January 31, 2012

Elder Malan sent home his flash drive this past weekend.  On it was some very fun video clips!  Let me know what you think.  I believe this is his last day/night at the MTC.  Do you recognize the tune???

To pause the background music, scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page and press "pause". 

January 30, 2012

Hey Mom!

I got the little package from Jesus. And he gave me the cookies that you gave him!  They are so good!! ha ha And the little key chain is a mini statue of some statue that is in Hidalgo in Tula. A missionary left it in the house so I took advantage cause I don't know if i will ever be able to go there. But yes it's for you mom. I'm glad that you liked the pictures too. And I'm glad that ash was able to read my letter and that he is doing well.  I'm glad to hear that he passed his class unlike me ha ha! Congrat, Ash! He is know seeing some of the blessings that Heavenly Father can give us if we do our part.  I'm glad that he will be able to help me when I get back home :) ha ha

Now for the pictures, the rat we found on the street dead. That's what it was. And ya they are my friends ha ha and now why was Clark always sleeping... that's a good question. You should ask him that one. ha ha He always fell asleep doing his prayers. Did you watch the video when I got him with the shaving cream?? It was really funny. If you snooze you lose. The Sponge Bob was a Snuggie that Elder Olsen had. I slept in his house one day and they didn't have enough blankets so he let me use that bad boy ha ha. And for the missionary washing my hair, they cut my hair one day and they were like we are gonna wash your hair now! So I was like ok that's fine and he washed my hair ha ha. Oh and one missionary wants to now how much the towels cost the microfiber ones and he would like you to buy one for him and he would give me the money, if you could do that.

The memory card you can send it back if you want. It's up to you guys. I have another memory card so its whatev. And the building that we were in, I'm not sure what its called but we went there and it was a building that the Spanish built here. So that's why its all pretty cause it was built buy a rich dude. Then the arches of Queretaro are those big things. They are cool. They are in my area so I pass by them a lot now. So its not that cool now ha ha.

For sharing the gospel mom, you can do it!! Just open your mouth and the Spirit will help you. Keep putting the example but talk too. Just little conversations. Like if they ask you what did you do last week? Oh I went to church and we learned this this and all that and then by doing something like that you are sharing the gospel! There is a little idea for you. And you should of made them pansita. They would of loved that! Or something really spicy. ha ha I am starting to like really spicy food.  They have some really hot stuff here.

Now here for the work, me and my comp are doing ok, we found a less active family that has two kids that aren't baptized. So those two should be getting baptized here in the 2 weeks I think. Those were the only two that came to the church. We are finding a couple people but they don't go to church. But that is always the challenge. But we just gotta keep working with they for a little bit and try to help them but if they don't want to we have to drop em. And yes we had to drop Hugo mom. So that is how it is going these days.

Now cool experience about the blessings, here we have to give blessings quite a bit maybe 1 or 2 a week. and last week we gave blessings to the less active family cause they were all a little sick. We blessed the mom and the kid. They were both better the next day! So it was a testimony builder that we do have the priesthood of God and we can do miracles here on the earth to bless the lives of the other people. That's one of the coolest things that I like doing as a missionary giving blessings cause the words just come and without thinking.

Here the weather has been cold the last two days and a little rainy so it has kinda sucked. But we are doing ok. Today we went to the mall to look at some stuff but I didn't find anything that I liked. But I will be here for at least 6 more weeks so we will see what happens. And Jesus didn't really say anything about you guys, but we eat with his fam on Sunday so we will see what he says.  Love you, fam take care and talk to you next week!

January 23, 2012

 

Hey Mom! How are you doing? I'm doing good here in Mexico. And yes, I did burn the pants and it was cool ha ha. I didn't burn my pants. They were some that some other elders had left in the house. So don't worry bout that mom. I took a video, so you will have to wait to see it. It went well though. Now this last week was ok for us, except Sunday. We had a good week and found some people but they didn't come to church on Sunday. That is the most frustrating thing, when they say they are gonna go then Sunday comes and they don't show up. But we just have to keep working with those people a little bit longer and if they don't come again then we have to let em go and find other people that do want to go to church. My comp is progressing a lot. He is talking to a lot more people in the street and in the lessons. I still gotta work with him on how to teach a little bit more but the good thing is that he is coming out of his shell and talking. And for the BOM, not gonna lie I haven't given it to anybody yet, but I will give it to someone this week.

