Week 78 Final email...Adios Mexico June 8, 2015

They say that the mission is like a big beautiful field of roses. I remember when I began filling out my mission papers; nervous, anxious, excited to see where I would be spending the next year and a half of my life.

July 2013
There I was with that big white envelope in my trembling hands. Everyone was silent as I read those words: "Dear Sister Ingram you are hereby called to serve as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Mexico Mexico City Southeast mission." I remember my mom shouting, "What?! But they don't send girls to Mexico!" I couldn't believe it either; I had been called to serve a full-time mission in Mexico City and that adventure would start just a few short months later. Almost immediately my dad began searching pictures of my mission; houses upon houses upon houses. One thing was for sure, finding people to teach wouldn't be a problem! I would be learning a new language, eating who knows what, meeting new people, living a new culture, and, most importantly, teaching the gospel. Life as I knew it would take a 180 degree turn. But I was excited knowing that it would be an adventure of a life-time. There I was, looking out upon that big beauiful field of roses.
December 11th 2013
It was early, my bags were packed; I was ready to go. We slowly drove through the big black MTC gates, stopping alongside the sidewalk. I said my last goodbyes, gave my last hugs, and just like that I was off on that adventure of a life-time I had been preparing for. That was the moment I took my first step into that field of roses. That's when I realized that my journey through it was going to be a bit harder, a bit more painful than I had expected it to be.

January 20th 2014
I finally arrived in Mexico. What language were they speaking anyway? That was definitely not the language they had taught me back in the MTC... "Can you speak a little slower please?" How in the world was I ever going to do this?

I walked into my house. There were cockroaches crawling all over the yellow stained walls, a mountain of dirty dishes filling the sink, and rotting food covering the counters and tables. The place smelled like a musty, moldy, dirty, old house. I was not excited to spend the next few months living there.

I began to unpack my bags. Where were my things? I couldn't believe it...someone had stolen almost all of the contents of one of my suitcases. I took a deep breath; everything was going to be fine but I began to wonder what exactly I had gotten myself into. Was this really worth it?

Burning my shoes....if that's what you can still call them

The months went by and it continued to be tough but I started to get the hang of things. Why didn't people want to listen to us? Slammed doors and insults became an everyday occurrence. I was starting to realized that the big beautiful field of roses sure did look amazing from an outsider's perspective, but walking through it...well...that was another story. The field was full of thorns...each step hurt!

However, as the time went by I began to see some changes. I no longer struggled to understand the language. "Um, Sister _______ there's another cockroach on your desk." Who needed a hot shower when you could just heat a bucket of water with a hot iron? I began to find people who DID want to listen to me; people who truly were in search of the gospel. I began to recognize that each day was full of little miracles. As I was pushing my way through that field of roses I decided to look up and notice where I was: in the middle of the biggest most beautiful field of roses. I had had my head down that entire time and had forgotten where I was!

One, five, ten, sixteen months passed by. Day by day I continued. It was tough. There were ups and downs, some moments were harder than others but I kept reminding myself to look up and remember where I was.

Now my adventure of a life-time is drawing to an end and I'm just days away from returning to life as I knew it. I've grown to love so many people here: my companions, converts, members, my mission president, his wife, and many more. THEY'VE become my family away from home and I'm having to say goodbye knowing that some of them I may never see again. Never again will I be able to relive the experiences that I've had as a missionary here in Mexico. This IS life as I know it and I'm having to say goodbye to it for forever. I'm just a few steps from leaving the field. It sure hasn't been easy walking through it, but when I look back I realize that though difficult, it continues being that same big beautiful field of roses.

BUT it's not over yet! I've learned so much while being here and there's no way I'm going to let it go to waste. I've got an even bigger field of roses I have to cross called LIFE. If you would've asked me 3 years ago if I was going to serve a mission I would've said, "Absolutely not!" I was preparing to play division 1 college sports, I had other plans, a mission was the LAST thing on my mind. When I made my decision to not play college sports, I didn't truly understand why at the time. All I knew was that the Lord understood, He saw the bigger picture, and I needed to put my trust in Him. Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths." I KNOW that that is 100% true! I knew that God would direct my path and look where I ended up...in the middle of Mexico! I will forever be grateful for the decision I mad to NOT go through with MY plans but rather to go through with HIS plans. I know that what comes next will be far from easy...but my experiences here in Mexico have prepared me...bring it on life!!

Saying goodbye to our ward building...

Week 78 Final email (1 of 2) June 8, 2015

This week was one of the best weeks yet! And what a great way to finish!

