Bodas! Lamanitas! y La Venta!

SHOUT OUT TO MY BEAUTIFUL SISTER AND HAWT HUSBAND! We are #blessed for temples and Eternal families. I'm sad I didn't get to see Baylie and Wyatt get married but its okay, because two years is only a small time compared to eternity! 

Speaking of weddings I went to my first Mexican wedding! Ernesto y Lady got married. Ernesto is excited to get baptized this weekend but even more excited for a year from now when he has the opportunity to go to the temple with his new wife! We took a ton of pictures but he still hasn't sent them to me yet so next week. 

I was on a selfie roll this week!

We took a taxi 20 min up the road to a museum of ancient ruins! All the Olmec Heads look like they're from Zelda I was having flashbacks @baylieandnolan Don't know where my power bands went.

It was so cool to see all of the Jaredite and Lamanite history about 800-500 b.C. Started telling a guy that worked at the Museum about where these people came from and he literally had no words it was so funny. 

Once again I have the most beautiful mission in the whole world! This place really is so cool. 

Took a picture laying on an Altar from 500 b.C don't think that was allowed but I went fast no one could see me! We hiked up a huge hill where there was another altar and took a bunch of Selfies. 

I'm in love with this place I wouldn't mind staying here in this area my entire mission.

I told my family over my call home for Christmas that in the Zone conference it was said that I was probably the only one in all of Agua Dulce with blonde hair. 

Honestly amazing miracles this week. The power of the Priesthood is real. Very real. A member of our Rama here in 4 Caminos passed away yesterday after suffering through a terrible illness, appearing to look exactly like Leprosy. We are blessed to live where we live in the conditions we live in.

This new year is going to be awesome full of the best memories!

Love Y'all soooooo much!!

Feliz Navidad!

Feliz Navidad!!! 

You already know what I did for our Christmas eve Desayuno!! I made pancakes and eggs for Elder Matamoros and I. Alejandra (Nuestra MAMA Galleta) left her keys so we could use her kitchen. 

She's the best. My companion Elder Matamoros from Nicaragua asked me who Santa was and where came from. so sad. 

Heres a picture of a boy that just got baptized he always asks me to take a picture with him even when we are in sacrament meeting and I usually just pretend to take a picture with him but this time I actually did. He's awesome. 

The work is as good as ever in our área. Christmas is a special time to share his message. We talk to a lot of people who give their condolences because we are away from our family for Christmas. We always explain that our family misses us but they are happy we are here and that 2 years is just a small time when you look at eternity. 

We met this man who was very passive aggressive this week. After the Nephites left Jerusalem and came to the promised land (Villahermosa Mexico Mission) they Split from the Laminites and built a temple. Nephi described it as living "after the manner of Happiness." (2 Nephi 5:27) Before my misión, I Heard a lot about the opinions of others regarding commandments of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. "Man in your church you have so many rules, you can't do anything." I couldn't help my puritan like mindset freshman year of high school that somewhere my friends or others were having more fun than I was. Now a Little more direct and articulated out here on the misión relating members of the Church to "sheeple". "You have divine revelation, leaders, and scriptures that make all of your decisions for you! I'm honestly kind of jealous about the easiness of your lives having all of your decisions made for you." I smiled because I realized that a lot of people mistake the happiness of members of the church for easiness and that if God tells you to do something because it will make you happier why wouldn't you do it? Choosing obedience is living "after the manner of happiness". I was thinking in my head how easy it is to be a missionary.... it didn't seem to add up. Honestly being a missionary is one of the harder things I've done in my life but at the same time, people of the Street have begun to realize something is different about those in White shirts and name tags. (Mosiah 2:41)

Obedience really is the true manner of happiness. On a misión you have to represent the two most important names every day, hence greater responsibility to be exactly obedient. Easiness is a consequence of obedience. 

The man J. Smith said it best "Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God". 

Satan always focusses on rights without mentioning responsibilities. 

Every week I forget to take pictures I just take a picture in the mirror.

Feliz Navidad! Los Amo Muchísimo!
Zone conference photo

MONDONGO

I have eaten so much Mondongo my face in this picture shows exactly how I feel. Mondongo is cow stomach and everyone loves it here and I just try and pound it with rice and tortillas. It's not bad but after so many times it's starting to freak me out. It's so chewy, but not like a fatty tough chewy, more like a gum kind of chewy. It's gross. hahaha.

This last week we saw an old men's league playing soccer. Straight up like 70-year-old men. It was intense and so funny.

