Semana cuatro! Coke verde, bigotes, and 'Waiting on the Lord'

Well I must say the weeks go by really fast and I'm almost at 2 months this coming October 20th (8 weeks on the 15th)!  I'm not as preoccupied with this being two years anymore and I'm having a lot of fun here as well.  My companion is really cool and we get along really well. 

 

My generation of missionaries come today (the ones that went to the MTC at the same time) and I am going to the presidents home as well with them for dinner because I missed out.  I think its kinda funny that I now have a month more experience in the field..

This past week was a lot of fun because we are teaching some little kids the lessons at their homes and they are so funny!  For me, it is much harder to teach children the lessons than it is to teach adults the lessons.  It seems my Spanish is getting better when i am just talking but in lessons it just starts to stink.

The families we are teaching are all really nice people and I like talking to them.  Though this one family (Flia. H), where we teach the kids, the brother of the dad who lives there does not have hands from his elbows down.  He seems to have a really hard time because his wife and family left him because he lost his arms and not many people are nice enough to help him.  He is a really cool guy and when I have to shake his hand i shake his elbow which is kinda funny but I really like this guy and I want to help him out.  We have been trying to motivate the members to want to do missionary work by praying and fasting for opportunities to share the gospel and it is slowly working but the members here are so awesome!  Most of the homes where we teach are just made of concrete and some are really small and compact and look poor but some random people have nice TVs with PS3 or Xboxes

Well the expected amount of baptisms this month is 11 people! So every Saturday we are going to have a baptism! HOW COOL IS THAT!

 

Well, my message today that I would like to share is concerning ''Waiting on the Lord''.  And what I mean by that is: when we have trials or difficult tasks and we need help but don't know what to do and are feeling down;  we need to be patient and hope that one day our Father in Heaven will answer our prayers in his own time.  So often we pray and pray but we want the prayer answered right now.  However, that is not always the case.  We need to be like the Savior when he was in Gethsemane when he felt alone and had to complete his very difficult task.  He asked his disciples to ''Watch with me'' three times! Yet he was ultimately alone without the companionship of his disciples or his Father.  But he chose to drink the bitter cup and suffer our pains and afflictions.  He waited upon his Father, saying, ''Thy will be done'' and continued on.  I know if we but have faith, remain patient, and continue moving forward in our trials, we will soon find the help and peace we need.  Again, the key is we must have faith in the Savior, because He knows how we feel and wants to help us!  I know this from my recent experience - This past week I was feeling slightly hopeless with my abilities to  teach in Spanish but I prayed for the help to be better.  I put my trust in our Heavenly Father because I know he answers our prayers and at the end of the week he answered my prayer and the answer was so simple. 

 

Well I hope everyone is happy and doing well! I pray for you all everyday and night!  I love you all and I'll talk to you again next week!

Elder Wright

 

Here are some more random pictures that he sent:

GREEN COKE! - sweetened with Stevia

 MTC companion in USC sweats

 MTC District

 Not sure if the shower should be clogged that high up!

 Elder Parroquin and Elder Wright

 It's easier to grow a bigote in Mexico!

 

Semana 3: 'Bettering' with a new comp!

Well I am in a new area with a new companion already! This last Wednesday I was randomly transfered to a new area called Colinas.  (I think the ward is called Colinas and the mission offices are just up the street!)   I like this area so much better because the people here are so kind and help me with my Spanish.  I might be here for a while since this is my first full cycle or whatever.  I am actually still really close to my last area and I'm still in the same zone.  I will probably be here for another month since this is the last cycle for my companion since he is my trainer.  And I am not sure how long each transfer is yet.  Maybe every six weeks? Maybe more? 

 

My companion is called Elder Garcia and he only speaks Spanish and has a slim understanding of English so I can only speak English when I write or think!  Elder Garcia is from Mexico but I don't remember where and this is his last exchange; lucky duck.  I'm beginning to forget words in English already as well cause last night writing in my journal I tried to say ''mejorando'' but all I could think up is ''bettering'' I don't even know if that's right or not cause I think it's wrong. 

 

Well this last Sunday I had to teach the Gospel Principles class about Talents to investigators and new converts..  I had only that morning to plan and I had a few things jotted down in my agenda.  It went really well because I got them to participate and  it was just awesome!  We learned that it takes faith to better our talents and strenghthen our weaknesses.  I shared the story of Enoch with the class where his weakness was speaking to people but with the help of our Heavenly Father his mouth was filled with what to say.  I related myself to Enoch by telling them I am still learning Spanish but I know with the help of our Father in Heaven I will be able to improve if I put effort on my part as well.  My lack of Spanish as well I think helped the people in the class really enjoy the class and want to participate and teach. 

 

This last Saturday we had a baptism for Hna. Maricela.  My companion baptised her and I was one of the witnesses.  The Spirit was really strong in the room and even her family who are not members felt it and some wanted to be baptised as well. 

