"The major work of the world is not done by geniuses.
It is done by ordinary people who have learned to work in an extraordinary manner."
No comment needed for this photo- as their faces tell how they feel about the mission. These boys have figured out how to forget themselves and get to work.
What a blessing each one is to the Mexico Pachuca Mission.
President
thank you so much for that blessing it has
helped me so much. i know that i just have to grow up and not worry about my
problems and instead worry about the problems of other people. i have been trying that
this last week and it has really helped me alot. i am finally starting to learn
how to forget myself and go to work. and it has been amazing- the misión is so
much better when you figure that out. so thanks for everything president love
you
Elder ____
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Mondays are a special day... its the day they get ready for ... the rest of the week.
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This has easily been the best week of my mission!
Training is incredible. I have a great companion that is
working so hard and I see so much potential in him. If it were up to me, I
could do this every six weeks until I am headed home! We have had some
disappointments and setbacks, as in any companionship, but we are both working
in unity and determined to see a drastic change here in "________". I know that
the Lord himself sent me Elder ______ to do just that, and it has become so
clear to me in the past couple days that he is the person indicated to do so.
Our first few days here I was so lost in the area. We
have really learned to depend on the Lord. Despite our inadequacies, he has
put people in our path that can progress and have desires to follow the Savior.
We have achieved this divine help because of our new focus on the Doctrine of Christ
and Obedience with Exactness. As we have been led to knock inspired doors, and
do inspired contacts, it has strengthened my testimony so much that this is the
Lords work, and we are just living the privilege of playing a small part,
through our obedience and diligence. We have also prayerfully sought the Lords
help in exciting the members and have seen such a difference in their attitude
about the work. We are finally starting to work the way the ward wants. As we
have applied your counsel to visit their Elders, Relief Society Members, etc.
to rescue, that we will also find investigators and help them fulfill their
calling, I can testify that your promise has already begun to be realized. We
are working hard, and so excited to the what the Lord has in store for us here!
As we have put inspired goals and thought of people
instead of numbers, we have worked so hard and done everything to fulfill them
because we know that they are the LORDS goals for this area and if we don't come
through we will let him down. Through that effort, we are finally beginning to
see fruits of our labors and know that that will continue.
I want you to know that the change in the mission rule
regarding baptism stirred my heart. Real Converts. People that will see this
through to the Celestial Kingdom. I love what John Taylor always said,
"The kingdom of God, or nothing." Anything less would be a travesty.
I love you and sustain you completely.
Have a great week!
Elder __________
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Elder Gil (left) ROCKS!
He took his English Language Test and scored very high. So proud of him. Elder Flores (right) is working on his language study daily too.
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"Future" missionaries came in to meet us and have a quick tour of the mission office. The tour was quick as its one big room, storage room (behind us) and Presidents office. But I took a few minutes and showed them all the missionaries pictures in Presidents office and how he has them split in zones and companionship's. I explained to them how transfers are physically made on the board and when a picture is turned a certain way it means something different:
- 1. Tilted 1/4 turn means moved to new area/ new companion
- 2. Turned sideways means new leadership assignment
- 3. Turned upside down means "Have no idea what to do or where to put this missionary"
- 4. Pictures in a vertical line down the left side of the white board means going home the next cycle
Then before they left I shared how much I loved each of those #126 missionaries specifically. Then I reminded them to keep the commandments and to come to the mission with everything on the table when interviewed by their Bishops and Stake Presidents so that they come with no guilt or regret on their shoulders. Instead, "square with the Lord" and ready to serve.
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"Got Toothpaste?"
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S'Mores Anyone?
So this darling Elder Rodas had a damp shirt and thought he would just place it over their portable space heater to get dry. With-in 30 seconds it had burst into flames. "Its dry!"
Elder Bickley was in the shower and could hear his companion all of a sudden start yelling "Ahhhh...ohhhhh...." and when he jumped out of the shower to check on him there was smoke and flames. Making memories in Mexico!
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"A Day at The Ranch"
Elder Loza and Elder Ceballos spent the day at the Bishops Ranch helping fix fence and enjoying the beauty of the outdoors. The Bishop and his wife are so kind and such great hostesses'. They treat our Elders with the ut-most love and respect.
Service makes you smile... even if you don't want to smile! Elder Bickley and Elder Rodas helping this sister apply a glue like substance to her walls. She was so grateful as Elder Bickley is tall enough to reach the very top. Thanks Elders for being helpers in the Kingdom.
.... their service didn't stop there. They then helped the sisters hang curtains which was no easy job as the solid concrete walls became a challenge.
They even tried to reinforce it with "Super-Duty Adhesive".
Thanks for taking care of your sheep ...
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Our Assistant (Elder Loza-left) and Zone Leader (Elder Oliver -right) went to study with Elder Sic and Elder Castro in Pachuca Centro Apan area.
These two Elders have a cute little home and take great care of it. They requested a few curtains which is on my "To do List".
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Zone Conference Pachuca Mx (Tuesday)
This zone has two great zone leaders that put some amazing time into an incredible power-point that was beneficial to follow as they taught the principles they had selected. This zone had great participation in attendance from local leadership which made it so effective and helped strengthen that bond.
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They LOVE getting packages from home! (left) and Elder Ceballos with one of his little friends from the ward (right)- who he says is like his "little brother".
What a great district in Mezquital. They always look so sharp!
