FIRST BAPTISM IN MEXICO!

"It is your reaction to adversity, not the adversity itself, that determines how your life story will develop." -President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

¡Hola familia!  How are you?  I am very well.  We had a very special week.  We had a baptism this week.  It was perfect!  I gave a talk and my companion sang (someday I am going to sing in a baptism, but not right now because I still can’t sing well but my companion can sing very well because we sing before every lesson here in México) and there were a lot of people from the ward and investigators as well.  The name of the sister we baptized is Sandra.  She is golden, for example, she has a ton of faith and everything and even helped the ward with cleaning the church before she was baptized!  How powerful! She is very special to me.  She is my first baptism here in Mexico, and also I feel love for her.  I hope we are friends throughout our lives.  Also, this week we were in a lesson teaching a man who was really “macho” and we sang the hymn “Families Can Be Together Forever” and this man told us that he had never felt more at peace in his life.  And that was because that song is true and the Holy Ghost told him it is.  That’s what I like most about the Gospel – that we can live together forever.  Let us behave ourselves familia so that someday we can all obtain this gift. (:  I love you a lot.  Also, I taught a class of Gospel Principles yesterday and I was sweating SO MUCH again because it was so hot and I had to wear my suit jacket and everything. It was so hot that you could see the sweat in my suit. I think I am getting a little more used to the heat, but even so the jacket almost kills me every Sunday.  Also, yesterday and Saturday we ate a TON.  I feel like I have gained 8 kilos but we ate mole Saturday and yesterday and I love mole, so, I ate a lot.  Also I ate like 15 tacos de cabeza, lengua (tongue) and cerebro (brain).  They were so good!  A family just bought a cow’s head, cooked it and then we ate it -- it was so good, but I think I am going to gain a lot of weight because the food is so good all the time, but oh well.  I get along well with all the families because I eat a lot.

(Stephen’s note:  when he says “mole” (pronounced “mol-lay”), he is talking about a famous Mexican dish, which is many times chicken or another meat covered with a delicious chocolate sauce (“mole”) – and he’s not kidding when he said it’s good.  And, no, he is not referring to the little animal which resembles a rat or gerbil jaja. c; )

Mother, I like that quote about adversity a lot.  It’s true.  And thanks for that family chart.  I like to ride my bike in the rain as well.  We are now walking in the rain and it is fun as well.  It’s just that at times my things get soaked, but it is still fun.  That’s really good with Michelle and Lake Powell.  That lake is really fun.  I love charity as well.  I think this is something you have taught me very well.  I always feel like I need it more in my teachings and everything.  It is a gift of Christ and we should pray so we have this important gift.  If you want to send me Elder Hill’s address, that’s okay.  Whatever is best. I don’t have a new companion.  I am still with Elder Mills.  He is really powerful – a really good guy.  He has helped me a lot.  I love you a lot my beloved Mother.

Stephen, I can already understand better.  It’s because I have prayed for the gift of tongues and the interpretation of tongues and I know God has blessed me so I can have these gifts.  I still don’t know whom I can best help, but I like to be with kids, but it’s hard because of the rules.  They have something innocent and something special about them.  I almost can’t describe it, but it is something I like.  I think I like women more than men as well.  They have something special.  I want to develop myself so I can help them better.  Thanks for everything and I love you.

(Stephen’s note:  I sent David a message telling him certain missionaries may be blessed with certain gifts so they can bless specific groups of people (like youth, for example).  I also told him that in my mission the group I most helped was women between the ages of 28 and 55 (more or less).  So that’s where he’s coming from with these comments.)

Daddy, that’s really sad about the truck.  We’re no longer going to have the best, most beautiful, most macho truck in the ward.  Are you going to replace it?  I hope so.  That’s really good with the Book of Mormon.  I almost have finished it as well and it is a beautiful book.  I know it is true.  Adios.  I love you.

