Sunday, July 13, 2014

13 July 2014-"In a world ever more dangerous..."


"In a world ever more dangerous... the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ has the nourishing power to heal starving spirits of the world." 

- President Boyd K Packer


Sisters forever... 

I don't think anyone will ever forget their trainer.

_______________
Updated "news" in the Mission
  • After 6 months in the mission each missionary is required now to write President weekly in the language of learning. So when I post letters I won't focus on editing them as I want you to witness how great they are doing writing in English/Spanish their second language. This is going to be a real challenge for everyone... but all is fair on the playing field... Enjoy and be amazed at the progress you are seeing!
  • Missionaries will now be responsible for seeing that new converts are retaught lessons and that more effort is made in the transition of the new converts into the ward over a 3-4 month timeline. This adds more responsibility to each missionary.
  • We originally had 10 Sisters and 2 Elders coming in this next cycle (in one week) We received word that two sisters will not be arriving as one is still waiting for a VISA and wasn't able to go to an MTC and the other was reassigned to the United States.
  • Our new policy of rent receipts being scanned to the mission office before monthly $$ adjustments are deposited has been a positive implementation. We are seeing companionship's becoming more punctual in getting those turned in . Great job everyone!!!
  • We have asked all missionaries to have their bed blankets washed in the house where they now reside. Each July we will make extra effort to  ensure this is done to cut down on germs... as cold and flu seems to make its rounds often enough.



































Not wasting a minute of P-Day... 

Hermana Bailey and Hermana Lagos had their house in perfect order and were doing yard work, laundry and mopping the floor. Who would have thought Hermana Bailey would  become a true laundry professional with a bar of soap in a concrete sink? 

Thank you for taking such great care of your home.



Not a thing out of place...


_________________________________

OH, NO ... HERMANA EGBERT???

Seriously, I think these two forgot I was coming for house inspections. Maybe they erased my text on purpose. Needless to say "I love them", and will be back in three days for a follow up visit. I'm sure they will have things in order. And Elder Marvilla got extra points for requesting a copy of English Book # 3!!! 

 ___________________________

Woot Woot... Perfecto! 

Elder Stucki and Elder Hernandez had everything in this house all tidy! I'm so proud of their efforts.  Graded A+



______________________________________

Zone Leaders House looking good...

 Every time I come to this house it seems to improve... so no complaints on this visit. 



____________________________________

Sometimes things just take a little time and effort... 

Elder Chavez and Elder Pearson sacrificing soccer play on P-Day to get their house whipped back into shape. It has been a process for a couple of weeks but I think they are feeling content and proud of the progress they are making. Taking personal pride where you live is key to a better learning/studying environment where the Spirit can dwell. These are houses rented by the Church- so like the temples and church buildings across the World we are responsible for taking care of the properties. Often it is a rude awakening when we realize our "mothers" are not here to do it for us- rather it is now up to us. 


"Mucho Mejor Elderes"


_________________________________

A little Monday afternoon fun...


Pachuca Mex Elders

______________________________________

Tulancingo City Area Missionaries


______________________________________

Hermanas (Sisters) from the Tecamac II Area


__________________________________
HI PRESIDENT!!

THIS GONNA BE FANTASTIC : )

I HOPE YOU LIKE MY LETTER, I AM NOT QUITE SURE ABOUT MY GRAMMAR SKILLS BUT I AM GOING TO TRY...

PRESIDENT I REALLY LOVE MY JOB HERE AS MISSIONARY. THE PEOPLE THAT I MEET EVERY DAY AND ALL THE MIRACLES THAT I CAN SEE, ACTUALLY I FEEL THE SPIRIT A LOT THIS DAYS. I HAVE THE BIGGEST CELESTIAL EXPERIENCE IN MY MISSION THE LAS WEEK, ONE OLD WOMAN CALLED STHER WAS THE ANSWER OF MY PRAYS. WE WENT TO HER HOUSE AND SHE LET US CAME IN. SHE IS THE MOTHER OF A LESS ACTIVE. WE STAR WITH THE FIRS LESSON AND SHE WAS SAYING THAT SHE KNOW THA JOSE SMITH IS A PROPHET AND THE WHEN SHE RECIEVED THE BOOK OF MORMON SHE KISSED IT AND HUG IT!

