WOOHOO!!!

GREAT NEWS!!!! We have a golden investigator!!! Her name is Brenda!! She is 19 and really interested in the church! We had a lesson with her in the home of some less actives and it went GREAT!!! We started on the Plan of Salvation which was odd at first but it just seemed to fit. Then she said that her Grandma had just passed away and we were like ".........wow......." That was cool. Then we had a lesson her house with her parents. Her dad is set against us but her mom likes our message. The only problem is that she depends on her husband for everything and straight up told us that she feels uncomfortable around him so that was just really weird. But Brenda is GREAT!!! She runs her own business selling flowers and she works on Sundays, but she came to church yesterday no problem and I am positive that she is willing to make the sacrifice every week because she can feel the greatness of this message. I´M SO HAPPY!!! Her fecha for baptism isn´t until the 24th and it´s going to be hard since she really does work all the time but I think she will do what it takes to follow Christ.

 

Another great person we are teaching is named Juel. His wife is a member but she has been inactive because of her baby. She is now coming every Sunday. Juel was not baptised with her because he had some legal problems in a city that's way lejos. So the missionaries before said he couldn´t be baptised. We talked to him and he still wants to be baptised so that he can live with his wife and son (who is adorable and reminds me of my nephew Logan) for eternity. We found out that the problem he has isn´t legal at all. It´s just a problem with a guy that tried to kill him on the order of his mom and so Juel retaliated in self defense and almost killed the guy. But not quite. He was just in the hospital for 3 months. Juel walked away. He is SO cool. He repented for what he did because he just felt horrible for doing that to the guy. He left his life in order to leave behind him what had happened. I would definitely say that that is repentance. He loves reading el Libro de Mormon and learning more about the gospel. He has his questions but he sees the worth of what we say in response. I am very excited to teach him this week. We don´t have a fecha for him because my comp still needs to tell the Presidente what all happened but we both are very confident that since the problem is personal and not legal, all will be good.

 

We have these 2 ladies that we are teaching as well. The mom is really deeply rooted in her catholic childhood so her thoughts keep turning to "God and Jesus are the same", but the last lesson went great and I think she finally understands that they are seperate in body but the same in purpose. She is really interested in our church and learning more AND she has accepted the invitation to be baptised. We are going to invite her to have a specific fecha this week. Her daughter too. But she doesn´t have the problem of constantly turning to a catholic past. She actually heplps us explain things to her mom. She is on the ball!! She just needs to read and pray to know if it´s true. That is the only problem that we are facing with her. She hears us, she learns and she feels the Spirit, but she needs to ask for herself and be taught the truth of these things through sincere searching and prayer. I know that she can, she just needs to see that there is more to learn than what we as mere mortals cannot teach her.

 

I don´t know if I will be here to see the progress of these investigators. Changes are this next monday and I could be gone. It is possible that I stay in this area nd that would be great! I´d love to see Juel baptised after a year of thinking that he is too far gone. But the truth is that the Atonement of Christ is so powerful that you really have to try in order to actually be "too far gone". It is amazing the power of something that happened roughly 2000 years ago. 3 days and we have the option of eternity. All we have to do is take the first step and act on hope of things that seem too great to be true. But I testify that it is not. It is so wonderful that it has to be true because Heavenly Father loves us that much. Christ loves us so much that he transcended death and time for us. I don´t know about you, but I love my Heavenly Father and my savior Jesus Christ so much, that I am letting everyone I can in on these wonderful things that we have from Them. Be a missionary where you can, and I promise that you will better understand what you have been given and blessed with each time you bear testimony. Such is the power of the Holy Ghost.

 

I love you all so much!! I keep you in my prayers!!! Live without regret and without fear.

 

All White

 

Well this was an interesting week. We were full of appointments. Absolutely full. And most of them fell through because, "Oh.... Lo que paso es que estamos ocupados......" Yeah. I think you can figure that one out without google translator. We had a lot of rejection and a lot of problems. And my goodness it is IMPOSSIBLE to write in english!!! IT MAKES NO SENSE!!! But it is better for talking I must say. At times in the lessons, I would slip an english word in there and get a confused look from the investigator. I was quick to pick up what that look meant. Of course, when I want to speak english, spanish comes out. I´m just in that between stage I guess. That was actually a part of my frustration this week. I couldn´t speak just one language. But in spite of the troubles, we did in fact have success. But it came after a little fighting.