I'm sad to hear about the 9ers. But the good thing is they didn't get there cause if they would have I would be dying to watch the game ha ha So next year they will make it and we will be fine and I will be able to watch it and enjoy it. And I don't think they went into overtime if they beat them 20-7 mom, ha ha but that's fine you are still learning.

And  I heard the jazz are doing well too. That's good to hear.  I did hear that they got rid of Memo. That's a good start ha ha, and they need to get rid of Andre, too. He sucks and they pay him a ton. And people have only thrown at me a plastic bottle. Nothing really bad has happened to me here. It must be because they see my big muscles and don't want to mess with me ha ha. jk. But no nobody has really done anything to me. And my favorite scripture is the same that I put on my plaque. 2 Nefi 32 8-9. That tells it all right there. I really like that one. And dad tells me he has first dibs on me every third Sunday to talk. I'm gonna be speaking more when I get home than here in the mission! ha ha. But that's fine I don't get too nervous when I talk to in front of a crowd now.

Now for the ideas that you guys have in ward council are good. The only thing that is always the problem is put it in practice in our lives. I see that here in the mission a lot. Here they tell us to do things over and over again and we don't do them or we do them only for a little bit then we stop.  It's the same in the church. We always hear the same thing over and over again but we don't keep doing it ha ha. I think that's why we don't progress as much as we can cause we don't keep doing what our leaders tell us to do. Like yesterday we did the class in the priesthood and we talked to the hermanos about fulfilling their priesthood duties. We showed a little talk from Pres. Eyring and talked about it. It went well but we will see if they do it. We talked to them about doing their home teaching visits and about sharing the gospel with their families and friends. We will see if we can get some more support from the hermanos cause here its a little harder to work cause the church is far away and the people are a little bit more closed in their beliefs or they will listen but won't do anything what we ask them to do. So we hope that our little class helped them out and that they can share the gospel with others. Really the priesthood is so powerful. I have seen it work many times here on the mission. To bless people that have addictions, to heal people, it really is the power of God given to man on earth.

Today we went and got our haircuts and I look good. I like my hair really short. I don't have to worry about it at all. And we played some board games with some comps. My district, I don't have really any friends, I'm the only American in my district ha ha. So it's a little different. but in our ward there are 4 missionaries and we usually go with the other two missionaries that are in our ward. Elder Salamanca and Elder Irigoyen. Salamanca is from Chihuahua and Irigoyen is from Uruguay. So I'm still the only white kid ha ha. But it's cool, I like it. We played Risk Revolution. It's a cool version of Risk. It's pretty fun. And now we are going to eat chicken. So we are excited for that. And the last time I saw Elder Baez was when he came to sing here in Queretaro for the missionaries in the activity Navideña. If a missionary isn't in my zone I don't really see them. So that's how it is with that. And nope I still haven't received my Valentines package. But that's fine. I want one in Febrero. Well that's about it for this letter. I owe Ethan some tacos from Mexico. So that's a bummer but he has to eat a jabenero. We will see how he does with that bad boy. ha ha I'm gonna bring back some salsa and see if you guys can handle it. I like eating salsa here. But ya well that's it. I hope you are all doing well. Take care and have a good day and a good week! Tell grandma and grandpa thanks for the Christmas present. Talk to you later!

first at the peña

second last holidays.

