Hello
everyone! Thanks for all the letters! I am so very blessed. My poor
companion was stressing out this morning when we came to print off our
emails because nobody had written him. Luckily, they wrote him later in
the day. Prayer works.
Zane - Be good so that Santa brings you your Lego Batman. I hope you are having fun in the snow!
Gwen - Did you go to Granny's house?
Izak
- I'm not going to lie, your letter this week scared me a little bit.
Are you ok? Good thing it's almost Christmas break.
Micah
- You're funny. And obviously we have churros here and they are way
better than the ones in the United States. They make them fresh in the
street and they are super cheap so we always buy them. Another reason
why I'm fat.
Timo
- Sounds like everything is going great. Your sports sewing class
sounds amazing. Pictures? Also, I wish I could be there to see Lone
Peak's basketball team this year. Sounds super awesome. Also, your
little mission prep class sounds really great. That is the most
important thing--following the Spirit--both when planning the lesson and
teaching it. And when you feel it working through you and the people
you teach it just feels amazing.
Emily
- I also sang the national anthem this week. I teach English classes
in the church every Saturday and Wednesday night, and I felt like that
would be an appropriate opening hymn. Congratulations, because I'm sure
you did it much better than I did. You sound very busy and happy, so
keep it up!
Dad
- Thanks for the music, it all made it just fine! It has gotten colder
here too. It's still pretty warm during the day, but in the mornings
it's pretty dang cold. Sayula is one of the coldest areas in this
mission because it is so high up in the mountains. I kind of do miss
the other seasons, actually, it's just more exciting that way. Ask me
in two years if I still think that and you'll probably get a different
answer, once I'm back in the frozen tundra of Utah. But a little bit of
a difference would be kind of nice.
Mom
- I thoroughly enjoyed the quotes that Dad sent me from
you. Ingenious. I would love that recipe, but we don't have an oven.
Or time. And if you make me a DVD I could probably find somewhere to
watch it. And oh my goodness I didn't realize how much you get done
until now that I read it every week. You are amazing, Mom!
This
week was a little crazy. On Tuesday we had our regular district class
in Ciudad Guzman, and afterward we were standing outside the chapel when
4 Jehovah's Witness Missionaries walked up and started talking to us in
English. One was from Idaho, two from Maryland, and one from somewhere
else. They were there to preach to the English speaking people of
Ciudad Guzman, which are probably about 6 or 7, but whatever. Me and
Elder J, another missionary in our district that I met in the MTC,
decided to contact them. It's official, I can't speak English. I tried
to explain the restoration to this lady in English but I could not do
it. It was kind of sad. I'm in this weird stage right now where my
Spanish is still not perfect but I'm losing my English fast and it just
feels weird.
So
we had two baptismal dates for this Saturday, T and I.
Everything was going great with T until Wednesday. We had a great
lesson, she was still planning on getting baptized, and then after
the closing prayer she totally changed her mind and said she didn't want
to because her kids are Catholic and one of her sons was going to do
the First communion or something that week. It was really weird. I
really am at a loss for what to do about her. The poor confused woman
just doesn't understand half of what is going on in the world around
her.
I (initial) was iffy all week, and we went over Friday to review the baptismal
interview questions with him and he clearly wasn't ready. He'll listen
to us, come to church, and commit to do things when it's convenient, but
he really doesn't feel much of a desire to really repent right now. So
we're going to leave him alone for a little bit.
More
miracles with V's family - We showed up one day and V and J were about to separate. They were both really mad at
each other for dumb reasons and were ready to give up. We talked with
them for about two hours. At the end, we shared the story of Jesus when
he asks Peter three times "Do you love me?" and by the end they were
hugging and in love again. It was so amazing. The spirit really has
the power to change hearts.
Miracle
2 - Her super-gangsta brother started listening to us this week. At
first when we went over there, he would leave, turn up the volume of the
TV, or be really obnoxious, but the last two weeks he hasn't been that
way. V asked us to go put an appointment just with him one
night, so we went and talked to him. He accepted, and then told us
that he hears voices in his head and they bother him and he wants to get
rid of it. So we fasted and gave him a blessing on Saturday and it was
amazing. He even cried! He told us that he is sick of the life he is
living and wants to repent. We have a baptismal date for him for the
29th, but it's going to take a lot of work.
So
guess who showed up to church this Sunday? President Wagner(Mission President! Love
that man. He spoke in sacrament meeting and it was amazing, and then
talked with our Branch President to set everything straight. Whew.
Also, V, J, their kids and their niece came. J should
get baptized this week. Things are going good.
This
is the last week of my third transfer and I meet the 6 month mark this
Thursday. Where has all this time gone? I feel like all my time is
running out. But I'm learning so much. Thank you all for your prayers
and support. I couldn't do this without you. It has still been really
hard, but through our trials we grow stronger. Trust in God and in your
Savior! Don't ever forget the reason we celebrate Christmas. He lives
and he loves each one of you. I love you all so much!
-Elder Pew
