We didn't start the fire!

🎶   Ok, I'm just hoping other people sang that title.

That is the title because last Wednesday we woke up and got ready and looked out the window right before we started to study and a bunch of leaves and stuff were on fire in our front yard... So I took a picture and we went back to studying. But the other photos are of my zone, the coast. and the sky looked cool so there are a couple pictures of that. And there was a caterpillar(please forgive my spelling) that made a cocoon on our door. But my companion doesn't like insects so this morning when the butterfly came out my companion killed it with a electric racket that we have.

 bunch of leaves and stuff were on fire in our front yard

 the coast. and the sky looked cool

And there was a caterpillar

 the coast. and the sky looked cool

 my zone

 really good snack that is just a pasta fried

The last photo is of this really good snack that is just a pasta fried. Literally. We helped someone prep for a party and she was making these and took pasta, put it in oil that was being heated on the stove, and then about 20 seconds later took it out and it had grown about 3 times bigger!

So Tuesday we had a zone meeting and after that we were able to find someone that contacted us and he has a mototaxi(It's a three wheeled motorcycle but a taxi), so after talking to him for a while he gave us a free ride! I hope we can meet with him again.

Wednesday was the fun little fire. That was about the most different thing on Wednesday. We had a good day and taught 4 lessons. Not terrible but we can teach more if we really try.

Thursday we went to San Jose and that was fun. We don't have a lot of time over there so it is really hard to find people because we don't want to get lost and we need to remember where our investigators live, because we already lost one because of that.

Friday we found a less active who was really sick and lost his leg which is why he is inactive. But he's gained a lot of strength back. I hope we can pick him up in his wheelchair next week and bring him to church.

Saturday was good. Nothing huge or different. 5 lessons which is about average. between 4 and 5 is normal. Except on Pdays and Sunday which are less.

Sunday we had service and washed a dog called HEYSHA. Try pronouncing that. In spanish, it would be how we in english pronounce Asia. Which is why for a long time I thought her name was Asia. She is Hermana Ana Cristina's(Paco's Mom) dog.

Hope everyone is great! The scripture that I want to share is a whole chapter so everyone read Alma 26!

First zone activity!

Well all of the photos are from the zone activity because that was the main different thing that happened this week.

one is of me on the beach

trail leading to the beach

trail leading to the beach

the beach! Well and rocks... Super pretty. 

the beach! Well and rocks... Super pretty. 

the beach! Well and rocks... Super pretty. 

So, one is of me on the beach, two are of the trail leading to the beach, and the rest are the beach! Well and rocks... Super pretty.

The zone activity threw the week out of whack, because it meant no Pday Monday, but nothing on Tuesday; and Wednesday we had a district meeting instead of Tuesday. Wednesday we also had exchanges and I stayed in Rio Grande with my district leader Elder Rivera coming and I only needed help from some members to find one person! Even though I've been here for almost 9 weeks, wow it doesn't feel like that long, our area is super huge. And so it is still hard knowing where everyone lives. Not having addresses or street names doesn't help.

But anyway! Monday we had a family home evening, well a family home afternoon with Paco's family because his sister is in town for a couple weeks. They are all newly baptized converts but they are incredibly strong in the church. We couldn't have the family home evening in the evening because we had to go to Puerto that night for traveling to San Pedro Pochutla on Tuesday.

Tuesday we woke up early to travel to the zone activity! We got to Pochutla and then changed into normal people clothes and then in a taxi went to Puerto Ángel beach. Well it is a beach in Puerto Ángel... I don't know the name... But we played volleyball and frisbee, and I got to know the new senior couple that is serving in Oaxaca a little bit! They are cool, Elder and Hermana Johnson I think. I also got to meet Elder Forsyth who is the only companion of my companion (Elder Seañez) that is still in his mission besides me. But he finishes his mission in 3 weeks. I think Hermana Madsen put up a lot of photos on Facebook.

But Wednesday we had a district meeting and then Elder Rivera, my district leader came with me to Rio Grande and we did a lot of contacting, and met with a less active who has a daughter that wants to be baptized. Also Paco gave us 3 references and was with us for a couple hours.

Thursday, we went to a small town called San Jose, like we do every Thursday because we have investigators and a less active family there.

Friday we went to the doctor, a specialist in the intestinal tract because my companion has an inflamed intestine I think and a parasite. And this week he got meds to get rid of the parasite because 2 weeks ago he took meds to calm the inflamed parts. So he is only dying a little bit because the parasite is getting flushed out.