January 16, 2012

Hey Mom! Good to hear from you! I am doing pretty well here. And Clark man I love that kid.  I will try to tell more stories for you mom ha ha don't worry about that one.  No I don't know them, the people that you are saying in his story. The area where he climbed a mountain isn't in our mission anymore. I'm not going to bear my testimony in Spanish just so you know mom. I have already decided that cause everyone does it. I want to be different. And they don't say that line that much or I don't hear it that much. They do take the Lord's name in vain quite a bit. My comp even did it but I had to correct him and now he is a lot better ha ha. and my comp is doing well. He is doing better. He still has a long way to go but he is a lot better than before so that's the good part.  He is getting less shy so that's a good thing too. Now as for Hugo, we went to his house on Saturday night to check to see if all was good for church and his baptism and he went off on us. How he was saying that he only wanted to go to church when he felt like it and that he doesn't want to get baptized. So it was a bummer, I was a little frustrated cause he was doing good, but then he fell. So it was sad. We are going to have to let him go.

Now to tell that one homie that feels like the church obligates people to do stuff. It's not true. The church, like the missionary purpose says invite others to come unto Christ. The church only invites others to have the blessings that God wants to give us. It's our decision if we want to participate or no. We have the agency to choose what we want to do. The church tries to help us the best they can but in the end it is our agency that will win. So that homie just needs to understand that concept. That we have the agency but we will pay for the consequences, the good ones or the bad ones, cause here in the world it's for our progress not for God's progress- He is perfect. He wants us to have His blessings. He knows what we are going to do cause He is our Father. So He just wants to help us but we are rebels sometimes and don't do His will.

Now this last week went ok for us. We had a baptism on a teenager. We have been struggling with him and his mom for awhile but this last week they both agreed that it was the best decision for them and we baptized him on Saturday. Now the interesting part, as you can see in the picture my comp isn't with me. We did divisions on Friday and the DL came with me and my comp with his comp. We told them to be in the church at 10, but they never got there! So come to find out when they got the as the baptismal service was finishing that they had taken the wrong camion and went on the other side of Queretaro! So it's a bummer my comp wasn't there. I was bummed, but we couldn't really do anything. But the important thing is that he got baptized. His name is Omar. But now we don't really have anything. We have a couple people in teaching but they haven't came to church. So that is the sucky part. They need to have 3 times in church to be baptized. So we have to work hard this week to get going again.

Now today was pretty cool, we went to the Peña De Bernal.  It's a huge rock basically. It's the third biggest in the world. So it was cool. We could go all the way up to the top cause you need ropes and all that good stuff. But it was still cool. We could see everything. The picture I sent you is the rock. It's cool stuff. We went with 3 other companionship's. So it was a good time. And no mom you didn't tell me Misti is falling off the couch ha ha. She needs to find a different spot to sleep it sounds like. And why did you buy half a cow from Jeff's dad? Why did he have half a cow is a better question ha ha.

Well here we are doing well. We are progressing and trying to be better everyday. We just need to keep striving to do the best we can so we can qualify for the blessings of the Lord in our lives and help those who don't have the gospel in there lives. Here are some pictures of the baptisms and of the peña. I sent a package with a dude that was going to Utah so he should call you soon. Not sure when. Just don't be surprised when he calls ok? ha ha Well gotta go, I hope you are all well and echandole ganas. Te amo tambien mama. Cuidate mucho. Hablamos en una semana. Hasta luego.

January 9, 2012

Hey Mom!

Good to hear from you again. And yes we did have our baptism last week. We had it on the Dia de Los Reyes so it was pretty cool. Her name is Isela. We have been working for her for a while and she finally got baptized. Her mom was the reason why she hadn't gotten baptized before cause she is really catholic I guess, but now she got baptized so it was good stuff. And Hugo we hadn't visited him for a while and yesterday he came to church by himself! So we had a class and then we took him and showed him the baptismal font and we put a baptismal date with him for the 21st of Jan. so we will see how it goes. We hope he can do it. This time he accepted the date a lot better so I think we have a good shot with him. Then this last week we did ok. We found a couple of people. We brought one family of 3 to church but they don't really want to change their way of life. I tried to make an appointment for this week and they said call us this week and we will see. So I don't think they will progress much, but I think this week will go a little bit better. We are starting to lift the area. So that is the good thing. My comp is getting a little more comfortable with talking to people. He still has a way to go but he has learned a lot. When we were teaching the family of 3 I let him teach the restoration. He told the first vision and jumped straight to the Book of Mormon! We are suppose to say how Joseph Smith got the priesthood but he jumped all of that cause he was nervous. It was a little funny but I took control of the lesson and it went well. He was a little embarrassed after, but I just told him not to worry and not to be so nervous ha ha.

