And Behold, It Came To Pass...That He Was Baptized

Martin was baptized yesterday! It was so awesome, the room was packed, so many people from the ward came to see our little 10 year old get baptized. Most importantly his aunt and uncle came to watch. We had been trying for almost 3 months to get their permission and the week before they signed the baptism registry and yesterday he entered the water. His poor primary teacher who baptized him was so super nervous that he had to say the prayer 4 or 5 times and baptize Martin 2 or 3 times before he finally got it right. However it was so beautiful to see Martin in his white and everyone there that went out of their way to get everyone together, get the primary together to sing, and make the refreshments for afterwards. We have to wait until next week for him to be confirmed a member of the church and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost but I'm so excited that he made the first step! :D

Finding new investigators in this part of the city of Puebla is surprisingly difficult, however we received a reference from the offices of the Church and she is amazing! I felt a little bad, because in the area of getting new investigators I'm pretty pessimistic. Usually we find one and after the first visit we can't find them, or they don't have time, or they just never progress. To start teaching someone with the hope that they'll get baptized is pretty hard for me. However, this woman is amazing. I keep waiting for a catch or something to happen that confirms my worries. Her name is Marisol, she's a believer in God and openly accepts what we teach her. We were talking about prophets and their importance and as I mentioned that we've had prophets since the beginning of time she interrupted me to say something like, "Ya know what, I was thinking about that and it's totally true. We've had prophets since the beginning and so it would make sense that we would have one now, no? I believe that there's a prophet now, I just don't know him yet." My companion and I were in shock. Every principle that we shared from the first lesson she accepted and confirmed that she new it was true. 

Her husband has a Book of Mormon and just loves it and her son's dream has always been to enter our chapel. Her daughter is amazingly sweet and they all have experiences that have helped them be prepared for the Gospel. My companion and I both felt like we should invite her to be baptized but we didn't do it. I know that I didn't do it because I was worried she'd say no but everyone that we talk to about her asks us if we've invited her to be baptized and when we say no they all freak out like, "What?! Are you kidding me?! She's golden!" Yes, yes, we know. We're planning on doing it when we have our next lesson with her. 

Yesterday we visited some members for the last time because they'll be splitting our area for the elders that are coming tomorrow. We were with a Sister who's been sick and her son and daughter had been cleaning out a junk closet and her son walked in and handed my companion something. I thought it was a bean bag but then my companion asked me if I wanted to receive my official welcome to Mexico and become a Mexican. I was concerned and figured I was going to get very very dirty. She then broke an confetti egg over my head and confetti went EVERYWHERE. o.o However, I am officially a Mexican! :D I guess that now when people ask me where I'm from I can just say, "Mexico". :D

Loved Listening to Conference in English :)

I don't have much time so I´ll just say a few things

My favorite parts of Conference...

Ëvery member, is an individual is a critical element in the body of the church.

--Boyd K Packer

Which way do you face?

and

Lowering the standards of the Church to match the standards of the world is...APOSTACY

Lynn G Robbins

God will not save us as we are and will not make us something we do not choose to become.

The Atonement opens the door to the person we can become.

Freedom does not come from RESISTING it but from APPLYING it.

D Todd Christoffersen

God cares about you. He will listen to your prayers. He will answer. He is answering. You just need to learn how to listen to His voice.

Our ability to understand and see change dramatically when we are constantly trying to understand and see more.

If you do your part, ith will come and IT WILL BE GLORIOUS,

Pres. Dieter F Utchdorf

Although we may disagree, we should not be disagreeable.

Kindness is powerful, especially in a family setting.

Dallin H Oaks

We do not discard that which we KNOW to be TRUE because of something we do not yet UNDERSTAND.

Neil A Anderson

They did not have the church in their community but they did have the Church in their HOME.

The Lord never gives us a responsibility without the promise of DIVINE HELP.

Tad R Callister

Follow me. Walk with Me. Come Unto Me. Are not passive invitations, they are invitations of ACTION.

The decision to COME UNTO CHRIST and to FOLLOW HIM is a PERSONAL DECISION. 

Make the decision today to do and say, ¨Yes Lord, I will follow thee.¨

Edvard Gavarret

¨That they might not suffer¨-- Language God uses when He means business.

Rich or Poor, we are to do what we can with what we have.