 

There was one experience I had this week;  Friday, I believe where a sickly man walked up to us and apparently asked us to bless him.  It wasn't until we started walking that my companion told me he wanted a blessing.  When we got to the members house to eat lunch I had such a strong impression to find this man and give him a proper blessing because if the Savior was there instead of me he would of blessed him and since I represent the Savior I should of gave him a blessing and he came to us to help him.  For a while this feeling was bothering me that we needed to find him but when we were about to finish opur food the feeling disappeared.  I think I needed to have just left lunch and went to find him because when the feeling disappeared I know it was too late to find this man.  It is very important that we listen to the promptings of the Spirit right when they come to us because we never know if it will be to late to act on it if we wait to long. 

 

Im trying to have small goals like get to the end of October and stuff so I dont worry so much that this is two years long.  Because only weeks are going by fast not months.  I know I got one month under my belt but it is still very hard for me especially when so many missionaries are talking about how excited they are to go home in a week or a month.  That is my only trial at the moment. 

 

So far on P-days, we just shop for food for the week, write, sleep, watch church movies, and eat hahah  The food is most of the time really good. The only food I did not like was mole.  Though mole verde is super good!  They don't have burritos or use pinto beans and they eat everything with spoons.  And, by the way, the new group (the one that went into the MTC the same day as I did) won't arrive till next week I think.

I hope you are all doing really well and are happy.  I love you all just 23 more months to go!

Week 2: Ninety-nine more weeks - and no Shower!

Well I have now survived a whole two weeks in Mexico! Weeks seem to be going by really fast now since we work like crazy!  Even though we only probably teach 3 or 4 lessons average a day somedays around just 2.  I am really progressing really fast in becoming a better missionary everyday with the help of my two awesome companions.  

I am participating more and more in each lesson as well.  I memorized the first vision in spanish in a few minutes and that day shared the account to two investigators who just lost their son.  The spirit was so strong when we were teaching but the man hardened his heart like many people have done so in the scriptures.  He refused to take more lessons but I was saddened because of that for we planted the seed and maybe the future missionaries may find success.  

There is this guy named Jesus who has read the BoM twice and already has a testimony that it is true and wants to be baptised!  No one has ever taught him as well!  He contacted us one day and told us he is a Mormon by conviction haha.  I really like this guy cause he stood up during priesthood meeting when the Elders quorom pres. was assigning home teaching stuff and got right up and told everybody that they need to do this so we can build the kingdom of God and bring more people to church.  

That was also the first day I gave a blessing as well.  Holy Cow I was nervous at first cause i'm still working on Spanish but I prayed before hand and when I gave the blessing I know the words came directly from our Heavenly Father because I couldn't have thought up those words by myself it would of taken hours almost! 

Well my testimony has been growing so fast while I have been here. I already can't wait for my homecoming talk so I can share my testimony.  Love you all! Talk to you all next week! just around 99 more weeks to go!

Questions from David:

1- Have you taught anyone who is interested in the church? 

Yes I taught a lot of people!

2- Do you have a washer and dryer? 

And nope hahah we have someone do it for us

3- Do you have any chores in your house? If so, what is your chore? 

We don't have assigned chores we just clean haha

4- Do you have to take a shower in hot water or cold water? 

Our shower stopped working..... hahaha

5- Does the water taste different than in the USA? 

nope

6- Have you played Fúbol with the kids or with the missionaries? 

I have not played soccer yet

7- Are you getting fluent in Español?

and slowly I am getting better haha


I love you so much bro!  see you in 99 weeks! 

First week in México - 'one step in front of the other' but watch out for the chocolate on the ground!

Well I have survived a week in Mexico and I am struggling to use this Spanish keyboard which has more buttons than normal!  So to be honest my first thought on my mission was ''Can I actually make it through 2 years of this?'' Because I thats a long time.  Though I know I can do it I just have to focus on the now and ''Put one step in front of the other, and soon I'll be walking out the door!'' My companions are really cool Elder "H" is from St. George and Elder "P" is from Veracruz Mexico.  They are the Zone Leaders here too and they have been helping me learn and get in the work of things here.  

How does an 18 year old quantify 2 years?  As I think back to what was going on 2 years ago, it seems like just yesterday that he got his drivers license.  It was almost two years ago when it was announced that men can serve missions at 18!   Honestly, the last two years have just flown by so fast!  I guess to put it into perspective - 2 years is only 4% of my total time here on this planet while it makes up 11% of his time spinning around the sun!  In other words, for me to comprehend this - it would be like me taking off for 5 years and 22 days!  

