Week 90: Well, being a zone leader is interesting...

So, I am starting to get a handle of what is what here in Juchitán, and while it is an interesting place, we are having the most success in the whole mission as a zone! Well, that is because Elder Verkler my comp is an awesome missionary, but I'll keep it going with him! Anyways, lots of pictures this week....

So the pictures range from Awkward mirror selfie, to What happens when we get to the activity on time and we start late (like an hour late) (that is me

in a chair with my sunglasses being SUPER BORED because no one got there on time), to Jose Luis's baptism! to a Burned Mototaxi on a small building, to a chimpanzee... Yes, a chimpanzee... While we were contacting, we saw someone's pet chimpanzee... And for 2 activities this week I dressed up as Santa Claus!

Anyway, first off, Tuesday was fun, I went to one district meeting while my comp went to another and we had a really good training from a new district leader. Wednesday we found the chimpanzee contacting, Thursday we had Jose Luis's baptism. He is the boyfriend of a member and he has been attending for almost a year, but he finally has felt comfortable enough to make the decision to get baptized. He is a bit shy but really cool. Friday we had the ward activity, well one of our wards, we are working 2 and well, I got to be Santa! And then I borrowed the Santa outfit for Saturday where we had another activity but a multizone activity for all the missionaries. I was also Santa, I met President Conde's daughters and son's in law, and I played the sax. Yesterday we had 7 investigators at church, and we have 2 more baptism dates next week! Wow. This week has been productive. AND THIS NEXT WEEK WILL BE EVEN MORE SO!!! WOOHOOO!!!!! H.O.O.R.A.H.!!!

Well, I hope that y'all are having a wonderful and Merry Christmas, and an AMAZING new year! Bye!

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Elder Loosle
Misión Mexico Oaxaca

Misión México Oaxaca

Mexico Oaxaca Mission

Oaxaca de Juárez, Oaxaca



Dear Loosle Family:

This letter is to inform you that your son, Elder Loosle, has been called to serve as a Zone Leader here in the Mexico Oaxaca Mission. He has the responsibility to teach, take care of, inspire and edify the missionaries in his zone. His service has qualified him for this responsibility.

There are high expectations for your son in this new assignment. A Zone Leader must be an example to his zone in every aspect: for example, the work in his own area, his personal worthiness and his obedience to the Lord. The missionaries in his zone will follow him and I trust that your son will be a great example to them.

Your son will teach the missionaries and district leaders in his zone monthly. He’ll meet monthly with the Stake President/ District President and, sometimes, with the Bishops/Branch Presidents to coordinate and improve missionary work in his zone.

He’ll represent the Mission President in many situations and will make decisions that will increase the level of commitment of the missionaries and priesthood leaders with whom he associates. I’m sure your son will inspire his zone to follow the Lord and to fulfill the high standards that He expects of them as His representatives.

I congratulate you for raising such a responsible young man and I thank you for sending us such an excellent missionary. I only ask that you continue praying for him so that he can fulfill his new assignment in a way that pleases the Lord. Your son has all my support, love and trust while he continues to progress as a servant of the Lord.





Sincerely,



President Félix Conde Beltrán

Misión México Oaxaca

Week 89: Well... Adiós Huajuapan, Hello JUCHITÁN!

So, I had transferred. I am very happy that my companion has made Christmas plans! And we have the Christmas activity on this coming Saturday so that will be fun!!! But I am tired because I have traveled 9 hours on Oaxacan roads in the last 2 days so I think I will sleep well tonight. It is weird being a missionary just all of the sudden picking up all your stuff and leaving to another place, living with people you have never met, and just leaving any friends you have made behind. But, it is ok, because I have gotten used to it now and I know it will not be terribly long before I see them again.

But, I am SUPER EXCITED for Christmas! In the Istmo there is not a lot of Christmassy stuff, but that doesn't mean that I can't be excited and happy about it! So, I will do everything I can to help everyone get excited!

Next week I'll have more time and pictures because I will be on my normal schedule and not just finishing a terrible bus ride. Well, actually the ride in the suburban from Huajuapan to Oaxaca was a lot worse than from Oaxaca to Juchitán because on the first I got thrown up on...  Elder Ellsworth was sick starting Sunday morning, so he threw up at church and then on the ride to Oaxaca... I hope he made it to the coast ok...