Saturday Paco came with us again and we met with Rolando and he is doing better but he still doesn't feel ready to commit to a baptismal date. We also had a lesson with Bendito, who lives in a town over an hour away, but still in our area (XD Our area is very large...) But he is good friends with a family of members here and he travels here a lot for his work so we got to have a lesson with him and he is really interested, it is just really hard to meet up with him.

Sunday, we had 4 investigators at church! But one of them is a 10 year old of a family of members who is waiting for his mom to visit from the US before he gets baptized because he wants her here. Then it was also Rolando and 2 young men in a less active family that live in San Jose so it is a bit hard for them to come to church because it is over a half hour away and cost 50 pesos per person to get here and back in an urban. Very few people have cars here.

And yeah so that was my week. Hope y'all are doing great!

Well I hit my 3 month mark!

So I've been in my mission for over three months now and have over 1/8 done with my mission! Man, how the time flies!

So I got to burn some socks for my 3 month anniversary! I took a picture of the socks and a video but the video is a bit too big to send...

And the other 2 pictures are one of my district and one of my house. It is very yellow. Don't know why I haven't sent a picture of it yet.

Anyway, today the letter is short because I don't have a bunch of time because our Pday was cancelled because of our zone activity tomorrow which will be a beach party. But we are allowed a bit of time to write.

This week we had 2 investigators at church which was good, but it's hard for us to find new investigators because my companion has talked to basically all of Rio Grande and we don't have a lot of money so we only travel to one nearby town that is in our area one day a week.

But one of the best things that happened this week is Paco (recent convert) and his sister ( also a recent convert, 20 years old) came with us to an appointment with an investigator who is struggling to keep her commitments and I think it helped her realize that there are normal Mormons too. Not all of them are wierdo missionaries XD But for recent converts they have incredible testimonies!

one of my district

So I got to burn some socks for my 3 month anniversary! I took a picture of the socks

one of my house

Yeah, no scripture this week cuz I'm out of time... but remember that God is always there if we want Him to be!

Investigators at church!

One of the most exciting things this week was we had 3 investigators at church! While that may not seem like a big deal, it is. Normally we have 1 or maybe 2; but 3 is SUPER AWESOME!

one was me being bored on Pday. So I took a picture of my agenda.

Then the sky looked cool so I took a picture of that.

One is of the church,

one is of my companion because President said we could wear hats so he wanted to know what President thinks of his new hat.

Anyway, for the photos. One is of the church, one is of my companion because President said we could wear hats so he wanted to know what President thinks of his new hat. Then the sky looked cool so I took a picture of that. And the last one was me being bored on Pday. So I took a picture of my agenda.

Anyway, one of our investigators who is 10 and in a family of members but he still counts as an investigator, had a family friend pass away this week so we didn't get to meet with him, because his whole family is in town and they are all Catholic and Catholics have some interesting funeral things for the first 9 days, and then a month later, and a year and so on, it is interesting... But that is ok. We've been praying a lot for them.

Also, Rolando, who has been really stuggling to make it to church was at church! We met with him on Friday and he really wants to get closer to Heavenly Father and he is really trying. But I know that him coming to church will really help him.

We have 2 teenagers that are part of a less active family that made it to church as well! They are really cool, and have their baptismal date for the end of this month! We have been going over the lessons a bit fast but they are understanding very well and keeping their commitments so it is great!

Oh, and one awesome thing this week was that we were able to get a full set of LDS Scriptures to Paco! He had the Book of mormon but needed D&C and while he had a bible, it didn't have any of the footnotes because it wasn't an LDS bible, and yes they are the same, but the footnotes really help. But we were able to get him a set of scriptures and write our testimonies in it and highlight our favorite verses! It was super cool!

Oh! ALSO! Another HUGE rainstorm Sunday night. That was super fun. Got home super wet but my stuff was completely dry and after 10 minutes so was I! Definitely an answered prayer there.

I'm definitely seeing an improvement in my spanish! But my english spelling is declining I think so forgive me. But I fasted to be able to recognize the gift of tongues and for my investigators to progress more and both of those happened that day!

But besides that this week wasn't super different so I'll leave y'all with a mormon message that helped me this week.

It is Elder Holland's testimony of the Book of Mormon and it is inspiring. I want to be able to share my testimony with the power that he has.

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!