Interviews July 11th-12th 2013

Interviews in Two Zones July 11th-12th 2013

"Mezquital" and "Pachuca Centro"

A small glimpse of our days....

"We are so blessed to all be in the Mexico Pachuca Mission!"

"Looking over Area Books, helping with English study, filling empty stomachs, and sharing the love!"

One of our areas is "Molango"- which is a 4 hour bus ride north from the

Mission home and office. We have two incredible missionaries in this very remote area- Elder McCormick and Elder Hixon. They take care of a "small branch" and a "group" 45min apart from each other. They have been working incredibly hard and had a baptism last week, one this Thursday of 3 investigators and one scheduled for next Saturday. This little remote area is a piece of heaven and so the following collages are a peak at their "heaven on earth". Thank you Elders for being so obedient and faithful as you serve with extreme commitment and faithfulness.

 

"Some of these critters are not part of the branch!" 

 

 

 

"What a beautiful area- growing because of the love and work of these Elders"

"No baptismal font available... but one not needed"

"Our First Born"- and "Our First Transfer"

Our First Missionary Into the Mexico Pachuca Mission- 8 July 2013

Elder De La Cruz from Mexico arrived on a bus from the Mexico City MTC.
He will be considered "Hermana Egbert's- First Born in the Mission".

 President Egbert was impressed with his humble nature and willing 

attitude to work hard and be obedient. I was touched by his kind and respectful

mannerism and how handsome he looked in his three piece suit.

The vest came off after training was over- and I think his suitcase weighed more than he did.

I'll be sneaking him some brownies!

Here he is waiting to go to the church to find out who his new companion will be....

and his new trainer is Elder Rubalcava!
Aren't they a perfect match???

...and then there were the transfers after much thought and prayer on the Presidents part.

I believe some were happily surprised and others disappointed that a change did and did not happen.

President Egbert shared a personal story of his companion Elder Wills with whom he became extremely close to- virtually brothers. They served as Zone Leaders and then the "cambio" came and one stayed as the ZL and one transferred to the office as an assistant.
The President expressed it was the "hardest" transfer he ever had-

Elder Wills wrote a poem about "changes" that President Egbert still carries with him today.

He still verbalizes he can picture in his eyes mind the room in "Calasanz" Columbia and how they both felt when they got the phone call about the transfer.
Tears still come to his eyes when he speaks of that tender memory.
President Egbert bore testimony of the inspired process and reason for "cambios"

 

A few faces of new companionship's.....

First Group of Departing Missionaries - Home Bound

First Group of Departing Missionaries/ 6 July 2013

We had these five Elders come to the mission home at 230pm from their areas of service for lunch and then President Egbert started the departing interview process with each one and reviewed/finalized paperwork. They were very content relaxing, talking and playing a few games. They watched most of "17 Miracles" with Spanish subtitles and then we ate dinner at 730pm. They stayed in a hotel two blocks from the mission home- President Egbert and I woke at 0250 to meet them in the hotel lobby and to send them off as they rode a bus to Mexico City.  We have been instructed not to leave our mission, so we are unable to take them to the airport. The Elder second from the left called at 1030 to say he had "missed his flight."

When inquiring how- he stated,  "I went to the gate ten minutes before the 1000 flight and it had already left." President Egbert being in the airline industry- took a deep breath -and over the next 1 1/2 hrs was able to make arrangements for his departure on a later flight for an additional initial fee of $1400 pesos. A very helpful agent from American Express who does all the natives travel was able to reduce that fee to a mere $400 pesos. "Another tender mercy"  Needless to say President Egbert will add "arrive at your gate 1-2 hours before your scheduled flight" in the final interview and departure orientation.

(We are laughing about it now- that the Elder is home) 

“If someone only changes his behavior while a missionary, then, when he goes home, he will be the very same person he was when he left, subject to the same problems that plagued him before. But if someone changes his nature, he will go home a new man, with the power and discipline to conquer his old Goliaths. If someone is only moral because his date insists on it, then he has only changed his behavior and will be equally susceptible when each new temptation confronts him. But if he is moral whether or not his date so insists, he has changed his nature. Then he will have an increased resistance when similar temptations come. If someone speaks good words but entertains bad thoughts, he has only changed his behavior. If he also changes his thoughts, then he will also change his nature. Our natures have changed when our inner motives and thoughts are consistent with our outward behavior. With the Lord’s help we can transform our natures,” Tad R. Callister, BYU Devotional Address, 12/2011.

5 July 2013 Picture Collage

Picture Collages from this week....

These are the most amazing kids in the mission because they

 "chose" to be here and are sacrificing much to do so. 

Our first group of "5" Elders will be flying home tomorrow.

"Mini Zone Conferences"- Meet the new President.

"Mini Zone Conferences"- Meet the new President.

July 2nd, 3rd, and 4th we embarked with our ever so patient assistants 

through the mission to meet all "our" missionaries. I know they are on the Lord's errand,

but we have already gotten a little possessive by using "our".

Day 1- AM  
Pachuca Sur Zone

 

"Every member....a missionary"- is vital to our work.

Day 1-AM
Pachuca MX Zone

Day 1- PM
Pachuca Zone

"...united in the cause to bring the gospel to all the world"

 Day 1- PM
Tulancingo Zone

"..if we will put our trust in the Lord, He will help us through our difficulties, whatever they may be."                     President Thomas S.  Monson

Day 2- AM
Tecamac Zone- 1

"Standing firm and steadfast as a representative of Jesus Christ."

 

 

 

Day 2- AM
Tecamac Zone -2

Could someone please get this group organized!!!

"We will not fear..... because God is with us in this work!"

Day 3- AM
Mezquital Zone

"....serving the Lord with Love"

 

Some of our new family!

So on Thursday night we arrive and are given our phones and guess what appears as our screen shots?

These two amazing assistants assigned to the President in this historical time of opening the Mexico Pachuca Mission! What a breath of fresh air to see these fun personalities welcoming us to the "work".

Elder Shillig and Elder Dove.

At church on Sunday we visited a ward near the Mission Home and were fortunate to listen to these two Elders speak in church. Elder Zamudio and Elder Elton. I couldn't understand the language but felt the spirit and we sat by two of their investigators. (Sorry I was shaking when trying to take the picture)

Missionary Training Center and Departure

Mission President Training Seminar at the Provo Utah MTC

 June 22-27 2013

Our three daughters Tia Marie, Taysia Kai, and Tahlia Mae delivered us to the MTC and stayed for our setting apart by Elder L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve and

 Elder Zwick of the First Quorum of the Seventy. 

What a beautiful experience.