looked up to find an address when I saw her standing outside her house. So I waved and she waved back, and I had the thought come to me, "you prayed for the Lord to put people in your path", well we all know that was the Spirit! So I told my companion, "Come on Elder Newns we're going to talk to this lady!" So as we began to teach about the Book of Mormon her face lit up and she said there are prophesies of other books coming forth in the Bible and we told her yes this is the fulfillment of that prophesy! Well the next time we went back we sat down with both her and her husband and as we taught she would ask us to look up random scriptures in the Bible that would testify of the message of the Restoration. She would say things like "you see it testifies that there would be an apostasy and that Christ would restore the truth again in the last days." Well I think that about did it! Her family is amazing! 

That same night we had the thought while driving to go visit Ever, an investigator we hadn't talked to in a bit. Well turns out that very same day he had left the house, after getting hooked on drugs in Mexico and then being caught under the influence driving here in America the family was left with little ones, a mother and family members that were enduring a lot. Well God lead us to them and we were able to share a message of Christ and of hope. Well God had answered their prayers and it was amazing. Ever's sister said the last prayer and it was so filled with the Spirit! They came to church on Sunday and they loved it. The tough Mexican mama said she had come to church just to accompany her daughter but said she left really being accompanied by her daughter that when she was there all she felt was love and peace. 

It's been an amazing week! Sorry no photos but I hope that the email makes up for it just a tiny bit:) I love you all and know that God hears and answers our prayers in his perfect timing! 

Week Went Good

We were led by the Spirit into a sister who was not on our list but apparently was a member of our church. She said she had only not been because her car had broken down several months ago and she had no way to fix it! Well we jumped on it real quick! By the end of the week the members had rallied together and she was driving herself to church in her brand new minivan with all her family (who are not members) in tow behind her. Watching this sweet old sister take the sacrament again was the greatest feeling! Truly a new light and a new life has entered into her life again since the start of the week when we found her. God truly is working miracles. :) I love you all and will write more next week take care! 

We cooked a super bomb meal for the sisters!

My papie, me and mijo.
(Translation: that elder that trained me and the elder I am now training)

Mijo Came!

Well this week was dope. We white washed the area and they left us zero notes... lol so picking Mijo up and bringing him home to a big surprise was hilarious. I'm in La Joya, finally near my district, it is the best thing ever! I'm training Elder Newns - just stepped off the plan last week and he is super great. The Lord has got me this time, new area (and they left us nothing, but its really just a clean slate;), three greenies in the district and so on lol lets just say this last week might have been a slight bit stressful lol. But life is all good:) 

Chavey & I with our new trainees who were MTC comps.

Elder Newns is great! The guy's down to try anything I love it. To quote him this week on how some Mexican candy tasted "This tastes like packing peanuts covered in dirt! I really don't get this whole chili thing here.." Lol I love him. 

This week was great we got to have another MLC (mission leadership conference) and so I got to listen to Prez open los cielos for a couple of hours - it was amazing! This week we saw a lot of tender mercies from the Lord. The second day we couldn't even figure out what our area is so we called a member and managed to get there off most of a map that we found. Well we sat and ate with them and as we talked three other families from the ward at different times just walked in and turns out they are some of the most bomb members of our ward too! One even said after conference she had felt inspired to share the gospel and had a friend that she wanted us to teach! 

We also walked right into a less active member this week and invited her back after months of being away from the church. Miracles like that happened all throughout the week so it was a really great blessing. There is a ton of work to be done here but the Lord has given us the tools to make it happen and I know He's behind this work! I love you guys and please share the gospel this week!

Cleaning a member's car before the transfer.

The wonderful Torres family.

My work area.

Conference Was Dope!

Well Conference was dope!! So please APPLY or there is no point to the conference. This last week was sweet. We went by every former investigator that had ever been to church which meant records that went back to 2004 but hey they might still live there. So we did it and we went by everyone we could. Well we knocked on the door of one and this young woman came to the door and we started talking to her. Well she was off to work so we asked for just one scripture to bless her day before work. She agreed and next we went from a scripture to sharing a lesson and her deciding she wanted to be baptized. So we came back to teach her later that night after work. We sat down with the whole fam and began teaching. Turns out she had been to church before and wanted to be baptized in the past but better yet her brother was baptized years ago when he was dating a member and we had no record of it so we can help them all out and she really wants her brother to start going back too. on top of all that in the middle of the lesson she asks, "Part of baptism is repenting right?" And we responded of course, to which she says "good because that's something I really want to do! I want to close out the old chapter to my life and begin a new one, I'm older now and I feel like I really know what I want".  To quote my comp "Frijole!" It was awesome! So we left her with a Book of Mormon and invited her to church. Two days later we go by to knock her door before church and she had read and was already getting ready for conference and says, "oh I'm bringing a friend too is that ok?" Um heck yeah that's ok! It was sick! She loved conference and is going to be baptized in a week or two, I'm sad I won't get to be here to see it but it was an awesome week with Evelyn!

Well I get a new area and only a few changes in the District I'll let you know when I know more:) Love you all!!!  

I got to eat lunch with Stewey my fav missionary in the whole world
(also my ccm compa) and sister Rivera my homie from Beeville it was great!

Macdaddy

Great to see Elder Spencer!

The great Quintina fam. 

Pena & his fam, they are the best.

Viviana, the best member ever!

The last bbq.

Un bodega.

Vasquez the homies!