Original Spanish Version:

Hola familia! como estan? yo estoy muy bien. tuvimos una semana muy especial. tuvimos un bautismo este semana. estaba perfecto! yo di un discorso y mi companero canto (algun dia voy a cantar en un bautizmo, pero ahorita no porque todavia no puedo cantar bien jaja, pero mi companero puede cantar muy bueno porque cantamos antes de cada leccion aqui en mexico) y habia muchas personas del barrio y investigadores tambien. la hermana que bauticemos se llama sandra. ella es de oro. como ella tiene muchisisimo fe y todo y aun ayudo el barrio con la limpieza de la iglesia antes de que fuera bautizado! que potente jaja ella es muy espicial para mi. ella es mi primer bautizmo aqui en mexico, y tambien siento amor para ella. ojala que seamos amigos a lo largo de nuestras vidas. tambien este semana, estabamos en una leccion en la cual le ensenamos a un hombre que era bien macho y cantamos el himno las familias pueden ser eternas y este hombre nos dijo que jamas ha sentido mas tranquillo en su vida. y eso porque esta cancion es verdadera y el espiritu santo le dijo a el que lo es. es lo que me encanta lo mas del evangelio. que podemos vivir para siempre juntos. que nos portemos bien famila para que algun dia logremos este don todos(: los amo mucho. tambien di una clase en principios del evangelio ayer y estaba sudando muchchchchcimo otro vez porque hizo mucho calor y tuve que llevar puesto mi saco y todo. jaja hizo tanto calor que se pudo ver el sudor en mi traje jaja creo que estoy acostumbrandome un poco mas a calor, pero todavia el saco casi me mata cada domingo. tambien ayer y sabado, comimos muchisisimo. como me siento que he subido como 8 kilos jaja pero comimos mole el sabado y ayer y me encanta el mole y por eso, comi mucho. tambien comi como 15 tacos de cabeza, lengua y cerebo. estaba bien rico! como una familia nada mas compro una cabeza de rez, la cocino y ya lo comimos jaja pero estaba bien rico, pero creo que voy a subir mucho peso porque la comida es bien rica todo el tiempo jaja pero ni modo. me cae bien con todas las familias porque como mucho jaja.

mama, me gusta esta cita mucho sobre la adversidad. es verdad. y gracias por este chart de la familia. y me gustaba andar por la bici en la lluvia tambien. ya estamos caminando en lluvia y es divertido tambien. nada mas que a veces, mis cosas se mojan, pero todavia es divertido. y que bueno con michelle y lake powell. es muy diverdito este lago. me encanta la caridad tambien. creo que esto es algo que me has ensenado muy bien. siempre siento que la necesito mas en mis ensenanzas y todo. es un don de cristo y debemos orar para que tengamos este cosa inportante. si quiere enviarme la dirrecion, de el elder hills, esta bien. lo que sea. y no tengo un companero nuevo. todavia estoy con el elder mills. el es bien potente. muy buena honda. me ha ayudado mucho. te amo mucho querido madre

esteban, ya puedo entender mejor. es que he orado para el don de lenguas y interpretation de lenguas y se que Dios me ha bendecido para que tuviera estos dones. todavia no se quien puedo ayudar lo mejor, pero me gusta estar con los ninos pero es dificil a cuasa de las reglas jaja. ellos tienen algo inocente y algo especial. casi no puedo descrebirlo pero es algo que me gusta. creo que me gustan las mujeres mas que los hombres tambien. ellas tienen algo espeical. quiero desarrollarme para que las ayude mejor. gracias por todo y te amo.

papa que triste con la camioneta. ya no vamos a tener lo mejor lo bonito lo macho camineta en el barrio. vas a reemplezarlo? ojala que si. que bueno con el libro de mormon. casi lo termino tambien y es un libro hermoso. se que es verdad. adios te amo.

" ... ye may know the truth of ALL things ..."

"And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things..."
Moroni 10:2-5

¡Hola familia!  ¿Cómo estáis?  jaja I am really well.  This week went well.  We had a zone conference and we learned a lot of things about conversion and repentance.  Make sure you are converted to the Gospel.  Also, repentance is a great blessing.  It’s hard and requires pain, but it is also beautiful.  I love Alma 36 – I think it talks about repentance.  You should read it as a familia.  Something I need is my four- generation pedigree chart.  We are going to start to use family history more in the mission so I need it as soon as possible.  Thanks.

