Christmas 2015

Hey Family!

That was so fun to talk to you all! I am so glad we got a little extra time so I could call Tyler and Whitney and their families. All the sobrinos are getting really big! I can’t believe how well they talk. And I am glad to hear that Aaron is getting chest hair...haha you crack me up.  I also that it was funny all the gifts you got. Dad and his paper airplane flyer and Aaron and his bluetooth beenie. haha. You will have to show me how they work when I get home.

So this past week was pretty good. As I told you, Tuesday we had our Christmas devotional with President and his wife. I sang in a choir of about 10 elders. We also had a lunch. The night before was also fun. With the elders in El Oro, we had them come down and we got Dominos pizza and they stayed the night because we had to leave early on Tuesday to Toluca. Thursday we went down to Toluca again to pass Christmas eve (or as they say “noche buena”/ night good). I mainly hung out with Elder Olvera and Rigby setting the stuff up. We played some games, ate lasaña, and watched Hotel Transelvania 2 (one of three movies approved by our mission president). We stayed the night in Toluca. It was a pretty fun calm night. Then we returned on Christmas to Atlacomuclo and called you and relaxed in the house. Thanks for the Christmas package Mom :) and yes, I did wait a month to open it. We then started to work at 6. We went to try to find investigators, but they were all a bit hung over. haha.

Saturday we went to el Oro to help fill up the font for a girl that they baptized. The boiler doesn’t work very well so we had to make little fires to heat up pots of water. The girl was going to get baptized a few weeks ago but she got scared of the water. The elders helped her out and she was baptized on Saturday.

Yesterday we had church. Hermana Luz came! We were super excited because her health is finally better. We aren’t sure if she is going to get baptized this Sunday or the next Sunday because the family that has been helping her go to church and comes with us to lessons won’t be able to go the next Sunday because their son is going to have a transplant soon and the dad is going to donate it.  We will see!

Also today we had a fun day. We went with that family. Their names are Fernando, Josue, and Arturo (Bebo) Garcia Linarez. They are all recent converts except Fernando. We are still working on Fernando. Anyway, today we went hiking with them to these cool views in the mountains of Acambay where they live. Fernando’s girlfriend also came with us. 

So that was my week. I sure love you guys. I hope you have a good new year. Thanks for all your love and support!
-Elder Thomas

The pet store below my apartment has a "baby Oscar"!  So cute!

Merry Christmas again!

Merry Christmas family!

I can’t believe it is Christmas again! I have the house set up all for Christmas. I don’t mean to be judgmental, but Christmas is a lot better in the states. I am trying to make the best of it here though. I put on Christmas music every day. Of course it’s all Mormon Tab, but it’s the best I can do.

I wish I had some cool story to share this week. We have been trying to find some new investigators, but we haven’t really been having a lot of success. I am pretty sure Atlacomulco is one of the biggest areas in the mission. We did go exploring out to this pueblo called Tixmadeje about an hour away to find this lady. We never did find her. They need to organize their streets better. haha.

It was pretty up in the pueblo though. It was up in the mountains. We had this recent convert named Arturo come with us. Later that day I got this cool picture of the mountains here in Atlacomulco.

On Saturday night we had the Christmas food. Hearing banda Christmas music is weird. Also they don’t really have Santa here but they did have a little dance and piñatas. Mexicans are so funny when it comes to piñatas. They get so excited. When the candy falls the kids dive in for the candy and the adults dive on top. Haha. it cracks me up.

I have been reading in Helaman 10-16 and 3 Nephi 1-5 these past few days. It is interesting how fast the people turn from following God to following their own beliefs. We are so lucky to be able to live in a time where the Church is restored and will NEVER be taken away. It will always be here. And at the head of the Church is Christ. I am so grateful for our Savior and the life he lived. To get to know Christ we have to apply the Gospel. When we apply it we see the changes in our lives and we get to know Christ more. I love the Gospel!