But I hope y'all are having a great day and doing everything that you need to!
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Elder Loosle
Misión Mexico Oaxaca

Week 88: Well... REALLY LATE LETTER... :P

Well, today we were waiting for like 2 hours to get some metal bed frames... We actually just got them, and then came really quick here to finish our writing. So that was sad. But besides that, it was a fun Pday! We made some stuffed gingerbread men plush thingies! There is a picture of one that I got to keep! We made a lot of small ones for kids as a service project! And we got to make a bigger one for each of us!

The other pictures of a field that we played on today, we left SUPER early to play so that there would not be anyone there and we wouldn't get burned, and it was FREEZING. But fun. And the last is of some keychains that I bought while I was in downtown Oaxaca last week for the zone conference. If you want to ask why the pineapple and the mango, well ask a return missionary that served in Mexico.

But this week we had a zone conference that was really good! We talked about realistic goals, and I realized that we need to always keep in mind the end. And also how we can use the members to help us. I learned a lot and afterward


, I had an interview with President, and he gave me permission to go to the temple with my first convert! His name is Paco, and while he is only a teenager still, he is going to the temple every 2 months to do baptisms for the dead! And so I think President wants me to finish my mission here in Huajuapan which would be fine with me. But if not, we will know next week! :D

Anyways, I hope that you all have a great week and are SUPER EXCITED FOR CHRISTMAS LIKE I AM! Just always remember the reason for the season! Let's put more focus on our Savior and how we can help others, instead of what they can give to us! :)

Till next week! :)
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Elder Loosle
Misión Mexico Oaxaca

Week 87: Well... Today we climbed a mountain...

So, today for Pday we climbed a mountain! That was fun! I took lots of pictures from on top as well as one from below so you could see the mountain! We went with some ward members so that we could get to the mountain and follow the trail, but we ended up just ditching the trail for a while and going straight up the forest area. It was fun. We made it to the top, but the members who took the trail beat us XD But we had fun as well.

Also, the other picture is of a little bat-like object I found in a recent converts house... It says part of Hebrews 12:5 and  says

My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

Well, it is an interesting scripture to put on an object of that kind... But it is ok, it was funny seeing it.

Anyways, this week has been interesting. We were able to get a lot of new investigators but the ones we have almost stopped progressing... It is kinda sad, but we do have to keep on helping other people and so sometimes we have to stop visiting some people in order to help others because there are only 2 of us, and like 60,000 + people that we need to visit. So, we are gonna keep working hard and show the Lord that we are willing to do whatever it takes to help people!

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Elder Loosle
Misión Mexico Oaxaca

Week 86: Happy Thanksgiving! Well, belated...

Well, my Thanksgiving was probably a lot less cool than y'all's but the good news is that on Sunday we had a baptism! I mean I baptised her, but IDK why because she is a 8 year old girl who is the daughter of members. Well her mom is a member and her parents are separated, so there isn't anyone with the priesthood in her house. But it was fun. Also, church was very interesting on Sunday. But we weren't able to get many investigators to church. But this week we will do A LOT to get more investigators and to get A LOT to church. We have big plans.

Speaking of big plans that is one of the pictures! Well it says PONTE LAS PILAS!!! Which is a saying that I like, it means like GET PUMPED! Or something like that. I like it because I like to help people get excited to share the gospel and help us out a bit!

But, I would like to wish you all a very merry Christmas, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I will!


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Elder Loosle
Misión Mexico Oaxaca

Week 85: Well, good things and not so good...

So we had  2 baptisms planned for this week!!! But I need to emphasize HAD... One moved to Puebla because her ex, who she separated from to be able to get baptized, was trying to kill her.... Oh Oaxaca... How I love you. Actually, I do love Oaxaca, because where else are you going to be able to see a priesthood blessing work so well, as to give someone the comfort that everything will be ok, even when someone is trying to kill them! (That happened twice... This week.... XD) But it is fun! We can be certain that in Puebla she will be a very strong member that will even probably help her family make it into the church!

