Families CAN BE Forever, But Only by Partaking of the Everlasting Covenant of Temple Sealing.

He must've got this for me! I am ALWAYS raving about "Dillan Dove" He and Matthew were supposed to enter the MTC together on Dec. 7th. I love his letters....

Hola-- 

What a strange week. This week we have been visiting our members more to be able to find new investigators because lately it’s been a little hard on teaching people. We have people, but they just aren’t progressing. So, we received a referral this week from a member and we went to visit this friend. We walked to his house and knock on the door. This guy answers and I thought, "Cool. For once we’re not teaching a single mom with 7 kids!" So we started talking and I was trying to not to smile because this guy is... gay? Well, at that moment we didn’t know that he was gay but it’s something noticeable. So we taught him like one more time about the BOM and invited him to church. He went to church but during one of the classes we pulled him aside to talk to him about baptism. It was super awkward but he told us that he doesn’t like churches because they don’t accept gays and what they do. 

Leviticus 18:22

Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.

And there are a lot more that frown on that. This was my first experience with teaching a gay guy, and I think that I prefer the single mom with 7 kids because it’s easier. Everyone is a child of God. He is my brother, this man, but he’s just a little off the straight and narrow path. 

Elder Hill with Claire Chilton's nephew, Elder Holmes

We also talked to a member last week who told us that on Sunday he had a disciplinary council. We know that he has made some mistakes in his life, but he moved from another state just to get away from that old life and repent. He was really sad about it when we talked about the possibility of having to be baptized again. The Spirit was so strong and we talked about the temples and how he can make the goal to take his family to the temple. He showed up on Sunday with a white shirt, tie, and a suit and told us that he was no longer a member of the church. He had been excommunicated just an hour before, but he came to church and had a smile on his face. He has made some mistakes, but through the process of repentance and the Atonement of Jesus Christ, this brother’s soul can still be saved. He is looking forward with faith for the one-year mark where he can be baptized again, and the two-year mark where he can take his family to the temple to be sealed. He told us last week that he hadn’t felt the urgency to go to the temple with his family, but he has realized that this life is all too short and that sometimes tomorrow was too far away to make the right decision. 

Families CAN BE forever, but only by partaking of the everlasting covenant of temple sealing. 

The Church is true. Never leave it. 

Much love, 

Elder Hill 

Hey Buddies & yet ANOTHER sign that God is accelerating the work because we are in the last days.

Elder Hill & Dominican bananas

So, crazy news for the new Mexican MTC! Many members have been commenting to us about how they all grew up in that school-back when it was elementary-high school- and that they will miss it. This is yet ANOTHER sign that God is accelerating the work because we are in the last days. How many prophets have told us that this is a chosen generation and that we need to be ready to meet our God? In the last days there will be famines-- food storage. In the last days the hearts of men will fail them-- feast upon the words of Christ. We are the LATTER DAY SAINTS preparing the way for the second coming of the Lord. It was the 11th hour in Joseph Smith´s time.... what would that make today? It has been interesting to be able to study the gospel every day because I have been able to learn so much. The second coming, temples, baptism, etc. I hope that I will be prepared. 

This week we found a 22 year old named Manolo. He´s funny because when he sees us he always says, "Hey buddies! How´s it going?" (he was a foreign exchange student in Iowa) He went to church on Sunday and really like it. Hopefully he comes back this week. Flor and her family had something happen right before church and they didn´t end up going. We promised that she would have found her answer if she had gone to church. Satan knew that too. Keep praying for those who do not know the gospel so that you can be an instrument in the Lord´s hands to helping them become converted. 

Love you all. Gotta go. Duty calls. 

Elder Hill 

Elder Hill and a Guanabana (whatever THAT is!)

pix-Guanabana and Dominican bananas.  

¡Muchas Hermanas Llamados A Servir! (Many Sisters Called to Serve!)