Tuesday our investigator Carlos passed his baptismal interview. He came out looking a little shooken up so we asked if everything was ok. He paused and said, "I'm just really going to miss the two of you when you're gone." It's really hard to explain the love you feel towards your investigators. It's something I have never felt before! We LOVE them more than anything and it's amazing to see them change their lives around!

Alejandro is glowing! I have never seen him so happy before!

Alejandro

We visited a lot of members this week to say goodbye. One of them said something that I'll never forget. She said, "Hermanas, I'm sure I'll NEVER see you again in this life. But I know that when we're resurrected we'll see each other again and we'll give each other a big hug." It actually made me tear up a little. It's true! That's going to be one big day of amazing reunions with everyone I've ever met here! I can't wait!

Friday it finally started to hit me that this is all about to end. I can't help but think, "This is the last time for this and for that..." I will NEVER teach these people ever again. It's hard thinking about that. But that's part of the mission!

Making Pozole

The secret ingredient

Hermana Lucero

We have probably never eaten so much as we did on Saturday. EVERYONE wanted to make us food...and we couldn't decline...so we practically ate all day! I did eat the best pozole ever though...THAT was worth it! Hermana Lucero is a chef and she made us her famous pozole verde. She promised me that she was going to email me the recipe...that way I can attempt it at home. The only problem is that she buys half of a pigs head, 4 pig feet, and a pig's spine to add flavor and I'm pretty sure I'm not finding that too easily in Salem, Utah. I was always told that the special secret ingredient to a delicious bowl of pozole was "amor" (love) but what they never told me was that it was ACTUALLY the head of a pig... I'm not sure I like knowing that.

Carlos's baptism

Bertha's baptism

At about 5 on Saturday we started the baptism of Carlos and Bertha. Carlos brought his wife, who I had never met before and Bertha showed up in the back of her husband's mototaxi along with her daughter Allison and her son Johnny. I don't know what got into me but from the moment we started I was fighting back the tears! It was HARD thinking that that was THE LAST time I would ever be baptizing an investigator. It's an amazing thing to see these people make such big changes in their lives. It's hard to express! Anyway, Gustavo (covert) baptized Carlos and Ramon (ward mission leader) baptized Bertha. Towards the end of the service, they surprised me and asked me to stand and bare my testimony. I knew that I wasn't going to be able to hold back the tears. I was looking at 2 miracles! We found Carlos because someone decided to give us a false address. We thought we lost him but kept searching...he has COMPLETELY turned his life around! Bertha was golden from the start! She was READY for the gospel in her life. Both of them started crying as I was up there. But what a great way to end my time in that ward!

On Sunday Carlos, Alejandro, and Bertha all got confirmed members of the church. I was beyond happy for them. And, to finish sacrament meeting we sang hymn #88 "Placentero nos es trabajar" (it doesn't exist in English). I couldn't even sing the words I was so emotional. I've turned into a big fat baby here in the mission!

Familia Beltran 

Hermana Isabel

Our English class

Carlos in his home where we teach him

Edith and her daughter Edith

Jessica (convert)

Hermana Maldonado (probably my favorite member)

Hermana Zenaida

Josefina (convert) 

Ana and her son Leonardo (convert)

Carlos

Gustavo

Week 77 Great Week! June 1, 2015

The Sanchez family...one of my favorite (and shortest) families here in Polanco

Tuesday morning we had to train the Hermanas and Elders that will be training this upcoming cycle. I find trainers as some of the most important missionaries in the mission. They set the foundation for how the new missionaries are going to serve the rest of their missions. So, it's important that they be some of the best missionaries...and by the look of that group I know that they'll be some of the best trainers and that the newbies are going to be in good hands.

Later we started divisions with Hermanas Sic and Benson. I went to Lucero with Sic and it was a blast. From the moment I met her at changes, I knew she was going to be awesome...and being with her Tuesday just confirmed it. We have some amazing sister missionaries here in the mission. Mexico is in for it!

Facebook Stalking???

Thursday. So, our investigator Alejandro called us and informed us that he would be going out of town for the next week and a half which meant he wouldn't be getting baptized this week...bummer...

Both Carlos and Bertha are progressing REALLY well. We taught Bertha about the Word of Wisdom and as we were explaining the things we shouldn't consume she said, "I don't know why God would tell us to not drink coffee...but if He says so...well...I know it's true!" She also mentioned that her husband tears up when he hears them say prayers at night...he's changing and we've never even taught him!

