Keep on Keeping On

Hello Everyone...

This week has been a great week...Every week we fight to be able to teach all of the people we need to teach...Its quite hard...I was talking to President this week about maybe sending us another set of missionaries...so we will have to see...

The President and Sister Robinson came to Magdalena again this week to interview us...and it was so amazing to learn so much stuff in a 30 minute interview with the President...it was crazy so this week we have lots of work putting all of this new things in practice...

This week i also found a store that sells almost everything that you would ever want from the U.S. from Cool Whip and Milk to Bread and Butter Pickles...its quite amazing...I love it...I am taking advantage and eating lots...

Another thing that happened this week was that we had companion exchanges with a companionship in Nogales...I went to Nogales with an Elder Keele from Spanish Fork...he is new in the mission with 3 months...it was crazy to see the faces of the people in the streets when they saw two huge americans....Elder Keele is about 6 foot 4 inches...In this experience I saw myself almost a year ago when I was still struggling with the language and trying to figure out what i was even doing....Elder Keele is still learning the language but i was very impressed with the way he taught and acted..he knows what he was doing...it was great.....

Also this week there was a free health clinic in Magdalena...We went to see if everything was in order haha and it was kind of funny because they told my companion that he has to do more excercice because he is a little overweight haha He just looked at me with a confused face when he heard that since we ride bikes and walk every day...it was quite funny..

A few funny experiences from this week...sorry a little short again

Sure love you guys

Elder Child

 

                                Exchanges with Elder Keele in Nogales, Sonora

                              Eating Chinese Food...huge plate for 3 dollars haha

 

                         A little Chilly in Nogales...was about 38 degrees F in this picture...

 

 

Breaking Records...

Hello Everyone...

This week was really good..Francisco has been busy searching for family names that he can take to the temple..And Brian has been a great example to his family especially to those that arent members...teaching them that they shouldnt drink coffee....also he impresseed me yesterday when he pulled me aside and asked for help to fill out his tithing sheet...I havent seen a 9 year old so ready to pay a full tithe of 2 pesos...He is a great young man...

We have been trying to do everything a little bit better this week...Better planning..better teaching...everything....And we saw huge results...Yesterday we broke the record Sunday attendance of our little branch...we 39 members and 10 investigators...so 49 people packed into a room the size of a dining room...it was quite a sight...for many people it was their first time to church and were greeted by the active members..others hadnt been to church for more than 15 years...Everyone is excited to come back next week...we hope we can keep up with teaching everyone haha...

We were also able to teach Francisco the "Lost Sheep" that i talked about 2 weeks ago...he was so excited to have missionaries and the Branch President in his house he was skyping and calling all of his family..through the tears he told everyone (including his friends on Facebook) of his gratitude that we were there...Mean while we were talking with his non member wife who had millions of questions...that we answered in between the phone calls of her husband haha...

A few updates...Love You ALL!

Elder Child

                                 Cutting the lawn of the church IN THE RAIN!!!

 

 

                                      Looks like Magdalena has a Train Depot also!!!

 

 

Renewing the Visa!

Hello Everyone...

This week was pretty crazy haha...We went to Nogales for a Conference on Tuesday then went to Hermosillo Wednesday and Thurday to Renew my Visa (CRAZY!!!)...

And so we have to squeeze in lots of appointments in not very much time...

Francisco got the Aaronic Priesthood Sunday...and was able to pass the Sacrament for the first time....which was kind of interesting because it was the first week that I didnt have to pass the sacrament for the past 6 weeks...so I was really excited about that...Francisco also bore a strong testimony about Baptism and the Gift of the Holy Ghost... He is preparing names of his ancestors so that he can go to the temple to do baptisms for the dead by the end of November...so that is what he is  working on now... he has become a part of the Priesthood holders so quickly it is amazing...one of the brothers was talking to him about the Preperation of the Sacrament and the Sacramental Prayers...he is one of the Brothers now...we love how the members start calling him by Brother Lopez instead of Francisco...because that is how we can tell that they are feeling that he is another brother not an investigator any more...

Also it has been getting kind of cold lately...I am having to sleep with a sweatshirt pj pants and socks haha...my companion is getting kind of sick from the change of weather...but we both agree that it sure beats the heat of Penasco and Guaymas...haha so we are in heaven!  

Sorry this letter is short and wont have pictures(I forgot my cable for the camera) but I love you all 

Love
Elder Child

Lost Sheep and Clean Sheep

Hello Everybody!!

We had an excellant week...with tons of work...We finished the transfer today and Elder Garcia are staying together for another transfer! We also ended this past week with 2 baptisms...which was really great...

A few experiences from this week.

One day we were walking around on the outskirts of Magdalena...actually on our way to Lunch...and we had 2 streets that we could take to get to lunch...and it wasnt a strong feeling but I just felt that we should take the route that we never use...one of these two streets....So not thinking much about it we just went where we felt we should...to arrive at the corner of the block...one man stopped us in his car trying to wave us down...So we came a little closer and he pulled up to the curb...and rolled down the window and looked up at us from his little baby car..and he asked Are you guys working here? or are you just visiting from Nogales? we told him that we were working in Magdalena and we was shocked and he asked if even there was a church here...we answered that there was...he was so suprised...He told us he was a member of the church and he then asked if we needed a ride...and of course we accepted haha we got in the car and started heading to the lunch again...The conversation in the car was unexpected...he told us that he was baptized in Puerto Penasco and was the son of one of the active members that i was able to meet while i was there....He has been here for 8 years and never knew that there was a church here....He then told us he has been struggling constantly for these past 8 years....He told us that he just bought a beer before he had seen us...and in the transcourse of our ride he opened up the beer and dumped it out the window...He told us that we were the sign he was waiting for...to return to church...and to repent....I felt the spirit so strong in that car...He was literally a lost sheep looking for his pastor...Before we got out of the car...He asked us with complete sincerity...Do you think that I can be forgiven for the things I have done?...We told him that he could with time and a desire...He started crying and I gave him a half hug since we were still in the car...and we got out and he left still crying.....We hope to be able to help him return to his Pastor....