Mother, that’s really good with the roses.  You have peace roses?  I love to be healthy as well.  Our body is a temple of God and we should treat it like a temple.  I remember when we were riding our bikes when I was younger.  It was really fun.  That quote from President Monson is true.  Life is hard by the yard, but a cinch by the inch.  I love you VERY MUCH Mother.  XO

Michelle, I love you too.  That’s really powerful with the eclipse.  Now it is raining a lot and at times I am afraid because our house is short and the streets are always full with water, but we still haven’t had problems.  I hope everything is going well with your grades.  They are so important.  If I were home, I would help you, but I am going to rely on the fox. jaja  Keep going hermanita in your faith, school, and, well, all your life.

Daddy, that’s really good that you’re selling a lot of things, except the truck!  How sad.  Now we’re not going to have a manual transmission car.  Here, almost all the cars are standard, or in other words, manual.  Have you already cut down the tree?  Something I miss is working with you on the cars and the garden, etc… but I am doing another kind of work - and I love this work.  Thanks for everything.  I love you.

Hermanito, that is something I noticed this week – all the Christlike attributes are connected, does that make sense?  If you have one, you are going to have another.  Cool, right?  Thanks for what you said about hope, and Facebook and technology.  I am going to use Mormon.org a TON in the work.  It is going to be really powerful.

Also, I want to tell you all something about the Book of Mormon, faith and prayer.  We have an investigator who doesn’t want to read the Book of Mormon.  She wants us to convince her with the Bible.  Basically, she doesn’t have faith.  It’s funny because my companion knows the Bible very well and can answer all questions easily - and we have done this also.  The thing is that she still doesn’t believe.  Even though we have showed her a lot of scriptures about the great apostasy and the Priesthood, the Restoration, baptism, etc… she doesn’t know.  For me, this experience fortifies my testimony of the Book of Mormon, prayer and faith.  I know that all her doubts can be resolved easily if she reads the Book of Mormon and prays about it.  We can show her all the scriptures and answer all her questions, but this is nothing more than giving her knowledge.  She will not grow.  She will only know.  There is a difference.  But the best way is to read the book and ask our Heavenly Father if it is true.  This will increase her faith and she will feel the Spirit.

NOTHING BUT THE WORK OF THE LORD!

Elder Coffman arrived in Merida, Mexico on Monday, April 30, 2012. His first area is in Cancun and his companion is Elder Mills from SLC. Throughout his Mother's Day phone call, he emphasized his love for the missionary work, the honor of serving the Lord and sharing His Gospel and the privilege it is for him to bring the Word of God to our Mexican brothers and sisters. He also said that it was incredibly hot at least 20 times! And yes, he is sleeping in a hammock! 

Remember that Elder Coffman ALWAYS writes his emails in Espanol; pretty impressive! We had a wonderful Mother's Day phone call with him but it had to end just as he was going to bear his testimony, so here it is:

¡Hola Familia!  I liked talking with you guys a lot yesterday.  It was really powerful.  It’s weird that we’re not going to talk until Christmas.  My companion told me that when you wait from May to December, it’s really long.  But I know that you will always pray for me and I’m thankful for that.  I love you all very, very much!  Yesterday I didn’t have the opportunity to tell you my testimony.  Sorry about that.  It’s just that my companion’s family was about to call him, so I had to end the call.  But I want you to know that I have a firm testimony of this Church.  First off, I love Jesus Christ.  I know He is our Savior.  His Atonement is real.  It is the most important event in the entire world.  He suffered for our sins, pains, sufferings, everything.  He died for us on the cross.  But, more than anything, He lives.  Our Savior, Jesus Christ, lives.  Through Him, we can be cleansed from sin, and conquer physical death.  I know this with all my heart.  He loves us more than we can understand.  Also, I have a testimony of our Heavenly Father.  He is the All Powerful God.  He has a body flesh and bones.  He wants us to be happy.  He loves us very, very much like Jesus Christ.  He has a plan so we can live in a state of happiness together with our families forever, if we do His will.  I know that he knows us and that we are His children.  Every person in this world is my brother or sister.  We are all in this world trying to return to the presence of our Heavenly Father.  The fact of the matter is that we have the truth, and we should say it with love, not with pride.  Because through these restored truths, we can return to our Heavenly Father.  Many people don’t have what we have, and it’s necessary we share it.  This has helped me a lot to have love for others.  I know Joseph Smith saw our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.  I know that Joseph Smith received his answer to his question.  I know that Jesus Christ restored His Church through Joseph Smith and we now have the same Church that Jesus Christ established when He was on the earth.  I know we have the Priesthood.  I know it is the power of God.  We can do miracles with it if we use it with charity and humility and if it is God’s will.   I know Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon by the power of God.  I know the Book of Mormon is the evidence of our Church.  I know it is a strong testament that Jesus is the Christ, our Savior.  I know when someone reads it, prays to our Heavenly Father about it, he or she can receive a testimony of the truthfulness of this book by the Holy Ghost.  I know that prayer is real.  I know God hears us when we pray.  I know we have a living prophet.  I know his name is Thomas S. Monson.  He speaks with Jesus Christ.  I know all these things are true.  I say these things In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

I hope you all have a good week!  I know I will!  I love this work.  It is the work of God and I feel so blessed for the opportunity I have to help Him with it.  You all have the opportunity also.  Do it!  You will find a lot of joy as you share it with our brothers and sisters.  Make sure you’re active in the Gospel and the Church.  I love you a lot!  Hasta luego beloved familia xoxo

FORT WORTH PHOTOS - 2/10/12 - 4/30/12

IT'S DIFFICULT & HOT BUT ... I WANT MORE CHALLENGES!

Elder C in Arlington, TX 

Elder Coffman's Address for (see bottom of blog for exact mailing instructions) ALL letters, packages (can use DearElder.com for letters, only):


Mexico Merida Mission Home Address: 
Calle 45 #527 Q y Calle 70 
Col. Centro
97000 Mérida, Yucatán 

Mexico 

¡Hola Familia!  I’m going to call you 5:30 Mexico time, so it will be 4:30 in Utah.  But Yes, call me. jaja I am not going to use Skype.  And whoever sends me something, send it to the address you already have.  I don’t have an address where I am right now so if you’re going to send things, letters, packages, etc... to this address throughout my entire mission.  Elder Mill’s first name is Elder jaja jk His name is Jordan.  He’s from Salt Lake City. 

Here in Mexico it’s very different compared to Texas.  We walk a ton, we have to pay for water, rent, electricity, and it’s really hot and humid here.  The schedule is different as well.  Like, when we eat lunch at 2 this is like dinner in the United States.  Also, there is a rule that says we have to eat two bananas each day.  And we can’t have rings either.  It’s really different, but I love this place.  There are coconut trees, banana trees, and many others.  Also the food is so good here.  Also, we baptize soooo much here.  Our president wants us to have a baptism every week – and in Texas it was like every month! 

The area where I am is really poor.  The people live in very small houses, and many don’t have windows (glass or other coverings to protect).  It’s so poor.  I don’t think I can find the pictures of where I am right now, but it’s not a beach.  Actually, there is a rule that says we can’t be near the beach.  But even though the people are so poor, they are happy.  My first day I realized there is more in this life to live and experience.  Most of the people live in really small houses and they don’t do anything besides what is necessary to live/survive.  Simply, God sent us here to live in a little house and then to die.  I know God has a plan for every one of us.  I know the Gospel and families are very important – the most important, as a matter of fact.  Another rule here is that I don’t have a lot of time to write, so, I am not going to say a lot to each of you.

Mother, thanks for that story.  I love Sacrament Meeting as well.  I love you Mother.

 Michelle, like I said before, this part of Cancun isn’t the same jaja.  It’s really poor.  But I like this area.  The people are really powerful.  Also, they are very humble, that’s why I think they are so receptive.  And here it is soooooooo hot jaja I have to use a towel every time to wipe off the sweat.

