June 20, 2011

Mas in a sombrero!

Hey Mom!

It sounds like Father's Day went good. I am glad that it went well for you guys. And I am glad dad is enjoying the phone case. It sounds like you did a good job on picking it out. I hope he had a good, special day, yesterday. Then as for Chloe getting married, that is pretty crazy she is already married. But I'm happy for them. And you can tell them, "Hi" for me later date, to Chase, Chloe and Tom, por favor. I did hear about the nest in the nook. Man mom, you are funny. haha Talking about the little birdies. That's good though, at least you have some good hobbies to do. Paint and watch the birds. As for this last week of work, it went pretty well. We could have 3 baptisms this week. It just depends on if Victor, the grandpa, is able to stop smoking. He is down to two a day, but he smoked 20 a day, so we are doing good. We are going to make him the shake this week to finish it off, I think, so he doesn't smoke. The two grand kids are excited to get baptized. So we hope they 3 can do it together. Ummm..weird, we bought some sunglasses this last week in the tianguis. I bought some fake Oakley's. They are pretty sweet though. Then back to the work, we found one more family of 3 through a reference. They are good. They went to church, too. We hope they can progress. They have said since we have been visiting them they have felt more peace. So we just need them to pray and ask if it is true or not and they will be good. haha They liked church yesterday, too. Then we reactivated a guy this last week and he brought his kid that is 10 years old that isn't baptized either. It's funny because Jesus, the guy that reactivated, always speaks to me in English. He isn't very good but he knows a lotta words. Then he talks to my comp in English, too. So this last week went really good on getting people to church and now it's just about teaching them and getting them ready for baptism. The 16 year old and the 20 didn't come to church. One knows that the church is true, she just has a hard time getting married cause her husband (boyfriend) doesn't want to get married. So it's just a crappy situation there. But as for the finding part, we find people by doing a bunch of different things. The first one is that we talk to people in the street. We ask references and we look for families that aren't all members in the family. These three ways are really good to find people. I don't like knocking doors, but sometimes it works decently, too. Then it costs like 650 pesos to get married there, but that is with our missionary discount that we get. We have someone that works in the offices of marriage and they help us out with that, so she hooks us up with a discount. But pretty much everyone we teach has a problem with the word of wisdom or chastity. So it is kinda rough, but we are able to do it with their efforts and the help of the Lord, most importantly. I am sad that they (Pres. and Sis. Nancollas) are leaving. They are way cool people. You will see how they are when you go to their homecoming. We had our farewell with him this last Friday and it was sad. But I know I can see him in a year. He called me out in front of everybody and told me that I have to talk to him. haha It was kinda scary, but it's cool. So I hope you like that mom, you can go if you aren't in the DR. As for Spencer, I haven't heard from him in a little bit. But I write him, yes. Pres. Nancollas leaves this next Monday! So it's crazy. Well I know the church is true and I hope you enjoy this letter. Time is going by quick.

Love you all and I hope you have a good week!

June 13, 2011

Elder Malan ice Skating in Prados!

Hey Mom!