Friday morning was my last leadership meeting with the President, his wife, the assistants, and the zone leaders. At the start of each meeting we are handed a paper with what we'll be talking about listed on it, a calendar for the upcoming month, and a list of the coming and leaving missionaries. I was reading through that list and that's when I ran into MY name...what?! Am I going home??? That was like one big punch in the gut... anyway we spent a lot of the time talking about the normal mission business and to end the assistants gave a capacitation (training) on working with ward leaders. As they were wrapping up he turned to me and asked, "Hermana Ingram, what are your plans for when you get home in just a few short weeks?" I answered, "Well, I'll need to find a job...I'll start up my studies..." He asked a few more of the leaving missionaries and they all answered pretty similarly. He paused and asked, "Then why did each of you decide to come on a mission?" That REALLY hit me. At first I came on a mission thinking I was going to convert Mexico! I may have had a few baptisms here and there and I WAS able to see a few lives change. That was amazing. I learned a whole new language..how cool is that!? But now I'm beginning to realize that it's more than that. To what good is it that I come on a mission if I go home the same person as I was before; if I go back to my old life? Remember what Peter and the other apostles did when Jesus died? They went back to their old lives as fisherman! It was as if they had forgotten everything they had learned while they were with Christ! Christ was resurrected, saw them fishing, and, from the shore said, "What in the world are you doing?! When I asked you to be my disciples, I didn't mean for just a few years...I meant for a LIFETIME!" He didn't call me to be a representative of Him for just a year and a half so that afterwards I could sit back, relax, and return to my old life. He called me to serve Him for a LIFETIME. And that's my plan. Of course I'm going to work, and study...that's a very important part of my life. But I'm going to serve Him and, well, love life while I'm at it!

Another one of my favorite families

Saturday was an AMAZING day! First, we went to the mission offices for our goodbye interviews. I honestly couldn't believe that the day had come! Anyway, my interview with President Stutznegger was 100% inspired! We talked about a lot of things...it was awesome! He ended by giving me a blessing and then it was over. There isn't a doubt in my mind that President Stutznegger is a man of God. I am really going to miss him and Sister Stutznegger!

Later we got a call from Alejandro. He wanted to see us that afternoon in the church...he said he needed to talk about a few things. Wasn't he supposed to be out of town?? So later we visited him in the church. We had tried calling him the days before but he wasn't answering. To be honest, things weren't looking good. So, when we saw him I was expecting bad news. He started by telling us how bad the last few days had gone for him. He was supposed to go to Leon but as he was leaving his van broke down. So, he went back to his house and grabbed is second van...it too broke down just a few kilometers down the road. He was NOT happy, and that's why he wasn't answering our phonecalls. After a long hard day on Thursday he told us that he was about to call us and tell us that he was done, that he didn't want to get baptized. That's when he noticed his Book of Mormon sitting on his kitchen tale and had the impression to open it and start reading. He said that in that moment he received his answer...he had known all along that it was true. To confirm his decision he began fasting. Then he said, "Hermanas, I'm getting baptized. I was wondering if we could fill up the baptismal font right now. Can we?" Do you have any idea how happy we were?! We were practically crying we were so happy! I don't think it was coincidence that BOTH of his cars broke down. He was supposed to get baptized this weekend. Whoever was praying for that guy...Thank you!!

Alejandro's Baptism

Sunday....ALEJANDRO GOT BAPTIZED! It was amazing! Elder Choc (one of the Elders that found him) was able to come and baptize him. After he came out of the water he gave Choc the biggest hug ever...he was SO happy.

The Pazole Party

Later, we came back to to the church and the ward mission leader (Ramon) had organized a big pozole party. A bunch of ward members came...we sure had a lot of fun.

WHAT A GREAT WEEK! I seriously can't believe that my time here is winding down...I only have a week to give it my all!

Week 76 The End of the World as We Know It... May 25, 2015

Monday we went to Heroes (my previous ward) to visit the Ayala Family. They are doing really well! Especially Ernesto...he now teaches the priesthood class! He has come SO far! The rest of the family is also doing awesome and I love any time I get to spend with them. Later we went with the Lopez Family for dinner. They are some of my favorite converts here in the mission. You'd think they had been members for years! Both Omar and Patricia are busy with their kids, work, and church callings and the kids are busy with school, seminary, and preparing for missions. I still remember the day when Hermana Bennett and I first taught them like it was yesterday. And, well, from that day on they've just been golden! I can't wait to go through the temple with them in just a few short months!

Lopez's little boy

Tuesday we visited Bertha and she is more excited than ever for her baptismal date. She mentions it all the time! Even in her prayers she prays that God helps her to prepare...THAT'S how you know that they really have a true desire.

Carlos is also progressing really well. He has written in his Book of Mormon "June 7th" as a constant reminder of his goal. He hasn't drank once! He also has almost every one of his books all marked up: his Book of Mormon, his Liahona magazines, Gospel principles..he LOVES the gospel.