Jessica Dixon,  Merrisa Woodbury,  Kaitlyn Clifford, Megan Fowers and Emily Farnsworth

(Hope I get this right) Marianne Asmus, Jasilyn Brinkerhoff, Elizabeth Billings,  Rachael Gehmlich & Kaylee White

Ali Lloyd with her mission call to Sydney, Australia. (Connor, Ali, Anne, Trevor & Lynn Lloyd)

 ¡Felicidades a todas mis mejores amigas y los llamamientos que cambiarán sus vidas para siempre jamás! Espero que les vaya bien en todo lo que hagan y sé que el Señor les ayudará en todo aspecto de traer salvación a Sus hijos. ¡Qué lástima para ellas que no hablarán español, pero todo está bien!  Loosely translated: Congratulations to all my best friends and the calls that will change their lives forever! I hope to do well in everything you do and I know the Lord will help you in every aspect of bringing salvation to His children. Too bad for them that do not speak Spanish, but all is well! 

As I had said during the last General conference I felt the Spirit so strong when President Monson announced the new age requirements and I new that it was an answer to thousands of prayers throughout the world. It is great to hear of all of the prayers being answered and being carried out. I know that the mission will forever change your lives and everything in your lives- from your career, how to raise your family, how to serve the community, and so much more. 

Elder Martin y Elders en distrito y Elder Hill

This week we had zone conference and we talked about how important having a testimony is. King Lamoni and his father were converted because they obtained a true conviction that what was being taught was true. Salvation is to know the one and only true God; to know His Son; to know that all that we are doing in this Church is true and that it could not be invented. A lie will eventually end and contradict itself, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, swept every clime, and sounded in every ear. It is true and nobody- no matter how hard he tried- could convince me otherwise. This week an inactive sister stood at her porch and told us that everything we did was false, but I have the knowledge from God that she is wrong. 

If someone says in their talk in Sacrament meeting that "We all know the story of..." and you don´t know that story- study it. Find out. Pray about it. If you don´t know WHY Jesus is the Christ, the Savior and Redeemer of the world- STUDY and PRAY to know why because no man can be saved in ignorance. I am finding that out for myself as each day goes by. 

Yo sé que estoy en lo correcto, ¿y tú? ¿Tú lo sabes? o nada más sigues como borrego al redíl? 

Se lo dejo en el nombre de Jesucristo, amén. (I know I'm right, are you? Did you know? or just follow like sheep to the fold?

I leave it in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.)

Ananías went to church yesterday and he brought his daughter. She didn´t want to go in at first, but we gave her  piece of candy and she was more than happy to go and do whatever she was asked. They both enjoyed it and we hope that they come back. 

Flor and her family are a special family. They have so many spiritual experiences that would be unbelievable had I not the knowledge of God that I do. It´s simply amazing. I am honored to be able to teach them and help them to understand WHY everything that has happened to them in the manner that it has. 

Daniel's papa, Elder Martin, Daniel's hijo, Daniel y Elder Matt Hill

 We also baptized Daniel. His dad is a member but has been less active for a while and his mom isn´t a member so he hasn´t been baptized until now. That was cool to see. 

Elder Hill's casa en Querétaro

Be good. Love, 

Elder Hill 

There is Sunshine in Our Souls AND ¡Un Año en la Mísion! (1 Year on the Mission)

The weather this last week has been "cold" and a little different. It was between 55-60 F during the day and everyone was walking around in fur coats and beanies meanwhile my companion and I were enjoying the spring like weather! It´s also been a little more cloudy than normal, but there has been sunshine in our souls. Out of nowhere, the blessings began to come this last week. We have about 15 referrals from members and lots of other people that we are trying to contact as well. 

Flor is a single mom who used to go to the Christian church and was really involved there until some things happened and she starting to separated herself from there. She has a friend who is a member and she shared the gospel with Flor and we went to see her. We taught her about the Restoration and she has lots of questions and doubts, but she likes it. She went to church yesterday and loved it and has a baptismal date for 9 February. 