Daddy, actually, I am a little sad I can’t help you with that tree…  I like to do that kind of work, but oh well.  I want a coconut tree.  jaja That’s what we have at our house right now.  I and like the part that says “this is not something we brothers like to hear.”  Keep going Daddy.

Brother, thanks for the advice.  I am going to follow it.  It’s true.  It’s not necessary to say stuff like that, and it doesn’t do anything good.  Thank you.  We always want to have the Spirit.

There is so much more I want to say, but I don’t have much time, sorry!!!  At times it’s hard to live here, but at the same time, it is something I want.  I want more challenges in my life.  I believe it is going to make me more humble and have more gratitude in my life.  But I love you!!

¡Adios!

Élder Coffman

I am going to say something else.  Michelle, I just read your testimony.  You should pray about the Book of Mormon.  Read the introduction and do the Moroni promise.  I love you familia.  Really, I want to say a lot more, but I don’t have time.  Adios.

FINAL FORT WORTH THOUGHTS ...

Easter Morning Breakfast: 4 bowls of Menudo (intestine soup)!

The following are excerpts from a letter Elder C sent to Ali and her familia. Thought you would like reading some details about his Arlington/Fort Worth experience as Elder C leaves for Merida Mexico Monday morning.

Regarding Arlington where he served the longest (nearly 3 months), he explained that most of the people are Hispanic or African American and mainly live in apartments. He said it’s basically like Mexico with Mexican music always playing and people speaking Spanish. The area they covered on bikes is about 9 miles square. Although he wanted to visit Cowboy Stadium, no one else wanted to go, so he’ll have to visit later in life!

He had a powerful message about the importance of Seminary. He said that even though he listened, he didn’t take full advantage of the chance to really learn and study the scriptures and so he asked all teens to use the blessing of seminary (we’re lucky in Utah that it can be part of the regular school day rather than early morning) and really develop a love for the scriptures which he has now that he’s a missionary.

This is an example of him listening to and acting upon the Holy Spirit:  they had an opportunity visit a member’s home on a Sunday and they had a non-member relative visiting from Michigan (maybe Elder Rushton can follow up with him!) and although he had heard the missionaries before on previous visits, he hadn’t shown interest. This time, Elder C felt prompted to speak about a subject that he typically wouldn’t do and it touched the man’s heart to the point that he has committed to baptism. Elder C reminded us that it’s important to be WORTHY to receive promptings; it’s important to LISTEN to promptings and most important, it’s important to ACT on promptings. The gift of the Holy Ghost is the greatest gift we can receive in this life.

He said there is absolutely NOTHING that he doesn’t like about the mission. Members typically feed the missionaries Mexican food. However, his breakfast and lunch consisted of tuna, eggs, oatmeal, pickles, carrots and BBQ sauce so he welcomed the dinner offers!  He said that the food is INCREDIBLE and that there must be some SPECIAL ingredient because everything tastes so good. He thinks that the special ingredient is LOVE because many of the people have to sacrifice significantly to feed the missionaries.

When asked if he ever has “down” time he replied, “not really, I try to stay busy all of the time reading the Liahona, studying the scriptures, and practicing Spanish". He said that the mission is his passion and joy and that he left everything behind to give all that he has to the Lord and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

In his letter, you can sense his gratitude for having the blessing of serving in the Fort Worth area but also the excitement for now being able to serve in the Mexico Merida mission.

We look forward to hearing about his new experiences in Mexico!

TOZ-HOMBRE! (cough - man)

"I use this uhh ... pink shirt, formerly white, to wipe off my sweat AND to look cool!

I AM GOING TO MEXICO! JAJAJAJA

Nearly 3 mos. ago he left for TEX - now he leaves for MEX!!!