Tuesday we also met a member for the first time from the Elder's old area. Her name is Guadalupe and she's dying because of a softball-sized tumor she has on the side of her neck. She was almost literally a skeleton sitting there on her bed. There were around 20 people there visiting her (she could die any minute) and none of them were members. We sang a hymn to her, prayed, shared a scripture, and what we hadn't noticed was that everyone in that room was crying. Because of the tumor she could barely speak...it was really really hard to make out anything she said but you could tell she absolutely loved us being there. As we got up to leave she said, "When I die, I want my funeral service to be in the church and I want the both of you to be there....tell that to the bishop for me." It was REALLY sad but it was amazing to see how happy she was despite what she was going through.

Wednesday Alejandro had his baptismal interview with our District Leader, Elder Lee but needed a special interview. Luckily, the President was in the stake center so we were able to go with him almost right away. He passed and we headed back out to our area to teach some more lessons.

Thursday morning we started divisions..I went to Juan Estutia with Hermana Tirado (newer Hermana from Tijuana) and Hermana Bennett went to my area with Hermana Taylor. I LOVE Hermana Tirado...she works hard and she's just a blast to be around. She has A LOT of potential and I know that she'll be able to help a lot of the Hermanas here in the mission.

The end of the world...

As we were walking to divisions we noticed that EVERYONE was looking up to the sky. As we looked up we saw it too...I've never seen anything like it...there was a circular rainbow surrounding the sun! It was so strange! People here thought the world was ending...literally. There were people praying in the streets asking God to forgive them of their sins...(it was similar to what happens when there's an earthquake here). Everyone was asking us to interpret the meaning of it, if we were all going to die, etc. At lunch the lady couldn't stop looking out the window begging God to not let anything happen to her family and to forgive her of everything bad she'd ever done. I said the closing prayer, ended, and she panicked and said, "You didn't ask Him to protect us from whatever is about to happen!" So, she made me pray again! And the world didn't end.

Friday we finished divisions and headed back to our own areas just in time for lunch. First off...they forgot we were eating with them so the dad had to figure out what to give us...and he gave us the absolute worst option possible: chicharron en salsa verde. When he handed us our plates I looked at my companion and mouthed, "I'm not doing this...." You all probably think I'm really dramatic...but it is so gross...it's like eating giant loogies...(that's the best way I know how to describe it). I think God answered my prayer because the dad left us to eat alone (that never happens). Hermana Taylor quickly grabbed a plastic bag from her bag, we both emptied our plates into it, she sealed it up, and quickly stuffed it back into her backpack. Just as we finished it the dad came back in and said, "Wow! I didn't know you two love chicharron so much!" I had to act like I was super full so that he didn't force me to eat another plate.

Hermana Taylor with our emergency bag

Later we got a text from Alejandro telling us that he wasn't ready to get baptized the next day. Of course we went right away to his house to see what was up. He invited us in and told us various things: First, after his interviews he felt embarrassed for whatever it was he had done in his past and he didn't like remembering it. Second, he started to search things on the internet and found a lot of anti-mormon literature which brought up a lot of doubts. I have no idea what he went through in his past...but it REALLY effects him even to this day. We talked to him for a while and came to the conclusion that that night he was going to pray and read to know if tomorrow was right for him to get baptized. Satan works SO hard...I can't stand it! One of the hardest things about being a missionary is not being able to control the decisions of others. I have such a HUGE desire to help these people and it is so sad to see someone make a choice that isn't right. I just want them to understand...but it's not that easy. Everyone has their free agency...and that's the worst sometimes. It's hard to explain...but I know that everything happens for a reason and sometimes we can't do a whole lot to change the situation...but God can and sometimes all we can do is trust in Him.

Later that day it rained SO HARD. Within 3 minutes we were absolutely soaked from head to toe. And that's how we had to teach English class. To make it a little better I went to the bathroom and wrung out my shirt and my skirt. Mission life...;)

Saturday we visited Alejandro...and well, he had pretty much decided that he wasn't ready to get baptized. We tried sharing all kinds of things...but it was to no use... Turns out he still has a few doubts about whether or not Joseph Smith is a prophet (thanks to the anti-mormon literature). He told us that he was going to work double-time this upcoming week on getting an answer and that he'd have an answer by Thursday. He used to be a professional marathon runner...he was sponsored and everything! He got paid to run marathons all over the United States and ran marathons in 2 hours and 40 minutes (that's running at about a 6 minute/mile pace). He told us that in those days, if he wasn't fully prepared for a marathon, he would work and train twice as hard to make sure he was more than ready to compete. So, that's his plan...but instead of training for a marathon he's training for baptism...I have faith that he's going to do it! Pray for him!

