Week 47: Life of an Office Grunt...

Well, I'm not really an office grunt, just lots of paperwork that I have to do sometimes. But it is ok, because I like it! It is pretty fun! And when we leave at like 3ish we get to be normal missionaries!

Speaking of being normal missionaries we have 3 baptisms scheduled for next week! As secretaries, it is hard to get baptisms, because we don't have the opportunity to work in our area as much as other missionaries, but I know that the Lord helps us as we do our best, and it is definitely the quality of time spent teaching that counts more than the quantity as a mission secretary.

But something cool about being secretary is that I learn about stuff really quick! Like in my old stake (Monte Alban) the entire stake is having a "white night" tonight! Or like 12 people are getting baptised! But that will happen for our stake next week! Talk to y'all later!

Week 46: The Office

Well this has been a fun and really short week, mostly because my week has only been 5 days... But it has been fun! I am learning a lot about the things that I will have to be doing over the next 6 months here in the offices, and well I am liking it a lot! We are still able to leave and be normal missionaries after like 2 or 3 and we have our area and a baptism in 2 weeks!

But with the pictures...
So we visited the spot where they filmed Nacho Libre, well one of the parts, and took some fun pics! My secretary trainer and companion right now is the one jumping onto the assistant Elder Peterson

This is the cast of The Office, Mexico Oaxaca Mission. (Left to right) Elder Peterson(Assistant), Elder Cabellero(Assistant), Elder Moore(Secretary that I will replace), Elder Vazquez(Financial Secratary) and me(Mission Secretary).

After that we went to visit a cool church that is called Santo Domingo. (It means Holy Sunday if you want a translation) But it is a big catholic church.

I have the picture of my last district meeting in my last district, from left to right the people are, Sister Valdez, Sister Paz, Elder Loosle(Me), Elder Zavala(my old companion), Elder Solano(my companion), and Elder Zelada.

Last night the secretaries and the assistants ate pizza to welcome me into the offices!

Also I took a turn to be Nacho Libre with Elder Peterson! These were the best pictures from the nacho libre shoot. But the scene is like the fight scene in the alleyway because the chips got stolen. So if you don't know what I am talking about and haven't seen Nacho Libre, that is your homework.

But also something that I have learned this week that we talked about in a zone conference was obedience. We talked about how there are 3 levels of obedience to whatever rule or law, whether it is of men or of God.

The first level is because of fear of punishment, but people who only obey because of fear will not always obey, because once the fear is diminished no one will obey.

The second level is an external reward. We only obey because we want the blessings. That will help us but only until we think there are better things then these blessings.

The highest level is obedience because of love. For our Savior if we are talking about commandments of God, and for our parents or others if we are talking about other things.

When we obey for obedience, we will not only receive

blessing but will not fall because if we have that love for Christ, and all mankind, or charity, "Charity never faileth" (1 Cor. 13:8)

Well, that more or less finishes up my time and my stuff, so I hope y'all have a great week and a wonderful day, today and every other day!

'Til next week!

Week 45: Well, that was a short time in Yagul

So tomorrow I am heading out of Yagul to go to the offices... I will be the new secretary of the mission! I will be in training for 3 weeks and then secretary for 6 months so that will be fun!

And cool, because well even though it is heating up a lot I'll be inside air conditioning until it starts to cool down a bit at like 4.

So it will be very different. But I know that the Lord will help me a lot! And I know that even though I didn't have a lot of time here in Yagul, I am sure that I helped the people I needed to help and the missionaries who will follow me here will be able to see the fruits of the seeds that I have planted!

But with the pictures.... 1&2) VIUDA NEGRA!!! (Black widow!) We found it in the house of one of our members and so we killed it.

3) I had to pack and I was sad, but I didn't want to be sad, so I was batman instead. Lol. But packing I did put on this mask that we used in the mission program last month!

But I know that even though I would have loved more time in Yagul but  I know I am needed elsewhere! But my dad told me something very important today. He was reading a conference talk that is called "What Lack I Yet" And it is a very good talk about what we can do to keep bettering ourselves so that we can really reach our divine potential. I think we should all focus on what we need to do to become who we can be and to do that we need to implore our Heavenly Father in prayer. To finish this letter I want to share one scripture from Ether, 12:27
 27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

Well, I hope that y'all can have a great week and for future reference my days that I will be emailing for the next 6 months will be on SATURDAY!

Week 44: Ok, well I learned a lot...

This week has been a lot of learning for me. As a senior companion I have felt a bit bad when I haven't been able to remember something or I messed something up but I know that as I have really been able to see these things, I have been able to start to see changes as well. Where I have been able to help my companion out more and recognize what people need and what God is really trying to tell me! I would love to go into more detail, but because of a curtain fiasco, I got cut on time by like 30 minutes XP But that is ok, ya get what you get.

Anyways, I know that I really have been able to find out a lot of things that are really important for me to know and one thing that I know that is important for all of us to know is that God loves you. Individually! And He will do everything that you need to help you reach your salvation! And not only that, but if we are all trying to do what He wants, He will help other reach their salvation through us! But I really hope that all of y'all have a great week and a great day, and keep on keeping on!

Till next week!