I like his attitude about putting 'one step in front of the other' he will see that time will fly by fast.  Time will be measured from Pday to Pday, then fast Sunday to fast Sunday, then Transfer to Transfer, then by that time he won't even be counting!   But we will! :)  

My first day I was here I was already able to bare a strong but simple testimony to this lady named "C".  I was listening to her story and how she really wants to be close to God.  I had the biggest impression to tell her that our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ loved her so much and I said if you prayed tonight you will recieve an answer to your doubts, questions, and to know what we taught is true and she'll know we truly are representatives of Jesus Christ. I have become confident that I can still bare strong testimony and teach with the Spirit even if my Spanish is still lacking.  

It is still frustrating when there is so much to say and you are limited by a small vocabulary. However, the Spirit is what converts us and guides us - and he recognizes this.  It was good that he learned this while still in the MTC when he felt like giving up.  What he might not yet recognize is that often times it is in these moments the Spirit will help him recall words and enable him to express thoughts in a manner much easier to be understood.   

I am actually in one of the nicer areas of my mission, the ward we attend is called Villas I believe and our house is bright pink!.  We take a lot of public transportation and walk around a ton in this concrete jungle.  There are so many stray dogs here and that means a lot of ''chocolate'' on the floor.  

Interesting word choice - 'floor'!  In English we wouldn't use this word unless all the stray dogs were running around in people's houses leaving their mark... However, in Spanish  suppose that the word 'Piso' can be interchanged for floor and ground... I know his mom often times confuses it! ;)  I couldn't imagine that he is thinking in Spanish yet.. but I found it funny that he used this word.

We eat so much here because breakfast we eat a ton and then at lunch we are always fed by members who give us so much food and we have to finish it all or otherwise they may get offended.  That means I am always about to explode everyday during lunch.  

Could it actually be possible to 'Gain' weight while on your mission?  Hmm, we will have to see...

Fasting on the mission is also really hard as well cause I felt so weak that I didn't even have the energy to move but I was fasting for this investigator to be able to find the money/way to have his wife divorce her last husband so he can get married with her and get baptised.  I also fasted so that I can learn Spanish easier and have the strength physically, emotionally, and spiritually to be able to survive and work my hardest these 2 years.  

Oh yes - I can imagine that this has got to be a common issue that these young missionaries have to resolve.  One week into his mission and already real world issues are coming to light!  As a family, we too fasted for him to be able to feel more comfortable with the language and that he might be able to have the strength to do the work.  

We also do not get many baptisms here either because there are more rules in order for people to be baptised here.  They need to also go to church 5 consecutive times before baptism.  Also there seems to be a lack of unity between the members and the missionaries here as well so luckily I read Grandpa's book before I was told I am not aloud to read it here on my mission.  I think I can help strengthen our ties better from what I learned in that book.  That's one thing I want to focus on in my mission so that the people we bring into the church stay in the church as strong members as well as make life easier for new missionaries to get referrals   

I'm glad that he was able to read the book my dad gave him just before he left on his mission - I know he will be able to touch more lives when he works well with those in his wards and stakes.  

Well I love you all and I really miss you and I can't wait to see you guys again. PEACE!

Here is a little note he sent to his mom as they were fortunate to both be at the computer at the same time this afternoon: 

Hi mom! I'm doing good I think I answered a lot of your questions in other emails I just sent.  We have to go to this internet shop place and rent computers to use.  Yes ive been taking my vitamins.  I also ate Pizza Hut today which was like 200 pesos.  There are hardly any bugs here as well.  Only I saw A huge spider when we were walking around that's bigger than two fingers put together. 

Elder Wright assigned to La Zona de Tepalcapa Oeste!

 

To his mom's relief, at 9:30pm we received an email from his mission president - Pdte Titensor informing us that Elder Wright had arrived in the mission field and all is well!  He was met at the airport by Pdte Titensor and his wife then visited with him back at the office.  He was placed with the zone leaders Elder Parroquin and Elder Hansen in la zona de Tepalcapa Oeste in Mexico City!

Phone call from the Airport -

We finally received the anticipated phone call from Elder Wright this morning around 8:30am.  He woke up at 4am (I don't think he know that this time existed!), traveled with his district to the airport, and then went off all by himself!  After finding his gate he promptly gave us a call!  I was amazed that he was able to learn how to use a pay-phone and that pay phones are still available!

This was the first time in 12 days that he was without a companion and now he would now be flying solo to Mexico City!  His companion had another flight taking him through Atlanta while the rest of his district were off to their missions in New York, Virginia, and other cities in the United States.

He sounded really good and was happy to be able to finally speak with us on the phone.  While he didn't sound nervous, I would have to imagine that the thought of traveling to Mexico by himself had to be a little nerve wracking!  Elder Wright really enjoyed his time in the Missionary Training Center but he was happy he didn't have to spend any more time there.  The dreary thought of having to stay there 6 weeks, had he been placed in the basic Spanish program, off-set his feelings of anxiety not being as proficient with the language as the rest of his district!  He really seems that he has come to terms that his proficiency will come later.

It is anticipated that he will arrive in Mexico City just after 6pm (local time) tonight!  We hope that we will be able to hear from him once he enters the mission home!