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.
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