And well the other investigator just won't talk to us and isn't in her house.... So, that is fun. But good news, we found a lot of investigators who have a lot of potential! And we are gonna help build a small little chapel (technically it is called a house of prayer) in a little tiny town! There are about 12 members there and it is an hour away from Huajuapan, so it is hard for them to get her. We actually have a few investigators there too, so we may even be able to start up a branch!!! And then get our district turned into a STAKE!! Exiting!!

Also exiting, I found a Texas vehicle sticker from years ago! We tried contacting the house but no one was home-... :( But there will be someone there soon, I am sure!

Hasta la vista. Well actually now, because I'll write again next week and the "vista" will be the next time I see y'all. So till next week!
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Elder Loosle
Misión Mexico Oaxaca

Week 84: Adiós Elder Johnson.... :(

Well, good news and bad news. Good news is that I get to stay in Huajuapan! But Elder Johnson left for the city of Oaxaca. We had a lot of fun as companions so it was a bit sad, but I know that he'll do great in his mission. And I'll be able to hold up the strength out here in Huajuapan de Leon!

I am now with Elder Jímenez, he's from the North, and I kind of knew him before being his companion right now, thanks to my time in the office XD But, he likes to work hard and so we will have lots of fun too.

Anyways, this last week we were able to find a lot of new investigators and we have been starting to receive a lot of referrals! I know that this branch here has a lot of members that want to help, they just sometimes feel nervous or don't know how. So we are here to show them! So also if any of you ever feel like you know someone that is having a hard time in their life, send them a message and tell them that you are thinking about them and that God loves them. Also that there are 2 missionaries that are literally just here to help people that want to talk to them to help them feel a bit better! Because as missionaries we are just here to help 24/7! So let us know so that we can help!

Sorry about no pictures.... We didn't have lots of cool things happen this week... I mean we found a scorpion under Johnson's bed, but to be honest, stuff like that is kinda becoming normal to me...

Bye!
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Elder Loosle
Misión Mexico Oaxaca

Week 83: Well, this week was rough....

Not a lot happened this week, because we had a milti-zone conference with a member of the 70! So we had to go down to Oaxaca the day before, so we had to spend a lot of time traveling in windy Oaxacan roads.... I don't enjoy it much because I mean I kinda wanted to be doing some missionary work instead of traveling for hours both days, but it turned out good. The meeting with Elder Valenzuela was just amazing. I learned a lot! And especially yesterday with fast sunday I realized that there are a lot of things as a missionary and as a person that I can improve at. I mean I know that what I have done is definitly acceptable for the Lord, but He also wants us to continually strive to be better and better! I mean after all, we do have the mandate to "Be ye therefor perfect, even as I, or your Father in Heaven is perfect." I may have quoted that bad... If I did I am sorry... I am trying to memorize more scriptures, but I haven't made it to 3rd Nephi yet....

Also, if I do not send an email next week it is because it is transfers and I left to an area far far away, but I'll then write at least a bit on Tuesday! So, I hope y'all have a great time! (sorry for no pics, can't find my adapter.... DX)

Week 82: WOW! That went by quick!

Well... That week went by way quicker than last week! Probably because I haven't been sick!!

But this week we have few photos. We got a picture at the church of some members with us. I mean it is not the whole ward, just some converts, members, and investigators. But it was a fun day at church!

This week we planned a ward activity, which, while we only had about 20 people show up, it did turn out really well! We had more food than we could handle but that was ok! On Sunday I gave a talk, using the articles of faith as my base, showing how really we can show all people what we believe and we can share and help all people!

This Wednesday we will have another zone meeting, but this time it will be a Mission Tour with Elder Valenzuela, of the seventy! So it will be super fun!

I hope that all of y'all are doing well!
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Elder Loosle
Misión Mexico Oaxaca

Week 81: Well, kind of a long week..... Actually REALLY LONG.

Well, this week has been extremely long, for a few reasons. One, I've been sick for the better half of the week, and on Saturday I had the WORST MIGRAINE :P I don't know why but every single October for the past at least 5 years I have gotten a migraine. And this one was really bad. But I drank like a liter of coke, and then got permission to rest for a couple hours while I was getting better and then we went back out to work!