 

So we had a baptism scheduled for sunday, (sorry I didn´t mention that in my last letter....) the last lesson for Alana Rivera Flores (that´s two last names and EVERYONE has two. Grr) was on thursday. Her baptismal interview was on friday and on sunday morning, my companion gets a call from Presidente Rex (Mission President) saying that there may be some problems that could keep Alana from being baptised. Elder Montero expained that some how the bishop of the ward was trying to keep that baptism from happening in his ward. I don´t know what the real reasons are but Elder Montero says that he doesn´t want another menos activo. Alana´s family in entirely comprised of of members that have not been to church in years. They run a business and work together and make it difficult for themselves to go. They see it differently but that just isn´t the point. The point is that we are not here to judge people for what they may or may not do. We can only look at the power of the Atonement and see each person as a child of God that needs the first ordinace of heaven. Bautismo. In the end, la obra de Jesucristo ganó y Alana se bautisó. FALICITACIONES ALANA!!!!! She looks so good in all white doesn´t she?

 

I was asked to share a short portion of my testimony before the bautismo. What came to my heart and mind was a bienvenido a la vida y camino de Jesucristo. It is beautiful to enter those sacred waters. It amazed me afterward just how short it was. But though it took seconds here, that covenant will last for eternity. It is a step in the path that has been set for us in the great plan that our loving Heavenly Father has for us. Sé que Jesucristo vive. Sé que su vida aquí en el mundo fue un ejemplo perfecto por todas de los hijos de nuestro Padre Celestial. Testifico del poder del Espíritu Santo en me vida y en el mundo. Los ordananzas de la Iglesia de Jesucristo son por eternidad y no ay un poder que puede rompiar esos sino nos mismos por medio de nuestro albedrio. Sean obediente en todos mementos in sus vidas y los bendiciones de cielo cayerán a fin de gue no pueden tomar todas. Yo quiero mucho ustedes. Gracias por sus oraciones. Los siento en mi vida cada dia. Adios.

 

Soy un representante de Jesucristo. Soy Elder Heath.

CHANGE!!!

  We worked this week - like.... a lot.  We have 10 nuevo investigatores,  30 referenias,  3 fechas de bautismo, 10 invitaciones por bautismo y 10 dijieron "Si". WOOHOO!!!   And not a one came to church.  Woopy.... But hey, I am doing all that I can here and I am seeing success.

Sadly this letter will be very short but it´s for a good reason. We have our entire night booked with appointments. That has been every night this week. Once we leave our comida appointment at 3 or 3:30, we don´t have time to do anything but walk and talk about what we are teaching for the next hour or so.  It has been GREAT!!!!   Our numbers for the week were the best they have every been for me in this area.  I know that it is in no small part because of my companion.  He is so great!  He works like a horse!  He whines like a mule but at least that makes him more horse than donkey.  Wow... that was funny.... I gotta remember that one.  Yes everyone, I am still proud of myself when I make a funny.  I don´t know if THAT will ever change.

Speaking of changes, I am only a little pink this Preperation Day. My face always goes pick because we aren´t in houses.  We are playing futbol real.  My hair is a LOT lighter.  My skin is pretty dark.  It will be darker after I serve in areas with more heat.  It´s pretty cool here but the days are getting a little bit hotter.  The climate won´t change much though.

 My Spanish has changed but the climate won´t.  My vocab is growing and my understanding is increasing poco en poco.  Everyone tells me that I speak like a native with my accent and that is GREAT to hear.  In time I will be able to blend in..... until they look up and see my face...... That won´t be changing either.

So on friday, we had divisions with the Lideres de Zona and I was with the junior companion Elder Stone.  We have 24 hour divisions because of the distance of our areas.  That was a lot of fun.  But what I want to talk about is my personal study saturday morning.  

I studied in the beginning of Jacob where he is really cracking down on the people for their disobedience and their whoredoms.  I learned that we are never instructed to do better with gladness in the heart of him who tells us.  It is always with deepest sorrow that they cannot lift us up with words of joy and congrats.  The Lord is the same.  Allow Him to lift you up with his love and his joy in your actions rather than cause Him to teach you what you already know.  

At the same time, my companion read.... I forget where, but it was about the prophet doing just the opposite of Jacob.  He beamed with joy that the people lived the laws of God and Showed their love and faith in every aspect of their lives.  General Conference is coming up.  The Prophet and the Apostles will be speaking to both the righteous and the wicked of the whole earth.  Be one that is lifted up instead of one that is broken into humility.  There is an EFY song that says, "My God loves broken things".  This is true.  He loves us to be humble and to turn to Him with all that we are so He can fix us and make us better.  But He loves more when we come to him in joy because we did not need to be broken, but because we love him so much that we do all we can to be just like Him.  We can´t be perfect, but we CAN be righteous.