May we do whatever we can with what we have to deliver those who have been held captive by the poverty that destroys so many of their dreams.

Jeffrey R Holland

Women who make a house a home make a far grander contribution to te world than any other successful individual.

Fathers are the greatest example of faithful service.

Which is more important...prayers or fruit?

L Tom Perry

Continuing relevant comes to lift the children of God above their own abilities.

Henry B Eyring

Decisions determine Destiny

Walk AS Jesus walked.

Place Christ in the Center of you life. Nothing else, no other choice we can make will make us what He can.

The Faithful BEAT A PATH to partake of the Lord´s Light.

HIS PATH WILL TAKE US SAFELY HOME.

Presidnt Thomas S Monson

A Week of Lessons

The brother of one of our recent converts has wanted nothing to do with us in the past but since we started this transfer he has started listening to us. It took about 5 tries and appointments to finally be able to visit with him but he seems to be really interested. Especially because he has told us that he didn't want to listen to us before because he couldn't guarantee that he could keep his commitments to read and pray, however, he has taken the decision to really give the whole "Mormon" thing a shot.

Although it seems that nothing has changed in our area and with our investigators, I can't help but feel very changed. 

Over the last couple of weeks, well ever since I became a trainer, I began to feel like I was an awful missionary and just would not be able to complete everything I had to do in one day. I disliked Sundays because I had to report the numbers and when I counted them all up, all I could think was, "What did we even do this week? Why are this numbers so awful?" I felt like a failure of a missionary and I felt very stuck not knowing what to do. 

After having a Sunday and Monday of just feeling bad, I decided to talk to my mission president. We had a really good talk. He helped me see that I was trying to control things that were totally out of my control (like the numbers and if we get new people to teach) and that I really was a decent missionary, I just had to let myself see it. That Satan would love for me (and all of us) to feel like I wasn't worth anything. I felt so much better after the talk and this Sunday was actually really good. The numbers didn't get better and it was pretty much all the same but I felt good. I felt the Spirit and love of my Father in Heaven and was happy enough to have a harina (flour) fight with my companion. :)

The Relief Society General Conference was amazing. We got to watch it (the Americans) in English and there were two things that just really stood out to me  "Never Stop Your Steps Towards the Temple" and "God loves you TODAY and ALWAYS." --Pres. Utchdorf. I hope you all got to listen to it or watch it. It was amazing. I felt like Pres. Utchdorf's talk really spoke to me and was what I really needed. I can't wait for General Conference this weekend! It really is like the SuperBowl for missionaries, especially because I get to watch it in my native language!! Yay! :D

Another lesson that I learned this week was something that I've always been told but never really hit home until yesterday. As a missionary, and as a member, when someone tells your their situation, problems, or worries, if you don't have anything or know what to say ALWAYS bear your testimony. We have a member who has really had a rough 3 months and has become rather angry with God and all those around her. However, after the Arellanos talked to her, we got the chance and although I knew I couldn't offer any kind of advice or comfort, I knew that there was only one thing I could do, Testify that Jesus Christ was her Savior and of His love for her. I promised that he was always near and when she was ready to set aside her anger, fear, and doubts, she would feel it. She ended saying the closing prayer and it was beautiful. She asked for help, comfort for her family, and forgiveness. It was a wonderful reminded that when you don't know what to say....testify. =)

6 Months!!

Thursday we had our Zone Conference. It was positively awesome! We talked about the condition of our hearts and practiced later how to teach with more power to those who have a lot of doubts. My companion and I both felt like the conference had been prepared especially for us and our investigators. We haven't gotten the chance to put our newly learned skills to the test but we're looking forward to the first chance we'll get.

Also, I got to meet two other of the tallest girls in the mission at the conference. We couldn't help it, we had to take a picture. =)

Naim was baptized! :D I know I was super excited too. :D His mom and sister were both baptized about a month or two ago and he wasn't open at all to the gospel. However, after the baptism of his mom, he finally decided to open up and was baptized on Saturday and confirmed on Sunday. I'm super excited for him and this step he has taken.

We finally received permission to baptize Martin. He's our 10 year old who has had problems with lying, stealing, and drinking coffee in the past but he's progressed so much and we finally obtained permission to get him in the water. He's accepted the baptism date of October the 11th. 

Also, the volcano erupted a little so I got super excited. :D