The other part of the week that has been hard is that we have been contacting every day for more than an hour and until Saturday night, NOBODY let us talk to them. I mean besides our normal investigators that we have. But it was a rough week with finding new investigators, but I know that it will get better.

But a good thing is that we had 3 baptisms!!! Woohoo!!! It is a family that the mom was less active and married outside of the church but while the kids have all been taught good principles, they were rarely ever at church. But the dad is very catholic so when we started talking to them they were afraid of what their dad would say with their baptism, and so we talked to them about it, and then they talked to their dad, and not only was he ok with them getting baptized, he went to the baptism!!! Along with like 50 other people!!! It was a HUGE TURNOUT!!! Definitely the highlight of my week, and a very high point in the mission. So that is what 2 of the pictures are of. One picture is two AWESOME members we have here that speak English, but are moving to Mexico because the earthquake damaged their house... :( But that is ok, they will have fun there. They recently got married about 3 months ago. And so it was cool getting to know them.

So you may wonder when you see the last picture I attached... It is an iPhone of our recent convert (ewww) with the background of a scene in High School Musical 3 because that little kid is MY COMPANION! He was in High School Musical 3 for like 45 seconds. That is very impressive if you ask me. But he also was in two other movies, but he doesn't want me to tell anyone else the other movies.... So I just had to share that picture because I just died laughing after I saw the phone of our convert because I had told them that Elder Johnson showed up in High school musical 3 XD.

Anyways, keep up the good work everyone, and do what ya gotta do. Have a great week!
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Elder Loosle
Misión Mexico Oaxaca

Week 80: Multi-Zone Conference was great!

Well so on Friday we had a Multi-Zone Conference with all of the missionaries within 3 hours of the city! So we had to travel Thursday night for the conference on Friday. And so that is what the pictures are of. One is of eating pizza in Little Caesar's on Thursday night, and the other is that is without people is a night picture of the temple. I like the temple at night, it is nice and calm, like any other time, but it always leaves me with a wonderful peace, even just seeing it.

Anyways, in the conference I learned of a lot of things that I can be doing much better. I remembered that we should be getting back home, dead tired, with broken shoes. We need to preach the gospel until everyone has heard it because that is all we are doing right now. And so we set a goal to find 2 families on Saturday, and at almost 9 o'clock, we found the second one! It goes to show when we trust Heavenly Father, He will help us complete our goals, as long as they are righteous.

So, with that, I hope all y'all are doing great! Till next week!

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Elder Loosle
Misión Mexico Oaxaca

Week 79: Well spanish tongue twisters are fun...

So, first things first, with the pictures, two are of my flag we put up on the wall! It like fills up the entire wall! XD
























The other one is a spanish tongue twister. parangaricutirimicuaro. Basically supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. But in English I like it better.

 

And the last picture is from a party this morning that we had because it was Elder Ellsworth's Birthday! So we had one party and tonight we'll have another!!!

Anyways, but with the mission. Elder Johnson has been getting really a lot better with his spanish so that has made me a lot more exited to keep helping him! In no time at all he'll be fluent! But this last week has been kinda hard because we haven't been able to find many new investigators. But we do have some baptismal dates coming up very soon so I am exited. I know that he will be able to be a great missionary very soon, so in these next few weeks I am commiting myself to continue helping him so afterwards he'll be able to help his next companion, whoever it is. I know that God has put us where we are so that we can grow but also to help ALL of the people around us. He knows us, and knows our potential. He knows the times that we need what we need and so He will always be there at those times. I know that God is our loving Heavenly Father and I will keep sharing that truth until the last breath leaves my mouth. Without Him we are nothing, but when we use the atonement of His Son, we will become just like Him. And that I can promise y'all. I hope y'all know that I am loving it out here and I can't be more happy to be here. And that I hope the best for each and everyone of you out there.
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Elder Loosle
Misión Mexico Oaxaca

Week 78: AND HE SCREAMS PAST 3RD!!!