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Zone Conference Tecamac I (Wednesday)
Excellent Conference as the Zone Leaders set the spiritual tone and were so organized and aware of there time frame. They nailed the practices with evaluation and re-practices that were effective. Elder Cardon and Elder Moreyra did an object lesson that you can see in the pictures below. They rolled sheets of paper into tubes. They made the presentation that one tube can't withstand the weight of hymnbooks and a box with a heater in it. But #9 pieces of paper rolled as tubes (missionaries, ward council members, ward mission leader, and members of the ward) all play an important role in carrying the weight of The Work of Salvation and as a group can accomplish so much more than one person alone. President was very impressed and happy with the day.
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Tecamac I- Montes 2
The Home Tour Continues....
After Zone Conference we took two sets of Elders home so we could tour their homes for safety and cleanliness. Elder Mendoza and Elder Tuft have a quaint little home with wood floors and colorful wall accents. Can you find the bathroom door? Also they do all their laundry by hand as you can see it hung up to dry on their back porch. Moms you should be so proud of these two!
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Tecamac I- Montes I
Home Tour Continues...
Elder Jacobson and Elder DeLeon have a great little home nestled in the back of a quiet street. They live next door to a member of the Bishopric and so that is awesome. Their home was in perfect order not a thing out of place. When we asked them if they needed anything of course they said "No". So I asked them if their burner worked and they paused..."well it shorts out when it starts getting hot"... needless to say a new burner and little shelving unit to put their food on is on my list to deliver. Love these two Elders as they are working hard and being obedient.
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Zone Conference Pachuca Centro (Thursday)
This was a lively little zone as these five sisters added "beauty" to the group and lots of fun smiles and giggles. The zone leaders did a great job and even ordered two cakes highlighting the Pachuca Centro name and had a sweet sister deliver lunch of chicken wraps and rice. It was yummy and healthy. So proud of this fantastic group!!!
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Zone Conference Tecamac II (Friday)
This group of Elders was a great way to wrap up this weeks conferences. Zone Leaders Elder Hirst and Elder Gallegos did a great job teaching and had a great object lesson of how we serve up the gospel in the lessons we teach compared to making a sandwich.
They used a loaf of bread and a container of strawberry jam, Nutella, and caramel sauce. The first example was throwing a piece of white bread into the chest of the investigator. "Here's ya a sandwich". With nothing on it and delivered offensively. The second example was making a sandwich with strawberry jam on it but the investigator said "I don't like strawberries." And they responded this is a good kind of strawberry jam, you will love it!" and they responded back, "I'm allergic to strawberries... I can't eat them." And the Elders replied, "We are making you a sandwich with strawberries and you are going to love it and like it!" The third example was talking to the investigator and then listening to what they were saying. Then asking them if they would like a really good sandwich. They replied "Yes". They asked them if they liked strawberries to which they replied "Yes". Then they put strawberry jam on the slice of white bread. Then they talked and listened and then asked if they like carmel sauce on their sandwich to which they replied "No". So they said "ok" and continued the conversation and informed them they had Nutella. Did they like Nutella? To which they replied they did like that. The Elders then spread Nutella on the bread, topped it with another slice of bread and served it in a very appetizing and presentable way for the investigator. The practices entailed asking open-ended questions, really listening an using the spirit to guide them in what the needs of their investigators are and then to teach according to those needs. When they get to know, love and care for these people in Mexico they will better be able to share the gospel.
The Zone Leaders had ordered lunch from a company in Mexico City that works often with the missions of the Church. He once had a catering business in Salt Lake City Utah for many years. They had lasagna, green salad, french bread, lemonade, and cake. It was delicious.. and these Elders ate like it was their last meal.
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Tecamac II- Zumpango I -II
Home Tour Continues...
After Zone Conference we traveled to the area of Zumpango where two companionship's work. We wanted to tour their homes for safety and cleanliness and once again were very pleased with the way they take care of their little homes. Elder Lancaster requested an iron and one more table for their kitchen and Elder Huff's little home was perfect with lots of kitchen cabinets and even a bathtub which is a first for me to see. When I asked if the tub worked, Elder Cardwell quickly commented "We don't have time to sit in the bathtub!" Oh how I love these Elders!!!
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Wrapping up the Week
Saturday at 0330 we made a trip to the Mexico City Airport and then we came back and President went to Tulancingo for an Interview with the Stake President and training for the Stake/Ward councils regarding the Work of Salvation. Sunday (today) we went to church at a 0800 ward where we have 4 Elders. It was the perfect day as it was the primary program. I wished I could have taken pictures but let me try and describe this... so a group of maybe twenty five children dressed in their Sunday best with the boys wearing little bow ties ( Red, Yellow and Blue) and white shirts and the girls wearing the same color bows in their hair. The ward has no pianists, so three of our four Elders (Elder Stewart, Elder Stucki, and Elder Medina) took turns playing to the best of their abilities (which was amazing!) all hundred primary songs that these cute little kids sang through out the program. The Elders took turns sliding on and off the piano bench rotating on the songs they could play. To the mothers who begged, encouraged, and bribed these Elders into practicing, you will never know the effect that the music had on the success of this program. The spirit comes because children sing these sweets songs...but is so enhanced by the music which accompanies the voices. So we thank you... and to those that are thinking of serving a mission it's never too late to start piano or pick up where you left off years ago. That talent will be such a blessing to those you serve.
And this afternoon President has a Stake Training at one of the Mezquital Stakes for their ward councils regarding the Work of Salvation. These weeks just fly by as there isn't enough hours in the day.
I am a witness to the blessing that "whom God calls, God qualifies"...
PS We are seeing the holiday packages arrive and the Missionaries are so excited. Thank you for your efforts in behalf of the missionaries here in Pachuca. May God watch over and bless you this week as we all contemplate the blessings in our lives that we have been so richly blessed with.
