November 7, 2011

Hey mom! It's good to hear from you once again.  That's a bummer about the internet haha. Comcast is crappy you should have stuck with Directtv. And your friend hasn't been working, man, that's a bummer mom. All the electronics are failing on you.

 Now about Ben and Israel, that's sweet that they got home! It's crazy that it has already been two years since those homies left on their missions. It was a little tough last week cause I was thinking bout them getting home!! haha Now I know how they felt when we were still in the house and they were in the MTC and their missions. There is too much stuff going on to think about them and home. But that's sweet that they were able to come over and visit you and also Hunter. It's about time he visited you guys. haha  But that's sweet, I'm glad that they helped you out mom. And I heard dad is already getting them to talk in wards with him haha. He is gonna have me go like every week with him i bet. But its ok. I have only spoken one time here on the mission so it will make up for it. And that is really good to hear that they have both grown a lot I'm guessing in the sense of the Gospel. The mission makes a man out of a boy that is for sure. There are a lot of tough roads and a some beautiful ones, but the beautiful ones I remember a lot more than the other ones. And mom about the accent, I can't really tell if I have an accent or not, you will have to tell me on the phone when we talk on Christmas haha. Then you can judge if I  have one or not. I'm probably talking like a Chilango. but it's fine. haha

Now for this last week we survived Dia de Muerto. On the first it's the kid day and they go out and ask for candy. It was amazing how many kids were out there asking for candy. Lots of people dont open their doors cause once the kids see that one house has candy they all go there haha. It's pretty crazy, but it went ok, nobody wanted to open doors for us. The members and everybody else cause they thought we were trick or treaters haha. But yes we had the baptism. It went well. The cousin of Roberto came and baptized them so it was good. But the church still didn't buy gas!! So it was pretty cold water again. And we didn't want it to be cold water so we stuck an iron and some resistencias in the water to try to heat it up a little bit but it didn't work. It was too much water, but it was ok. They did it like champions. And yes we are out until 9 every night. And gicama is a root or something. I'm not completely sure what it is. But its not too bad, but she just gave me way too much haha. And gabby emailed me it was cool. I got a letter from Juana cause she gave a letter to the elder that is in my area and we had a zone conference last week and he gave me her letter. They are both strong in the church so it was really cool that.  I heard that one of the families that I left there in Prados got baptized and then their niece and the niece wants to go on a mission! She has like 20 years I think so it was cool. But as for here in this area, now we don't really have anyone is teaching. So now we have to find people which has been like the hardest part for me the whole mission haha. But I think we can do it. And president said in the zone conference that we will now be staying in our areas for 6 months. So me and my comp might be together for another change! 3 and a half changes together if they leave us both here. Now as for Gabby's son, he has like 18 or 19 years I think. So he can leave when he has like 1 year of a member. But Olsen and Clark are coming home that day cause if they were to wait for the change to be over they would miss 3 Christmas in a row! So they are letting them go home a week early.

Now for the Christmas card you can put whatever picture you want on there mom. Whatever one you like you can put on there. Here mom there is nothing cool to see. Really there is nothing that cool in our misson. Only in hildago there are some stuff but here nothing. So you choose.

For this last week it was a little tough but we had the baptisms so it was nice for that reason. Now we just gotta find people this week. We are going to the temple of Friday!! So we are excited for that too. we will see how it goes. I finished the BOM again. It's sweet stuff,  I love reading it cause I learn so much things. And I'm gonna finish the New Testament soon too. There is sooo much stuff in the bible its pretty sweet too. But I'm glad that we have the scriptures in our lives to guide us. I know that reading them will help us always and we will learn things and discover things we had never seen before every time we read them. The church is true. There is no doubt about it. Thanks for the support and keep strong! Love you all.

Elder Malan

first a pic with the Mexican red cross helmet and then the baptism pic!

October 31, 2011

                                          Baptism of Rosa!