First off … I got my visa!!  I will be leaving 4-30-12.  I don’t know what time, but tomorrow (4-24) I am going to the consulate to do my paper work.  So, I don’t know if Anne has sent that package, but if she still wants to send it, she needs to hurry jaja Also, what happened with the package was that it weighed more than 13 oz. so I had to send it directly through the building, and for some reason, they took a long time to tell me jaja but that’s good that it … (email cut off here)

Sorry, I don’t know what happened, but here is the rest of my letter.  I am putting on sunblock every day Mother – don’t worry. jaja I am happy you liked the pictures.  I like that thing with the bikes also.  Whenever I finish riding the bike, I have to use a towel to get the sweat off because I always sweat a ton!!!!!!!!! jaja The camera does organize the pictures.  

Hi hermanita (little sister) – how are you?  That’s good with the old house and the missionaries.  
We’re always trying to give service.  You should do it as well.  “When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.”  Oh, and this is a question for you and the whole family… could you send me your testimonies of the Book of Mormon so I can share them with our investigators or put them in a copy of the BOM?  And what are your favorite scriptures?  Well, I love you hermanita!!  ¡¡Hasta la pasta!!

Daddy, I love the clarity of the Book of Mormon as well.  I love this book and I am very thankful we have it to help us.  Maybe Elder Rushton already has received his visa because the other Elders that were waiting also received them.  This map doesn’t have places from the Book of Mormon, but it is a really good map.  Especially because I’m going to Mexico!!! jaja I have eaten some good meats, but nothing special.  We have eaten fajitas and sudero and stomach lining and many good things.  The food is good and I hope you can learn how to make it.  You make really good foods as well.  Like the soup you would make a lot is almost the same as the one here.  And I sweat a ton!!!!  jaja But  I am going to sweat more in Mérida.  I love you Daddy(:

Hermanito (little brother), thank you for your testimony.  I liked it a lot.  What happened??  Why did you write it??  And why do you always talk to me in usted?  jaja We are brothers – talk to me in tú!!  We are having a lot of success now and it is going to be hard to leave this area because I have grown a sincere love for my brothers and sisters that live here.  I am sure you felt this during your mission as well.  Well, I love you a lot and thanks for the prayers.  I will pray for you as well.  Also, yesterday I had an experience with the Jehovah Witnesses again.  They always go to our apartment to teach us. jaja But we always try to give them a good example of the Book of Mormon and we testified of the truth of this book.  I remembered what you told me before my mission:  when people have doubts, give your testimony of the Restoration.  It is really powerful.  Thanks for everything and bye.

Well familia, I love you a lot.  Did you send that message to Sister Argullo last week?  And tell Anne that I never connected the shuffle to the computer so I don’t know how it got erased… and tell her thanks again for all the stuff.  Tell her that I am going to send a letter as well.  Oh, and what is the address of the mission office in Mexico?

See you later familia and I know this Gospel is true.  Remember to always be an example for our brothers and sisters that aren’t members.  There is always someone watching… whether it be a man, or God. jaja Nos vemos.

COME WHAT MAY COME, AND ENJOY IT (even if it's a bike crash)!

Current mission, waiting for ...

First I’ll answer your questions.  It was about two weeks ago when I sent the box of things.  I don’t know what happened.  I sent it by USPS flat rate…. I hope you can find it.  I still don’t know anything about my visa, but I am now with other missionaries who are waiting as well.  They arrived at the MTC the same day I did, so I guess when they receive it, I will as well.  Do you know if Elder Rushton is still in Michigan?  The next email, tell me Elder Parkinson’s address.  Tell Anne thanks for the stuff.  jaja  She and her whole family are very friendly.  Well, this week went well.  We are still getting a lot of new investigators.  It’s hard at times because we teach a really good lesson, and then the investigators drop us and don’t want to listen.  It is hard because I develop a love for our investigators and I get sad when I hear they don’t want to listen to this message.  Really, this message of the Gospel is the best way to overcome any challenge you have in life – whether they are with the family, individually, or in another way – the Atonement of Christ is real and it’s here to help us.

Mother, thanks for the mother alerts jaja and for the story from Aunt Carolyn.  It is really good.  And don’t worry about the confrontations.  They aren’t anything. jaja  Like one of the Apostles said:  come what may come, and enjoy it.  jaja  That’s good with the bikes.  I am riding a bike every day and I like it a lot.  But I crashed this week and almost got ran over but I didn’t get hurt so all is well(:

Michelle – you’re welcome for the teaching about football.  Maybe you will be able to throw better than me when I get back from my mission. jaja But keep praying.  