Now that's pretty crazy what has been happening in Ogden lately. I'm sorry to hear about the police officer. Did they kill the homie that shot them or what? And that's crazy about the fire alarm and the expensive seats that you bought! ha ha But at least you got your money back. And the BOM is sweet stuff. I love reading it. It's so cool. One hermana here showed me something about the judges that they have in the Book of Mormon and related it to here in Mexico and man its really close to how it is with the government here and the secret bands. She told me that the swine flu was just a distraction so they could pass more drugs to the US and to pass laws here. So its crazy how the world is right now. And we even have a cat killer huh, that's funny. He would love being here then cause there are so many stray cats and dogs here in Mexico. It's a joke. There aren't so many here in Queretaro but in the Estado de Mexico and I heard in Hildalgo there are a ton ha ha. Tell Makelle just to punch him. that will do the trick I think.

Now if the Bishop wants you to talk you can just say to the young men and young women to prepare themselves reading the scriptures being worthy and have a desire to share the gospel. The Lord needs more missionaries that are ready to go from the first day and if they young ones aren't ready then who is going to be the one sharing the gospel? It changes lives, I've seen it here. I've seen it in my own life. It's cool how it works. We just all need to realize that when we fulfill with God he will bless us. So we are basically just being benefited even more from living the commandments. (Mosiah 2) I like that chapter you can read it if you want. It's cool. the church is true. Tell them that too ha ha.

for Mitt Romney, I heard he is running again.  I will get to vote so I'm excited for that one too. But yes, we will see how it goes. I'm trying to get the picture of the baptism loaded up on here but it doesn't want to ready it. So we will see how it goes. But it isn't working so you will have to get it next week ha ha. But that's about it for this letter. I hope you are all doing well. I'm doing fine here in queretaro, I like it a lot here. Especially cause the work is going a little bit better here. Now we just need to keep doing work. Oh and today for p day two elders came over and helped us clean our house. It was really bad. So we mopped swept and did all that good stuff and now it looks and smells so much better! So I think we will be feeling a lot better in the house too. ha ha. And we ate queso carnes. They are good. Well gotta go. Take care- love you all!

January 2, 2012!

Elder Malan and Elder Hernandez

Hey Mom! Good to hear from you once again, and Feliz Año Nuevo!! It's crazy that we are already in 2012. Get ready cause the world is gonna end this year ha ha. jk But that's crazy we are gonna have a little cousin! We haven't had one for a while. Tell them congrats for me. Sounds like new years was exciting then. Glad to hear that. Then that's sweet you went to Ammons homecoming and Elder Clark his name is Brandon Carl Clark. Dad said you didn't know his name but there it is for you. ha ha I'm glad that I was a good comp with Brandon. He is a funny guy. Dad told me he is going to take it slow with the girlfriend. Good for him he should do that. And how are the Nancollas doing? Tell them hi for me the next time you see them. And yes those houses are big. 

Now to answer the question about my hijo. He is from Puebla, Mexico. He is from a little town and his name is Elder Hernandez. So a common Mexican last name. He is cool, he is a little shy and so i have a lotta work to do with him. He is starting to talk a little bit more with the people but he is still really nervous to do it. And we get a long fine. He doesn't say much and he is pretty humble so that's the good thing. I can be able to teach him. I'll send you a pic of me and him.