I'm doing really good here in Mexico. It's good to hear that Ashton went on the Trek, he will enjoy it I think. As for me, I'm doing good here. Our week wasn't the greatest but we had a couple of little miracles during the week. So we have been teaching some grand kids of a member that we reactivated and her husband didn't really want to listen to us the first couple of times. Then one day we went and he started asking us some questions and stuff like that and he asked if he could read the folletos that we give. So we said of course and he started reading the folletos and the Book of Mormon. Then this last week he told us he wanted to go to church! So we were like, "Ok", we will see if he comes, then he came! And he said that he had dreamed of being outside the church and us waiting for him there a couple months ago! Then we took him out of one of the classes and he stared to talk to us and told us he felt really good in the church and we told him that all these things that are happening are answers from God! He was like, "Ya, I think you guys are right." He called us the Police of God. haha and we are. We call all the sinners to repentance. But they can choose if they want to or not. We have a baptismal date with him this 26 of June. We are looking forward to that, too. Then our other investigators that we have taken, one is a mom that is 20 years old and the other is a 16 year old that is her sister-in-law. They came to church and then the mom of the 16 year old came, too. But she wasn't dressed that modestly, so we were like, "Oh crap, what are the members going to think". haha But the members did it well this time and didn't judge her haha. So ya. It went ok for us in the church this last week. This week we hope to improve it though. That's good you helped out Makelle. That's good that you can start planting the flowers and the garden. I'm glad I don't have to work in that thing for another year. haha As for the rain, I don't think he will really need a jacket. The 8 months I have been here it has rained hard like twice. And I don't think he will be here for the rainy season this year. So I wouldn't worry about it if I was him. As for things that I wish I would have had...a better ihome. haha That's about it really. Maybe a little fan, too. It gets hot in the home sometimes at night. But that's all I can think of. I can buy that stuff here so it's not a big deal. As for the packages, you do it how you want to, mom. I think it's all the same for me. And yes, we have one greenie in the district. He is from Peru. But that's it. Maybe I'll be Elder Hurst's dad. That would be cool, we would probably baptize 10 each month. As for Book of Mormon stories, I like Alma and Amulek. I like how they punk Zeezrom. I am reading that right now in Spanish and it's really cool. As for dad's present, thanks for helping me out on that one. I think he will like what we got him. And yes, mom, I don't want to come home and see you like a tub of lard, please. I probably wouldn't recognize you in the airport. haha You would run up and hug me and I would be like, "Who is this tub of lard lady??" haha Just kidding. As for the baptism suit, I have worn that these last two times because we weren't sure if they were going to get baptized so I just used the jumpsuit. haha Nothing happened to my pants, they are good. Then as for the nail biting...I still bite them. haha It's a hard habit to break even in Mexico. But yes, that is all the time that I have for today so I hope you enjoy the letter. Dad, Happy Father's Day. I hope you like the present. I hope Ash does well on the Trek, and Makelle, I hope you can find a house. That one isn't the one that Heavenly Father wanted you in. Just so you know. I love you all. I hope you enjoy the pictures. They are of ice skating today. I'm not good at ice skating. haha Love you, take care.

Elder Malan

June 6, 2011

Baptism of Jazzmin.

Hey Mom!

I hope you are now enjoying your first real bit of summer haha. It's still about the same temperature, like 85-90 ish everyday and the sun is always right over our heads haha. But it's fine. This last week went pretty well. We did good. We had 4 people for the first time in church so it was really good. And then we had one baptism this last week, too. She was supposed to get baptized a week ago but she didn't so we baptized her on Saturday. As for the teaching, right now we are teaching that family still. They didn't go to church cause someone died in the family. I swear the only time when people die is on the weekends. Then the people that we are teaching right now is a lady that is 20. She likes the church a lot but she isn't married so we have to marry them so we will have to see how that goes. Then we have her sister-in-law that went to church and she like it too, but she only has 16 years and she has a boyfriend that is 24 so that will be interesting, too. We have two kids that we are teaching. They are grandkids of a member and the mom just can't go to church cause she has to work. But the kids are really cool, too. So that is what we have right now. We hope that we can find a couple more people this week that can get to church and be baptized soon. As for the mayor, it's just when I make the choices, basically I just have more responsibilities. When we do bad the leaders get mad at me haha. So it's cool though. I just will do the best I can to find the people that are ready to hear and accept the gospel. The new comp, he is cool. We get along pretty well as far as I know. He is my first Mexican comp from the south. So that's cool, too. He draws and sings really well. But he can't play soccer very well haha. But he loves to play sports so it's cool. And ya, my comp has 5 months. So he doesn't have too much time (he has been out for only 5 months). But he is a good guy. He wants to work and we do well together I think.

But as for the fasting. I have a testimony of that. Every time I fast with my purpose, the Lord always helps me out. Like yesterday, I fasted that we could bring all of our people that we had during the week. We had about 6 people for the church but 4 didn't go! Then the grandkids of that grandma showed up and we had 4. So it's not six, but man, it's so much better than 2 haha. I have fasted many times and I always receive the blessings. The fast works so if you do it with a purpose, 24 hours and start and finish with a prayer, man it gets answered. I'll tell you that much. It's amazing how the Lord works with our faith and our fasting and prayers. They work, I have seen the miracles here in Mexico.

