July 15, 2013

Hola Familia!!

    Oh yeah, there is definitely a lot going on here!  Elder Leon and I are working so hard here in Independencia 1…especially because we opened the area. So we had to talk to every member of the ward and get all the references we could, and we are still getting references from them. We have a lot of families that we are working with. We are probably working with about 30 people in total, maybe more. So yeah, we have been keeping so busy, and I am so tired!  Haha my legs hurt like every night. That’s when I wish you were here to give me a massage haha jk.

     We had 15 people show up to church this week. That is including inactives and investigators. So right now we have one investigator that is progressing and the other did not go to church. I’m surprised because for the lesson with him we invited the most powerful member of the ward…actually one of the most powerful in Madero and we taught a lesson with him. His name is Brother Camacho. He helped with his testimony and he was really direct also. It was way spiritual. After that lesson we put a baptism date with him.

     So today I am going to go get a haircut, that should be cool. Sounds like everyone had a really good time for the Young Mens activity at the cabin. That’s pretty crazy that dad wrecked pretty good haha. I remember that like it was yesterday when I flew over the handlebars haha. That’s awesome that Ethan is never sick of baseball and just loves it! We will definitely play some ball when I get back in like a year or so.

     So also this week we had a class with President Jordan. It was really spiritual and I learned a lot. But really every day I learn so much. Just from the smallest experiences. Sometimes it’s the littlest things when you learn the most. I know that the Lord has blessed me so much and I am so grateful to be out here choosing the right everyday and learning to become like him.

     So we actually gave Brother Camacho a bendicion in the first week here. And yeah, that is crazy because he is like a Pres. Bramall haha. So we ate the best food the other day. It was the birthday of Elder Richard and we ate crab, fish, shrimp, and of course rice…it was so dang good, probably one of the best foods I’ve eaten so far!!!!  Then there was a night for talents at the church. We went and watched the members sing.  It was cool to see all the talents in the ward.

     So I hope everyone is doing really good and enjoying summer because I know that I sure am haha;) I was in one of the hottest places in Mexico during the hottest times…I really love the sun.

Well its time for me to go I love you all so much!  Sorry this computer won't let me send pictures.  Thanks for everything always… Adios con mucho amor!

    Elder Lawrence

July 8, 2013

Hey hey...

    So it sounds like you guys had a pretty boring week, haha that is too bad. Why didn’t you all do something fun?? My birthday was pretty dang good haha…actually it was pretty much a normal day really. President Jordan and his wife called and sang me happy birthday which was really cool then the Mission Assistant’s also called later and sang happy birthday.  I don’t think they just do that for everybody…so I think I got some special privilege or something hahaha:)

     Things are going really good here with Elder Leon.  We are working really hard! We put two baptisms dates on the day of my birthday so that is some good news. But I think that they are moving areas next week so that is not good. There are so many less active members in our area and we have been contacting everyone of them. We have about 20 less active members that we are visiting right now…well, maybe a little less than that.  We also have 3 investigators. A lot of the appointments that we have the people have been canceling. Even with all the canceling we still ended up having really good numbers this week.

    Yes, we eat at a member’s house everyday and sometimes it is with the other missionaries also. So sometimes all 4 of us eat together. Which I think is pretty cool. I haven’t ever disliked the food…the food is always really good. My least favorite thing here is probably the hamburgers haha. That’s funny huh??

    Pretty crazy stuff now that I’m 20 years old… I can’t really believe that wow! Where has all that time gone?

    It has been lightning and raining here like crazy this last week. A lot of the streets are flooded I will send a photo. So our ward is really big here in independecia and there is a lot of work to be done.

    I love you all so much and hope that you have a really good week!!!

Love,

 Elder Lawrence

 Our house

July 1, 2013

Hello,

     So I’m doing really Great!!! Thanks for asking. Sounds like you guys are doing pretty good as well.  Keeping pretty busy, with dad driving all over the states, baseball, golf, science camp, work…sounds like summer, if you ask me haha;) That’s crazy that it got up to 115 degrees there…that’s pretty hot I guess you could say haha. But seriously it gets soo hot here!! Right when we step outside of the house we are sweating, it’s pretty crazy.! Madero is super hot as well! The heat here is just a little bit different than Valles because it’s more humid.

     Wow, so Adam Massey had his farewell? That’s awesome! I’m really excited for him, he will be a really good missionary.

     So my new companion is Elder Leon. He is from the same generation as me. We were both actually in the same Zone Amplacion in our first months here in Mexico…so I new him before. Now we are here in Amplacion again, but this time we are companions. He is a really great guy and a hard worker. He knows his scriptures really good…especially the bible.  I’m glad he is my companion and we are looking forward to having some major success here in area Independencia 1.

    The ward is actually pretty big here.  It’s the biggest ward that I have been in my mission so far. We introduced ourselves in church on Sunday....no one was prepared for that.  The bishop just called us up out of nowhere and we each talked for a little bit.  This ward is really strict too!  I have nver seen anything like it before...much more strict than the wards in Utah. 

    So wow can you believe that you guys will have a 20 year old on Wed? That’s some pretty crazy stuff isn’t it haha??  So I got one of your packages when I was in Valles. It was the package for my Birthday:) Thanks so much! I hope the other package gets here as well haha.