 Also, Elder Matamoros is so funny he drew this on the whiteboard and put it on the wall. I'm pretty sure he was trying to draw me. hahaha love that Elder

We live with Alejandra shes a member in our ward. I just want to say that I love her so much and she's the best. She is so sweet and funny and awesome. We can go to her for anything and she is always there. She has given us so many references and just loves missionary work! She's awesome.

The work took a turn for the better this week which was awesome. I'm still super excited for what this Cambio has in store but also a little nervous. 

Thanks for everyone and K2 for the Christmas pictures and things miss everyone so much!

I still have the prettiest mission in the whole world! I cannot even take pictures to show how awesome it is. The weather this week was absolutely perfect, It is 75 with a little bit of sun and a light breeze #money

Heres a pic of My area, 4 caminos, so I can remember it in the future.

I'm finally able to teach a lesson now pretty well which is exciting and chit chat on the street! Love you alll so much! ESPECIALLY MY MOM I LOVE HER SO MUCH SHE'S THE BEST IN THE WHOLEE WORLD SHE BETTER NOT DELETE THIS!! :)

They that be with us, are more than they that be with them

Encompassed by Syrians lead by king Ben-Hedad Elisha and his servant began to analyze just how tremendous their situation was, overwhelmed by horses and chariots too many to be counted. As Elisha´s young servant, trembling with fear, exclaimed "Alas, my master! How shall we do?" Elisha responded, "fear not for they that be with us, are more than they that be with them." (2 Kings 6:16)

This week started off like this a little bit for me. Elder Matamoros is awesome, but the thought of only speaking Spanish, teaching and introducing every investigator, remembering our giant area with no names for anything while still trying to play it cool was a little stressful. Weird because it's not in my character to feel like I was at the beginning of this week. I just want to be the best but it felt like horses and chariots against me. I think of the young servant's mind as he is thinking, 1 himself and 2 Elisha.... how are there more with us than them. Prayers of the righteous that the power of heaven is called down. It's real. Elisha prayed, " Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see". As the Lord opened the eyes of the young servant, he quaked, as he saw " the mountains filled with horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha" I'm not kidding when I say I know for a fact that D&C 84: 88 is real. 

I think of what my dad would say something along the lines that energy is just energy. Anxiety, nerves, excitement, and attention are all just types of energy and you pick how to channel them. (John 14:27) Next thing he would probably say is something along the lines of 1 Nephi 3:7 " go and do" have some grit, there is power in his words. Be happy and enjoy it, so when the day comes that we might be able to hear the words of Matthew 25:21 " Well done my good and faithful servant" sit down you've done enough-Jay Temple

I decorated our room for Christmas, it's dope we thriving out here. 

Also if you speak Spanglish I told my comp that "Floyd killed the rat" and he came running super fast and he just killed a rat.

Also, I'm pretty sure the Mariachi band in AD are my favorite people ever. 4 of them are named Fernando and they always cheer when we walk by so I bought them a coke. 

we shared a little about them BoM and they're just so funny. They're not very interested but it's nice I have some supporters out here. They always wanna hear about Texas and I told them about the Golf tournament with the Mariachi band and they were all laughing its so fun.

I got a Pemex Rain Jacket. Pemex is an Oil and Gas Monopolized industry which basically powers this portion of Mexico it's actually kind of sad. They give most of the jobs down here which is good but anyway Its Pemex everything so that's why the jacket is funny.

Surprisingly, I actually miss reading whatever it is I want.

I'm working on being more exactly obedient, and diligent. 

It took me a bit to understand why many of the people do not have the desire to exercise their faith and want to know more, as the spirit is there and I can feel it and see that they can feel it too. From Christ's ministry in Judea and Perea many of the people don't have the desire to change. I learned that the failure to comprehend, the importance of the Gospel, is in part due to the fact that the human mind is frightened or loath to search deeply into anything it desires not to believe. Many are afraid of obligation and commitment and don't want that responsibility. 

Doing my best and pray for yall all the time. No words can describe how freaking great America is and Texas and I miss USA air but it'll do.

Cambios!

Wow, this week was stressful, but one of the most rewarding.

We had transfers yesterday, and I get to stay in 4 Caminos, Agua Dulce!! I'm so excited. I received a new companion his name is Elder Matamoros he is from Nicaragua! 

He's awesome we are both ready to get a lot of work done this cambio. He doesn't speak any English really but its okay because we are helping each other! It was stressful because I have to show Elder Matamoros around the area. Our area is massive so trying to remember all of the member's houses and where all of our investigators are is a little challenging. There is no address system here which means if you're lost and that person doesn't have a phone number.... yeah. This is Elder Matamoros´ second area so he is relatively new as well. This photo is one of the member's homes.