Hey mom! and yes Feliz Halloween works haha. We are doing well here. We did have the baptism! It was struggle to get it all ready. To warm up the water we need gas. The gas ran out on Friday night cause the ward had their activity and used the stove, so we didn't have any gas to heat the water.  We had to do it in cold water! haha it sucked. I felt bad for Rosa, but she is a champ and did it anyways. And our ward doesn't have baptism clothes for smaller people. So we had to go to the market to buy some white clothes that would fit her! It was a crazy morning to say the least. haha But Ricardo helped us with the driver so we got everything good but the water. But oh well, it was good. Now for the investigators it's Roberto and Blanca, mommy. Dulce is their daughter, but Roberto and Blanca are gonna get baptized this Sunday so we are excited for that. It's going to be cool. And yes they went to the temple to the visitor center. So they are sweet.  Some day you can go to the temple here.

 Ya it's crazy that tomorrow is November huh! Ben gets home tomorrow then Israel on Thursday. that's sweet stuff. Here on Saturday night we went back one hour so it was nice to get a little bit of sleep haha. And no mom we don't have to stay inside for those nights. We work the normal. It gets way dark here around like 630 now that we went back one hour. So it sucks, I don't like it like that cause if we don't really have appointments we cant visit too many people cause its dark. But oh well. And yes the kids dress up and some do trick or treating in the nicer areas they do at least. And the ward activity was Friday. It was crazy they start sooo late. It was suppose to start at 7, but it started at like 830 or 9! haha They are worse than we are. And in Queretaro I just got food poisoning I think. But it sucked, I was throwing up and all that for one day. Oh and as for speaking of throwing up, I threw up again on Tuesday! haha I was eating all good then the lady gave us gicama. It's like a root thing here and it doesn't taste bad so I was like ok, but she gave us a bunch!! And I almost ate it all and I was like man, I'm gonna throw up. So my comp ate the other little bit in the bowl and I was like ok hermana we gotta go. So we went out then I turned the corner found a nice little spot to do my business and let it go haha. It was funny. Now I know why Ethan throws up a lot. You feel a lot better than before haha.

 And now as for the world being wicked, yes its really bad. For example today we were waiting for our pizzas and two old people came in. And the lady was like sitting on the old dude and making out!! It was disgusting. I was like that's why all the little kids do that cause the old people do it too! they just learn from their example and follow them. its pretty bad here. Everywhere you look somebody is kissing or something like that and they are like 12 years old.

Now for being examples yes, it's something really important. People are always watching the members of the church to judge them once they make a mistake they attack it. So we just need to be the good examples of the church and help others realize the blessing they can receive by living the commandments and the principals of the church. and one of my converts wrote me today!! It was really cool. I don't know if you remember Gaby? In prados her son wants to go on a mission! It was really cool. I am really happy for her. She is going to institute (seminary) I don't know how to spell it like 3 times a week! It was way cool to hear from her and that she is doing good in the church.

Now Clark and Olsen come home the 19th of December I think. So I will talk to them and see what's up to see when their homecomings are. I'll let you now.

Well that's about it for this letter. I'm glad that you are all well and doing what you should. Here we are doing good. There are changes in 2 weeks. so we will see what happens. I hope all is well and say hi to Israel and Ben for me. Love you all!!

October 17, 2011

Hey mom,
It's good to hear from you once again! Here we are doing ok. Me and my comp are getting along better. I guess here in the mission a lot of companionships are having tough times together. So we aren"t the only ones haha. President must want us to learn something from it. Church went ok. Magdalena came again. She still doesn't want to commit to baptism. So it's frustrating, but she said she liked church more this Sunday. So its a positive step. Church was good. A lady that we reactivated spoke yesterday in sacrament so it was cool.

Sounds like Ashton has a good time at work. I bet it's funny stopping the fights. little kids are crazy. so young and they are already fighting, but it's good for Ashton.

Oh and I got the package. It's sweet! Only one thing... I don't have those little pieces to shine the shoes. The little things that I put in the shoe shine stuff and then on to the shoes. And that I need mid tan and not brown. But I'll see if it works and if not oh well.  I took a little money out this last week. It works like a charm. So thanks mom. I'm stoked to eat the Skittles, Reeses, jerky and all that. Thanks. And the jerky you sent this time is better. The last time you sent like some cylindrical ones or something. They aren't so good. haha. And we put up the ghosts. So you can see some pics of that.

Now for football that's a bummer we still cant beat freaking Morgan. One day we will get em. Hopefully they can beat Grantsville. It's cool I saw the paper cut out. 4 straight Iron Horse games won. That's awesome. Then hopefully the girls can beat Park City.. I don't like them much either haha.