I miss you all a ton! I am so excited to talk to you in a few days. It is hard being away during this time, but next Christmas I will be there at all your social events. :)

-Elder Thomas

Missionaries coming and going, baptisms, oreos, still in Atlacomulco

Hey there family,

So just as I told you, I am still here in Atlacomulco. I am now district leader with only Elder Moreno and Elder Bird in my district. They are really good elders. My companion is Elder Lopez from Argentina. He has 14 months in the mission. I really don’t like changes and I am glad I only have two more. haha. They are always so uncomfortable the first week because you never know what to talk about. It’ll get better though.

So Elder Goodrich left this morning for D.F. and leaves on Wednesday morning. I will miss him a ton. He is one of the best companions I have had. Also with him, Elder Dahlin goes home (my trainer).

This week we did interchanges a few times to get some interviews done. The elders in Ixtlahuaca baptized this one girl who is super prepared and is going to be a great member. She told me in her interview that she wants to serve a mission.

Victor says he wants to wait. He is doing exactly what Guadalupe did. The thing is, they say they want to wait a little bit more time, but then time passes and they say a little bit more time, and then they never make the decision. The hardest thing is that they have received an answer from the Spirit, they just don’t want to act on it.  We will see what happens with them.

One funny moment. The elders in Ixtlahuaca were with us and we all were sitting on the couch in this lady’s house. She told us to move to a different couch, but we said no. I said we were like an oreo. haha two morenos and two gueros. We decided to take a picture :)

So yesterday we went to the temple dedication in Toluca. It was super cool. The Spirit is always so strong on them. There are now 13 temples in Mexico! Wooo woo! I also saw hermana Ruth! I baptized her in my first change. She is doing super well. She is great. She is in the preparation for the temple. We also took a picture with a bunch of the member’s in the ward. 

So that is about it this week. Not a ton. Now I am also in charge of the hermanas’ area because they closed that area. I feel pretty stranded because there are no missionaries close to our area.

I am super excited for Christmas. I am really looking forward to talking to you. Can you believe 7 months have passed since I last talked to you? Who is going to be there this Christmas?

Right now I am in Helaman in the Book of Mormon. That book always amazes me. I just think to myself, even if Joseph Smith was an educated guy, there is still no way he could have written it. Well, I love you all. I miss you all a ton!

-Elder Thomas

Jazmin and Erick got baptized!

Hey family!

Sorry I didn t write on Monday. I forgot to tell you that we were going to have concilio on Monday. Concilio was really good. We really learned about how to teach better as leaders and be better leaders.

There has been a lot that has happened the past week. 

1. Elder Goodrich had his final interview yesterday. It is really sad because this is the last week of the change. :( I am really sad to have to have a different companion. I also have realized how little time I have in the mission. 

2. Speaking of changes...so now the huge wave of missionaries has ended and a ton of hermanas are going home. With that, they are closing the area of the hermanas here in Atlacomulco and El Oro. So that means they are also closing the zone of Atlacomulco because there would only be 5 companionships. Since Elder Goodrich is leaving, that means that I am for sure staying. Our zone is going to part of Toluca (the zone where I started) and I am going to be district leader again. I was kind of bummed because I don’t have that much time, but president doesn’t have another choice because I know the area. So I will be here one more change in Atlacomulco and then the last 2 changes of the mission he will put me as zone leader in some other area. That’s the plan anyway. Haha.

3. Jazmin and Erick got baptized! We had a late night baptism at 8:30 because people got there late. It was a really nice service because there were so many members involved because they are all their friends. The Spirit was really strong in the service.

4. Victor came to church on Sunday. We talked with his wife and she told us she doesn’t want to leave the Catholic religion. Fortunately, Victor says he still wants to prepare for baptism. He is planning for his baptism this Saturday.

5. This Sunday is the dedication of the temple in Tijuana, so they are doing what they did for the rededication of the Mexico City temple. We are going to Toluca to see it broadcasted. 

6. It has been soooo cold here. I can’t get out of bed because it is so cold. This literally is the coldest area in the mission. Even though I am in Mexico it does get cold here. Obviously not as cold as Maine though. haha.