This week nothing really crazy happened. It was a nice chill week of good work and we had some success. I love being here in Mexico where there are a ton of people that are ready to receive the blessings of the Gospel in their lives.

Then as for Makelle and her house. She sent me a picture and it looked pretty nice. I like it. I want a good house with a garage, too. That's the most important thing on the house I'm gunna buy. haha That's one of the reason why I like our house a lot.

It is awesome to be here and I'm so blessed with many things. I have parents that love me, that are perfect examples for me. A brother that will write me even when he doesn't have much time. Then Makelle....haha just kidding she is awesome, just like mom and has the love for everybody. Something that I am working on. Thanks for being such good examples for me and for the other people. Yesterday I was thinking in fast and testimony meeting. Why did we have quiet times in testimony meeting? Here we have to wait in a line of 5 or 6 people to bear our testimonies. And do we have less blessings than the people here? Or are we just more prideful? It's something to think about. Count the blessings we have and don't forget them and always strengthen your testimony. I hope you are all doing well and keep reading, praying, and going to the temple!

Love you all,

Elder Malan

May 30, 2011

Filling up the font with buckets!

Baptism of Gabriella

Hey Momma!

Here is going pretty well. We just had changes today and I got moved up to mayor or senior comp. So I have to lead the work here in my area. I'm pretty nervous, to be honest. But I know the Lord will help me if he called me to be mayor. I got another comp. His name is Elder Baez. He is from Vera Cruz, Mexico. It's a little weird because I think I'm darker than him, to be honest. I get the white Mexicans. haha But he seems to be cool so we will see how it goes. That's crazy school is already over !! I can't believe that one. Now you can relax for a little bit until the next year. haha I didn't know that Martha is retiring. That will be weird for you, too! I hope you can make friends with some other teacher. I remember those little kids, too. That's weird how they are already in your class! Time goes by really quickly. As for this last week, it went good. We had a baptism of Gabriella. So that was really cool. But the story on what happened before the baptism. So we had to go and start filling up the font for the baptism and we went in the morning to start it and then we left after. The the baptism was at 7 so we got there at like 6:30 to get everything ready and do all that stuff. But we got there and it had like 3 inches in the font of water! So we were like oh crap. So we had to go outside and get buckets, tie a hose to the bucket and drop it down to get the water. It was really tiring and stressful. I'll send you some pictures of it so you can see what I'm talking about a little bit better. But we got it filled up and we baptized her a little later than 7. So it was good. The devil is always trying to make it so our hermanos don't get baptized and I hate it! But it's a good story when we beat em. The coolest thing that happened this week, I think it was the baptism. Then one of the classes in church was really good, too. It was cool. It sounds like the graduation went good for you guys, too. But some people just like to be piasos sometimes. I understand that one. haha The graduation party sounds like it went well. I remember you guys were there for mine like all night, I think, if I remember right. As Makelle would say, it's because I'm the golden child. haha How did the band gig go for Ash? Still playing the hard core stuff or what? It sounds like St. George is going good, too. Except for the raining part. haha I want it to rain here. It's always a nice hot day here. Did dad go hit a couple of holes with Brent or what? I miss playing the sports. They are fun. Then as for writing Israel, some weeks I do. It just depends on the time I have cause I try to write you a good letter. Then I'm glad you got the package! Sounds like it got there with everything in it. Good, but I just sent like hammock, some of the backpacks, trompos, the wallet, that Libro de Mormon, and that's like it. I can't remember if it got there in that yellow paper. That I don't think anyone opened it. I hope you liked all the things that you got. It's hard to find cool things here sometimes. But sometimes I get lucky and find something. As for being different in the wards, that's so true. Here they consecrate oil on the first Sunday of every month in the sacrament meeting. So it's weird how they do some things. Then if the bishop didn't show up one day, I think we wouldn't be able to have church that day. haha He has to run the show and everyone only wants to talk to him on Sunday. It's different. The we also have sacrament meeting first here. Brent and Vicki sent me a letter that said that they were going to have another kid! That's crazy. Congrats if you see them for me. As for your birthday, I hope it was really good and you had the best one ever. As for church, I just remembered we got 3 new people to church. It was a dad and his two kids. His wife couldn't go because she had to work, but we think she will go this next week. They look pretty good. I think the dad felt the spirit really strong in the sacerdocio class. So I'm excited to see how they do. We are doing ok, but we can do a lot better. I think my comp and I will get along good. I hope so. I hope you enjoy the pictures and I hope that you keep having fun with Ashton and when are you leaving for the Dominican? In these next couple of weeks, no? You gotta get me something cool. haha