Anyway, I'm in charge of our little phone. Answering is hard because I can sometimes understand when people are talking fast in person but over the phone its a new level. Anyway, its kinda like I'm comp mayor while still in my training so far. My Spanish is gonna get really good because I don't really have a choice. Christmas is on the 24 here which is cool.

If ya'll were wondering what ideal church in Mexico is like here is the baptismal font and the chapel lol.

One of our investigators has a bunny so I picked it up and held it like a baby and literally one of them thought it was so funny she couldn't breathe.

One of the things I´ve learned from my dad and my sister is that there is no growth in the comfort zone, and no comfort in the growth zone, so I'm really just trying to hang in there really trust.

I love you all so much!!

 Recent convert and soon to be convert

Our gym! 

Feliz día de acción de gracias!!

I wish Thanksgiving was as hype here as it is in America! One thing I'm absolutely the most grateful for, outside of my family and the gospel, is being a Texas-American mostly American. What a privilege it is.

My Spanish is getting better slowly. I'm just trying to learn a few words a day! It's hard having time to put in actual language study because I would rather read the LdM but I should make time.
There were actually some pretty interesting things that happened this week. I had my first lesson actually in a jungle this week. We taught a man that didn't have space in his house for a visit so we met out back behind his house and he chopped some banana tree leaves down and put our bags on them. He is just the best little abuelito he has like 5 dogs and he lives with his brother who is 72 but they do everything for themselves. We are sitting in the lesson and the 74 year old man stands up and cuts a trash bag down that was hanging in a tree and all his dogs run over. He pulls out of the trash bag a huge, legit horse leg with a hoof on it and everything. He just starts chopping it up with an axe and all the dogs are trying to steal it from him. I asked if I could help him and he said no- he can do it himself. It was the grossest thing ever. lol. I'm just trying to soak everything in.
Make sure to sit back and take advantage of the time we have in the places we are. I love sitting back and just keeping my head up when I walk because it reminds me of how blessed we are to live in such a beautiful planet.
Stay away from pochitoque, it's so gross it's basically a cooked turtle with some green sauce on it.

The Tabasco mud turtle, commonly known as pochitoque here, is a small turtle that can be found in Veracruz, Tabasco, northern Guatemala and Belize. It is found in small streams, marshes and ponds.
Honestly, the food here, in general, is getting really good. I'm starting to settle in!
We have transfers next week and I'm nervous, I hope I get to go somewhere in the city by a Walmart! I got all my housemates into 'golf.' We swing metal poles, working on our swing. It's so funny. I was talking to my mission president and he says we are going to try and golf before he leaves and after the rainy season.
I miss y'all so much. I'm just trying to do my best but I feel like alot of things go wrong. I just finished reading the book Jesus, The Christ. It is so great, I wish I would have read it before my mission. 
I also found some puppies playing in a sandpit and just some pictures of 4 caminos which is the area where we live.
Hope all is well, love ya-

Living in Luxury-Bucket Showers Can't Be Any Better

This week was so rainy. Water everywhere! That means there are bazillions of mosquitoes. What's good about the rain is that everyone is HOME! but they just say the weather is too bad to let us in... really doesn't make sense but its okay. 
Let me just say Elder Sorensen and I made ourselves the best set up this week. When it rains the water gets really cold and in the morning its stinks to bucket shower. The water is always filled with rust so its like we shower with cold rust water. We set up some ripped strips of t-shirt over our faucet to act as a filter against the rust and we bought a heating rod. We wake up, fill our buckets, and start heating the water, it's the best.

Sunday we had two of our progressing investigators come to church and honestly, it was the best. Our branch isn't big enough to be a ward and sometimes its a little nerve-wracking because it doesn't always run as smooth as it does in the states and the missionaries have to help the branch president from the congregation sometimes. This last Sunday ran perfectly though! Our visitors loved it and said they want to come back every week! Elder Sorensen and I taught Gospel Principles and it was good! The people here help me with my Spanish and they're very nice!
There are so many mangoes everywhere!!!! They fill the streets. There is this one road when all the best mangoes fall but the street gets super slippery. I totally slipped and some people saw and it was funny they laughed.

We had zone conference this week. Something that President Haws and the mission in general stresses so much is the importance of Power, Dignity, and Purpose. Everything we do as missionaries revolves around those three things. I love the emphasis upon hard work and diligence as everything you do and say must have a purpose, through dignity, done with power.

Love you all so much