WHEN I REALISED I WAS CRYING AND I DIDNT KNOW WHY! THEN I WAS WANDER ME IF THE SMILE OF THIS OLD LADY COULD BE THE SMILE OF THE ANGELS... I WAS SO HAPPY.

ON SUNDAY MORNING SHE CAME TO THE CHURCH I WAS SO HAPPY BECAUSE WE HAD HAD HARD WEEKS BUT AFTER DIFFICULT TIMES WE ALWAYS SE THE BLESSING...

PRESIDENT I AM SO HAPPY TO BE HERE AND BEENG THE MISSIONARY THAT THE LORD WANTS ME TO BE. THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND FOR BEING MY FATHER, WE LOVE YOU.       Hna. L
__________________________________

Tuesday- Tecamac II Zone

 Interviews and House Checks

These Elders had recently moved and so it was so fun to see their new casa. I like the area so much better and feel it was a great decision to move to this neighborhood. We are proud of our missionaries as they spread their houses far apart, so to cover more area. Job well done! We have two companionship's serving this ward.

 ________________________________

Elder Rincon and Elder Stephens are the zone leaders  and had their home in order which is so important, as they serve as the example for their entire zone. No pressure Elderes!!!


____________________________________

Hermana Laguna and Hermana Calderon are the "Sister Leader Trainers" for this area and live in an apartment above the Bishops garage. It is one large room with a bathroom. One of the unique houses of the mission.

________________________________________________

Hermana Apolinar and Hermana Colby 

These two have a great little apartment! Kudos to the Elders who found this house for them. We just assigned this second companionship to this ward.  The house was in perfect order with not a thing out of place... thank you Hermanas!


_____________________________________

Oops the photographer (Hermana Egbert) is fired!

 I was so busy running a few supplies in an out of the house that I forgot to take pictures of Hermana Brioso and Hermana Cerna's house. It was very clean and organized yet I don't have the pictures to show it off. Next time... I promise to showcase your casa!


_____________________________________


Doesn't have to be fancy to look like a "gem".

 Hermana Nielsen and Hermana Vasquez had everything in perfect order and I love how they had food in their fridge and 'pantry'. Nice job !!!

_____________________________

Remodel completed! 

The last time we came to check on this specific house it was under remodel by the owners. They have done a nice job and all was found clean and in order. Elder Rodas and Elder Jacobson have been hitting the road hard and have been leaving a trail of dust... President is so proud of their efforts. Great job and keep up the good work Elder Rodas on your language study!





 Elder Stephens being a great leader and in the down time during interviews helped several of the missionaries with language study as he reviewed a module with them that they would be passing off Wednesday. 






"When performance is measured, performance improves. When performance is measured and reported, the rate of improvement accelerates." 