Enrique is a self-referral from Mormon.org and is interested. He´s 43 and has had several bad experiences with other churches that have led him to investigate our church. He sent his information back in July but the missionaries never checked the referrals page that we use. He is reading the Book of Mormon and is willing to be baptized when he receives his answer from God that the Book is blue and the Church is True. 

Pascual and his wife Paola, daughters Paulina and Daniela are a family that contacted us when we went to look for someone who ended up not being home. Pascual was sick with early stages of kidney failure and wanted something in English to read so his wife talked to me on the street. We made an appointment and brought English pamphlets and the Liahona. They all went to church yesterday and dressed like members! Everyone thought that it was a family visiting. They´re pretty cool and are progressing well. 

Kelloggs Factory in Matthew's area of Querétaro, México

 Read the Liahona

I found a quote this week that I like-- 

"Live each day as if you were going to live eternally, for you surely shall." President Gordon B. Hinckley

 Click here to read: Pillars of Truth ~ Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley Jan 94 Ensign First Pres. Message

Querétaro Area

All too often we think that we should live like we are going to die tomorrow, but what would the difference be if we thought about how all of the choices that we make here will all be of eternal consequence. Repent not at your deathbed, but as President Uchtdorf said in conference- that we need to make the daily decisions so that when we are dying we don´t have regrets. Live the Gospel of Jesus Christ through His Church, and all will be well. Click here to read: Of Regrets and Resolutions ~ Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf Conference Oct. 2012

Have a FANTASTIC week! 

Elder Hill 

A Snow Day!!?? and Magnify Our Calling(s)

Elder Hill under a Banana Tree!

Hola,

Enchiladas? Looks SO yummy!

I´ve been reading the letters that you sent me and the pictures. It´s funny because we went to costco today because it was in the plaza where we were going to look around. We tried to buy food but they said that you have to have a membership so we didn´t get to eat. It´s not like at home. (Sent him a photo of his Costco card and the #, saying maybe you can show this to them and have them print you a card while you wait for this one.)

So the weather here has been the strangest winter in my whole life. I´m used to tons of snow and coldness.... here it´s dry and hot! It will surely be a winter to remember. We were hoping that it would be more of a "white" winter with more baptisms but it´s been hard lately. We are still transforming from not being able to knock doors or talk with EVERYONE in the street (only if the Spirit indicates us too we can). Few members have the desire to share the gospel with the friends and neighbors because they fear that they aren´t a good enough example, don´t know enough information, or don´t talk to people. That has been our work lately is trying to strengthen the members so that they have the desire to share the gospel. It´s going to take a while because our ward list is 17 pages long with families.....

Querétaro Historical District

Possibly Elder Norman Martin~Historical District

Ananías has been doing well. He hasn´t fallen into temptation to drink or smoke or anything else lately, but he hasn´t been able to go to church which is super important. Brenda just hides from us now so that´s sad. We think that she talked to her pastor because she told us that she was going to mention it to him. We started teaching Guadalupe because her husband is a member but less active because of work. She likes the church but says that she doesn´t know if she can get baptized because of her super catholic family. She said that she would read and pray so we have confidence in Moroni´s promise- that she will receive an answer.

I read in Jacob 1:19 yesterday about magnifying our office. I thought about an experience that we had when we went to visit Hermana Jimenez because we were assigned to eat with her. She told us that in 20+ years, the missionaries had only been to her house twice, including us, because she lives so far away from the center. She started to cry because it meant so much to her. John Taylor once said that we will be held accountable for the souls that could have been saved had we magnified our calling. It makes me that more anxious to be able to find more people to save and help those who are already here stay here.

Destiny showing Matthew how much snow on day 1 of  snow dump

Destiny shoveling behind Josh snow-blowing neighborhood

I can´t believe that there was a snow day. That never happened in 12 years of my school history. Oh well. Enjoy the snow because it´s hot here.

Well, loves to you all! Have a happy snow-filled week.

Elder Hill

Pix--

-One sister has a banana tree in her front yard so that´s cool!

