This week was a roller coaster!! We are working so hard, but we're just not seeing the results that we want. Most of the week was pretty slow. We've had a hard time finding people to teach, and most of the people that we are able to contact don't answer their door when we come to teach them. It's really frustrating. I feel like I'm going around offering people a 100 dollar bill and they just keep turning it down. But I don't get too disappointed because I know that there are people out there that would love to have a 100 dollar bill. There were definitely days where I wondered what I was doing here. We would just spend the whole day trying to find someone who would let us teach them, we would only get one lesson in the whole day!!! So that was tough but the day would usually turn out okay. On Wednesday night we were teaching our investigator Fernanda about the Word of Wisdom in preparation for her baptism. Her aunt Adriana was there, she usually leaves but she decided to stay and listen for the first time. We were kinda worried because she has never heard a lesson before and we were teaching the Word of Wisdom; she was drinking coffee. We felt prompted to continue with the plan we started teaching, and she was super interested the whole time. At the end of the lesson she told us that this was exactly what she needed to hear at that time. The next day we showed up to teach Fernanda again and Adriana was there. She told us that she didn't drink coffee that morning!! We then taught her part of the Restoration and she accepted a baptismal date!! This experience has just shown me to trust in the spirit always!!! We also visited a less active Hermana (There are TONS of inactives here!!!) we visited with her and then we gave her a blessing. They love blessings here. We give at least one a day!! She was super thankful and is going to start coming to church again!! Lastly, we had Fernanda's baptism on Sabado. It went great!!! I did the baptism!! It was so cool!!! It was so cool to see how happy her and her family were after the baptism. I cannot wait to bring this happiness into the lives of more people!! Well everything is going well!! The language is still difficult, but that's just expected. We're working hard and eating more than our fair share of this amazing food here in Mexico!! If I'm not careful I'm going to gain so much weight here.... haha. I love you all!!! Hasta Luego!!! |
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Hola!! Como estan?? My first week here has been crazy!! Let's see where to start... So I wrote you on..... Wednesday I think. Oh ya so after I wrote you guys I had a lesson with one of our investigators Fernanda, she's 14. She lives with her grandma. Her dad left her when she was young. That's really common here. She and her family are really really poor. Their front room is just crumbling walls and they don't have a ceiling, and the rest of their house isn't much better. There are always like 5 or 6 little kids running around, but I'm not sure who they belong to. Whenever we come to their house they always come running up and give us knuckles. They talk really fast to us so I have no idea what they're saying, but I never know what anyone is saying anyway. We got there and Fernanda let us in. It was around 7 it was dark and we taught her in their kitchen. We sat on buckets. Fernanda has been meeting with the missionaries for about 3 to 4 months and she's getting baptized on the 25. She was supposed to get baptized last Saturday, but both me and Elder thueson are both new to the area so we weren't ready. We talked with her and got to know her and then we talk her about the Book of Mormon. We started with a prayer. All the little kids were running around but as soon as we started the prayer they just all lined up and folded their arms and bowed their heads. It was so cute! The lesson went really well and she's excited for baptism on Saturday. We only taught like 4 other lessons besides that one this week. It's hard right now because we're both new to the area and we have a hard time finding houses because addresses are pretty much useless here. And even if we find where people live they usually aren't there or they don't want to meet with us. It's okay because we've getting the hang of Caborca, we're going to have more success this week!
Caborca is so funny. Some of the people we eat with are soooooo poor! They're honestly giving us all they have. But then right next to some of these super poor families are these huge huge mansions. It's such a funny mix of wealth here. However, most of the huge homes are owned by "narcos" or druggies. They get all of their money from drug trade. It's so fun here!!!! The food is AMAZING!!! I'm going to get so fat!!! We eat with a member everyday at 2. In Mexico their main meal is at 2. We make our own breakfast, then we eat with members at 2, and we usually eat something like ramen noodles or something small for dinner. We buy almost everything at Oxxo. Oxxo's. They are 7/11's and they're everywhere!!! We live off those things!! And everything is so cheap!! The average drink is only 10 pesos. Which is like 70 cents. Ugh i'm going to get so fat. Plus the members always give us Coke. Everyone here always drinks Coke. Always. I ask for water and they say that they only have Coke. The Coke here is way better though. Oh ya!! We bought bikes!!! HAHAH I was soooooo happy!!! They're nothing like what I had back home but they sure beat walking everywhere!! The bike shop we bought them from was so small and humble. The owner was way cool. All of the bikes they had there were too small for me because they were built for mexicans. So he let us borrow some of his bikes and we rode with him to his other shop. He had a way big bike there because it was too big for anyone here but it fits me great!! Plus no one will steal it because they won't be able to fit on it!!!!! Honestly, once I landed in Mexico I haven't seen one person that is taller than me!! I love it!! I feel like a giant!!. I'm having so much fun here!! But it's a lot of work!! And I have no idea what anyone is saying. I honestly can only