7. I am so excited for Whitney! Congrats Whitney! TWINS! I have the greatest family. and Happy Birthday Dallin! remember the time we went to the Mexican restaurant. haha.

Thanks for all your support. Miss you! It is almost Christmas! We will be able to talk only 30 minutes. But from Christmas time, it will only be 4 months until I see you again! Sure love you!

-Elder Thomas

When two white guys show up to a pueblo and no one has seen white guys...

Hello Family!

So right now, Elder Goodrich and I decided to come out to this pueblo like 1.5 hours from our area. It is super pretty but in the middle of no where. We were looking for a nativity set for Elder Goodrich’s mom. We still haven’t found one, so we decided to take a break and write you. We did find hammocks though! I went to check it out. The guy said it was $350 for one hammock. The guy was pretty desperate so we got the price down to $300 for two hammocks. haha I love bargaining. I also got little Christmas things for you. I am going to send them with Elder Goodrich to give to Dallin before he goes home for Christmas. So Dallin, if you could meet up with him to bring home to Maine? This pueblo is funny. They have random Christmas stores. They don’t celebrate Santa here but we found this huge statue. There also is this huge chair we found. It has been a pretty exciting day. 

This week was pretty good. We have been working with Guadalupe, but she just won’t budge. She says she will get baptized, but not now. The thing is, is when people say “not now” in Mexico, that means never.

I think I told you about Jazmin and Erick. We have been trying to get them to accept a fecha, but Jazmin was scared because her other kid, Jesus, didn’t want to get baptized because he goes to Catholic school. We have tried a lot with Jazmin, but she wouldn’t accept. She didn’t want her kid to feel left out, and she would tell us “You just don’t understand what it is like to be a mother”. Anyway, yesterday in church we finished the services and passed a room where this member who is super direct and a mother was talking to hermana Jazmin. Jazmin then told us that on Thursday she and Erick are going to get baptized! We are so excited for them. We have been praying for them. I am sure Jesus will follow soon as well.

We aren’t sure what to do with Victor and Berta. They say they will go to church, but don’t go. That lady that works in pet shop lied to us about her family. They have no interest in the church and never read the Book of Mormon. I think it is just because she likes the white guys who live upstairs and just wanted us to go to her house.

We went harvesting again. I forgot my camera though! We had these bags on to collect the corn and then ate a bunch of meat and tortillas around the campfire. We felt so Mexican! It was sweet. 

Raquel had her baby. So we went yesterday to see her because she finally left the hospital. She had a bunch of problems, but they are doing better now. We went and sang the baby Christmas songs because we couldn’t hold the baby... 

So that is my week. Nothing happened on Thanksgiving here. We had taco dorados. That is about it. The mission is going well. I sure love this Gospel. I love being able to share it with people. Right when we are at our breaking point I feel like God notices and says “Okay. Give them a break now,” and then miracles happen! I love seeing those miracles. I miss you so much, but love being here. I love you all! Happy December!

-Elder Thomas

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving family! 

Even though they don’t celebrate it here, I still am super thankful for all of you. I love you all and I am so grateful for your love and support while I am serving. This week I am ponderizing Doctrine and Covenants 78:19. I drew a turkey and a cornucopia next to it to remind me it is thanksgiving this week.

Sorry I didn’t write you yesterday. We had our zone conference with President and the assistants. It was really good. We talked about some the basics as missionaries, such as finding people to teach, and teaching when you find, how to be missionaries of Predicad mi Evangelio [Preach My Gospel], and some other great stuff. President Whitehead also talked about the Christmas initiative that they are going to start in a week called “Ha nacido un Salvador” [A Savior is Born]. It is like El es la Dadiva from last year. I am excited for the Christmas season. We set up the Christmas tree but we are poor so we only could decorate it on one side (the side that faces us). haha. So it is pretty empty from the other side looking in from the window. I also already got my Christmas package Mom! I don’t know if I will be able to wait more than a month to open it. haha I opened the little things on top. 