Sunday Bertha, her daughter and her left-handed son came to church! Alejandro also came at 7:00AM (an hour early) for a priesthood preparation class. Can someone tell me why this guy isn't baptized already?!;) He even showed up in a white shirt and tie for crying out loud! Edith came (she always does). Rosa, Israel and their son Victor also came. Unfortunately, Carlos didn't show and we couldn't get ahold of him...hopefully he's ok!

Overall this week was a great week! I can't believe that I only have 2 weeks left...I'm full of mixed emotions! I think I'm going to go crazy! ;) I love the mission SO much but at the same time I can't wait to see my family!

Dinner with the Lopez family

Week 75 Angels With Backpacks May 18, 2015

Monday after our district meeting we decided we'd look for our investigator Carlos. We haven't been able to find him in a while...he doesn't answer our phone calls anymore and hasn't come to church. Normally we would've stopped trying to find him but something kept telling us that we should keep trying. So, we knocked on his door and there he was, absolutely drunk. Right as he opened the door you could smell the alcohol. It was actually pretty surprising to us because he had told us that he didn't have a problem with alcohol. He admitted that he had been avoiding us because he didn't want us to see him like that. You could see the pure sadness in his expression. He told us that he needed help and that he knew we were capable of doing the job. We left pretty disappointed but we made an appointment with him for the next day; ready to do whatever it took to help him.

Tuesday was an amazing day. In the morning we stopped by with Gustavo (convert) to take him with us to the appointment with Carlos. (Gustavo was an alcoholic before and we figured he would be able to help us help Carlos.) We knocked...nothing. Knocked again...nothing. Finally a woman answered the door and told us that Carlos was there but that he was really drunk. My first thought was that we should make another appointment...but Gustavo walked right through that door and went to find him. We followed, and sure enough there Carlos was...drunk. Bottom line...he has a HUGE desire to change. I was pretty happy about that. We invited him to attend an addiction class that night (Adolfo teaches it) and Gustavo offered to pass for him. Sure enough later that night he and Carlos were there at the class! Progress!

Later we went to see our investigator Bertha. When we got there her husband was there and wasn't too happy to see us. He told us that we were just a bunch of hypocrites and that he wasn't too fond of us teaching his wife. But, he let us stay and left to work as a mototaxi driver. We got talking to Bertha and ended up setting a baptismal date for the 7th of June. She accepted it before I even finished asking the question! That doesn't happen too often! She then told us about her brother (member) and how the other day she was in the car with him driving to the store. They passed an LDS church and she said, "I'm a part of that church now!" (this was before she had even been to church). He thought she was making fun of him and asked her to not joke around like that. She said, "No! I'm serious!" He couldn't believe it. Apparently later that night he called her to check to see if it really was true and then said, "When you get baptized, call me. I want to be there." Isn't that amazing???

That night we went to visit our other investigator, Alejandro, who expressed his need to know more before getting baptized. We found out that the Elders hadn't taught him any of the commandments and nothing about the Plan of Salvation. There was a lot he needed to learn before he was ready to be baptized just a few days later. He paused and said, "Listen, I trust you two girls. If you think I'm ready to get baptized this weekend...I'll do it. But you tell me." Both Hermana Taylor and I felt better about waiting until the next weekend. So, we moved it for this Saturday. He has changed so much. He started out as the most "machista" man ever. He used to tell us that it was hard for him to even listen to us because we're women and he was raised to think that women were created to be beaten, commanded, to clean, cook, and nothing more. (That's really common here) He told us how hard it was for him to love his wife and kids...but that by listening to us and by feeling the spirit that we bring, he has finally learned to love his family. It's the first time he's felt that way. Now he understands that women are worth something!

Wednesday we finished the last 6 months of the Training Plan for 2015-2016 with the President , his wife, and the assistants. The missionaries are going to learn so much in these next 12 months!

Flooded Streets

After having returned to our area to work we got out of our 1st lesson to flooded streets. Let's just say that the drainage system here in the State of Mexico doesn't do anything... What happens is that the garbage clogs the drains and the water builds up in the streets. But you want to know what else happens??? Since the water can't drain where it should, it drains into the sewage system instead...and, well, the sewage system only holds so much until it too begins to overflow. So as we were leaving that lesson, the sewage had already overflown, and it smelled AWFUL. And the worst part was that in order to get home we had to walk right through it...so gross! Once the water disappears...the street is covered in a layer of black sludge (I don't even want to know want it consists of) and men dressed in yellow vests come and shovel it up...I'm just grateful that that's not my job!

