Imuris!

Hey Everyone...

This week was wonderful!! It has truly been nice to get back in the swing of things and just focus on my area and my little branch...

A few things about Imuris...there are about 10,000 people here and the Branch is quite small..yesterday we had about 30 people in church...which is really cool...My companion is Elder Hyatt from Texas and has about 6 months in the mission...We are quite enjoying our time...and working super hard...we are all out of pamphlets and Books of Mormon already so we will have to go up to Nogales to grab some more materials tomorrow haha...

We have a goal to knock every door in this little town in the time I have left as a Missionary...so we have been walking and knocking and walking some more to accomplish this goal so that we can find more people to teach...We have an amazing Baptismal Goal that we have set with a lot of faith...that we truly believe that can happen in this little town...It is amazing to see how many people God is putting in out path....For example one day as we were knocking doors we found a family that had just moved from Michoacan the day before...and it was a whole family that is ready to listen to the Gospel...The hot days are pretty long just knocking doors but God always places someone in our path to keep our Spirits bright...In total we found almost 30 new investigators after knocking this week...

One experience that I had this past week was on Sunday...It was a little crazy for our first Sunday in the House of Prayer (small house converted into a chapel) My companion was busy teaching classes and I was busy with all of the Administrative things...After our 3 hours of meetings I had a list of things to do with a number of people... and on our way to the lunch I started thinking about everyone of the members and their needs...I feel a great love and worry for every one of them...I thought to myself that there was a ridiculous amount of things to do...after arriving at the lunch I looked up on the wall and saw a picture of the First Presidency and then thought "How can they do it?...with all of the needs of all the members in the whole world" ....Then looking at the opposite facing wall..where a picture of Jesus Christ was hanging...I thought "How can He do it so Perfectly and so completely with every person that has ever existed and that will ever exist?" So my attitude here is exactly what Pres. Uchtdorf taught "Lift where you stand"...Thats all I can do...So we will be quite busy with Branch Business and with the Normal Missionary Work...

Thanks for all your support...and Congrats Zack on turning 12 and recieving the Aaronic Priesthood!

Love you All

Elder Child

 

                                              Huge Statue in the Middle of Imuris!

 

 

                                                                  Elder Hyatt and I

 

 

 

 

Last Week in the Offices...

Hello Everyone I hope everyone had a wonderful week of Summer...I also hope all could enjoy their 4th of July Activities...

This week has been pretty crazy we had Leadership Conference on Tuesday and another Training Progress Conference on Friday with All of the new missionaries that are in training...The rest of the days we were working on transfers...haha but we were still able to work a little bit more in our area...

On Monday we had an amazing 4th of July...All of the Office Elders were invited to go over to the Mission Home for the whole afternoon...haha We made hamburgers and hot dogs, made homemade ice cream, and sang Patriotic Hymns haha it was by far the best 4th of July on the Mission...It was great...I will attach some pictures...As time passes I ponder and marvel on how great the United States is and how important it was and is in the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ...I am so glad to have been born in such a great country...I hope and pray everyday that God keeps blessing us as a country so that we may be able to keep on helping others in the world. We have so much to be grateful for indeed...

Once again during this past week we had to make the Transfers in the Mission...And once again I was reassured that everything that happens in this Church is by Revelation...Every transfer was made with lots of prayer and thought...Last transfer as I have commented, I felt strongly that we should finally send Sister missionaries to a little town outside of Hermsillo where not one Sister Missionary had been...ever...This time it was a similar experience...Agua Prieta has been an Elder Only Zone for about 5 years...for many reasons...however this week we all felt that we should send the first sister missionaries there again...It is kind of weird to think that Sister missionaries will now be in Agua Prieta...but I know that God wants them there at this time. We felt a reassurance everytime we prayed.  When making a transfer, I felt very strongly the hand of the Lord helping us, giving us ideas and talking about them...At the end of this week...I know the 98 missionaries we changed are going to the place where they are needed and with the companion that can either help them or they can help their companion...

