September 12, 2011

Baptism of Abril

Hey mom! and family. I'm doing well. Thats a bummer that dad was sick on his birthday. Thats a bad birthday present mom! haha But oh well. Must be nice having a bbq. I'm gunna make a list for the food I want to eat when I get home. And I'll let you know what it is later. Thats sweet that Ashton went with the missionaries. Now the days go by really quickly. They aren't long. The first couple of days in the MTC they were way long! And in the field. At least he is getting a feel of what I do everyday haha. Thats a bummer he didn't get to teach though. Hopefully next time he can do it.  Makelle didn't tell me about that story. Only that Annie Johnson works at the Timbermine now. Thats cool she talked to him about it. Hopefully she can keep bringin up the gospel with many people!  Thats cool they spoke in church. I think they have spoken in church more times than I have in my mission haha I think they have two times. I only have one. And as for marraige counsiel, just tell them to marry within the church or they are never gunna get married in the temple. We see that in many cases here. They get married and the one that isn't member never gets baptized and never wants anything with the church. Thats the only advice I have. And to say prays everyday together and read the Book of Mormon, go to the temple, those things are the things that will help every couple. I'm glad your class went good mom. It sounds like you did a good job! And the dang girls never want to go to class... they never want to go even when i was there. haha Who is in your class mom? And I know Leo. He is a cool kid. He was a freshman or sophmore when I was a senior. He is a cool kat. Hopefully he keeps going to church. That would be cool.  And thats crazy that Sammy comes home this year!! Time goes by quick haha. Soon enough Spencer and Jeffy will be home. Thats good to hear that Ogden won the Iron Horse again. 4 years straight. Thats what I'm talking about. I think Makelle only won it her freshman year. That sucks. But oh well. At least they are doing a lot better now. And Max, man I haven't seen that kid for a while. Hopefully he is doing good.  If you want to get me an o zone shirt you can send me one if you want momma. haha As for the debit card, I'm not sure if it is working. I haven't tried it out yet. I'll check it out sometime soon. Then yes our baptism went through! It was another little adventure to get into the font. They locked all the doors and nobody has keys to get into the font! So luckily the church has windows that aren't all one piece and we were able to take out a window then I crawled in there and opened the doors and we were able to start the font up. It went really well after that. The water was nice and warm we made little programs so it went really well. I was really happy for that baptism cause we had it all good. And Abril is 11 years old. We are reactivating her and hopefully now she will go every weekIi think with her daughter being baptized will help her out a lot.  The tacos are completly different momma! Here they are real.Tthere they are just beef and chicken. Here they are tripa, suadero, cabeza, longaniza, al pastor, bisteck. They are good. I dont like tripa. thats stomach. But I love the pastor and bisteck and suadero. They are good.  And no I haven't had the pansita again for a while. So Iim doing good. haha I'm doing good health wise. I havent had really any problems and the leaders are a lot better. They don't just care about numbers. This last week was another struggle. We didnt get anyone to the church for the first timeagian. SoIi was bummed. this week we hope for different results so we can baptize a good amount of people on the conference. So I think we will be able to do it.   And I i wrote Ash some tips and a story that happened this week. Hopefully he likes it. Then makelle finally wrote me! That was nice. Then something happened last week, so I let my comp borrow my memory card to send some pictures to his fam. Then he gave it back to me and I had a virus!! So all of my photos on my memory are erased. ButIi have the flash drive so I will be sending that to you so hopefully it gets there good. I haven't sent it yet. But it will be on its way in a week or two.Well thats about it for this week I hope you are all good. I'm glad dad had a good b day except for being sick. I hope Ash does well in his job. And mom keep doing work with the little kids. Love you all. Take care.

