Week 28 Letter 9/23/13

Hello Everybody!!

Hope all of you are doing well!! I am having a great time here, burning in the sun and drowning in the rain but an amazing time!!

We worked really hard this week!! In fact we had the best week of our time together. But the baptisms all fell through. It was a little disheartening. However, the Lord reminded us that if we put in the work, he will carry out His work. This week on Sunday we were talking with some of the members and one of the families told us that we are going to have a baptism this week. One of the children of the ward is going to be baptized. His name is Miguel Angel. We are really excited for the baptism and the help the Lord gave us in our work.

Our other investigators are doing really well too. Blanca is really excited to learn and has been reading a lot of the Book of Mormon. She does have a problem in her family though so she has not been able to go to church. The doctor we are teaching is also excited to learn. He has some really different ideas about religion but he is beginning to learn really quickly. 

We have also been teaching a lot to the Castillo Sevedra family. We are really excited for their progress. Especially for one of the sons. He just turned 19 and is really excited about serving a mission. He had been in Mexico City and just came back. He is going to be the one who brings their family back to the church. I am really excited for him to serve a mission.

This week we did exchanges. Elder Ygnacio stayed here and I went to Cuichapa with Elder Estrada. I had a great time with him. He is a great Elder but is about to finish his mission. It was great to get to know him a little better for a day. I also really liked Cuichapa. The members are great and really work hard. I would like to serve there during my mission.

Well that’s all for know. Next week are the transfers and I’ll keep you all posted with what happens!!

Take care!

Elder Lightheart

9/22/13 Letter from the Mission President

Dear Family:

The most recent meteorological reports about the country show that hurricanes Ingrid and Manuel have caused floods and damaged several States. Nevertheless, no zone of the Mexico Villahermosa Mission, where your son is currently serving, has been harmed. All of the Tabasco state as well as the sectors of Campeche, Chiapas and Veracruz included in the Mission district are safe for missionary work.  

 It has been raining constantly throughout these days, but it is not a risk for the safety of the missionaries. We have been tracking the weather news and we have informed all the missionaries about the circumstances.

The Lord revealed to Prophet Joseph Smith “…if ye are prepared, ye shall not fear” so we had followed His advice. The Mission has security standards that will be applied if necessary. Up to this moment, proselytism will proceed normally although missionaries have taken precautions.

 We all are serving our Savior and we trust He will protect us always because we are working for the salvation of souls. We thank you for your prayers and we invite you to keep praying for the missionaries. We will inform you if the instructions change.

 Sincerely,

Pres. Israel Morales Gutiérrez

MEXICO VILLAHERMOSA MISSION

Week 27 Letter 9/16/13

Hello Everybody!!

Hope you all are doing really well!! I do not have too much time this week so I will not be able to write too much but I will do what I can!!

We had a really great week actually!! We saw a lot of changes in people that we were not expecting. It helps me remember how much we need to depend on God and not on what we can do. He is preparing the people and we are here to find them and help them learn about the gospel. Without him, we cannot do anything.

One of the changes is in a new investigator from this week. He is a doctor from here in Las Choapas. My companion calls him doctor loco because he is a bit crazy but in a good way. He is really energetic and really excited to learn about the gospel. He told us what he feels is going to happen with three words. Read, Believe, and Make. Read what we give him to read, Believe what we teach him, and Make him a Saint. A Latter day Saint!! We are really excited for him.

Blanca has also been making a lot of progress. She does have an obstacle with her family. It is the only thing impeding her though. She really wants to know if it is true and is reading a lot!! She understands really well too. Because of her family she has not gone to church but we feel that when she does she will really feel the Spirit and know that it is true.

We also had a Noche Mexicana this week. This week was independence day for Mexico so we had an activity in the church. We had a lot of fun!! I really enjoyed being part of the holiday. The members brought a lot of non member friends. All in all it was a great activity.

We also had a lot of people at the church this week!! It was great to see the chapel full. The branch is really changing and I am excited for all of the people here.

Well that is all the time I have

Until next week!

Elder Lightheart

Week 26 Letter 9/9/13

Hola Familia!!

Another week gone by here in Mexico!! Everything is going great! I am learning a lot and feel the help of the Lord every day as we preach the gospel!

It was a pretty fun week the week. Mexican Independence Day is just around the corner and the people here are going crazy. Everyone is in Red, White, and Green and extremely excited for the holiday. The Center has been converted to a fair and there are all kinds of rides and stands right in the center of the street. It is super crowed there. Basically a party all day long. Makes me remember our Independence Day. Different but just as crazy.

Well all of our investigators are still doing well. The best part of this week was our lesson with Ismael. He told us that he now believes that the Church is true!! We put a baptismal date with him for the 28th as well and I am super excited for him.

Unfortunately, Eduardo got sick this week. We were not able to see him all week and he was not able to go to church. Sounds like everything is still going well though and we will be going to visit him tomorrow.

The Campos Sanchez family is all doing really well. They are continuing to prepare for their baptism the 28th as well. Blanca is having some doubts but the good thing is that she is reading the Book of Mormon. I feel that she will get an answer. Daniella had to go to Coatzacoalcos this week so she was not able to go to church either.

Thanks for all of your prayers and support. I am having a great time here in Mexico and hope that you all enjoy sharing in my experience!

Cuidense!!

Elder Lightheart

Week 25 Letter 9/2/13

Weekly Letter

Hello Everybody!! I hope all is well and that you all had a great week!

We had an awesome week this week and found a lot of new investigators to teach. One of them is Eduardo and he is really great. He is learning super quickly about the gospel and really wants to know more. The great thing is that he works for a member so he can talk with her about any question that he has with her. He accepted a baptismal date for the 28th of September and I know that he will be ready by then. He went to church this week and had a really great time. I could tell that he learned a lot and wants to come back again. We did not have the chance to talk with him about it yesterday but we are going to go visit him tomorrow.

The Campos Sanchez family is also doing really well. They all are learning a lot and keep their commitments. The problem is the got sick this week so we haven’t been able to teach them for a while and they were not able to go to church this Sunday. We will be going to visit them Wednesday though so hopefully they are better by then!

We also had a lot of other great new investigators this week. One of them is Blanca. She also works for a member and is really excited to learn more! She says that she wants to serve a mission already! We have only taught her once but we are really excited for her. Another is Yaritsa. She is Catholic and very firm in her beliefs but the good thing is that she has accepted what we have taught and to read the Book of Mormon as well. If she reads and prays I feel that she will receive an answer.

Also I wanted share what I learned about fasting this month. I have always fasted but have never really learned the true power of it until now. It is an amazing opportunity we have to sacrifice food for one day out of the month. The Lord has given us the opportunity to use a fast so that we can better feel the spirit. It allows us to draw much closer unto him every month and helps us to receive the guidance we need in our lives. I always had thought of it more as a different was to pray but in reality it is a tool that our Father has given us so that have his presence in our lives and better exercise our faith.

Well that all for now!! Thanks for your prayers!!

Until next week!

Elder Lightheart