2016-06-06 Tres Calles (por chiquito)

Elder Becerra and me

Aaaaaahhhhh, I don't know what to say. Andrés was progressing well, had a relapse about a week ago (which is normal), but he's not too discouraged, still wants to progress. His family is almost never there, though, so it's been harder to teach them all. Other serious investigadors are Jesús, the nephew of a member family, but his parents aren't sure about him getting baptized, and even though he wants to, he needs their permission. Yazmín, the niece of another member, but almost the same situation--her mom's fine with her joining the church, but she lives with her grandparents and other family, not her mom, and they're very Catholic, and are being extremely unkind to her because of her decision to listen to us. She likes the church, and was starting to progress, but she's been out of town, so we haven't seen her much. We're also focusing on helping a few less-active families with goals to go to the temple, as well as a family (the Rodríguezes) that got baptized over a year ago that could now get sealed. We're working with them to overcome the obstacles and take that step. They have a goal for mid-July. The bunny is theirs. It's name is Martuquis.

Me and Martuquis

It's been hot, but not quite as hot, I think. Time blends together. Every day's a week, every week's a day. You know, the usual. 

The Church is true, the Book is blue, the work's not through, so we'll go and do.

Love,

Élder Rob Weatherford

P.S.

"But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, everything which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God. ... for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God. ...

...And now, my brethren, seeing that ye know the light by which ye may judge, which light is the light of Christ, see that ye do not judge wrongfully...

Wherefore I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ."

2016-05-23 More Photos...

This flew in during a lesson with a member family who we're trying to help get sealed, just flew in through the open door and crash-landed on the floor. They don't bite, they're just big.

You'll know it when you see it...

(There's a random person wearing a BYU t-shirt in the background!) "Just a random person in the street that I saw walking by... not a member, probably not an alumni (:))--there's a lot of old clothing from the States that's sold here at a bargain price. "

2016-05-16 Update and Fotos

I'm doing well... actually, as you'll find out in a sec, I'm no longer with Elder Diaz--transfers! I'm still in Tres Valles, but I have a new companion, Elder Becerra from Ecuador.

Thanks for asking me about my effort, and not about the results :) And, although I write occasionally about finding people to teach, I guess I should clarify-- there're always people to teach in the sense that if we look hard enough, there're always people that receive us in their homes. Finding people that progress, though, that keep their commitments and have a desire to follow the gospel... that's the trick, and then teaching them well. But this week was actually really gratifying, we had some really good moments and we had five people (from two families) in church this Sunday. Andres could really use some prayers so that he can stop drinking, he and his wife Dora and son Andres went to church yesterday, along with Francisco and his granddaughter Vianey.

Thanks! Love you, too!

Élder Rob Weatherford

Kathy:  I think this iguana is a pet, not food.

2016-05-08 Skyyyyyyype!

Kathy:  I. Love. Technology.  (just sayin')

2016-04-25 Fotos (and a comment about the last title, John 12:27)

(I questioned Rob after reading the scriptural reference in the title of that last post.  John 12:27  "Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour." Here's what he said.)  The scripture was just a reflection, I knew it would be tougher leaving the offices, but I'm glad to be out here. The troubled soul isn't so much from personal difficulty, just seeing all the people here that don't want to be helped, and as for the second part, that pretty much accurately describes my feelings. Sure, it's harder, and the area's not the easiest, but what should I say? Father in Heaven, I want out? I give up? This is why I'm here! I don't want out, I want to finish strong. I'm finding satisfaction right now, not so much in the fruits of my work here, but rather in the simple act of working I'm finding satisfaction. Being engaged in the cause, if you will. If any of this makes sense...

Pretty area, isn't it?

Pig stick a señor had carved... I don't really understand the animal choice, but I have to admit, it's a really cool carving.

The siblings of Ezequiel, a recent convert of a few months. Ezequiel's the one who borrowed my comp's hat, then there's José Antonio, Estrella, and Dylan the half-naked one.