Thursday we visited Carlos...and he was completely sober! Woo hoo! It sure is a lot easier to teach sober people;). I forgot to mention the reason he had gotten so drunk in the first place. His first job is repairing electronic devices...his other job (which he hadn't told us about) is that he sings at events. He puts himself into situations where there is a lot of alcohol and he doesn't stop at a few drinks...it lasts for days. Anyway, we got talking and he had just gotten an offer to perform on Friday. He accepted, and the guy paid him right then and there. The same guy showed up this morning and told him that the event had been moved to Sunday. He paused, grabbed the money he had been paid, handed it back to the man and said, "I'm sorry, but I have a commitment this Sunday." As he was walking away Carlos called out to him and said, "And don't worry about coming back...I quit!" He's no longer going to sing because he knows that that's the only way he's going to quit drinking. What a sacrifice! Later he told us, "Ustedes son ángeles que han llegado a mi vida. No traen alas...traen mochilas!" (You are the angels that have come into my life. You don't have wings but you have backpacks!) He's a funny guy.

In the afternoon we taught Alejandro the commandments. In the past he was an alcoholic and drank 15 cups of coffee a day. Now? Nothing! We started talking about paying tithing and he shared a story with us. In the past here, the catholic church had people pay tithes. Alejandro was the leader of an anti-tithe group that ran against the Catholic church. Because of that group, the catholic church here no longer requires its members to pay tithes. In my head I was thinking, "Oh great....he's not going to accept this commandment...we're doomed." But no! He said, "I know that his is the true church! And whatever it asks me to do, I'll do it!"

Our last appointment of the day was with Bertha. The first thing she mentioned to us was that she had a few questions on keeping the Sabbath Day holy (that's what we had taught her in the previous lesson). They are in a tough financial situation. Her husband works as a mototaxi driver, they live in a TINY apartment (bedroom and kitchen combined and an outhouse outside...tarp roof to keep the rain out, etc.) and they are about 9000 pesos in dept. That is a TON considering they make on average about 60 pesos a day here...about $4.50. She said, "My husband wanted me to ask you two your opinion on whether or not we should work on Sundays. He wanted to know what we can do to dedicate every Sunday to the Lord." That's the same man that called me a hypocrite! Miracle! What an act of faith...they are having HUGE financial problems but are absolutely willing to drop work on Sunday and count on the promise in Doctrine and Covenants 59: "Verily I say, that inasmuch as ye do this, the fulness of the earth is yours..." THATS how much she trusts in the Lord!

Saturday morning we visited Bertha again. After teaching her we got talking about her 2 year-old deaf son. The times we've visited both Taylor and I have avoided talking to him knowing that he woudn't be able to hear us...we usually just waved at him or gave him a high 5. Almost every time she talks about him she mentions that he's "sordo" (deaf). Even when we first met them she introduced him and said, "This is my son Jonathan. He's 2 years old and he's "sordo". So, right from the start it was clear that he was deaf. Today, as we were talking to her, she once again mentioned something about him being "sordo". That's when I decided to ask how he became deaf and how they realized. She responded, "Oh, it's because he uses his left side for everything. He draws with his left hand, eats with his left hand, and even kicks with his left foot." In my mind I was thinking, "What does that have to do with being deaf??" I was so confused and so I asked, "Your son is "sordo"?" She busted up laughing and said, "No! He's "zurdo"!" (That means left-handed.) All 3 of us started laughing hysterically. This whole time I thought the kid was deaf! And who introduces their son like that?! "This is my son Jonathan...he's left-handed." And she mentions it almost every time we see her! I was crying I was laughing so hard! So anyway, Bertha, who is right-handed, is progressing really well. We love their right-handed daughter, Allison. She talks a lot about how she wants to be a missionary like us someday. And their left-handed son Jonathan is cute too!;)

Alejandro

Gustavo

Israel, Victor, & Rosa

                         

Saturday afternoon we went to the temple visitors center with Gustavo (convert), Alejandro, Rosa, Israel, and their son Victor (investigators that can't get baptized yet). That place is amazing! You feel so happy just by stepping foot on the temple grounds and almost every person I've taken there mentions the immediate difference they feel. We took a tour as a group and we saw an amazing video about how families are forever. At the end we started talking about what we liked about the video and Victor (7) raised his hand and started talking. It wasn't more than 5 seconds later that he was totally bawling. He started talking about how he really missed his little sister and how he wanted to be able to see her again. (His little sister was murdered a little over a year ago.) It was SO sad. It had almost everyone in the room crying too...but it was awesome to teach them in that moment that someday they would be able to be sealed for time and for all eternity in the temple and that he would be able to see his little sister again. I love that family so much! I can't wait for the day that they can be baptized and start to prepare to be sealed as a family!