Now the work this week was tough. I had to do basically everything so it is really different for me. Usually I can be a little more relaxed but now I can't cause I have to do everything basically. He doesn't say much when we are teaching cause he is still nervous and doesn't know how to teach very well so we gotta work with him there. I remember back to when I was new and man I bet that was tough for my trainer. At least my comp can speak Spanish haha I couldn't really do anything. But this week was tough. Everybody leaves here on vacations so we didn't find anybody to get to the church. And it was the 1st so everybody was partying here. We didn't really do anything for new years. Nobody really wanted to listen to us that day either ha ha. So this week and the weeks to come should be a lot better. And this week there is still one more holiday that's called Dia de Los rRyes or kings day. It's for the 3 kings that went to give gifts to Jesus. It's on Friday so we will see how that goes too.  That's crazy that Clayton is already on his mish too! And Lexi is going that's good to hear. I wonder who is gonna be the next missionary from Ashton's age. We will see. And Jeff is getting home in like 1 month! That's crazy stuff the time is going pretty fast that's for sure. Ethan reminded me today that I have almost 18 months so that is pretty crazy too. Spencer will get home soon too about 3 months if I remember right. The time is going quick and there is still a ton of work to do.

We hope the work starts getting better here. Now that everybody should be a little more tranquilo. I think it will get a lot better. So I'm looking forward to that. But that's about it for the letter cause I don't really have much more to say ha ha. Today we played monopoly and I barely lost so it was a bummer. Now I know how to play better so I will beat dad when I get back. ha ha So get ready dad. But now that is a new year again I would like to ask you to reflect on the things that you can each do better and start from now to do it.Because we always say tomorrow I will do it, but many times tomorrow never comes for those things. So I advise you to do it today and not wait. Like the authorities of the church say or like Nike- just do it ha ha. Take care and I love you guys!

P.S. the computer is not working that well. It wont read my memory card so I think you might have to wait until next week for the picture of my comp and me ha ha. I'll try to work it out but here is the letter for right now. Love you!

December 26, 2011

Hey mom! It was really good to talk to you all yesterday. I enjoyed it a lot. It was cool to use Skype, and it was free so that was good too. My day today I took my comp to the bus station and then he left. Now I'm with another companionship waiting to go to the offices tonight. We got locked out of their house so it was a little crappy they had to pay for a locksmith to come and open their door cause Elder Logan took their keys with them. ha ha and I will know who my comp is tomorrow so I will tell you next week whats up with him. And Hugo we haven't really been able to find him. So I think we are gonna drop him. And we have had a lady that is a sister of a member that wanted to get baptized then said no then now she says yes and we have a date for the 6th of January. so we will see how that goes. then yesterday we are teaching another young couple. one is Abram. He is cool. He was in the states selling drugs then got put in prison and it changed his life. He likes church cause he learns something is what he tells us. His wife is good too. Her name is Edit. We will see how it goes with them. We are trying to get them baptized on the 7th of January. I don't remember any pictures in the package. I didn't see any of them at least. ha ha And I think I'm pretty white here. I'm not that dark I think ha ha.

Now sounds like Christmas went good for everybody. I'm glad to hear that. For us on Christmas eve we went to sing Christmas hymns in the Centro. It went good. We wrapped presents of books of Mormon and videos of the church and gave them away. A bunch of people were trying to give us money cause they are so use to paying for everything here ha ha. and we told them it was a gift and free and they were all happy. Then we went and ate dinner with the hermano Rodolfo. The hermano that helps us out a lot he is cool. Then Sunday we had  Edit and Abram in the church. So it went good. And I did enjoy talking with Israel it was cool. I hadn't seen that homie in like 2 and a half years! So it was nice to see him. He looks the same ha ha. He asked me today in the email if I could understand his Spanish and I said that I could. It was good. Now we just need dad to start talking Spanish and we will be good. I'm excited to check out those new guns too! Well that's about it for me. I don't really have much more to say. We will see how it goes this week with the newbie. \I just will treat him well and get him use to working. I'm glad that i can try to help a newbie out. Like dad said yesterday cause I will have a big impact on his mission if I teach him well. Well that's it. love you all keep reading praying and doing what you should and you will see the blessings in your lives. Thanks to Christ we can enjoy life and when we make mistakes we can learn and repent. That's the best part. Love you all.

first is singing in the centro.

second is in the centro after singing

third with Adam and Eve ha ha
fourth me and the district leader Elder Aldecoa.