-Pineapples here are 2 for 20 pesos... like $1.80 US

-- Elder Matt Hill

Mexico City North Mission

2013... The World Still Lives & Cockroach Nightmare’s!

Elder Hill at Atlantes..ancient Jaredite ruins

Lot´s of people have mentioned to us that according to the Mayan Calendar the world was supposed to "end" but here we are still. I think that the mayan calendar wasn´t "wrong" just those who interpreted it. The second coming is near... so let us draw near! I still remember enough English to make a rhyme. 

This week´s events were as follows: 

1) Ran into a guy on the street who asked us for a Book of Mormon and of course we were willing to give it to him. When I asked where he heard about the BOM he said that he went to NYC and saw the Broadway play about it and it caught his attention. He said that because it was written by the authors of South Park he knew that some things were simply being made fun of in a crude manner and he wanted to know the truth. We found him the other day and he said that he started reading it, that he would like another one to give to his cousin, and that he wants one in English. Satan must be one frustrated guy! Trying to destroy the kingdom and it just keeps building! 

2) I met Claire Chilton´s nephew. Also, all of the members here ask me if I know their missionary because 99.9% come from Utah. Turns out that I did know a few. I love being from Utah. Just sayin´. 

3) My nightly dreams have turned from knocking doors and talking in spanish to killing cockroaches. The landlord told us to just cover all the holes with something and then they won´t get in the house, but we decided that we wanted to kill them at the source-- the drain access outside the house. We opened it up and sprayed Raid all over and they kept climbing out and running toward the open house door. Bad idea. 

4) A referral that we got from the other elders in the stake is "golden". Ananías is a man who has addictions and is separated from his wife and daughter for the same reason. He hasn´t believed much in God for the last 40 years but he has realized that God loves him in is there for him. He´s changing his life and wants to be better. We´ve only met him once, but we have another appointment today. 

5) Enrique is the son of a family that my companion had been teaching before I got here. He was sick with a strange form of Hepatitis from birth and it was rapidly progressing in the last three months. Last week we taught them about the plan of salvation and how it plays a role in their lives right now. They had him scheduled for a transplant the 8th of January. The other day they called us and had us go to the hospital to see him. He was in a coma and on life support. Shortly after we left he passed away because his heart stopped beating. He was my age. 

Life is precious gift. Make the most of it. D&C 60:13-- let us not waste our time in the mission of life. 

Rosca de Reyes is a tradition to celebrate the three kings day (instead of santa). Two members gave us a piece of their rosca de reyes. My companion got the little doll in one and I got the little doll in the other. The tradition is that we have to make tamales the 2nd of February. The member who gave me my piece already moved out of our ward so I guess my companion gets to make tamales! 

I hope that everyone has a great week and a happy new year. 

Loves, 

Elder Hill 

¡Feliz año nuevo a todos! There are lots of people waiting to hear the Gospel, we just have to find them!

Hermano Banuelos harvesting his maize with Elder Hill

Jaina's hijo David

 It was good to be able to Skype and see the family again. It seems like Mother´s day was just around the corner! Before you know it, May will be here again and so will Christmas. I think that 2 years goes by so fast because one third of it we spend sleeping! After talking on the 24th we ate with the Ramos Family and we talked about their missions for a while. Hermana Ramos ended up going bald in the mission in Chihuaha because she had a fungus that got in her hair, and so did her companion. But because the Lord is merciful, they ended up having two wigs that matched their hair styles and nobody in the zone picture ever noticed. Pretty cool. 

Diana & Boyfriend

Elder Hill, Diana's boyfriend, Diana & Elder Martin

Yesterday Diana got baptized. She has been going for a year and one day we met with her and I don´t remember what I said, but she decided to get baptized. When her boyfriend baptized her they were in white, and I thought (to myself as not to scare her),  that the next time that they would be dressed in white together would be in the temple. They are for sure a couple that will get sealed in the temple... that is when they get married. I think he was waiting to see if she would get baptized first, but who knows. 