- President Thomas S. Monson


________________________________
Hola Presidente,
So this week has been going super super well. I was a little frustrated about numbers but my companion helped me a lot by reminding me why I came out on the mission. This week we had 2 people accept a baptismal date. Its crazy because these people are asking us to baptize them, before we give them a baptismal date!!!! We meet them and they say, I want to get baptized. We also have another young man who told us that he is ready to get baptized and we havent even taught him yet!!!! We are working with him since its super hard to find him and his house, but we are super excited to be able to teach him. We are seeing miracles in Santiago and I know that Heavenly Father is blessing us. We are contacting on the bus more and that has been a blessing, some people yell at us but that doesn't get us down, we keep on talking and we always find someone who is willing to hear us. I just love this work President, I love to see how people want to change their lives so that they can follow the Savior. Yesterday we had an investigator attend church, he is solid! His name is cesar and he is getting baptized the 26 of July, the only thing is that we have to get his wife and him married. We have 2 investigators that we are working with so that they can get married before their baptism day. for some reason people don't get married here in Mexico, so I guess its our job to help them realize that they need to have a legal marriage. But all is well, Cesar is awesome and he is willing to do everything to have his family for ever. He loves Church and he says that he wants to live a new life, he wants to leave all the things that he has done, behind him. He understands everything that we have taught him and he loves the lessons that he learns in church. It makes me happy when I hear someone say that they want to change and they will accept everything to be able to become more like Christ. We have another baptismal date set up for a young boy, his name is Raul and he just turned 9 years old...he told us that he wanted to get baptized already. He knows a lot about the Savior and a lot about the church and he doesn't want to miss a single Sunday. His family is less active and so is his grandpa, but we have been working with them. Raul wants his grandpa to baptize him, so we are basically reactivating his whole family. Its amazing to see the miracles that the Lord has given us, we saw the entire family or Raul at church yesterday and they all were so happy. My companion and I were happy because, well we haven't had these many faithful investigators attend church and accept a baptismal date until now. Its blessings and I know that Heavenly Father has seen our efforts. Thank you President for your advice and all the help that you give to all of us.   I love you!
Hermana A (English speaking Sister with less than 6 months in the mission)
__________________________________

Harvesting the Blessings of "Inviting others to come unto Christ".






__________________________________
Hi President Egbert:

The last week was incredible,
We have recived many referrals from the members and from the ward, my companion and I have been so exicted because , we have found many people to teach and many people want to listen to the message of the gospel.

I think that we're gaining the members confidence, they are heping us more and working with us almost everyday.
I'm happy because they 're trusting us to their friends and their family.
This week somedays we contacted buses, but this time was very different, something changed and we found the fun side of this work.

Perhaps some people didn't accept the message, but we dicovered when we do our work with love and share the message with joy and happiness, we can change all the people's perspective about the gospel, about us, and about everything.
I'm glad to be here in this area, in this time. I'm learning a lot.

we are progressing and improving as servants of the Lord, the path is long but I know that if we do all the things that He needs from us, we we can be the servants that He wants.

Greetings
Have a successful week
Elder P.

Missionary work is missionary fun!  (Spanish Speaking Elder with 9 months in the mission)
____________________________________

"REMEMBER WHEN..." ?


"No efforts are ever wasted..."

________________________





Tulancingo Zone Capacitation- July 2014


Tecamac II - July 2014

_______________________________
Presidente,

Le escribo muy contento y muy agradecido esta semana. Los Milagros siguen viniendo. Esta semana tuvimos 9 investigadores en la capilla con fecha bautismal y estoy bien seguro que la cada semana tendremos 12 por lo menos. Yo se con todo mi ser que cuando cumplimos con los estándares básicos que el señor nos ha dado que el siempre revelara su brazo y nos dará éxito. Elder C y yo estamos trabajando al Máximo. Estamos dando todo.