Week 74 May 11, 2015

I bet your family didn't bring the pet goat to your Mother's Day Skype session! (my family is crazy!!!;))

On Monday we went to a market place called Ciudadela with President and Sister Stutznegger. They sell Mexican clothes etc. there and with only 4 weeks left in the mission, I need to find something to take home to my family. We always have fun with the president. I love them so much and am really going to miss them. But...my family plans to come back and visit in September. I can't wait for them to meet the people that I love.

I'm really going to miss these people!!

Tuesday we were able to find a new investigator (after having walked for 3 hours straight in the hot sun...it was worth it). Her name is Bertha and she has two kids; a 7 year old daughter and a 2 year old son who is deaf. She's married but has been struggling from day 1. I'm really excited to teach her! She showed up to church this week too which is always promising!

After lunch on Tuesday we took the metro to the President's house to spend the night. Wednesday morning we had a meeting with the President, his wife, and the assistants to create a training plan for the next year. That means that we planned what would be taught for every district meeting, zone meeting, leadership meeting, and zone conference for the next year. It's wierd planning for something when you're not even going to be there for but in that time I sure did learn a lot about receiving revelation. We only finished about 6 months worth of our plan before calling it a day and heading back to our area to work. We will be going back again this week to finish the rest of our planning. I love being able to stay at the Presidents house. It is so clean and comfortable and the spirit there is awesome.

Israel, Rosa, and Victor. (The two that need to get divorced before they can get married so they can get baptized) They are AMAZING!

Thursday morning we started divisions with the Hermanas Ortiz (one of the newer sisters) and Valdivia (going home with me). I went to Oriental in the Distrito Federal with Hermana Ortiz and was able to learn a lot. She's from Aguas Calientes, Mexico and will end up being a great missionary!

We recently began teaching a guy named Alejandro who was an old investigator of the Elders who just go taken out of the area. He had come to church several times (8) but wasn't at all interested in getting baptized. The first time we taught him he didn't even believe in the Book of Mormon let alone the Bible...Hermana Taylor and I knew that it was going to take a lot of hard work and a lot of prayers to help him. So with lots of faith we decided that in our second lesson with him we were going to set a baptismal date (he had never accepted one before)...and so that's what we did. When we set it he once again expressed that he wasn't ready and that he'd let us know when he was. Taylor and I were too stubborn to accept that answer! So, right then and there we told him that we were going to kneal down with him and that he was going to ask God if his date was right and if that's what God wanted him to do. So, we knelt down and he began praying...I've never heard a more sincere prayer in my life. I was praying my heart out the whole time! In his prayer he specifically asked God if his baptismal date was right for him and if he was ready to take that step. After he finished, we waited there for a good 3 minutes. He sat up, sat down in his chair, and said, "Never in my life have I felt so much happiness and peace as I am feeling right now...I think that's my answer!" (Galatas 5:22) (Galatians) Alejandro is finally preparing for baptism!

Isn't that amazing? We can ask God specific and direct questions and He promises us that He will answer. Don't forget that that's the same God that moves mountains, that created the earth, that created all mankind; that same God takes the time to hear and answer our prayers. Why wouldn't we talk to him every morning and night???

Mother's Day Skype!

Photo Bomb (We got to meet Hermana Taylor....so fun!)

Week 73 May 4, 2015

Mexico City MTC (aka Heaven)

Monday we left our apartment early and headed to the mission offices to meet the arriving missionaries. As we got there we left with the assistants to go to Benimerito (the Mexico City MTC) to pick up some of the new missionaries. It was amazing! There you are driving through the ghettoes of Mexico City when all of a sudden you drive through some gates into what seems like heaven. Plants, trees, open space, birds chirping...it was also the first time in all of my mission that I had smelled the smell of cut grass! It was like a whole new world! We found the missionaries jumped in a van and headed back to the mission offices. Only one Hermana came this time. Her name is Hermana Wong and she's from a town called Mexcali in Baja California. She's 26 years old and speaks English, Spanish, French, and Italian (she went to school in both France and Italy). She'll do awesome here in the mission as she is very independent and very confident. At the offices we trained them on the basics of the mission and then we headed to the President's house with Hermana Wong for the night. It's always a blast getting to know the new missionaries and hearing about their conversion stories and the reason they decided to come on a mission.

 

Tuesday we went to Neza for changes and Hermana Wong was assigned to her new companion. Five sisters also finished their missions. We're losing everybody! As changes finished we were surprised as a Mariachi band entered the back of the room and started playing. Turns out Adolfo (one of the converts here in Polanco) planned it out with some other ward members and they all pitched in to pay for the band to come. We've definetely never had a mariachi band come to changes! Afterwards we hopped in the car with the departing missionaries and headed back to the President's house for their goodbye dinner and a testimony meeting. The Elders went back to the offices and we stayed with the Hermanas Nance (Utah), Monarrez (Chicago), Luque (Argentina), Williams (Idaho), and Mercedes (Dominican Republic). We had a lot of fun!