Also yesterday we had a pretty cool experience. We were in priesthood meeting when one of the YM came and told us that there was a man outside that wanted to get baptized and be a member of the church. I thought he was just playing but no! Ramón showed up all on his own and said that he has the desire to learn more. He doesn´t correspond to our area, but he called the other missionaries and they went yesterday and he accepted a baptismal date! Miracles do happen. There are lots of people waiting to hear the Gospel, we just have to find them. D&C 123:12

One thing that I love about the mission is that I actually love to read and study the scriptures now. I didn´t put that much effort into it before, but now I love it. For example, I never took advantage of the topical guide. It´s so awesome because only in English is it that complex. Funny scriptures under the word "strange" are: Jude 1:7, Ezekiel 3:5, and Ezra 10:11. The Bible is funnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn! 

Well, gotta go because we have to be in the house early tonight. Gotta keep working. 

Thanks for everything. I hope that everyone has a great week. 

Love, 

Elder Hill 

From Tezo still 

I´m sending two from the baptism but that´s it for now. I´ll take more later on. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO THE FAMILY & ALL.

David hijo and me with Hermano Banuelos when he was harvesting corn.

Felìz Navidad y Prospero Año & "FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON."

Well, I think I`ll start out this week`s details with the fact that the mission isn`t all clean and happy as some people think. I arrived to my new area with one of those horror stories about missionary houses- mold, dirty, tons of cockroaches, and just not that great. My companion cleaned a lot before I got there but his last companion just didn`t mind the mess. Elder Martin is a good Elder and we worked hard this week to have a clean house, and it`s better! It`s definitely a nice Christmas present. 

On Tuesday we went to do a service project in a community in our zone. We cleaned up a lot of weeds outside and waterproofed the roof. I don`t have pictures, but that was a good second service project. I don`t remember if I wrote last week that we had gone and cleaned up a lot of garbage in an area by the city cemetery, but that`s what I did on Saturday in my last zone. Fun times. 

Wednesday we went to find a less active member and found some other guy who rents in his same building. We had a lesson with him and at the end he asked if he could pray his way and he did. We knelt down like we did at the beginning but then he stayed standing, so I thought O.K. Then he started praying really loud and put his hands on our heads and starting blessing us. He went on for like 5 minutes and ended, but that was a strange experience I tell ya! 

On Friday I had an experience where I felt that Heavenly Father really does send missionaries to areas where there are people ready for that missionary. Diana is the girlfriend of an RM, (return missionary), and has been investigating the church for about 1 year, but hasn`t been baptized. On Tuesday we had a lesson with her and I don`t remember too much of what was said, but we invited her to pray to know if she should be baptized this next Saturday. So she prayed and felt like she should and said that something that I had said is what helped her to make the choice. I tell you that it wasn`t me, but the spirit acting through me. That`s what makes the mission amazing- all of the little experiences like that. 

Presidente & Hermana Call's son, Shane, with Matthew's tie on!

Saturday there was a little activity as a zone for Christmas with President and Sister Call and their family. I don`t have the pictures yet but we sang songs, played activities, and exchanged ties. We dressed up and acted out Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, and guess who was Rudolph? Yours truly, Elder Hill. 

Sunday, well, we went to church and I met the ward. Nobody was there because a lot of people left for Christmas, but they tell me the ward is huge. 

Queretaro District

And today we had a little activity as a district. We exchanged gifts, broke a piñata, and went to a Chinese food buffet. Haven`t had Chinese food in a long time, so that was good. 

I read this week in Jesus the Christ, In chapter 8 about the Babe in Bethlehem and the story of Christ`s birth.  Click here to read Jesus The Christ~scroll down for Ch. 8

It was a little more in depth than just reading in the scriptures and I really enjoyed it. If you have the book, it is an invitation to study a little more about Christ and WHY we SHOULD be celebrating Christmas. He did a lot for us, but I feel that many times in the Christmas season we forget about Him and just spend a lot of money on things that have no eternal significance. Although Christmas is not over, the mission has opened my eyes about what matters most. 