September 5, 2011

Hey Mom!
It's good to hear from you. Here we are doing ok. We had a rough week last week. We didn't get anyone to the church for the first time. So it was a bummer because when we don't take anyone to church for the first time, we can't baptize in 3 weeks, and basically we lost the whole week of work. So it was a bummer. But we have a new week this week and we are determined not to let it happen again. But as for the little Tigers, thats sweet they won, they are representin haha. That's sweet stuff. As for the high school team, I hope they win the horse, if they do that will be like 4 years in a row, no? That would be way tight. I hope they can do the work. I still can't believe we won our game my senior year. That was crazy. I hope that Ogden can keep progressing and get better coaches like Jantz.
Now as for Alicia, she didnt get baptized. We went last week to her house and she hid from us. We felt pretty bad. I hate it when that happens. It happens a lot here. People get the answer that they are looking for but then they get scared and Satan gets 'em. But that's why our job is so important, we need to help them make the best decision they can. But sometimes it still doesn't work. Then for my comp we are doing a little better. He is starting to understand somethings so it's getting better. I just need to keep setting the example and be patient with him. My favorite comp, I don't know, that is a tough question. Everyone has their pros and cons. But I really liked being with Elder Baez. He is a cool kid and we got along really well I think and we had fun. But almost all my comps are relaly cool. Everyone has something different from them. So I learn a lot. And no mom, I don't see rats very often, but it rained even harder on Friday!! It was up to our knees in one spot but I couldn't take a picture cause I didn't have my camera!! I was bummed because it was crazy how hard it was raining, but you guys will just have to imagine.
Now I got the card and I got the package. The jerky is fantastic. I love it and the poptarts! They are sweet stuff. We don't get that much money really. We get like 1800 pesos each month but man it goes quick because we have to take the combis a lot sometimes. But oh well. And you will have to wait for the picture of the Brasil jersey for one more week ahah. And I still haven't sent the flash drive. I think I will send it within a week or two. And shoe polish, yes it's the mid tan color and black.  I don't know where you bought that last one. You will have to ask dad.  That's cool to hear Taylor is getting married.  And that's cool about Morgan. I think you told me last week that she will be gone for 5 months? Not sure but if that's right we will get home right about the same time! Crazy to think about haha. And mom don't worry here there aren't any zoos that I know about so I won't get attacked by a lion. And I don't do that many stupid thing anyways so dont worry mom I'm a good kid haha.
Then sometimes they have things that say the US is in a big crisis here on the papers. So thats why I asked. I don't know really any details about it. That's why I asked.  Don't worry mom when I get home that year we will vote for president again I think and he won't be pres. haha That's awesome that Ash got his first job!! I'm excited for him. I'll try to give him some tips, something I learned the hard way and the easy way. Hopefully he does well and kicks some butt.

Here this last week was tough. Today we played soccer and I am tired haha. My team lost both times! It sucked but its just for fun, but I don't like losing haha. Then more about this last week, we ate tacos a bunch.  A couple of members took us out for them. I'm tired of tacos now. I don't really have any stories about this last week. We didn't do that well. We should have one baptism this week. Her name is Abril. Her mom was inactive and we are reactivating her and we are going to baptize her daughter Abril. So it should be good. This week we hope to change our outcome from last week and turn it into a bunch of people so we can make up for this last week. I hope you are all good and I love you all. Thanks for your letters and everything. I have the best family in the world. Oh and DAD Happy Birthday! ¡Feliz Cumpliaños Papá! The big ol 48! I hope you are happy dad. Have a good one the 10th. Well gotta go. Love you all.