Well on Friday, it is the 18 month mark of my mission and... wow... The sister missionary that was in my district in the CCM, Hermana Aden goes home on Wednesday... It is weird thinking about that. But it is cool. I know I've still got a long time out here to go. (Ok, I know it isn't that long, but I don't want to think about going home for a while because I like it out here. Yes, home is fun too but it is different.)

Anyways... Sorry no pictures. We played POOL!!! Like Billiards! And it was AWESOME! Getting home I need to practice more ..... I still won a few times but I am not anywhere NEAR where I was. We will probably go again in a few weeks and so I can keep practicing.

But on a more spiritual note... General Conference was AMAZING!!! I hope you all saw it and if you didn't, well I'll leave that as homework. I really liked Elder Neil L. Anderson's closing talk, about the importance of General Conference. It was sad that President Monson wasn't able to attend, also the passing of Elder Robert D. Hales, but I really loved the words Elder Neil L. Anderson shared of what Elder Hales was to share. If we use our faith, we literally are preparing ourselves to meet God, and I can promise you all that if we keep on trying, even though our perfection is still in a pending proscess, we will make it to that great day where we will be able to stand happily in the prescense of God once again.

Sorry about the short email, but I hope everyone is having a great time!!!
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Elder Loosle
Misión Mexico Oaxaca

Week 77: Well, lots of stuff has happened...

Ok, so first off, last Tuesday we had another EARTHQUAKE!!!! But this one hit hard. So before I tell the story I'll tell you the pics. Many are of the damage from the earquake....
231 - That  is a catholic church that is about to fall... They closed the street off because they think it will fall.


























232 - That is a what happens when you get on the member's bad side... They try to shove you into the car... Just kiding, that was today we went to play basketball.

















235 - We shoved 4 missionaries in the backseat of the car and that is how Elder Castro and Elder Ellsworth ended up...
















180 - Our church had some damage too... But they fixed it so we are good!

196- THAT IS A CRACK IN MY WALL IN MY HOUSE!!! One of like 17, but it's cool, it's completely safe. Even if the roof just stays up for faith. There isn't damage to the foundation so the president says that it is ok that we stay there.











223 - Well even the internet place where I write got damage... XD

225 - An investigators garage... The roof completely broke and we helped clean up.

227 - THERE ARE LIKE 50 MILLION OF THESE PHARMACIES. And it is funn because they are San Jorge. (Or in English, St. George XD)











179 - A house that we took a picture in front of a while ago, just completely fell down.

Well. So with the earthquake first. I was in divisions with Elder Ellsworth, and we were planning in their house. (Their house in the third story of an apartment building) and I said that if there is an earthquake, I meant like at night, I was gonna run, and hope he was behind me. Then we plan and after about 20 minutes I hear a very low, very loud grumbling sound and I look out the window and what do I see? Well not popcorn popping, but a light pole that starts to shake along with all of the houses. So I bust out of that apartment, running full speed and don't even notice how strong the earthquake even was. I look back to make sure Elder Ellsworth was following me, and he was but he couldn't run as quick because the ground was moving FROM UNDERNEATH HIS LEGS!!! So we get down to the bottom and I'm like telling him to run in English and Spanish, and we get out and look up and see the building wobbling back and forth. But it didn't fall. So after it ended, some specialists checked their house and our house and said that the damage was minor and nothing will happen. But I don't really think that there are any problems either.

Thanks to the earthquake, we've been able to help our Branch President do some cleaning, and he will have to tear down his business and put it back up again, because it was very damaged... We also helped other with the damage. As you can see there was damage, but I don't think anyone died in Huajuapan.  In Puebla and Mexico there was more da








mage.

Anyways, with all this stuff that has been going on I AM SOOO EXITED TO HEAR THE APOSTOLS IN GENERAL CONFERENCE! I mean I don't expect them to be like, "Hey, prepare yourselves for the second coming" But I know that they will say inspired words. So you all need to listen!!! TO ALL OF THE SESSIONS! WOOHOO!! 10 hours of church! (Ok, only the men have to see the priesthood session. But the women already should've seen the women's conference!) And so have a great day!!!