De todas las escrituras, una de mis favoritas es la siguiente: "No estáis limitados por nosotros, sino que estáis limitados por vuestro propio corazón." Yo tengo un testimonio inquebrantable de este principio. Al cambiar nuestra actitud, y levantar la visión y expectación que tengamos en nuestras áreas, y cumplir con los estándares de excelencia, bautizaremos cada semana, y la promesa del señor por medio de su profeta se cumplirá. Aquí en T..., parece que ya empezaremos bautizar mas que una cada semana! T... esta a punto de Explotar! Es la misma gente, las mismas iglesias, los mismos problemas y desafíos, pero un actitud diferente y esta es la única cosa que me importa. Esa es la diferencia de 1 bautizmo n 4 meses y 9 bautizmos en un mes. ACTITUD. HAMBRE DE EXITO. NUNCA DESANIMARSE. RECHAZAR LAS ESCUSAS Y PRETEXTOS Y OBLIGAR AL SENOR EN TODO. Estamos intentando bautizar a cada persona que encontramos, en la combi, en la calle, lo que sea. Y estamos encontrando los escogidos. Al enfocar todo lo que hacemos en nuestro propósito, mi misión se ha cambiado por completo. No hay limite para el Señor. Nada mas siervos inútiles que impiden que sus escogidos sean encontrados y bautizados. No quiero impedir la obra otra vez. Nunca quejare de mi área o barrio y rechazare todas las escusas. Nunca he estado tan feliz y animado. Espero que otros Elderes podrían ver a ellos mismos como Dan Jones, Alma, Amulek, etc. Dicen que tiempos han cambiado. Que no se puede bautizar tantos. Que la misión no es bautizar. ESO ES MENTIRA. Yo quiero que todos puedan sentir este gran gozo que he encontrado al abrir la boca con todos y ver milagros cada dia.

Hablando de eso, I... esta cambiando drásticamente! Estoy bien animado por ellos! no cumplieron con el estándar pero nosotros tuvimos 15 nuevas fechas en el distrito y estamos hablando con todos! I... tuvo 35 lecciones y se comprometieron tener 40 la semana que viene. Los amo tanto y estoy tan feliz ver el cambio en su actitud. Estan muy felices por los cambios que están viendo en su área y compañerismo. Las hermanas también están mejorando mucho y encontrando gente y invitando a todos a bautizarse. Su unidad y enseñanza se ha mejorado muchísimo y seguirá mejorando.

Bueno, creo que eso seria todo. Gracias por todo lo que hace usted y por no dejarnos quedar en la mediocridad. El Senor merece lo mejor y lo tendrá.

Le Amo,    Elder S  (English Speaking Elder with one year in the mission)
_______________________________

Thursday- Pachuca Centro Zone 

Interviews-House Checks

 Elder Mora and Elder Marvilla with things in order... thanks so much for whipping it all back into shape. This is a new house in this area of Pachuquilla. We have one set of sisters on one end and the Elders up on the hill. This is a great ward with an awesome new church building. We are expecting great things in this area. 



Elder Ortega and Elder Park have a house in Pachuca Centro that is perfect. The house is great with no leaks and its relatively newer in construction. This is a keeper. With all the recent rain on a daily basis we are having many issues with leaking roofs/ceilings. The missionaries through out the mission are being troopers...

 ____________________________________

Mexico Pachuca has the BEST sister missionaries in the WORLD. They are beautiful, work hard, never complain, and are such an asset to the whole mission. President and I love ALL of them!





 What would interviews be like with out Hermana (Momma) Egberts sugar cookies? Hmmmm.... not the same.

 Oh ya... Elder Ortega can be proud of the huge progress he has made these last two cycles in English Study. The pages in that blue book are burned on the edges from how fast he's working on it! This is the first time he has had an English speaking companion so he is taking full advantage of the situation. Thank you Elder Park for your efforts in his behalf. 


 Yep...I leave my camera on the table; and when I get home this is what I find... this image forever burned into the memory! Elder Katich.

 This "Branch President" and his son were so kind to drive our four missionaries from the Apan/Sahgun  area to interviews. It is a perfect example of how someones time and efforts can make such a huge difference. Gracias Hermano...


President and I treasure every minute we get to spend with the missionaries in Mexico Pachuca Mission. We are honored to work side by side; and want them to know they touch our hearts and strengthen our testimonies more than we will ever impact theirs. Each will forever be a permanent part of our family.

________________________________

Where are they know?

Elder Melvin Zepeda still lovin' service after his return home... We are missing his musical talent!




___________________________
Elder Spencer Shillig 
Loving time in the "outdoors"...


No comments:

Post a Comment