August 29, 2011

Hey mom!
How are you doing? Sounds like it is nice and hot up there in Utah, that's good to hear haha. And wow mom that is weird that you are starting to get into political stuff. I would have never imagined that. But that's cool. Ethan wrote me and told me its hard to read my letters cause I don't put spaces in them. I don't know if that's true but I'll put some spaces in this one just for him. haha and its good to hear that your class is going good too, mom. Just keep doing what you have been and you will be fine. And tell hi to your class for me.  I hope they are being good kids or when I get back I'll deal with them. haha. And yes mom you should probably get some different ones, I'll try to send you some right now if I can get them on, the comps in this internet where we are at are kinda crappy. So whatever.
But today we went to one of the churches and we had french toast, it wasn't the best french toast but its better than nothing. Then we played some basketball for a little bit. It kinda sucked because we only have 3 companionships in our district and one of the companionships is a trio of hermanas. The other two elders aren't good at basketball but whatever haha it was still fun. Then this last week was pretty crappy during the week, we couldn't find anybody that was good but then on Friday we decided to check out a less active family and we found out that one of the children hasn't been baptized! So we were excited to reactivate them and baptize their kid. Their kid is actually pretty smart. She understood a lot better than some adults haha. She and her mom went to church yesterday so it was cool. Then we had our baptism! It was crazy though. So our church starts at 8 in the morning so we got up went for our people and got to the church but when we got there I checked the font and it was all dirty with about a foot and a half of water! And a bunch of dead insects in there. But the problem was is that we couldn't drain the water because the system here in Mexico with the water is they save the water from the font and use it to water the grass. So the system was full of water and we couldn't drain it. So I decided to get in and try to clean it out a little bit. I was in there for like a half hour and I decided that I was wasting my time because it wasn't getting really cleaner. So we decided that we were going to have it in another church. So we went to the other church and filled up the font and had the baptism in the end. Satan always puts problems in our ways so that we can't do our job! haha But it went good in the end.
Now about your calling mom, I'm sure you are doing a great job and that is why they keep you there because they can't find anyone else that can do better! I don't know why you are trippin mom. Don't worry about that you are doing a good job. Keep doing it like the way you are doing. Dad is there to help you too. So you will be fine. Just keep praying and studying for your lessons. And about the peeps that are getting married, that's fine everyone has their time. My time will be in like while anyways haha. And man I want to see the best 2 years that movie is funny.
Now to answer your questions, we haven't had any problems where we live about not having power. We are fine with that. I heard that one part got struck by lightning so they don't have power in the zone of Valle Dorado. I think, not sure though. And me and my comp are doing good. We don't argue too much. Oh then before our baptism of Susana we had a miracle! So we went to the other church and some guy had shown up to that church solo. So come to find out he lives in our area and he wants to get baptized! We are excited for that. We are going to visit him tonight to get to know him a little better and to prepare for baptism. His name is Alejandro. But during the week it wasn't that good. We had a hard time finding people but in the end we have some good people that can progress and be baptized in this month of September. So we are excited for that. Then during church we showed a cool little movie that the mission gave us in priesthood meeting. My comp just talked about how the holders of the priesthood needed to do better in the ward. It was good and funny cause my comp just shredded em haha. Then as you can see in the pictures that I sent you it rained really good on Monday. It was cool, we got home and it started to downpour! So we changed and went out and took some pictures. And I had some friends in one of the pictures. We will see if you can see them haha. I think my pictures will answer your questions about the rain. Sometimes it rains hard and sometimes it doesn't really rain at all. But I don't have rain boots. I only have my shoes. And I need some new shoe polish, black and the mid tan. I left my little packet of shoe shine stuff in my last area. I'm mad about that so i was wondering if you could send me one again cause it is nice.
Then that is cool that you had stake conference, it sounds like it went good. Elder rasband is cool. I wish he could come here haha but we don't get those privileges that often. I hope that the people can really take into heart what they heard and have better relationships with their spouses because that is the person they are gunna live with forever haha. If they aren't happy or cant fix their problems here, I feel bad for them.
But that's about it for this letter. I hope you are all doing good. Here its cool and I'm liking it. Tomorrow we are having a meeting with Pres. Call. So I'm looking forward to that. But I heard that it is going to go forever. So I'm not looking forward to the time that we are going to be there in the seats. But I'm sure we will learn a lot of stuff. I love you mom and I hope you are doing well with dad and ash. Keep strong in the faith. Love you all and I hope you enjoy the pictures. Love you.
Elder Malan

Mason in the rain!

Mason and his "friends"! (they are the rats on the cover!)

Baptism of Susana!

August 22, 2011

Hey Mom!

