Chiapa de Corzo Parachicos - Look it up

I just want to start by saying that I have waiting my whole life to see the niners go to the superbowl and now that they make it I am here in Mexico. It honestly doesnt bother me but I thought that was pretty funny. We had a pretty good week.

We are starting to find investigators. We really thought what we could do to find people. The missionaries in the ward of Elder Cavazos in Monterrey made a box for references that they put in the chapel. We decided to do the same. We went around to all the classes yesterday to explain the box and the reference cards. We received several references inmediately and almost everyone is going to look up the direction to put the reference next week. I really like what you said dad about finding a smarter way because before we asked members to introduce us to people but les da pena (look that up because I dont know how to say it in english). Everyone knows someone but it is hard to share the gospel but everyone was excited to do their part by just writing the name and direction of the person.
This week we are going to visit every active member and give them a copy of the talk by Elder Nelson about the missionaries to give to a neighbor or friend because everyone here wants to know why a gringo is walking around with a white shirt and tie but the people are too afraid to ask us what we do. Sometimes they do and then they are interested to listen to a lesson or read a pamphlet.

The other day we were thinking who we could help baptize this coming week and i thought of Alba who committed to be baptized before but didnt want to. We went to visit her and she was super depressed and sad and happy we came to visit. We taught something and invited her to church. She told us she knows she is bad but doesnt want to go because her whole family is catholic. I asked her what she thought of what we teach and she said she knows it has been helping her because we are the only ones who have helped her in her problems. She said maybe someday in the future and she doesnt really care right now. That hurt pretty bad to hear that. To see someone feel the spirit and like the message and reject it, is not fun.

Also, when we went to visit her we planned to invited a young man preparing for the mission to teach with us because he lives close. I forgot about this and as were were in colectivo the thought came to go invite him. We were running late so we got out of the van and i felt again to invite him so we went. When we arrived I asked if he was home and he came walking out wrapped in a blanket and told us God sent us there because he needed a blessing. I know God loves His children because he has used me to answer prayers several times in the mission.

Right now in Chiapa de Corzo there is a fair and other traditions so everyone is drunk or drinking all the time. Look up in google Chiapa de Corzo parachicos if you want to see what the people do. It is PACKED with people and impossible to walk but it is almost over.

One of the members had masks for the Parachicos and she let us try them on.

I love you all and hope all is well.

Challenging Week

This was a good but challenging week. We had another baptism which was a great experience because this girl was my first lesson in Chiapa de Corzo and she was finally baptized. Her mom has been inactive for years and is going to church again. The other day we went to teach her and shared the story of Abraham and Isaac about obedience. We then asked if she was ready for her baptism saturday and she said she wanted to be baptized but not yet. I then asked her if she thought it was important to obey the commandments and she said yes. Then I asked if she thought it was better to wait or do it right now and she said right now and that she would be baptized saturday. I know that the Holy Ghost gave me these words to help Nadia want to be baptized.

In other news, I will be staying here in Chiapa de Corzo with Elder Cavazos and Elder Muñoz will be leaving us. I am glad to just be in two again but I have learned so much from him.

Other than the baptism it was a pretty rough week. The man that talked with us and went to church went to Mexico City and no one knows when he will get back. We had to stop teaching others because they werent progressing and others werent home this week. However, I know that we will find new people to teach and that God has people who are ready to accept this gospel.

I learned a lot about obedience this week. I have been obedient in the mission but I can´t say with exactitud (is that a word in english?). There have always been little things that I could improve but I never felt the need. One day this week we were going to get to the house late so we ran but didnt make it. I felt horrible that night and then there was another mistake this week which I dont remember but I remember that I felt horrible again. And then it finally hit me. Why am I rationalizing 99.9% obedience when God asks 100%?

Also, I learned a lot about charity this week. I can serve these people for two years and love them but if I dont develop charity I will be nothing. The mission is much more than a commandment that we need to obey, it is more than a way of helping people. It is preparation for life and eternal life. It is helping me develop the christlike attributes that I need to live with God. I have always liked to joke around and tease people and even with my companions and it hit me this week. Did Christ do that with Peter and John? I believe He had fun with them but he didnt have to tease them to laugh and have fun. Basically, the mission is destroying the natural man in me. I dont understand why it has taken me so long to learn certain things but I am glad I am learning them now.

Quiero decirles mi testimonio de algo bien importante pero en español porque es más fácil. No sé como voy a hablar sobre la iglesia en inglés otra vez. Sé que la obediencia trae bendiciones y conduce la felicidad. Si amamos a Dios y Jesucristo, vamos a obedecer a los mandamientos. Es tan sencillo. Dios quiere que seamos obedientes, entonces podemos escoger a ser obediente o Dios va a humillarnos para que aprendamos la obediencia. Escoja a ser obediente porque no queremos que Dios nos regañe.
Les amo muchísimo.