I hope that everyone has a great week and that you can have more Christ in your lives. 

"FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON." 

With Love, 

Elder Hill 

1- Elder Martin and I 

2- District activity after breaking the "mission sins" pinata (waking up late, facebook, etc - all the stuff that we shouldn`t do and don`t do) 

3- Cockroaches in the cupboard

 ****************funny de la biblia 

 ***************1 Tim 2:11-15 and 1 Cor 11:14-15

Cambios, Cucarachas y Navidad! (Changes, Cockroaches and Christmas!)

ELDERS' HILL & CLAYTON WITH DISTRICT

I received transfer notices this week that I was to leave Tezontepec after 6 months and go to Hidalgo, Querètaro. My new companion is Elder Martin from LA, California and he is from the same group of missionaries as my son Elder Clayton. He`s the only member in his family and was baptized two years ago. He`s pretty cool and I hope that we have success together in what everyone says is the hardest zone in the mission. It`s a really nice area with lots of people that have money so we`ll see how it goes. Anything is possible. 

This last week we found a family of four in the street that started asking us questions because we were two white guys that always walked buy their house. We left them with some things to read but they weren`t there when we went by the next day, so I don`t know what will happen. Other than that, things were pretty chill in Tezo. ON Sunday the Bishop chose the hymn 266- The time is far spent- to sing in Sacrament Meeting  but in Spanish the translation is "The end is near" because of the 21st of December when supposedly the world will end. Well, good thing I`m in the mission! Everyone says that If it ends this week we don`t have to get married to go to the Celestial kingdom, but it`s not going to end so don`t worry. 

I hope everyone has a very merry Christmas. People here make wishes to the "reyes magos" or the three kings and everyone celebrates Christmas on the 24th, not the 25th. Normally the family gets together and eats a big dinner with bread de Rusca de Reyes where they put a little toy thing inside. I haven`t seen it yet, but they tell me it`s big. There are also Posadas for like the 12 days of Christmas where they take the Virgin Mary around in remembrance for what Joseph and Mary did when they asked for a place in the inn. They`re like big parties that they do and they close down main roads and neighborhoods and it`s just a little loco but still cool. That`s about all I remember about what they do. 

EXPENSIVE FISH FRY

We also got kidnapped one day by some members and they took us to a family get together to eat because we didn`t have anywhere to eat and we ate fried fish. It wasn`t too bad and apparently it`s really expensive, too. 

ELDER HILL AND ROZIITHA

Roziitha in the wheelchair has spinomeningocele or Spina bifida and she got baptized almost a year ago and goes with the other missionaries of her ward to appointments. 

ELDER HILL AND SOFIA

Sofia is like the Mexican twin of Alivia, Tyler and Kelli`s daughter. 

Merry Christmas! Be safe, be giving, and be happy! 

Amor, 

Elder Hill 

More Pics- cockroaches in the house and Bishop`s family. (Missing in email)

COCKROACHES IN ELDER HILL'S & CLAYTON'S FLAT.....EEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!

It´s Tough Here ~ We Are Teaching People, Satan Works Within Them and Just Makes it Difficult & The Bible Has Lots of Funny Scriptures!

TEZONTEPEC, ESTADO DE HIDALGO, MEXICO

Well another week has come and gone. This week Jaina was called to be a young women´s teacher and she´s super excited. The young women here need someone like her who has the testimony and the desire to help others. Being a young member here honestly isn´t too easy. There are so many more distractions and temptations and it´s a lot easier to fall than at home. At least that´s my perspective as a missionary. 

We started teaching a family this week that was really interested and had so many questions about the church and the next day we went, they told us that they didn´t want us to come back. L We think that their family and neighbors started talking to them about how they shouldn´t change religions. 

It´s tough here because as soon as the people see that we are teaching people, Satan works within them and just makes it difficult. People here put a lot of weight on what the people say and their family. They have a lot of difficulty being independent. It´s a totally different culture. 