The hardest transfer decision to make was mine...It is very weird making your own transfers but in a group effort...everyone chimed in expressing their thoughts...As everyone expressed their thoughts I felt the Holy Ghost testifying of where I needed to go...In this moment I reflected to all of my mission,every transfer, where I was and who was I with and then I thought of every other assistant there had been and both of the Mission Presidents I have had, and when they are making the transfers...talking about me and my needs...and then with the Spirit.. They have all sent me Exactly where I needed to be and who I needed to be with..I am so grateful for all of my Leaders that have followed the Spirits Guide as they have made my transfers...I have strived to do the same...

So I have been transfered to go to a little town called Imuris, it is about 30 minutes away from Magdalena, where I was about 10 months ago...I will be working in the Branch Presidency and will be opening area there haha...So in my whole mission the only time I will have not opened area on a transfer is when I got into the offices haha..this is very unusual...but every time I have had the opportunity to grow...so this will be my 7th time having this opportunity haha...

I love you all and hope to talk to you soon...My P Day will now change back to Monday as I leave the offices...

Love Elder Child

 

                                         Cutting up Snickers Bars to put in the Ice Cream...

 

 

                                               Almost all of us...at the end of our Big Lunch!

 

 

                                            The Relief after all of the Transfers were done...:)

 

 

                       Road Trip with President to find more little towns to send missionaries...

 

 

P.A.C.E.

Hey Everyone...

Hope everyone is doing just wonderful this week...We just got finished up with the rest of the Zone Conferences this week...And it is quite the relief...We now hope to get on a regular missionary schedule...and maybe I can get some more sleep now...haha...These past 2 transfers in the offices have probably been the most tiring transfers in my whole mission...but it isnt just a physical tiredness it is an emotional and mental tired as well...Worrying about every single missionary in the whole mission and about their progression, and at the same time working in your own area with your investigators/members with their own needs...the weight just kind of catches up after a while....

A few weeks ago though I had an amazing experience of the Enabling Power of the Atonement...I remember very clearly one night where I had to figure out quite a few problems that were happening in the mission, so I spent most of the night on the phone with missionaries, and I also had to prepare some trainings for a few conferences that we were going to have, needless to say I got to bed late...and the next morning we had to get up at 4 30 to drop missionaries off at the airport then we were headed to a conference...At 4 30 when my alarm went off I was laying in my bed thinking...Ya I am not sure if I can get up today, I felt like I had no energy whatsoever...or in other words I was pooped...

I kneeled down beside my bed and begged for the energy to get through the day...In that moment a found a rush of energy come over me...I knew that the Enabling Power of the Atonement had been applied to my being...In that moment after I had said that prayer I sprang right up and said What a Wonderful DAY! at the top of my lungs, and how it was a great day...I had the energy and then some to be alert and excited in all of our daily activities...since that day I have always asked for this power to help me have the energy to keep on going...

I am now using this energy that I have to help others...Sister Robinson has trained to always have a Positive attitude...Reminding us that P.A.C.E. really works (Positive Attitude Changes Everything) Every morning and really every chance I get...I say positive comments...In the morning I usually things like, What a wonderful day or Today is going to be a great Day, and during the heat of the day I usually say, What a gorgeous day even if it is 130 degrees outside haha it usually causes a good laugh...I have found that PACE really does work...if everyone has a more positive attitude even in the worst of times we can overcome this troubles in our life a lot better...

There is my invitation...I hope you all have a great week...

Love Elder Child

 

                              One Hot Day with Missionary Approved Sunglasses!

