Finally in Spanish!

I'm in Alton now:) Transfers were crazy. I got a call from the zone leaders and they told me I had been called to train and I was like wow, I've always wanted a "son" and was getting super excited, but then that night I was called by the AP's and well, the son must be a late bloomer:( But I'm now the district leader in Alton and our district is brand new, didn't exist before, and it's a relief society! We have some super great sisters:) It's been so fun and crazy this week! 

I'm finally in Spanish! And for the first time since the CCM I gave a talk in Spanish lol. It was so bomb! I spoke like I would in English it felt amazing and the place was packed - we had 225 people there so a lot of trying to remember names lol. I focused a lot on the sacrament and it was super spiritual and super direct. Then my comp followed my talk and I thought we looked like Alma and Amulek when Alma sat down and his companion stood up and the people began to be amazed because of the two testimonies, and really just because Elder Chavez is a stud! 

We have met the coolest people and seen so many miracles. One thing that really touched me was this one lady we talked to - we didn't have time to stay long but we at least could say a prayer, well after looking up she was crying, she had felt alone when she had walked out of her house and she knew from our prayer that God had sent us there:) Well I love you all God loves you and thank you for the emails!

One of my favorite families!

Transfers

Well sorry I'm writing so little this week. I'm being made a trainer and I find out tomorrow who it is and where I'm going. Laredo was great! Learned some much and I'm glad for every bit here:) It felt like maybe one week total but I'm excited for the adventures ahead:) 

We made smoked corn soup or whatever it is called and dad's brownies for the Herrera fam this week and they loved it! And they said to tell Mama Harker she knows how to cook, they loved it!! And this time I didn't mess it up lol. It was super nice to have some home comfort food on a Sunday evening:) 

Cokes from a lady that must love us.

How Elder Scott cooks.

Our ward bbq and our missionary booth with the Plan of Salvation on the ground :) 

This taco truck gave us free snow cones! What a nice guy:) and of course Tacos:) 

7-11 fill your own container

One Last Week Before Transfer

So some cool things happened this week. Prez came up and had interviews with everyone and they were awesome! Dude is literally one of the 12 from 3rd Nephi. We had a meeting with all the leadership in the district, the missionaries, and Prez with a focus on bringing a temple here to Laredo and helping the Laredo district become a stake. One thing that was super cool was in this meeting President Torres said he doesn't just see a stake here, he sees a north and a south, one in Brownsville and a temple in McAllen, south of the check point. In the meeting we talked about vision. Without a vision nothing ever goes anywhere; well for a long time that has been what Laredo has lacked. That changed this past week. A temple south of the check point will change literally millions of lives! Thousands of people that can't go to the temple now, faithful Saints who have waited for years will be able to go and receive those saving ordinances for themselves. and millions of deceased ancestors that have been waiting and cheering on the work on the other side will finally be able to enter into the kingdom of God. President says to us the people here in Laredo now will change Laredo forever. Nothing will be the same and Zion will be established. I have never felt such an urgency for the work. The Savior is alive and so is His work. For the first time in as long as the members here can remember the back doors to the overflow were opened! This is the work and the church of Jesus Christ I am so happy and excited to be a part of it here. 

The district biking

Serious bbq-ing.

Enjoying our district bbq & music thanks to my comp.

Best tacos ever!

Four hours of pick axe on this stump!

I swear it's bigger than it looks!

Getting schooled by my mission president in cage ball.

Elder Powell is heading back to the mission office. :(

Our new trio: Elder Packer, Elder Scott & me.

My comps working the phones. :)

Starting Week 5 in Laredo

So yesterday was one fantastic Sunday. I was blessed with the opportunity to share my testimony in two different branches last week it was so much fun. But I kinda want to share with ya'll a bit of what I talked about then. This past week or so have been super rough but it's those weeks that I'm always most grateful for in the long run. We had person after person drop us or cut off all communication. I ran into the most rude group of doors I've ever knocked in my life, which normally doesn't get to me, and one thing after another it simply added up to fill up the cup and leave room for seconds. I saw a talk on lds.org this week that was titled "The gift of being broken" what an oxymoron that title seemed to me. But through this past week or so that's what I'd say I felt and saw. Though things got to be more and more rough God's loving hand seemed to be more and more present. When I felt burden like a one man army fighting against all of Laredo ready for at any moment the white flag to be thrown in Heavenly Father was there every time comforting with the Spirit. When I needed to see some sign of hope God would send some sort of an angel. Whether it be a member or another missionary or a nice honk God was there through and through the whole way. So at the high point of the week ready to bring all of our friends to church with us... well not a single one came. Not a single promise kept. You can image I was feeling pretty low, and when we got to church another blessing was waiting. Members sitting ready with smiling faces still coming in ready to take the sacrament. the sight was enough to make me cry. Through that whole Sunday I felt Gods love for us and that all is well, all is well. So I'm doing great now, God lives and miracles are on the way, Moroni 7:22.

This little Mexican man is the sweetest man ever! We had a schedule change with President Torres and now we leave our apartment at 10 instead of 12 and we spend the fist two hours of our day looking for lost sheep. Well this day we met two members that hadn't been to church in years and a host of other people and this wonderful little man. He is a member but goes to a Spanish branch. Well that little bike is all he has and he is pretty old so he doesn't get around as fast as he used to. He waved so we decided to turn back and talk to him. turns out he fitted the church with electricity way back in the day but now life has been hard on him and he doesn't really have much of anything left. He doesn't have a phone and didn't have a way to get across Laredo to get to church. He gave us his address (lives on Canada st if that's not a sign;) and asked if we could get him a ride. So we left him with a pray and a picture of Christ well he took that little photo and gave Christ a kiss and said this is my brother, I love him, and then he said you are my brothers too, I love you, I love missionaries. This little tender mercy was the highlight of my day. This man's eyes couldn't have been brighter, surely God cares about each of his children and cares for the 1 lost in the 99. 

The world's most expensive ice cream!

Belated birthday celebrations.

Horse tacos.

Life in Laredo

So this week was pretty rough. So I haven't told ya'll a lot about Rosana but here's a little bit about her. We met Rosana the second day we were here and she was amazing! She felt the Spirit she did everything we invited her to do she was so excited for her baptism. Well on Saturday morning She told us she was done. Her mom told her no more and that was it. We talked with her prayed with her did all that we could do but she said "guys I know its right and I want to be baptized but Im going to follow my mom on this one even though she's not always right I know she wants the best for me." 

Well that was it. She asked us never to come over again. So this kinda was a sucky way to start a day but after all was done, She had chosen, and God respects our agency too much to ever force us to do anything. 

When I was thinking about this  a scripture came to my head: Ether 12:6 "And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith."

So we all have trials, us, Rosana, you, me, everyone. But I know that God has a perfect plan for each one of His children. He will provide a way for her to accept the Gospel again I know it. and as for the work here God has someone else he wants to be taught and enter into His kingdom we just have to be faithful. 

Splits with Elder Scott.

Loved seeing Jose & Saul from San Benito days!

I learned to make enchiladas.

Finally froyo in Texas

My cool new command hook light for studying.