On Saturday we were able to be a part of 2 baptisms ...One young man whose name is Brian...he is from a family that is menos active and every Sunday this past 6 weeks they have been coming to church and they have recommitted to living the gospel...The other baptism was Fransisco...It was so great...we had to go to Nogales because there isnt a Baptismal Font here in Magdalena...So the families of these 2 people crammed into two cars and got to Nogales...I am not sure how they all fit but there were like 15 people from Magdalena haha...I had the privilege to perform the baptism of Fransisco....After the baptism he turned and gave me a big ol hug and he told me ....I am a clean sheep....And I testify that in this instant he recieved a remission of his sins....and he was cleansed....He is so excited to be able to serve and to keep progressing in this Great Gospel....

Here are a few experiences from this week....

Thanks for your love and support...

Elder Child

 

                                                     Baptisms of Fransisco and Brian....

 

 

                           Elder Garcia always runs a little quicker to get to Lunch haha

 

 

Splurged and bought American Milk...

Crossing Rivers...

 

Nervous Francisco...

Hello Everyone....

This week was really wonderful...we were busy getting a few people ready for their baptismal interviews by teaching them the last lessons... Quite funny to see Francisco so nervous for his interview...he wrote down all of the interview questions and was studying every single answer in every pamphelet and book we have ever given him haha...we arrived one morning and he had 3 or 4 pages of all the questions and all of the answers written out....and he passed his interview....but more important than the questions...we reread D&C20:37 (the requisits for the baptism) and I asked Francisco if he completed all of the requisits....he thought for a few seconds and said with such sincerity YES! I am Ready!....I love the feeling when I know without a single doubt that he is ready...and he is going to stay active in the church... He is great!

Also this week is the last week of the transfer...I dont think there will be changes because we just got here haha but kind of a weird feeling....Elder Bake will be headed home this next tuesday...which is really weird because when i arrived he had 10 months in the mission...hahaha wow the time is flying....

I have seen so many miracles in these past weeks and months...I know that God is preparing each on of his children in a way that they can become more convirted disciples of Christ...Missionaries, Investigators or Members...

Love You All

Elder Child

                                                          Me with the House of Prayer!

Running because I hate being late....

Hola
This week has been great...we have had tons of appointments to try and get to...It has been hard with such a big area to try and visit everyone on time... It has been quite difficult....My companion is thinking that i have really lost my mind because we have started to run to some of our appointments...it has worked a few times but we just end up sweating bullets and still a few minutes late...haha but it has been kind of fun to see Elder Garcia changing...he is teaching really well and at times he is the one who starts to run to the other appointment...haha it is super funny...

When we arrived to Magdalena we were checking around on prices for hair cuts and good grief it is expensive...100 pesos for almost every hair cut...so I decided to do what Ben used to do on his mission and buy electric hair clippers haha and start cutting my own hair...haha Elder Garcia has grown to trust me a lot more...I say that because he let me cut his hair today...haha and to tell you the truth it looks dang good haha...I was quite impressed...One talent i got from my Mom...Cutting my own hair was a different story...but it doesnt look too bad just a few bald patches...One thing I got from my Dad...haha :)

Francisco is really excited for his baptism that is coming up...we have been really focusing on him and how he can be more ready for his baptism....we have read D&C 20:37...which discusses the requirements for a baptism...he has really been trying to be more ready also...he even put this same requirements on his fridge so that he could see it everyday and so that he can do everything that he has to do to truley be ready....we love him!!!!

Thanks for all of your support and love...
Love you all
Elder Child

 One of the Catholic Churches here in Magdalena.. Everyone is saying that this Church and parts of Magdalena appear in one of the Fast and Furious movies...

  Elder Garcia, Francisco and I with the Requirements of Baptism in Doctrine and Covenants on the Fridge

Crazy Catholic Traditions and General Conference....

Hola Everyone...
We had a very intersting week this week...here in Magdalena there are the remains of a Catholic Saint...called San Francisco... and every year there is a week long festival in October...always ending the 4th of October...Very interesting...People come from all of mexico and all of the United States to be apart of this festival...there are thousands of people gathered in the center of the City, dancing singing and just straight up partying...There are hundreds of street vendors selling a lot of about everything and anything....Very interesting...For this reason we had to stay in our house after the conference on Saturday and Sunday after the afternoon session...because it was quite crazy out hhaha...It is also interesting that while everyone else was out partying...the saints of Magdalena (and surrounding areas) were gathered together to watch modern day Prophets and Apostles speak to the world...

I hope everyone was able to watch General Conference...was very interesting to see God call three new apostles...very cool just another evidence that the Church of Jesus Christ will never again fall from the Earth...

Francisco is doing really well he is progressing really fast...he was able to attend all 5 sessions of General Conference including the Priesthood Session...I told my companion that if we had a baptismal font in the church we would be able to baptize him tomorrow... He is so excited to finally be baptized so that in 1 year he can go to the temple...he is so fixed on that goal its super cool!

Thanks for all your support and love...


Elder Child

Keeping up the Tradition...Oriental Food after the Priesthood Session!

The Branch President and I and the Conference Set up...we had two computers hooked up to 2 different sources of internet just in case one failed...