We started teaching the parents of one hermano in the ward. They have talked to soooo many missionaries in the last 6 years but for some reason they haven´t ever read nor prayed about the Book of Mormon. They like the change that they saw in this hermano and his family, they like the church a lot, but they don´t want to change because the feel obligated to their ancestors. We invited them to read, ponder, and pray and we know that they will receive an answer. I´ll let you know what happens next week. 

The Bible has lots of funny scriptures. I think I´ll share one a week for a while.... 

1 Thes 5:26

1 Thes 5:16

Prov 20:29

This week we ate Aztec Pie and lamb barbacoa. I am disgusted/proud to admit that I was able to eat a sheep testicle..... gross, but it´s a one in a lifetime opportunity! And a balloon guy climbed in the combi (van) this week and I took a picture.

  

Loves, 

Elder Hill 

Oh I also found out that I have had bed bugs for the last few weeks so I have to go buy this stuff and scrub down my bed this week! Yay!!!

(Mom) The essential oils and cream I sent you was for that too! The mixture and the brown cream!!!! YOU are so funny!

I´ve been using it. Thanks for your ingeniousness. 

Loves, gotta go. Have a good week.

Me. (Yes, Elder Hill may not like to see this on the blog...HOWEVER, it does show the dedication, sacrifice, character and sense of humor one must have when Called to Serve!)

Greater Light = Greater Condemnation & My Jumpsuit is TOO Small!

Jaina, Elder Hill, Jaina's hijo Arjun & el Papa, Arjun e hiram Garcia at Arjun's baptism, (just turned 8!)

This week was a little crazy. We´re already in the 5th week of the transfer and it feel like it just barely started. I get confused with what happened this week and what happened a month ago. However, David and Nicte were confirmed yesterday. It was Elder Clayton´s first confirmation so that was cool. I also got to baptize Arjun, Jaina´s son who turned 8 last month. I thought that I would wear the jumpsuit because I
didn´t have any clean white shirts but when I put it on at church it was too small! I looked like a little kid in pajamas that didn´t fit. Hence, I am behind Arjun. His dad, Hiram, came and is also going to church where he lives and reading the BOM and the pamphlets. The gospel changes lives. We´ve been trying to find new people to teach this week but it has been a little hard because of relying on the members. It´s difficult because we have to train the members on how to talk to people and what to do. Many members get embarrassed when talking about the church, but we are helping them build THEIR testimony so that they can help others. This last week we also had flu shots and I got to help. We have a hermana in the mission who is a doctor so she came to give the shots. When Hermana Call told her that I was an EMT, she had me fill the syringes. With nearly 11 months in the mission.... I was a little caught off guard but I think that everyone survived.

We went to Tula today because our district wanted to get out of the little village and see something bigger, so we went to a store and Burger King! Elder Clayton has been wanting to go ever since he got here, so happy birthday to him (on Wednesday)!!!!! We don´t go because it´s really expensive and just not a place for missionaries to be. I´m okay without burger king for another 11 months.

(From Elder Clayton's letter) Oh yeah, Elder Hill and I got spit on the other day for the first time. We were walking down a road and some car zoomed past us and a woman spit on us, haters gonna hate and mormons gonna morm.

One thing that I was studying this week was a talk from Ezra Taft Benson about pride. It´s from the April 1989 conference and is titled Beware of Pride. I highly recommend it because I think that we are all subject to pride in one form or another. It´s powerful. I was also studying about knowledge. I came to the conclusion that knowledge won´t save you, but it will condemn you. Greater light = greater condemnation. It´s interesting that in D&C 131:6 it says that we cannot be saved in ignorance, and other scriptures that tell us we need to always learn. Being a member of this Church is "easy" but hard work at the same time. We are always progressing forward, or falling down the ladder of progression. That is also a bad effect of pride-- we can´t progress. Keep studying ´out of the best books´ and ´treasuring up the words of life´. I know you can do it.

Have a great week! Gotta go!

Elder Hill

1-burger king

2-guys washing a big tent at a circus

3- Arjun´s baptism