Some stories to share:

I forgot to say that 2 Saturdays ago we went to this one house to eat for la comida. This family is recent converts and when we got there they had some surprise visit from their old pastor from the Baptist church. It was pretty uncomfortable because he wanted to start arguing with us. We didn’t say much, but the dad of the family just started sharing his testimony of the church and how his life has changed and his family has changed a ton. He said that he has never felt such progression in his life until he joined the Church of Jesus Christ! It was sweet! I love the Gospel so much.

It was funny because after we all ate the food and they invited the pastor and his wife to eat with us. While talking to them I asked where he was from. He said he was from the pueblo Santa Maria Citendeje.  We asked him if he knew the Segundo Rangel family who lives there. He said they are part of his family. ooooooo. We just baptized his family.

Another fun story. This last week I went harvesting corn! I put on jeans for the first time in almost 2 years and we went to the field. It was sweet. This old member hurt his back so we went to do some service. There is SO MUCH corn. So what we did looked like nothing. It was fun though and super tiring. I got pretty sunburned haha my neck hasn’t seen the sun for a while. haha We are going on Friday with some other members again to help. I will try to get some pictures. Using machetes! haha

Quick update on our investigators. They are doing well, and are all ready to be baptized. They all have accepted fechas [dates] to be baptized at some point, but for some reason they have some fear to take the next step. It is frustrating because they are progressing, but when they don’t take this next step, they just are in front of a wall and just don’t continue progressing. I think they then loose interest. We are trying to resolve their doubts though. 

One cool story. We have this lady that works in the pet shop below us (did I tell you there is a pet shop below my apartment? it is great. there are always puppies :) ) and she is super good.  She has done all the homework we leave her. She is reading the Book of Mormon, she reads every folleto [pamphlet] and has watched meet the Mormons. The only think is her boss won’t let her go to church... But anyway, my companion the other day said a prayer to help us find a new family to teach. We went down the stairs and Nora says ¨hey my family wants you to come talk to them next Wednesday¨. Elder Goodrich and I looked at each other and just said ¨that was fast¨. haha. Nora says her family is almost done with the Book of Mormon! WHAT?! I am excited to see what happens tomorrow.

There is nothing really else that happened this past week. I ate Chinese food for the first time in 2 years. It didn’t really taste the same, but I am still alive.

I love the Gospel, love the mission, and love the Book of Mormon. We are so lucky to have everything we have. I am so grateful for all the blessings in my life. I miss you a ton! But the time is going fast and I really have to enjoy the time I have in Mexico. Love you!

-Elder Thomas

Pretty tranquilo...but I held a two day old baby goat.

Dear Family,

Well I wish this week was more interesting. It really was pretty tranquilo without any thing super exciting. The most exciting was yesterday when after the food I held a two day old baby goat. 

Guadalupe decided to wait for her baptism. She wants to have more support from her family. Luckily one of her daughters came with her husband and their two kids. Hopefully we can help her feel more comfortable in the church and she can have more amistad (is that word English or Spanish?) 

Victor and Berta are doing ok. They told us that they were going to church and we called them up to see where they were and they said they were on their way, but they never showed up. We went by their house and their family nearby said they went to go buy food... Who knows?

One thing we have been doing with some people is their family history. They are planning a ward temple trip in two weeks so we are helping people get started. Everyone here is just starting from the ground up, with their parents, grandparents, etc. We are so lucky we have so many generations in the church. 

Really this week wasn’t very exciting. haha. I wish I learned something really cool in my studies. I am always fascinated at how the Book of Mormon came forth. There is no way in heck that a farm boy could have written that. It is a great book. 

Anyway, I hope you are all doing well fam. Mom and Dad in Cancun. Just so you know, Cancun is a LOT different than here. haha. The only thing that I would say is really the same is Spanish. Whitney, Ryan, and Dallin hope all is well at BYU. Tyler and Nicki, keep it real in Connecticut. Aaron don’t die living alone. Love you all!

-Elder Thomas