My district leader, Elder Hixon, just became Zone Leader!

Wednesday we got to go to the airport and drop off the missionaries. The first missionaries to go were Luque and Mercedes. We woke up at about 3:00AM and drove them there...it was the first time I had ever seen what it was like to say ggodbye to missionaries who were going home...it was SAD! They were both crying and that made us all cry. The entire time I had a pit in my stomach thinking that in just a short 6 weeks that would be ME. So, that continued for most of the day on Wednesday....it was like repeating a sad movie trailer 4 times!

Saying goodbye at the airport

That afternoon we grabbed a taxi and went back to our area to work for the day. Because there are so many missionaries leaving and so few coming, the mission is dropping in number of missionaries and companionships, which means we are having to take missionaries out of a lot of areas. One of those areas is in our ward which means that Taylor and I now have to cover the entire ward boundary by ourselves (we used to share it with other missionaries)...and it's HUGE. We now officially have the biggest area in the Nezahualcoyotl zone....lots of walking! That night we slept like rocks! We had been up since 3:00AM and had been walking like crazy!

Thursday we were walking through the streets when we were approached by an older lady walking in the opposite direction. At first she didn't really say much...she was just staring at me right in my eyes. Then she looked at my companion and said, "Take care of your companion...and make sure no one steals her!" Then she turned and just stared at me! We told her we had to go,...we said bye and as I was trying to leave she brabbed my hand, yelled, "Chula!", and then she slapped me in the face! (Chula is slang for beautiful.) Yes, a random lady in the street slapped me across the face!

This one's for you mission moms!

Later we were looking for a less active and had to cross one of the biggest and busiest streets in our area. (They're called avenidas or avenues in English.) Most avenues are filled with homeless people and others doing whatever they can to make even a few pesos. Some carry a bottle of cleaning fluid and a hand held squeegee and wash windshields, others carry giant black rags and clean your entire car from any dust, some sell cigarettes and pieces of gum, and others dress up as clowns and juggle flaming torches. It's actually quite entertaining to see what kind of show you get to see at a red light. Anyway, Hermana Taylor and I had to cross this road....and it was really busy... As we waited for a break in traffic we were approached by a young man selling gum (it was my convert David's son), a windshield washer who was doing drugs at the same time, and a homeless man and woman dressed up as clowns...all at the same time. The young man was nice and just wanted to have a good come to Jesus talk, the drugged window washer was practically speaking a whole different language he was so out of it, and the 2 clowns were fighting over who was going to trade eyes with us. I think both of us were a little nervous but we were stuck there until we could get past the traffic. It was quite the experience...we were talking to the young man about God while trying to avoid the window washer and making sure the 2 clowns didn't try to steal our eyeballs. Finally the break in traffic came and we got out of there! I don't think we're going to try and cross that big street ever again...I prefer to have my eyes INSIDE their sockets.

Hermana Taylor, Adolfo, and me (no one smiles unless we tell them too...its a Mexican thing)

So, as I mentioned last week, Taylor and I are the only 2 missionaries in this entire ward. We'll be leaving here in about 5 weeks...and after lots of prayer, it has been decided that they won't be sending more missionaries to take our places...Polanco is going to be closed. When we first heard the news we were pretty sad...I kept wondering how the ward was ever going to progress without us. What about the converts? Who would be there to teach them? Taylor and I thought a lot about it and it wasn't until this week that we realized what a blessing it would turn out to be in the long run. Long story short...missionaries and other leaders have had a few problems here with the ward leaders. The ward relies so much on us as missionaries that they don't do much for the ward or its members. Saturday we had a meeting with the Bishop and the Ward Mission Leader and we filled them in on what would be happening in 5 weeks. They were stunned. But we were able to see them recover and make a game plan as to how they would change as a ward. From that moment on, I've never seen the ward come together as much as they did in all the time we've been here. Sometimes what we think are trials actually turn out to be our greatest blessings. I'm excited to see what the future has in store for Polanco.

Makeshift basketball hoop at the mission offices (the Elders cut the top of a plastic bucket off and drilled it to the wall)

The mission Cougars! Go BYU!!!

Bag saran wrapper (so no one gets into your bag and steals things...that would have been useful coming here!)

Elder Evans (Canada) showed up with a cotton laundry bag as one of his suitcases....Elders...they wouldn't let him take it unless he wrapped it up.