Week 68: Hey! We went to the Guelaguetza!

The Guelaguetza is a huge cultural event here in Oaxaca that shows off the different cultures of Oaxaca, which was super awesome! Last Monday my comp and I had the chance to go, and it was super fun! I only got one pic because I forgot to charge my camera. But I'll try and steal pics from some others and then share them! We got in for free because we got up at like 4 in the MORNING TO leave way to early to stand in line... But we got good seats so I think it was worth it. But the other pictures are of a baptism that we had today and my scriptures that are falling apart.... But that is ok, it means I'm using them a lot! Also, I'll go and see if we can glue them together or something..

But this week I have been studying a lot in some Christ-like attributes, and I wanted to share a quote that I found on them that has to do with the scripture in 3rd Nephi 12:48   "Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect."

The quote is by Ezra Taft Benson, "Is it possible to be even as He is? The answer is Yes. Not only can we, but that is our charge, our responsibility. He would not give us that commandment if He did not mean for us to do it."

Really, we can achieve our divine heavenly potential of being like our Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ. It is something that will cost a lot. But we can achieve that potential if we maintain firm in the faith, enduring to the end. I know that if we really try our best to be like Christ, He will help us to achieve that potential.

Week 67: Changes!

So, I wrote this letter and saved it as a draft instead of sending it... Good thing I just realized XD

Well this week was changes so new missionaries arrived, but only 4 arrived. So that means that we had to close 5 AREAS! Kinda sad... But now I have an area that is about 3 times the size.... It is cool, we have a lot of cool members and investigators over there so it will be SUPER FUN! We were even able to get a new baptismal date put down in that area! But now instead of being 5 missionaries in our ward it is just my comp and I. So we have to trust a lot in the Lord and His miracles, because we have to be working in the offices for a while every day, and now we have a very large area. But, it is cool. I know that the Lord will help us.

Today we had an awesome activity with all the youth in the stake which was like a mini MTC (Missionary Training Center) And so we got to show them and train them how they can help other people and share the gospel! And even as normal youth with just their school friends and stuff. This week was pretty packed of stuff but a lot of it was boring office stuff and a few really awesome lessons that we were able to have. So I hope that we can get more time out of the offices this next week and keep our investigators progressing!

Well it wasn't a super different week so no pictures and it is kinda a short email, but yeah, that is it for now!

Week 65: WELL... Lots of stuff....

Ok, so, I had NO TIME last week because of the updating the offices, so sorry if I didn't get to respond to some people. Or if you were waiting on a letter and never got it. Sorry, I was able to write for like 15 or 20 minutes before I got kicked off for the entire day. But that is OK! Anyways, moving onward!

So for the pictures... Well actually I'll just go into the events of the last two weeks.
Ok, so first off, last week, man it feels like it was a year ago, we had the opportunity to do some service! But it wasn't like your normal get out your lawn tools or we are laying down concrete kind of service, we got to translate for some super cool Americans and build wheelchairs! Every two years, there is a group that comes down here to give wheel chairs to the needy and so this year they were working with Hope Haven West and so we had the chance to accommodate some 170 wheelchairs to the needy here in Oaxaca! I got to help translate, as well as build a few of the wheelchairs, with a guy named Don and another guy named Curtis. That was fun!! I put a couple pictures of that. I got to do it on Tuesday and Thursday of last week.

So the rest of last week wasn't terribly eventful. I did not get to not have much of a Pday last week because they were cleaning the offices and so I couldn't write, but I did get to talk to some converts from my first area! And next week they are coming up to the city to go to the temple, so I'll be able to see them probably!

But then this week got SUPER PACKED! The workers were working like overtime to get the job done before President Conde got here on Thursday, and then I had to do a bunch of stuff for the Madsen's before they left, and then the printers stopped working and then Conde showed up, and wow.

I am tired again just thinking about how long the week was... But President Madsen had his last zone conference with us, which was super great and where basically everyone cried, because when you are loosing a mission president it is like changing parents or something... It is weird.

But after we got to meet President Conde a little bit I decided he will help the mission A LOT! I know that he really is called of God and here for a reason. But this morning we got to say goodbye and send off President Madsen, and so we made a big sign and I put a picture of that as well!

So that was the last two weeks... It will be pretty different because of President Conde now but I know it will be good and we will be able to do the things the Lord has put us to do here.

Have a great day!