Developing Christlike Attributes...

"The restored gospel enables you to become like Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. The Savior has shown the way. He has set the perfect example, and He commands us to become as he is. Learn of Him and seek to incorporate His attributes into your life. Through the power of His Atonement, you can achieve this goal and lead others to achieve it also."

PMG pg 115

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Since we don't have girlfriends... we are each others Valentine this year! BaHaHa!!! Zone Leaders Elder Esteves and Elder Unamuno

 P-Day rules have been adjusted a little to help the Missionaries be more successful in the "Preparation" part of Mondays. Schedules as usual with up at 630 am and exercise til 700 am. Then shower, dress, and eat til 800 am. 8-10 am study as usual with personal, companionship, and language study specifically. 10-1030 am clean entire house. Then off to grocery shop, write family and President, do laundry or pick it up, and if time allows take a nap or play time. Back to work at 600 pm sharp as a representative of our Savior Jesus Christ. We sometimes have to be redirected as to what the purpose/priorities of Preparation Day are...so that we may be the very best missionaries the other 6 days of the week.

 Smiling faces on Mondays... Picking up pouch "Mail".

Picked up pouch and headed back to their area. Elder Ceballos feeling better... thank goodness for antibiotics! 

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Look who Sister Egbert ran into in Tizayuca... buying groceries on Monday afternoon. I love it !

 Sometimes it is just plain fun to relive being a kid again in elementary school... Can't beat the sunshine in Pachuca! 

Elder Felsted and Elder Cordova

 "Maybe we have too much fun on the mission? ...

 Not possible- the mission is the best!"

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Thank you Elder Ellis/Mom for the gift bag. The diet coke made it clear from the good old USA. When I fell into bed late Monday night I finished off the last swallow. It saved my life today! Thank you to all for your kind notes, gifts, and prayers sent our way. They sure do help us through those occasional rough patches.... Happy Valentines Day! We love each of your kids as they will forever be apart of our hearts.

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 "Faith leads to action, including repentance, obedience, and dedicated service. When you have faith in Jesus Christ, you trust the Lord enough to follow His commandments-even when you do not completely understand the reasons for them.... Your Faith will be manifest through diligence and work."

PMG pg. 116

"Being blessed with hope, let us, as disciples, reach out to all who, for whatever reason, have 'moved away from the hope of the gospel'      (C0l. 1:23). Let us reach to lift hands which hang hopelessly down."

Elder Neal A Maxwell

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Zone Conference -Valle De Mezquital 

Wednesday February 12th 2014

 Practice, practice, practice... Zone Leaders Elder Messick and Elder Campuzano had a great set up in their cultural hall. They worked in unison sharing the principles of their choosing. Their zone had done a wonderful job inviting members of their ward councils to come and participate which was so extremely helpful during both practice sessions. We sure appreciate the support of ward/stake leadership.

 Knowledge- The Lord commanded. "Seek learning, even by study and also by faith" He also warned, "It is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance."

PMG pg. 119

 The last hour of the conference is just for the missionaries where President teaches doctrine. I love how intense, and thoughtful the missionaries digest the teachings of President. He focused this conference doctrine on Justice and Mercy = The Atonement.

"Hermana POWER"- what a powerful group of sisters in this zone. Obedient, hard working, and bold about sharing the gospel! 

Elder Park's packages finally arrived... one that has been missing left his home State of Hawaii postmarked November 23rd 2013. I bet there was Hawaiian Hosts Macadamia Nut Candy inside.... yum!!! Desert Book boxes also arrived safely. Thanks Sister Park (Mom).

Valle De Mezquital Zone February 2014

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Zone Conference - Pachuca Mx

Thursday February 13th 2014

 So often... the half hour of eating together around the table is such a simple yet vital part of the conference. President and I thoroughly enjoy just spending that relaxed time with our "kids". 

Great Teaching...

President was so proud of the Zone Leaders Elder Smith and Elder Vasquez for the amazing Power Point that hit their principles so well, and then they related it to their practices! Job well done. Elder Bickley and Elder Sims had their Bishop in attendance for the conference. The spirit of the missionaries today was so warm and inviting and a definite spirit of humility was sensed by President an I. Enjoyed our day!

Humility- Humility is willingness to submit to the will of the Lord and to give the Lord the honor for what is accomplished. It includes gratitude for His blessings and acknowledgment of your constant need for His divine help. Humility is not a sign of weakness; it is a sign of spiritual strength." 

PMG pg. 120

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Pachuca Mx Zone- February 2014

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ODDs- ENDs 

 February 3rd 2014 

New Missionaries headed to the Mexico Pachuca Mission accompanied by Presidents assistants. And thus the adventure begins....

 Elder Ellis getting in the spirit prior to his arrival into Mexico... and the visual out his airplane window coming into Mexico City! Wow!!! It goes as far as the eye can see in all directions.

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Elder Stephens district meeting after transfers... 

 Patience- "Life is full of difficulties, some minor and others of a more serious nature. There seems to be an unending supply of challenges for one and all. Our problem is that we often expect instantaneous solutions to such challenges, forgetting that frequently the heavenly virtue of patience is required."

President Thomas S. Monson

 Oh ya... I really am in Mexico!!! 

...and look a baptism on our first weekend!  

(Thank you to the previous Elders for the preparation of this investigator in this area as Elder Ellis and Elder Ceballos are whitewashing this area)

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 Actually some of the graffiti in Mexico is really a work of ART.

Boys will be boys.... thank goodness for helmets!

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Our ever so cute missionaries (Elder Rodas -Elder Maravilla) that we dropped off at the bus station after their Stake Conference evening session. They live in Sahagun which is about an hour away by bus and they will be back in the morning for the 1000 am Sunday session. So good to see all our missionaries tonight from the Pachuca Centro Zone. What a marvelous meeting under the direction of President Mendoza. We have the most amazing Stake Presidents in the Mexico Pachuca Mission. Love them all!

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MOLANGO

Look what we found in the wild's of Molango!!! Two of our most trustworthy and hardworking missionaries- Elder Williams and Elder Vique with the most amazing investigator! We love their little "house of prayer" that is rented by the church for the branch. This is a mission dependent branch that sits about 4 hours by bus from the mission office. Beautiful place, but very remote. These Elders take on a lot of responsibility and we are so grateful for their efforts. Phone service, shopping and internet is very sparse...and intermittent. But the people and environment is beautiful... the price you pay for other benefits.