Fun week!

This week was the first where we were able to work every day, for the whole day. No meeting with other missionaries or sicknesses or anything of the sort and it was a great week!

For the pictures, two are of different creations that someone that lives with a less active makes in his free time from the fruit that there is also a picture of. It looks like a nut. OH! And the animal that I couldn't figure out what is was is a Tejón or a BADGER. I want one after the mission.

So Monday we had an AWESOME Fhe with some less actives and 2 of their kids want to get baptized! After we watched a really old church video we had a little testimony meeting and it was super spiritual.

So because today is the first day of the next transfer I don't have my old planner with me so the other stuff will not be assigned to specific days.

We have really been trying to get our goal of 10 lessons with a member present by bringing along the few members we have to lessons and we got 8 this week which is close but not quite.

Also there was just a little earthquake while I was writing this.. FUN! Super small though.

But we were able to get a lot of new investigators this week with baptismal dates from less active families and members who haven't had their kids baptized yet...

But besides that this week wasn't too terribly different or exciting.  Blockades are getting a bit out of control, but I find comfort in the scriptures and in my patriarchal blessing. And the scripture that really helped me this week was Helaman 10:5, it's the Lord's promise to Nephi but it applies to us all! Well it is the goal..

 5 And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold, I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will.

Always try to line your will with the Lord's! Because then everything you want to happen will happen!

So... I got sick

Yeah, it was bound to happen. Saturday morning I got sick. So Saturday and Sunday we were stuck inside the house besides church and one lesson on Sunday, because I couldn't do anything on Saturday and Sunday I thought I could but then realized I couldn't XD

But anyway I took some meds and I'm  (basically) as good as new now! Because we had to buy the medicine, we ran out of money... But we'll get reimbursed for it and so it's all good except the ATM's are all out of cash so we are just scraping by for now. But hey you gotta do what you gotta do.

Oh and the one photo this week is only of the best district on the best zone on the best mission in the WORLD!

Oh and the one photo this week is only of the best district on the best zone on the best mission in the WORLD!

Anyways, Tuesday after our weekly district meeting, the zone leaders came to this week and all day Tuesday we had Elder Peterson as the third member of our companionship. I'm grateful that my CCM trio got me used to being in a trio and so that wasn't bad at all. It was actually really fun! And we found a new investigator who is really cool! She has a lot of questions but it is hard to find a time when she is not busy...

But Wednesday we also found a family so we got 3 new investigators! While we are able to find new investigators fairly often, it is really hard to get them to progress... But they are cool because they met with the Sister missionaries a year ago when there were sisters here. Now in the entire coast there are none. Because there are just less missionaries now.

Thursday was good because Estrella talked to her parents about baptism and they said yes, so now we are just working out a date with them!

Friday was good because we had a really good lesson with Rolando, one of our investigators that we are trying to get to progress more. He's been to church but only once. He just needs to recognize that God will help him if he lets him in. But that lesson was partly really good because we had the Elder's quorum president with us, which it is really hard to get members to come with us to lessons here, I'm not sure why, well partly is because there are not a lot of active members in the first place, but we are working with what we've got.

So Saturday we had a big day planned but my stomach disagreed with those plans at about midnight. So after doctors and medicine and a lot of laying in bed Saturday finally ended, it only was maybe the longest day of my life. Just kidding! Mostly...

But Sunday was at least decent because Estrella came to church and we had a lesson with one of the members. After that I felt like I couldn't do anything else so we went home, but today I feel a lot better! So no need for anyone to worry!

Because I've been sick and felt kinda burdened I really felt this scripture helped me this week, so keep it in mind! The Lord may not take away your burdens immediately but he will always help you through them!

"And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord." Mosiah 24:15

FIRST BAPTISM!

But I'm gonna start with a description of the pictures.

There are two pictures of a tarantula that we found in my district leaders apartment while we were traveling for our zone meeting that was on Wednesday.

There are two pictures of a tarantula that we found in my district leaders apartment while we were traveling for our zone meeting that was on Wednesday.

One picture is of Zicatela, and has the beach, well far away..

So one is the very stereotypical baptismal picture with Paco in the middle, Hermana Ana Cristina (Paco's Mom) And on the far left is one of his older sisters. 