Your Spanish is improving a lot!  That's good to hear.  haha  The cabin sounds like it went really good and I'm sorry about your neighbor that ran a lot.  My week went good during the week then it went bad on Sunday.  So it was a bummer because Sunday is the day that counts.  The interview went good.  I felt better after having the interview.  We had changes today but me and my comp stayed here in the area.  So it's fine.  We weren't expecting any changes here.  We heard that Pres. Call wants to start leaving missionaries in one area for at least 6 months!  That's something that Pres. Nancollas hardly ever did.  So that is going to be a big change.  That means I might be in my second to last area!  Crazy to think about that if it is true.  The only change that affected us is that we are changing districts because we have another companionship coming in so we are going to be in another district.  But that's it.  Our district leader changed and my comp isn't happy about that because he was his comp before and he says he is really prideful.  So we will see how it goes.  Yesterday, Sunday, we only had one new person in church and 2 in total.  So three of our people didn't go the second time so we are really bummed about that.  But hopefully they can keep listening to us and progressing and get baptized.  The zl that was here left and we get Elder Gray as our zl.  He is cool, he was my dl in Prados so I'm excited for that one.  Hopefully Ash can get a job here soon.  What's this I hear about him getting a sick new computer?? Must be nice.  haha  But it will be mine in a little less than a year.  So I'm excited for a new computer for me, too.  It's good to hear that he is happy as a clam right now.  Are you going to come to Mexico?  Or what do you want to do?  Here it's not pretty.  So we will have to talk about that more closer to when I am going to be home.  But I would like to go to New York and see grandma and grandpa.  That would be really cool  It's also good to hear that we have 7 missionaries out.  That's good stuff.  It's good to hear that you got a comp to help you teach that class.  Is anyone getting married yet in that class?  Besides Chase.  That's crazy that fool is already married!!  I got his announcement and by the time I got it he was already married!  haha  I'm going to send the flash drive home.  I copied all the pictures on that bad boy so it should be better like that because then I won't lose the memory card or the pictures.  Then those pictures with the worms are nice.  I ate the worm.  She didn't have the crickets.  So ya, I have never eaten those things since, so I don't think that is a really a meal here.  And yes, I have some more pictures than I send you.  A little photo album wouldn't be bad.  I would like another one. Maybe for Christmas.  That would be cool  And no word on the debit card.  I think it will get here next week about so we should be fine.  I'll call the secretary in the offices and tell him to watch for a letter for me.  No, it's hard to believe that school already starts again for you guys!  It's crazy how the time is going right now.  We are almost in September!  Crazy stuff.  But I think this year will go by fast for you again, mom.  Because everyone is going to start getting home from the missions.  The cell phone is broke?  What did I tell you about the Samsung phones??!  haha  Use my blackberry, mom.  It's a good phone.  It's a little old but it's good.  And yes a lot of people have cell phones here.  Some of them are nice and some of them are really crappy.  Nobody really has an iphone though.  They are really expensive here.  All the electronics that are new and not stolen are a bunch of money here.  Well this week we hope to have a baptism of a 14 year old girl names Suzanna.  She is cool.  She is from Hidalgo.  So we are excited for that.  We should have had a couple more this week but the 3 people didn't go to church!  So it was a bummer, but we will work with them and help them out.  This last week was good, until Sunday, then it sucked.  But I think that this week will get better.  I sent you a letter last week so we will see how long it takes to get there.haha  Right now they aren't taking too long to get here, like 2 weeks, sometimes less.  They always take forever to get there.  Oh well.  I'm feeling better and I am liking the mission.  I think it will get better because now I have a different dl and zl.  So I am excited, I like the changes sometimes.  I also bought a cool Brazil jersey.  Israel would be proud of that baby.  The next one is going to be a black Mexico one, it is sick.  Here for p-day, I don't think we will do anything.  There isn't much to do and it's changes today so all the other missionaries are doing that.  We will probably just relax and get all rested up for this week.  Thanks for the love mom and dad.  You are the best, really, always here for me.  Even though we are far away.  I hope all is going well.  I heard that there is a crisis in the US right now.  So I hope that isn't affecting much of you guys.  Ummm, what more happened this week. nothing really exciting happened.  Oh wait, I got a story for you.  So Tuesday, we were looking for a contact that we had and we couldn't find it so we started to knock doors.  Then we found a lady that had been to church in someplace, but had never gotten baptized!  So we taught her and she accepted everything and she is progressing and doing well.  We are excited for her, too.  Her name is Alicia.  She has her baptismal date for the 4th of September.  But I love you and thanks for everything, mom! 

Elder Malan

The worms we ate with the Nancollas'