Stephen’s note:  I think his email got cut off here.  What follows is a separate email he also sent:

I love you familia and may you all have the Spirit and continue in faith and may God bless you. May you have a good week and enjoy each other jaja see ya’.

Merida!

... YE ARE MY DISCIPLES, IF YE HAVE LOVE ONE TO ANOTHER.

The following is translation from original Espanol:

JAJAJA! We’re OK as far as the tornado goes.  It was really weird because our zone leader told us that when there is a tornado, the sky looks green and that’s just what happened.  There were tornados all around us, but nothing in our area.  We were leaving our apartment and a black guy told us “Hey, you guys are crazy!!!  There’s a tornado!!”  But we just told him that we knew that this (Gospel) is true and we have to share it!

This week was really good.  We had a lot of appointments that planted us, but we still have 7 new investigators.  One of them is a woman who answered the door.  She was eating tortillas with butter jaja  - how weird!!  And she gave us her tortillas and I thought “Wow – Latinos are really nice.”  We are strangers, but even so, they always give us food.  These people are really nice.  I have never seen a Latino not respond when I say something like hola or buenas noches.  They always say hola in reply.  But people from the US, sometimes they don’t respond.  jaja Of course, there are bad Latinos and good people from the US, it’s just that I see more good Latinos.  (Stephen’s note:  he’s not kidding when he says they are super nice.)  But there were two missionaries from another religion that were really mad because of us.  One of them told me I’m going to Hell because I’m Mormon and many ugly things like that.  I realized we always need to have charity, but he didn’t have charity.  The hate he had for my companion and I really surprised me.  I hope another time he can hear our message.  I know we are disciples of Jesus Christ because it says in John 13:35 – “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” 

Well, for Easter, we ate menudo!!! (Definition: traditional Mexican dish, made with beef stomach in a clear broth or with a red chili base. Usually, lime, chopped onions, and chopped cilantro are added, as well as crushed oregano and crushed red chili peppers. Boiled tripe has a tough chewy texture very similar to calamari, but with a completely unique flavor and smell.  jaja  I ate like 4.5 cups of this soup and it made me remember the George Washington soup Daddy made.  jaja  but the rest of the day was normal.  We just worked.  The holidays aren’t so different for us, but rather sometimes people are more receptive to this message.  Did you get my package?  I sent a lot of photos and the iPod Shuffle for Anne and my pink clothes jaja but also I received the Easter package.  Thanks.  And I thought it was really funny with the pig skin basket jaja thanks a lot.  And Daddy, thanks for the information about the land of the Book of Mormon.  It’s really interesting.  And I want some of that nosotros soup (;

Hermanito, thanks for the advice.  It is very important we do it, especially when that’s what Jesus Christ would do.  Thanks for all the advice.  How did the Easter pachanga go?  jaja I don’t know if that’s the word, but my companion from Aguas Calientes told me that they use pachanga instead of fiesta sometimes jaja.  Well, what happened with the piano and USU?  Nos vemos(:

Michelle, every day is an adventure here.  Especially because we’re on bikes.  We had a contact with a Catholic man.  He told us it is impossible to convert him because he already knows everything.  He thinks he didn’t need the Spirit because he went to college and studied all the history of all the churches and through those studies, he realized the Catholic church is true.  He told us the Spirit only was in our minds.  He doesn’t believe in this gift.  But let me tell you that the Holy Ghost is real and we should pray to have this gift.  We should live in such a way to always have this gift with us.  We are very blessed to have this gift and we should use it always.  It is really important.  As missionaries, we can say anything, but nothing will happen without the Spirit.  Try to apply this to your life Michelle.  I didn’t know much about this gift before my mission, but now I know a little about its importance.  Bye.


Mother, thanks a lot for everything.  I am sorry I don’t have a lot of time to write, but I liked the information about Easter.  I hope everything is well with your work.  See you later(:


I love you a lot familia.