Elder Seañez with our little friend as well. 

Also two picture of a little creature that is a pet of one of the members. To be completely honest I have no idea what it is. I know the word in Spanish starts with a T but I can't remember it.

Also two picture of a little creature that is a pet of one of the members. To be completely honest I have no idea what it is. I know the word in Spanish starts with a T but I can't remember it.

But this week was a week of firsts! First zone meeting, first tarantula, first companion exchanges, first baptism and confirmation. And it was a great week!

So Tuesday we had some good appointments but it didn't seem like many people are progressing. Tuesday night we spent in Zicatel just outside of Puerto Escondido. This is where we found the tarantula.

Wednesday we traveled to Santa Maria Hautulco which makes me think of California, and had a zone meeting with President Madsen. Wednesday afternoon I said goodbye to my companion for a couple of days for exchanges. Which was really weird for the first few hours but I got used to it after that.

Thursday I spent all day in Zicatela with Elder Castro, who is cool but knows next to no English, so while it was difficult, it wasn't terrible. He only has 3 weeks more than me on his mission... So that was interesting, but it was a good day and we talked to a lot of people and the members we ate dinner with gave us dessert and I don't think I've ever eaten so much ice cream in one sitting...

Friday I came back to Rio Grande and we had a few appointments with some investigators but it was mostly spent getting ready for Paco's baptism.

Saturday, we had a wonderful baptism, and then most of everybody went over to Hna. Ana Cristina's house for a party, get together thing that had food. It was fun. Nothing super crazy mostly just a lot of talking in Spanish... But there is this one 18 year old girl who lives in California who knows perfect English, but she has only helped me a couple of times translate what I want to say into spanish. So I haven't actually heard her speak english yet....

Sunday was good! We met with multiple of our investigators and they are starting to progress more and it's super great!

And then today has been good We cleaned the house and wrote and washed clothes and stuff and I'm actually starting to enjoy hand washing my clothes! It is kinda relaxing, mentally at least. Physically it is bit of work but nothing to terrible.

I wanted to share a scripture that has been helpful this week so here it is!
Sorry about the weird copy and paste stuff.

"And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle, easy to be entreated; full of patience and long suffering; being temperate in all things, being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive." Alma 7:23​

​YEAH! Paco got baptised on Saturday!

This week it started to rain and it has rained almost every night and today it has rained all day! 

So I'll start off with the pictures again.

And then I felt like sending my food so all of my non refrigerated food is always on the table like the picture and then some on the counter in the background. That is basically what I'm living off of. Well that and different ways of eating chicken with the members every lunch. 

There are my two new bags that I bought, they are like clothish backpacks but they work really well and are pretty durable.

One is of my bed, nice and made to prove that missionaries do make their beds! (Sometimes...) 

One is of my desk, because I cleaned it so it looks much nicer than the last picture!

Two are of a crab that one of our investigators kids found when they went to the beach. We have fun with what we can on our missions 

Two are of a crab that one of our investigators kids found when they went to the beach. We have fun with what we can on our missions

The few members we have in our branch are great and super strong with their faith (Well the active ones) and they always feed us lunch every day. Almost always it is some type of chicken, but that's ok! I like chicken! At least for now... We'll see how much I like it after 6 months here...

But there wasn't a bunch that happened this week so this email won't be as long as others. One fun thing was that after we taught Paco it started to rain really hard and so we decided to try and wait it out because it was just before 9 and usually the rain storms are only hard for like 10 minutes. This one lasted for multiple hours so after realizing it wouldn't stop we decided we needed to get home and so we started to trek through the rain. I was afraid that my stuff would all get soaked so I said a quick prayer before we left and we didn't walk 200 feet when one of the members were driving by and saw us and picked us up to give us a ride home, it was an answer to my prayer and it was super awesome of them!

One other thing is that this Sunday was fast sunday and I fasted for the Gift of Tongues because I felt like I should be farther along in Spanish than I am, and after fasting I realized that when I really focus and have the spirit with me I can more or less get the point of what people are telling me and more or less explain myself. Also I've only been out for 3 weeks in the field so I decided I was being too hard on myself and I just need to keep working.

Also Paco gets baptised this Saturday!

I hope all y'all having a great time in everything that you do and always remember the Lord!