Elder Loosle

Misión Mexico Oaxaca

ANOTHER EARTHQUAKE!!!

Well first off we are fine. This one hit puebla so Puebla and Mexico City got hit hard, and us in Huajuapan, being one of the bigger cities closest to Puebla also got hit pretty hard. Some houses fell down completely. A lot had parts that fell. My house and the other missionaries house has cracks, but it's all good, small cracks are just decorations! But when it happened I was in the other house of the missionaries because we had started divisions and we were planning and I was like FREAK!!! EARTHQUAKE! AND WE ARE ON THE 3RD STORY! And so I ran down those stairs VERY quick. It was strong here. I was with Elder Ellsworth and he had a hard time running because we were on the 3rd floor trying to get down, and he could feel the ground moving out of place under his feet. But the house didn't fall so we are fine. We got to the street and it kept quaking, but then it stopped and we found the other missionaries and did some service, and tried writing yesterday but we were COMPLETELY full of appointments. So I hope that no one was worried. I mean, I'm sure y'all all knew that I'm safe as a missionary and well even though it hit Puebla, the only part of Oaxaca where there was damage was here in Huajuapan. But I don't think anyone died here. Many fainted, but they are all fine! Lots of service opportunities now!!!
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Elder Loosle
Misión Mexico Oaxaca

Week 76: BAPTISMS AND MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!!

I have a big flag!!! Woohoo!! So with the pictures, two are of the Mexican night we had at church! And one is of Ismael's baptism!!!

So, I'll start off talking about Ismael a bit! He is a really good kid. He is 9 years old and for the past 3 years, him and his mom have been inactive because they had a problem with some other members, but they were really missing the blessings of church. So after the ward mission leader visited them once they said they would try and come back. Then we got here in Huajuapan, after there hadn't been missionaries for about a month, and we visited them. The first visit Ismael told us he wanted to get baptized and so we said, awesome! We'll put the date for the 16th! Because that is Mexican Independance day and HOW COOL IS THAT TO GET BAPTIZED ON YOUR COUNTRY'S BIRTHDAY!!!! AWESOME!!! So we had a decent amount of people show of to the baptism, but we had a HUGE turnout for the activity! It wasn't the best planned but we had 6 investigators that went and they all had fun so it is cool!

Anyways, I hope that everyone is having a great time! I know that the gospel that I am sharing with the world is really the gospel of Jesus Christ and the church that houses it is His church. We are all here in the earth for a purpose and God wants every single one of us to get back to his presence.

Something we have noticed here in Huajuapan is we have very few active members but we have a lot that haven't gone in a long time. So we are going to fix that and make this small little branch of Huajuapan a strong Stake in Zion!!!
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Elder Loosle
Misión Mexico Oaxaca

Week 75: One interesting week....

So this week has been a lot of well a lot of stuff and I have a few pictures first!
(Sorry none of earthquakes, no damage in huajuapan)

30 - (the last 2 digits of the picture number) RAINBOW! It was cool, and super huge so I took a picture of part of it!

31 - Mac and cheese! But homemade! Super tasty!

39 - Hot chocolate with the companion

41 - My comp's first tlayuda!

46 - When you ask your comp to take a picture of you and this is what shows up on your camera

48 & 59- I bought a flag! But I wanted a bigger one.... Also my comp didn't realize it was in black and white...

So, back to the serious stuff. This week has been a rough week for many people. With hurricanes and earthquakes and fires, one may think where is God in all of this destruction? Some people will say that he is not anywhere to be found, but I can testify that amist all of the darkness that we can see, there is a light. And there are miracles that are plain and clear to anyone who goes towards the light of Christ. If we trust in the Lord with all our heart, He will lead us to what we need to do, and we will be able to help others and ourselves if we just follow His teachings. I know that if we try our best, God will always confort us and we will always be able to make it back to Him. I hope the best for everyone out there and I want y'all to know that even though Mexican Independance day is coming up and I've got some hardcore Mexican pride going on, I'm not forgetting about the US and I am praying that everything goes well for everyone with all of the disasters that we have been seeing.

Keep up the good attitudes!
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Elder Loosle
Misión Mexico Oaxaca