2016-04-18 Juan 12:27

Good week, looking for new people to teach, the area was (well, is, we haven't exactly gotten out yet) kind of in a rough spot as far as the work is concerned, but God's helping us, and we do have some people to teach, which is important! Nothing happens in missionary work until you find someone to teach.

Turned 19 months yesterday. Luckily, I don't feel any different. The time's pressing on me, but no more than it was a few months ago, and it just makes me want to work harder, not to give up and get lazy, so that's good. You see that, occasionally, and it's not pretty. So, like I said, that's good.

Let's see, what else... it's really dusty here. I missed that, having dusty shoes. I haven't returned to the apartment with clean shoes once this week! :)

I still don't have that much to comment on the work here... we're just getting started. We've got some investigators, I hope they'll keep on progressing, but they've all got certain challenges (well, don't they all, always?) we'll have to see if we can work through, but I should have a better idea of where we are next week. I hope.

Ah... here are a couple photos:

Elder Díaz and me, with a partial view of our ranchito in the background.

Admittedly not the best quality photo of the zone, but there it is... the sisters are new, there hadn't been sister missionaries in Tierra Blanca for a few years.

Love you all!

Élder Rob Weatherford

2016-04-04 New Area, New Companion, New Language (it feels like it, almost), New Hat (!)

That's right, you read right, I have some very important news. A few pieces of very important news, the most important being I now have a hat. A genuine, made in México sombrero! President allows us to use them here!

And some other news, what was it? I don't even remember... Let's see if it comes to me later.

It was a good week in the offices. Andrus is pretty much ready to take over my job, and if there's anything small he needs to ask about, I'm just a phone call away. We brought a couple of new investigators (Brenda and Moisés, a young couple) to see the Sunday morning session of conference. They liked it! And I did too... Of course, I liked all of it! I had a couple of important messages that the Spirit gave me, specifically through a couple of the speakers. 

The Lord also gave me a few tender mercies on Conference Sunday, when we went to see the first session in our chapel. There were a few less-active families/members there that we had been teaching that showed up to watch. All of the Martinez family was there, all five of them! They've been members for a while, but they still need to be sealed as a family, and so we've been working with them to set some goals for their progress, starting with going to church more regularly. We also helped their oldest two children start attending seminary again. Yesterday, they were all in church together. Joshua and Paola were also there (I don't think I've talked too much about them... Joshua's been a member since he was little, but he inactivated as a youth. Paola's his partner (and just had a precious little baby girl a few weeks ago!!) but she can't get baptized yet because they're not married, and have to work out some migration hang-ups before they can. But Joshua's been going every Sunday and working on some goals to get involved again, and Paola's 100% ready to get baptized as soon as they get married. 110%. She's been more constant about reading the Book of Mormon than he has, recently! Almost every day for over a month. There's a lot of people I love in that ward, and it was harder to leave it than I thought, when the moment came. But here I am. 

Oh, yeah. The news. I'm in Tres Valles, Veracruz! Area called Morelos. Zone called Tierra Blanca. AKA the hottest zone in the mission. 

So that's pretty much all for this week. My new companion's name is Elder Diaz, from Mexico City. Twenty-five years old, did kickboxing before his mission, and pretty funny! I think we'll have a good time.

I'm excited to be out in the field 100% again. This area reminds me a lot of some parts of Moctezuma, and although today was relatively cool I know the heat'll be coming pretty soon, as the hot months of summer are soon approaching. Wish me luck, and send me sunblock! (Just kidding. I already have plenty, trust me...) Oh, the "new language" thing... not really, it's just that I'd almost forgotten how people talk out here. It's different, and at first you have to adjust. To me it's faster, and softer, and they cut off a lot more sounds from their words. Along with some really nasal tones :) And my comp also speaks really fast and soft. It's like being comps with me, I'll bet, just that he has better grammar and pronunciation. Serves me right, I suppose.

Love you all, and hope you're all doing well. Don't forget to pray.

Élder Rob Weatherford