 

 

                                                           Nogales Zone Conference

 

 

                                                         Agua Prieta Zone Conference

 

 

                                                    Hermosillo Reforma Zone Conference

 

 

                                                        Hermosillo Pitic Zone Conference

 

 

                                             Hermosillo Villa de Seris Zone Conference

 

 

                                                              Caborca Zone Conference

 

 

                                                           Peñasco Zone Conference

 

 

                                                Hermosillo Misiones Zone Conference

 

 

                                                          Guaymas Zone Conference

 

 

Just wanting to do the Will of God...

Hello Everyone...I hope everyone had a great week last week...we were able to have two more conferences so in total we have done 7 out of the 9 that we need to do...we will be finishing up with the Zone Conferences this next week...This past week we were in Caborca and Peñasco (2 of my favorite zones haha)  It was a wonderful week with 2 of probably the most spiritual Zone conferences that I have attended..We could just really see and feel that the whole Zone was working hard and being super obedient...It was an edifying experience...

After our Conference in Peñasco, we had planned on doing exchanges with all the Elders on Friday and Saturday...After the Conference however we had a different feeling...we felt that we needed to leave right then and there to go back to Hermosillo...kind of weird we told President, and Sister Robinson took us to the bus stop with our clothes...we left immediately and we got to Hermosillo at about 1 a.m. When I went to bed I really didn't know exactly what to expect something the next day but I felt very strongly we were in Hermosillo for a grand purpose... Friday we got up, like normal, and got ready and started studying And while I was studying I remembered a few Elders that are here in Hermosillo...that I thought in my own mind were doing just fine and that they were happy...but I felt like we were to have companion exchanges with these Elders...I called them up and they were ecstatic to do them...I told my companions and they were in agreeance...Later in the day as we were on exchanges we found out that one of these missionaries was just fine...He is always happy..A pretty happy go lucky type of guy...An amazing missionary....the other missionary however (who is an amazing District Leader) had gotten a little discouraged with his area and with the mission in general...We might not know what would have happened if we wouldn't have done those exchanges...After finding this out I was filled with a wonderful spirit of gratitude...i am so grateful for listening and following the promptings of the Holy Ghost...We were able to help that missionary a ton, we took him to our area and he was very grateful for the chance to do Exchanges... 

So we finally found out why we had to be in Hermosillo on Friday...

As I keep growing as a missionary I find that now my only purpose is to do the Will of God...As we see the new missionaries getting to the mission we usually ask them What they want to accomplish on their mission...the majority say BAPTIZE! I have found that yes it is nice to baptize and it is God's will that we baptize but I have found that that isn't my full purpose...In these 22 months I have learned that while doing God's will at all times I find peace and joy...I receive tons of blessings everyday from this wonderful service, also as I do God's Will I receive his confidence in every aspect of this wonderful Work of Salvation.

Sure Love you guys

Elder Child

3 More Zone Conferences, 4 to go...

Hello Everyone...

This week has been pretty crazy as well..haha there is always something to do here:)

We had 3 zone conferences all of them were here in Hermosillo.. It was a wonderful week...It was even better because after we ended the Zone Conference we could leave and work in our own are...It is amazing how much you can get done in 2 or 3 hours in the evening...haha There is a little saying that is going around that says that --We Rest, While Working...haha I didnt really understand that before getting to the offices but now it is so nice taking a break from trainings and conferences and GO and WORK!  We have experienced so many miracles in our area...There are truely too many to count...I love how we are putting into practice everything we have ever taught in any training and we are finding so many wonderful people...and having success... I truely love the Mission Life...And as my time is winding down I am not sure how I will make the transition to regular life...it will be kind of weird...so good thing I have 2 months left to LIVE IT UP!!!

Sorry for the short letter

But sure love you guys

O and HAPPY FATHERS DAY DAD!!!!

love elder child

P.S My favorite mormon message about our Wonderful Fathers.... 

https://www.mormonchannel.org/watch/series/mormon-messages/earthly-father-heavenly-father

 

                  Sister Robinson made us special Banana Chocolate Chip muffins on Monday...

 

 

After getting home after a full week of being outside of Hermosillo for a week...we got home and found that our fridge had turned off...so all of our food was about as hot as the Sonoran Sun...