Now the temple I think it's in the Mexico City East mission. And no we don't get to go often  cause its outside of the mission. And we have to do missionary work and not temple work. Those are the main reasons why.

Now for investigators, it was another tough week, but we should have a baptism this Saturday. Rosa so we are excited for that one. Then yesterday we were knocking doors and we got into a house. It was a grandma her two kids then 2 grand kids. So we were like sweet!!  So we taught and they accepted everything really well. Even the 21 and 17 year old boys. So it was sweet. Then at the end of the lesson the grandma told us I wasn't going to open the door for you guys. I saw you two and I said to myself that no, but for some reason I opened the door, I don't know why. And we were like thank you Heavenly Father haha. It's sweet how the Lord touches peoples hearts. Now I just hope that they can keep progressing cause it would suck if they just said nope. But I know they felt the spirit so we will see how it goes. We started out this week a lot better than the other weeks. Now as for victor and Carla, they didn't go. They aren't very good investigators, but we don't really ever do service. That was like my third time in my mission. Everyone here is scared cause people rob them so they are scared or they just don't want to let us help them.

What kind of phone did you get mom? Is it sweet or what. Sounds like it, but you should of got the i phone!! haha Here it doesn't rain really now. We are out of the rainy season. And mom we aren't in Mexico City. We are in the estado De Mexico, not in el disrito federal. It rains more there than here. As for clothes we are doing good. Just see if you can get those little things for shining my shoes.

Hunter wrote me. He says he might come over to the house sometime. He asked me if Misti was dead. Nope she is alive and kicking it sounds like haha. Just keep Makelle's dog away from her and she will be fine. Well I'm doing ok. Today we played bowling again. It was fun. I like bowling. It was weird cause there was Jews there haha and they are way whiter than me. Well that's it for this one. I hope you are doing good. Here are some pictures. First one is me and my comp and Ricardo, he is the secretary of the ward. He is cool and always helps us out. Then the next one is the some ghosts in the window. How scary! haha Love you mom and you are the best mom.  Love you, bye!!

October 3, 2011

Hey mom! This last week went a lot better than the last couple of weeks had gone. We brought 5 people to the conference on Sunday then one to the conference on Saturday. So it went a lot better for us. It was a good relief that we finally got some people to church. It was a little easier though because it started at 11 here. But that's fine, we will see how this week goes for us going back to the 8 oclock schedule. As for my talks, I liked one that talked about time, it was a 70 on Saturday in the afternoon. It talked about how we are really quick to respond a text message or a email, but how fast are we to kneel and pray to Heavenly Father? It was a good talk. Then Pres. Monsons talk too was really good. He is way cool, and we got to watch it in English. So it was good for that reason too. its so much better in English.
As for the ZLs and the DL yes they are a lot better. They all are cool now. I have Elder Gray as one of my Zls, so he is cool. He was my dl in Prados for a change. So I like him. And yes mom we study for an hour by ourselves then an hour as comps. So it's good. I really like to read the scriptures even though sometimes I don't exactly understand what it wants to say to me. And for the priesthood session, we got there late cause we were teaching a lesson. But we watched the half of it. Now for the shoe shine boys, there aren't any. There are a couple little stands that some old guys have to shine shoes, but that is it. And like my brown shoes are a different brown so I didn't want them to screw em up.  At night we plan for the next day I write in my journal then I shower and go to bed. It's starting to get cold here during the night. These houses aren't the best for keeping heat out or cold air. They are hot or cold, depending on the weather.  I am still with my comp. so we will be together for another 6 weeks. 
Now for the people that we are teaching right now, the mom and the daughter, the daughter lives with her grandparents far away so we aren't really teaching her. But the mom is Isela. She is cool, she didn't go to the conference though so we were bummed. Then a guy named Antonio. He was a reference and man, he has a bunch of problems. His wife kicked him out of his house so he is really bummed right now and mad. So we are helping him, he went to conference and he liked it. Then we have a mom and a daughter named Mercedes and Irene. We contacted Mercedes in the street and we passed by last week, she went to conference in the afternoon session on sunday and didn't like it! She didnt understand I think thats why. She said she almost fell asleep. So we have to go get her excited about church. Then we have a lady named Magdalena. She is cool, she really liked conference and is now more interested in the church. She like the talk by Sister Dalton. Then we found out that the mom of Abril, the girl that we baptized a couple weeks ago isn't a member! She was baptized, but she never got her name and stuff taken down and in the files of the church. So we can baptize her again. We got lucky there.  Those are all the people that went to church and that we are teaching right now. Hopefully this week we can find more people.
As for Ashton, I'm glad he likes his job and that he is beatin up the little kids. That's good to hear. I only had one little fight in Shadow Valley. It was easy. I heard that dad is living more peacefully in work too. I hope it is going well for you too mom. I hoped you all enjoyed conference too and learned a lot from it. There is always so much we can learn from the talks and that's why I'm excited to read the Liahona to get all the talks and check em out. There is so much cool stuff in there.
Now here we will see how it goes these next couple weeks. I've almost got a year here in mexico! Pretty crazy where the time goes.  But isn't Spencers b day soon? Lemme know. I'm thankful for the time and effort that you give me and the support. Really its awesome having a family that is strong in the Gospel. We are receiving so many blessings for it. Keep working hard and being examples for everyone. Love you all. Take care!