Well I love you.

Elder Malan

May 23, 2011

Hey Mom!
!!!!HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! I hope it is going really well for you! This last week we traveled a ton. We had to go to Cuautitlan 3 times in three days. It takes like an hour and a half to get there and back in a combi so it was a long trip. haha Our baptisms didn't go through because she wants her mom to be there and her mom lives in D.F. so we have to wait for here a little bit. We are in the last week of transfers. I think I'll be outta here. But who knows. In church, we didn't do very good. We didn't bring anyone for the first time so that was a bummer. I hate the feeling of not bringing any new people to church but sometimes it happens, unfortunately. That's really cool about Ty. That is going to be a really hot mission. haha I got lucky here, it's not too hot like it is in the south and north. haha. But it's still hot. I couldn't imagine how it is in one of those two places. I don't think that they are having too much trouble with the visas, or I think they aren't. But I'm not sure. I'm excited to hear that Ashton graduated seminary. That's really cool. How many other kids graduated with him? I think our group was a little big, but I can't remember exactly how it was. haha It's been two years, I'm getting old. I'm glad it went good for him and for all of you. He wrote me and told me it was cool so I'm glad he had some amino about it. As for mowing, that's the only thing the old dudes get mad about so just learn to trim good and they will be happy as a clam. What happened to the emails from the buddies? Do they not send them to you anymore or what? And then they don't have a senior luau?? What's up with that one, that's gay. That was a cool last little party. What a bummer. Why are you going to St. George?? Just a little break from the real life or what? haha When I get back we are going to Los Cabos I have decided or I am at least in the winter. It's good to hear that you went to the temple again. It is an amazing place. I want to go more when I get back. I heard that the Mexico City Temple is the 2nd biggest in the world. Nor sure if it's true but it is pretty big, not gunna lie. Then Elder Cook, it was awesome! When he walked in I could feel something different. That's what happens when we get to see an apostle of the Lord in the same room talking to us. It was really cool. We got to shake his hand and it was really cool. He looks older in real life though. I didn't know that he was comps in his mission with Elder Holland. I thought that was pretty cool. He talked to us on how we are doing with Preach My Gospel and how we can improve on listening to the Spirit. So I'm trying to work on learning how to do that and use Preach My Gospel more. The zone conference went good, too. The president spoke, then the zone leaders gave us some teachings. It was good. Presidente Call comes here on the 27 of June. So it's getting really close! I'm pretty excited for the change but also really sad. Pres. Nancollas is the boss. So we will just have to see what happens. Yes, I saw all the boys from the district, it was good to see them. One of them is here in the zone, but we don't see the other district that much. As for how often they have zone conferences, it should be like every three months. And for district, we have district meetings every Tuesday. So we see our district often. Then the journal is cool. It's leather on the outside, then he burned the edges of the papers and it looks cool. The paper is brownish color. It has my name on it, so it looks good. I bought it from him. It was 350 pesos, so not too bad for a personalized journal, I thought at least. Then I think the couple is doing better, but we will see what happens. I hope it happens especially if I leave! That's cool about Jose and them. I wonder how those kids are doing. I hope they are doing well. Then today we played football. We are about to go play again. We play against some bici taxi dudes, so it's fun because they think we suck but we normally beat them. haha Me and Olsen just dominate them. It's weird because my comp isn't good at soccer at all. Normally the Mexicans are decent because all of them have played but he doesn't, but he can draw really well. So it's just cool to see all the different gifts God has given us and how we need to develop them and get better. Well I know this is the true church. Jesus Christ is our Savior. This is His church.
I love you, mom. You are the best and I hope you have the best birthday ever!!
Les amo mucho,
Elder Malan

May 16, 2011

Baptism of Siddhi

Danger! Men Working!

