What a week. I have never, ever seen so many lessons fall through. In fact, all of them fell through. 100%. It was incredible. Never seen anything like it. But whatever. Things will turn around soon.
Transfers were this week and nothing happened. Almost our whole zone stayed together, the only change was that Elder S left and Elder B is the new Assistant. Yep, we're in the same ward again. This is going to be sweet!
We were able to visit a few less actives this week, and R is still doing great. The V family didn't go to church and we don't know why, but we're going to try to figure it out soon.
We had a little training meeting for all the members about the new ward mission plan. It went great! The ward mission plan basically is to have all the members pray to know who to invite to a family night, invite them, then to get with the missionaries to plan it and put it together so that we are all on the same page. The members are way excited and I am sure it was inspired and is going to work. Lots of members from our area went, which was comforting since there's not a lot and we desperately need their help right now.
We had the primary program this week in church and it was so great. I had always spent all my life looking for the funny things that go on without really appreciating it for what it is. I about cried like 4 times. Also, we had an all time sacrament meeting attendance record this week--208! Love this ward!
I went to E again this week, with Elder S this time. We got to visit L and C and a few other people that I taught while I was there. It was great to see them again and remember how much I love them. They're going to stick with 4 missionaries in E for at least one more transfer. Sounds like M and his family and doing great, and there's a super awesome Chilean family that lives close to them who has been helping with the teaching. Hopefully they get baptized this transfer so I can go!
We were going to go to T this week, but we couldn't find members to stay with our companions. It´s a little rough since Elder K and I have the assignment and we're in the same ward now. The zone leaders said that they are going to change the assignment this transfer so that they're not two missionaries from the same ward, so we'll see if I get to keep going or not.
Good thing I'm in Mexico, missing out on all the embarrassment in the world of the Jazz. Unfortunately, the Mexican soccer team's been pretty embarrassing too. I don't know if you all heard, but Mexico got down to their last World Cup qualifier against Costa Rica and either had to win or the US had to beat Panama to qualify. They lost, so the US was their only hope, and they were losing the whole game by one goal, when in the last 2 minutes they scored two to win and keep Mexico's World Cup hopes alive. Thanks to that, all the Mexicans love me now. I'll be walking down the street, contacting, or teaching people and they'll tell me thank you for helping them make it to the World Cup. It's good I guess, something had to happen so that the Mexicans starting loving Gringos.
Well, that's about all for this week! I love you all! Thanks for everything!
Elder Pew
November 18, 2013
It is getting really, really hard to write in English. My companions have told me that I even sleep-talk in Spanish, so it's going to be rough to undoe this mess. Ya que.
We had a great week. It was super, super cold Wednesday through Saturday. Like, in the 40s, which is ridiculous. I haven't felt so much cold since Ciudad G. They tell me it even snowed in T on Saturday. Nutsy. And because of that, there has been absolutely nobody to talk to in the streets, but on the plus side, everyone's in their house. Today's been back to normal, about 78 and sunny. Loving it here!
So this week something super funny happened. It turns out that Elder K, the couple missionary that helps in the mission offices, was trying to order 25 packages of the Law of Chastity pamphlets and accidentally ordered 25 boxes! (each package has about 25 pamphlets, and each box has about 20 packages. Do the math.) We are absolutely overloaded with the Law of Chastity, and since we live near the offices, they made us take two boxes home from zone class on Tuesday. I think it was inspired.
Today is some kind of holiday here, and because of that Mexico decided to do its own version of Black Friday this weekend. Wal-Mart was absolutely loco today. But on the plus side, Tacos al pastor were 50 percent off. Glory, glory, hallelujah!
We had a good week. We found L, M, and Y again. L's been reading the Book of Mormon and praying and seems a little more sincere now and more willing to change. It's all starting to make sense for him. And even though he was a referral from a member who lives about 4 hours from here, we've been able to get a lot of support from the ward. Our ward mission leader had the brilliant idea to give the members a teaching record when they come with us to the lessons and commit them to watch over the progress of the investigator we visit. It's made things a lot easier, because even though L doesn't have any member friends in this ward, we've found two members that are now in charge of acting as if they had given us the referral. They come with us to every lesson and check up on him when we can't. And the best part is that one of them was kind of inactive when we starting doing this but he's been to church the last two weeks now and is super excited to do missionary work. Things are going well and we are really trying to get all the members involved in the work, whether it's with referrals or with helping us teach. We've got some good prospects too. One family told us that they have been praying for the chance to share the gospel with a neighbor, and another family told us that they are planning to invite a ton of non-member friends to the baptism of their two 8 year old daughters. It is impossible that things don't pick up soon, and in a big way.
We also found an awesome new investigator named M. She's about 33 and has two kids, a 13 year old boy and a 9 year old girl. We found her trying to help someone fix their car. We offered to help, and then contacted them and she told us that she was widowed three years ago when her husband died of cancer. We went over Saturday night and taught her the Restoration, and when we invited her to be baptized she said "Of course!" The only problem is that she works on Sundays and can't come to church. But that's where the Lord intervenes. Her baptismal date is December 28th.
This week is going to be awesome. We have splits with the zone leaders on Tuesday, and with E on Wednesday. We have a training meeting on Thursday with the Area president of Mexico, Elder Daniel Johnson, for all the missionaries and ward council members. Friday is Zone Conference and I have a feeling that it's going to be one of those, when president just leaves us all flabbergasted by his wisdom. So yeah. I'm pumped.
Explanation of picture
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| Ultimate Frisbee on P-day |
Last Monday we went to the Metropolitan park to play Ultimate. We played M area vs. E area, but since it wouldn't be fair to put the two sisters on the same team, I traded teams with Sister L since I was in E before and she was in M. Needless to say, Elder T and I led the E team to a thumping 13-5 victory. I have never had so much fun playing ultimate. Elder H (companion) is the skinny one doing a thumbs up with the green shirt.
Thanks for the package and all the support. I love you all! Have a very happy birthday Zanzibar Zane Alexander Pompeeface Jr. Pew IV. You've become like the Mexicans, who all have about 4 or five names. The funny thing is, in the US when you ask a little kid what his name is, he just tells you "Timmy" or something like that, but here you ask a 4 year old what his name is and he tells you "José Eduardo Moisés Ramirez Cholán." Mouthful. Anyways, back to the point--have an absolute blast turning 10, Pompeeface! I think this sunday you graduate to Pompeeface Sr. Happy birthday, little goofball. I love you!
Have a great week!
Elder Pew