October 10, 2011

Hey mom! This week was pretty tough, but we managed to get some people to church. So it was worth it. Sounds like your week was a little crazy haha. How did St George go for you? Nice and warm? I hope that you had a good time down there, and all the ward bailed on you guys? What a bummer. But at least you had a good time and enjoyed the temple. We found out that we will be going to the temple here in November. So I'm excited for that one. The temple is way cool here. How did you guys pass the time with Brent and Vicki? How are those two doing?  Hopefully good. Now for Spencer I'm gunna write him and tell him happy b day. He is getting old! 21.

Now for this week, we dropped two of the investigators. She didn't want to change so we had to let her go. It was a bummer cause the first time we visited with her she looked like she was going to progress but then she didn't. So it was a bummer, and you are right mom Satan never sleeps. He is always working on the people so they don't get baptized. That just means we have to work better and follow the spirit. Then we brought a lady named Magdalena again. She is pretty cool but she doesn't want to accept a baptismal date yet. She wants to learn more first then do it. So we will see what we can do with here. She is gunna be a sweet member if she gets baptized. Then we brought 2 more named Carla and Victor. we found these two people doing service on Saturday. So that day had gone bad, Saturday a couple of our appointments fell and we didn't really know what to do so we saw a lady there cutting her weeds. I would say grass, but it was just weeds really haha. There really isn't grass here. So we started helping her and we cut it all and Victor showed up. They are kinda dating and we started talking and then we saw Carla starting to drink some brews. haha So we talked with them for a little bit and invited them to church. They said they would come but we didn't really think that they would, but them we saw them show up on Sunday! It was cool Victor was pretty happý there. Carla was a little confused cause she had never really gone to church before, but Victor looks to be good. So we will see what happens with them.  We should have the baptism of Rosa not this Saturday but the next. So we are looking forward to that too.

Any new elders? There is one that I kinda met today. Elder Smith from Kaysville, but other than that nope. How is the snow treating you? I kinda miss the snow to be honest. Here its usually just hot and muggy. Then it rains and it gets cold. So the two just kinda suck. There really isn't an inbetween.  I dont really need a coat or jacket. It doesnt get cold during the day only during the night, but I'm fine I have clothes and blankets mom. And no I haven't used my debit card. Maybe this week I will check it out. there hasnt been anything cool to buy lately. I don't really know Johnny I think he has glasses and blonde hair, no? He will probably get here to Mexico when I'm getting ready to go home I think. So we might see eachother. We will see what happens though.

Then today we went ice skating and played bowling. I like to bowl, but here it is expensive. I don't lpaying that much for it haha. at Weber its a lot cheaper. And one elder in the district made some lasagna it was good too, not like your lasagna mom. Nothing really compares to that, but it was good. haha  It's starting to get a little colder here in the nights and mornings I like it cause its a little cooler in the day, but not much. Oh, I bought a Butterfinger and Reeses today I'm stoked for that. And, I'm jealous that Ethan has a car. That's a joke! haha Lucky him but oh well. At least my shoes are still doing good. But that's really what's going on here. We are doing better and we hope to keep improving. We can't go back down to where we once where or we didn't learn anything. I hope everyone is good and doing well. Thanks for the prayers and the letters. They really help me out a ton. Love you all. Elder Malan