Hello Mother!

Here we are still in the hot weather. Yesterday it rained pretty good for like 1 hour then it went away and I swear I almost got struck by lightning because we heard it and saw it at the same time! haha It was crazy. I think the rainy season is going to start up here in June so it rains a little bit everyday. Things here in Mexico are doing good. We had the baptism of Siddhi (is how you spell it, I finally found that one out). haha It went good. Then this next week we are hoping to have another baptism of a lady named Gabriella. She is cool. She showed up to church last week alone! It was a miracle. haha She is willing to get baptized this next Sunday. When we put the fecha she was like that's a little soon no? And I just said nope. Then she said, "Oh, ok you guys are the people who know so that's fine with me!" haha It was really cool and then we had a couple people in church yesterday so it was good. The week went ok. I'm more excited for this week because Quentin L. Cook is coming to speak to us this Miercoles. So we are all excited. Then on Thursday, we have my first zone conference of the mish! haha I've been here almost 8 months and this is my first zone conference. So I'm excited for those two things this week. Then what else. Israel told me that Ian Estes is going on a mission! He said Arizona, I think that's sweet. I'm excited for that kid, too. Then I had a member in our ward here make me a sweet journal. He makes books and I told him to make me a diario and it's pretty sweet looking. You guys will have to wait until I get back to see it though. Me and my comp bought some jerseys. I bought a cool Chivas jersey. It's white and orange then he bought the black Mexico one. The are both cool. We got them for cheap and they are real so we were pretty stoked about that. Then yesterday we went to a members house to eat dinner. We went and this couple has like 9 months of marriage. So we went and ate some tacos and talked with them and then I asked if we could share a couple of scriptures with them. The we shared some scriptures and I asked them if they were doing their prayers as esposos. They said, "No". They have been having troubles as esposos and then I told them they have to pray together. It was really cool because the hermano cried and said thanks, then we gave them blessings. It was a cool experience to have when the Holy Ghost was telling me what I needed to do to help out some of our Heavenly Father's children. I felt the spirit really strong and I was happy for them cause they are really cool. Then mom, one more week for your birthday!! Pretty sweet stuff, too. Sorry I couldn't get you really anything, but I hope you have a good one and my hermanos give you something for me. What else? Today we are going to play some soccer in a second so I'm happy for that. I like playing sports. It's one of the things I miss so I think I'm gunna start up an indoor team with the boys and then if Michael wants to join, we will take him into consideration. Cambios are here in two weeks. So we will have to see what happens there. I should be leaving but who knows what is going to happen. As for passing the sacrament, I don't have to do that or bless it. We have like 100 people that go to church every week so I don't have to do really anything. I'm glad for that, too. haha We go to the same ward every week. Our area is what our ward area is. So we just work for this ward only. And yes, there are a ton of people here. It's crazy. It's nothing like the states at all. It's cause all the houses are small and stuck together. Usually 6 people like in a house. They have apartments so it's pretty populated here. I don't really see missionaries from other missions. We can't leave the mission unless we have permission from Pres. And we do have police with big guns, but a lot of them don't carry bullets. But some of them do. But it's not scary. It's just how it is here. Yes, we only have Mexico City Temple. It's out of the mission and it's the closest here. I'm not sure what the next closest temple is. But no, we don't have donkeys, they only pull the garbage dudes that come and collect the garbage. Here there aren't really dirt floors. In Hidalgo, yes there are but I don't want to go there. haha I like the estado de Mexico. But that's all I got for today. I hope you enjoy this week and keep doing all the good fun stuff. Take care, love you all.