 

 

Leadership Conference, 2 Zone Conferences, and 3 Exchanges

Hello Everyone...I hope everyone had a wonderful week...We had a pretty crazy week here in the mission...We started out the week with the monthly Leadership Conference with all of the Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders...Which was an another amazing spiritually edifying conference...I swear we have some of the best mission leaders in the world haha...They are all really great... So we had that on Tuesday Morning...Tuesday afternoon we were in the offices trying to get ready for Zone Conferences....Wednesday we woke up at 4:30 am to travel to Nogales to start with this new round of Zone Conferences...The Spirit was so strong during every one of our trainings...In past conferences we have talked about how we can teach better and how to find more people to teach...This round we are talking strictly to missionaries about how to be convirted to the Lord...One of our main topics is how we need to remember all of the covenants we have made...Baptismal Covenants to Temple Covenants...Many missionaries were edified by these wonderful conferences...

So we were in Nogales pretty much all day Wednesday...and to take a safer route on our way to Agua Prieta we traveled on the U.S. side...It was quite the experience to cross the border and see how different the U.S. and Mexico are...Also on our litte journey we stopped at Sister Robinsons favorite "american" restaurant...haha Panda Express...she loves it and she wouldnt let us continue without stopping by...We got to Agua Prieta at about 12 am and found a few Elders to stay with...then we were up and at em again to have our second Zone Conference with the Missionaries of Agua Prieta...Another Great learning experience for all...

For the rest of the week were able to do Companion Exchanges with almost every companionship in Agua Prieta...It was great...We didnt have a P Day but we figured that we will can have our P Day when we get done with the mission...haha

A great week this week...cant wait for another week full of conferences and exchanges...

Love you all

Elder Child

 

                                        Panda Express in Nogales Arizona haha

 

 

                                      Exchanges with Elder Villalpando and Elder Bigger...

 

 

                                           Exchanges with Elder Pineda y Elder Earnshaw

 

 

Count your many Blessings...

Hello Everyone...

Dont have a lot of time today...but we had a wonderful first week of the transfer...everyone got to their new area safe...even though it was kind of hectic...haha but it was a great day Monday...we greeted new missionaries at the airport at 8 o clock in the morning and were giving them the First Day training... The next day we sent other missionaries home...so spent a lot of time in the airport this past week...It is crazy the enthusiasmo that the new missionaries bring to the mission...Everyone so happy so excited...

This week we also had quite a bit of time in our area teaching more people...On one occasion we entered into a house that we just had contacted, we noticed a young boy sitting on the bed with his legs crossed...we continued trying to get to know the family and one by one members of the family expressed what was their greatest desire in this life... The young boy was up...it was his turn to express his greatest desire...He said...to walk...We then found out that he was paralyzed from the waist down and that he hadnt been able to walk for his whole life...We almost started to cry...He is so tender and loving...We expressed the love God has for him...After finishing up with the lesson the young boy asked if we could take a picture with him...so attached you will find a picture of this us and this young boy...We left the house amazed that almost always we take for granted this wonderful blessing... Later on in the week when missionaries would call me and they would tell me of how many blisters they have on their feet or how tired they were from so much walking I would explain to them of how great a blessing it is to even be able to walk and tell them this story I just described...It has changed a few missionaries mindsets while they are walking...

From this story I have realized a little more of how many things we do take for granted...We are so blessed...We have so many blessings from our Father in Heaven...We are so spoiled...

Love you all

Elder Child

 

                                   Elder Schlappi and I with our wonderful little friend...:)

 

 

 So funny story we got locked out of our house haha so using some Redneck ingenuity, a concrete nail, a brick, and a used paint roller we finally broke ourselves in...haha We just punched a hole through the metal door and shoved the paint roller through the hole and opened the door :)

 

 

                                                Greeting new missionaries in the airport...