Having already put my funny into this letter and not being able to get over myself because of it for the moment,

Elder Heath

BUSY

This was a good week. We have been VERY hard at work. We have more contacts than I care to add up right now, we have references golor and 3 dates for baptism. WOOT!!! although we do have a small problem with 2 of them. Erika and Memo are a great couple and they love the gospel. She has 2 kids and is married to another guy but they are separated. Culture is very different here in Mexico. Divorce is just too much hassle. Maybe it´s like that in the States but I don´t know about it. Anyway, She has to divorce her husband and marry Memo in 3 weeks. I think they can do it. The third is Alana who is the 9 year old niña that I spoke about in another letter. Problems came up with us coordinating and getting things done so she now has a date for the 3 of April. That´s right. General Conference.

I AM SO EXCITED FOR GENERAL CONFERENCE!!!! We can get it in English here. Mwahaha!!! My comp said last night that he deffinitely feels a difference when he hears the Prophet or any of the authorities in their voice rather than with the Spanish translator. I thought that was way cool. Haha.

As far as my language goes, it´s going GREAT!!!!  I´m still a bit on the slow side of understanding but I can actually hold a conversation with people.  It´s easiest with my companion since he knows my language limits but I can still hold my own fairly well.  I LOVE IT!!!   This will probably surprise you but it IS true.... I don´t talk much anymore.  I can. I just don’t find a need to.   E. Montero talks FAR more than I do. Most of what he says is, "Yo tambien" "¿En verdad?" "Si, claro." which translates to "Me too" "Really?" "Yeah, of course."   This language rocks.  Just sayin.  I can´t wait to be fluent for the rest of my life. WOO HOO!!!!

Sadly, I don´t have time to say anything else because I need to write Presidente Rex and then shoot off to an appointment so I will end with this. Look in the Bible dictionary for Repentance and really go through each sentence and apply it to your life. It´s so great! I gave a talk on that ayer. 15 min of Spanish. WOOT!!!

You have just enjoyed a short ride in the mind of Elder Heath. You will now lose interest in 3... 2... 1....

EW......What a week.

Hahaha!!! Nice try at translating. Nope! It means "I am exciteda for this change." Or rather literally, "I have a lot of excitement for this change." But "animo" just doesnt exactly translate to english at all. It is simply a spanish word.

Well I can honestly say that I hope to NEVER miss you more than I did this week. I was SOOOOOO sick!! I still AM!!!!! 6 DAYS NOW!!!!!! I´ll ago into that a bit more in my letter. Love you mom!!!

This is going to be short for 3 reasons. 1. I don’t have much time left after personal letters. 2. There isn´t much to say about this week. 3. I am still sick and need to rest. So with those three things in mind, let’s do this.....

Note: The followings is representation of our emotions on each day. E. Montero did not actually get after me any way. That part is simply for comic relief. Enjoy.... Because I sure didn´t.

Monday:

E. Heath: "WOOHOO!!!! Life sure is grand isn´t it companion?"

E. Montero: "It sure is companion! Lets be the best missionaries EVER!!!"

E. Heath: "OK! We can do it!!"

Tuesday:

E. Heath: "Lets work!!!!"

E. Montero: "Hey you spoke first yesterday! And that’s what I was going to say! But that´s ok since you                     are just such a swell guy.  Let´s work!"´

Wednesday:

E. Heath: "Companion..... I don't feel so good and seem to have the Nile river flowing down my spine and

                leaving my body and dangerously close intervals."

E. Montero: "Are you going to speak first EVERY DAY!?!?.......... So what ails you my awesome                

                    companion?"

E. Heath: "I´m not sure companion. This smells like..... A MYSTERY!!!" (que Scooby Doo theme)

Thursday:

E. Montero: "How ya feeling there companion? HA!!! I SPOKE FIRST!!! WHAT NOW!?!?!"

E. Heath: "Uuuuuuugh......"

Friday:

E. Montero: "So how you feeling?"

Elder Heath: "UUUUUUGH"

Saturday:

E. Heath: "OH MY GOSH WHY AM I STILL ALIVE!?!?!?!?! AAAAHHHHGGGG!!!!!"

E. Montero: "..... I can fix that....."

Sunday and Monday were bearable. I feel a LOT better. But it’s still going. I´ll get the tests back from the clinic soon. I´ll keep you posted. Love you all!!!

Elder Heath