understand like 50 percent of what people are saying. But there are some people that I cannot understand at all. It's so frustrating! I just want to be able to speak Spanish already!!! But its okay because I know that with time I will!! I'm working hard!!! Everyday we return home around 8 because its too dangerous to be out any later. I can hardly stand by the time we return home. And my clothes are always soaked through with sweat!! It's so gross. I think that's all for now. I'm having fun and I"m working hard!! Till next time!! Elder Anderson Hey!! I'm made it here alive!! Let's see.... so much has happened!! I got to Hermosillo around 4. The mission president and his wife and the assistants picked us up from the airport. They then drove us to the mission office. I rode with President Hernandez!! We got to the office which is right next to the temple!! It's so pretty!!! We received our assignments at the office!! I met my companion, his name is Elder Thueson and he's from Nampa Idaho. He's been here for 10 months. He's awesome!! We are assigned to serve in Caborca!!! It's about 4 hours north of Hermosillo! So we stayed in the area assistants house that first night and then we took a bus early in the morning to Caborca. The bus ride should have been 4 hours but we were stuck at a military checkpoint for 2 hours!!! They were checking our bus for drugs haha!! We got to Caborca around 2. We were only able to be at the house for like 10 minutes and then we went straight to a members house for food!! It was fun. They fed us spaghetti and meatloaf. Haha the only food I've had here has been subway and the members food. I haven't had any Mexican food...... Oh ya and they served us salad so I ate salad for the first time.... gross. The members were really nice and humble. At least I think they were - I couldn't understand anything they said.... After that we had two appointments but we're both so new to Caborca that we couldn't find either of them. Plus the directions for the houses are horrible so It's impossible to find anything. After that we went back to the house to unpack. Then we went to bed:)
Today we had study in the morning. Then we had an appointment to eat at a members house for lunch but they weren't there so we bought some food at a little store near our house. I just had Ramen. Hahaha... I still haven't had any mexican food. And now I'm writing you guys so that's what has happened:) Tonight we have about 4 appointments with investigators. And this Saturday we have a baptism!!!! And I'm pretty sure we have more the next week!!! The language is coming okay. It's a lot different here than anything I learned in the MTC. But I can understand about 50 percent of what they're saying. And I'm learning sooooooo much everyday so I'll be fine!! Caborca is so cool!!! The nickname they have for it here in the mission is "Calorca" because of how hot it is!! It's November and it's been 100 everyday so far. I sweat through my shirts within 30 minutes of being outside. There is a very diverse mix of people here. Most of the city is super run down and old. Lot's of really really small homes. Really poor. But then just randomly you'll just see these huge houses. It's a really cool mix of super rich and super poor. But overall the city is poor. The streets are a mix of dirt and cement. The sidewalks are just a bunch of pieces of cement. There are stray dogs everywhere. The drivers are crazy!! And I love it here!!! I'm going to take lots of pictures to send to you guys on Monday. Oh ya, Monday will be my regular P day through out my whole mission. Our house is really nice for Mexico. We have AC but no hot water. Ummm... Idk what else to talk about. I'm loving it here so far. It's a lot of hard work but it's good work. I don't know the language but it will come with time. I'll write you guys again on Monday:) And I'll send pictures!!! I love you all!!!
Posted a Week Late:
Hey everyone!!! So this is my last week in the MTC!! I only have 7 days until I leave for Mexico!!! I can't wait! Here's a recap of my week. Sunday: I was released as district leader. It will be nice to be able to have some time now to focus on myself and my development here in the MTC. Monday: I forgot to write in my journal on Monday so I honestly can't remember what happened.... Tuesday: We had a devotional about the 10 commandments. It was really good and helped us to remember that the way we show our love for God is by following the commandments. Wednesday: Today I helped to "host" the new elders coming into the MTC. I helped them get all of their stuff and I showed them around the campus. It was fun to see how new and scared they were. I can't believe that that was me only 6 weeks ago!! Time flies!!! Thursday: I forgot to write in my journal on Monday so I honestly can't remember what happened.... Friday: We received our flight plans today!! I leave on October 13th at 6:00 am to LAX. Then I leave LAX at 2:15 pm and arrive in Hermosillo at 4:00 pm. I can't wait!!! Saturday: So today I had the amazing opportunity to sing in the the Missionary Choir during the Priesthood Session of conference!! It was such a cool opportunity!!! I was assigned to sing the bass part in the choir (they chose me for bass because of how manly I am). We sang Rise Up O Men of God, a Missionary Medley, and Ye Elders of Isreal. Ye Elders of Isreal was my favorite!! I got to sit next to my good friend Elder Ward the whole time!! Also, my Dad and the Corzo family were able to attend. I didn't see them until the end but it was really cool to have the opportunity to see my Dad and have my Dad see me as a missionary. I'm so grateful to be apart of this amazing army of missionaries!! I could feel the power of our work as we sang in conference!! I love you all and thank you so much for all of your support!! I only have one week left here and then it's off to Mexico!! I can't wait to really begin being a REAL missionary out in the field!!! It's a daunting task but I know that through faith the lord all things are possible!! Until next time! Hasta Luego!!! -Elder Anderson |
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