    Well thanks everyone so much for the birthday wishes.  Love you all so much:) adios

Elder Lawrence

My new companion Elder Leon

June 24, 2013

Hola Buenas días a todo:)

     How is everybody??? I am doing really great. So I’m guessing that you all are pretty anxious to hear if I got transferred... and yes I did get transferred!  Well it’s what ya do when you’ve got so much time in a place ya know haha. I figured I would get transferred for this change.  Yeah, I am going to miss Elder Martinez so much…he was such a good companion and so easy to be around. We really got along like brothers.  Maybe it’s just me… but my personality is really chill and so it’s easy for everyone to get along with me jk haha:)

    Yeah, I did get to go to the Worldwide Missionary Fireside.  It was really awesome.   It was so great to hear everything they talked about.  It’s amazing how big the part is for the leader misional.

   Dang, so it sounds like you guys have been so busy these days…especially with baseball. I hope the baseball team starts doing better and wins all their games! :)

  So I bet you’re all pretty interested on where I’m at now. So you won’t believe it!!! I’m in Zona Amplacion... yepppp the first area where I started the mission:) in Area Independencia . Isn’t that crazy?  That’s where I really wanted to go. God really knows what we want. I’m glad to be back here because I will be able to see all the members that I know and talk to them better with my Spanish now hahaha:)) So I’m really really excited about that!  I got to see Elder Rodriguez today and talk to him for a little bit.  It was so good to talk to him…I miss that guy!

    Well, I bet your all wondering who my companion is??? His name is Elder Leon and he is from Honduras. He is in the same generation as me again. So yeah, we will be opening this area. Well, I have to go because the time is up… bye, love you all SO MUCH:)

Elder Lawrence

June 17, 2013

Hey hey...

     So this is actually my last p-day here in Valles. Can you believe that? Wow how fast time flies!!! I will have 5 months here in one more week.  Pretty crazy right?? Sounds like you guys had a really awesome time in Richfield. I’m sure it was really nice to get a way for a little bit and enjoy some summer baseball.

     So I just want to start this letter by saying Happy Father’s Day to dad. I am so thankful everyday for your example.  You’re the reason I try to become a better person everyday. I love you so much. Thanks for always being there for me and showing me what hard work is and what it can get you. I love you so much!!!

    Oh and to answer your question we actually work with our Ward Mission Leader. We meet with him twice a week…on Sundays and on Thursdays. His name is Hmo. Joel Briseno. He is such a great guy and support to us Elders. He is always helping us and coming with us to visit our menos activos. (less active membors).

   This week only one menos activo showed up to church.... I can’t even believe that. O wait yes I can! They say that they will go and then they end up having another excuse every week. But it’s alright because they will return…every single one of them.  I know they will, I feel it. Maybe not in the time that I’m here in Valles and that’s alright because God has a plan prepared for everyone one of them. I have really come to love everyone that I teach. They all have a special spot in my heart and I am really going to miss them all soo much.  Especially the family Torres... they have become my family here in Valles. I love playing hockey with them in the street and then sitting down to read the Book of Mormon with all them right after…then we finish up with some quesadillas. They are a family that we have really focused a lot of attention on. I have seen so much progress with this family, even if right now they aren’t going to church. God really has some big plans for them. They have so much love and potential. I can’t wait to view it when they go through the temple…because I know they will.  Later on down the road in my journey through life:)

     Maybe you should stop reading all the missionary blogs because I wouldn’t really want you comparing me to the other missionaries;))) hahahah jk jk.  One thing that I have learned, is that every missionary [elder] is different and has a different way of teaching. I love this church, God and Jesus Christ. I know that this is true and by following the example of Jesus Christ I will become the type of missionary he was. One who teaches with and has love for everyone and everything.  I know that I have touched the hearts of many people in Valles... and these lives will change. It’s a process… a process that God knows and is in charge of.

     One experience that I had this week…. My companion and I were talking the other night about the church. The next day a man came up to us…he was pretty sketchy [weird] and he started asking us questions. He asked some  weird questions and some serious questions. We started talking about Jesus Christ and the things of God. It was exactly the things that Elder Martinez and I were talking about the night before. We were able to answer his questions and give the man peace. I feel like we were prepared the night before for this man…that we had received revelation for this guy. I was also able to apply some of the things to my life what this man was talking about.  I received an answer to one of my prayers awhile back...a little bit later we were out walking and another man came up to us. He also had questions for us. Even though this man may have been a little tipsy haha, he too talked about some things from things we had discussed the night before. I truly believe that God not only prepares the people but he prepares us missionaries for these experiences. It’s important that we’re always listening and always ready.  That is why obedience is so important because we will be blessed and it allows us to be in the right places at exactly the right times. Here’s a phrase I thought of…the mind thinks but the heart knows. It is so true. It is important to follow our hearts. If we follow our hearts that is when we will find the spirit and the spirit is what will teach the lessons that need to be learned.

     Well I love you guys so much and am so thankful for you all.... I’m so thankful to be blessed with such a great family! Love you and enjoy the Bachelor tonight:) Adios mi familia.

Elder Lawrence

I just look fat...I’m not really that fat... haha, well at least I hope not;)

We had a church activity, it turned out really good;)

Church Activity

June 10, 2013

Hola Familia,

     So how has everyone’s summer gone so far?? Sounds like everybody is keeping pretty dang busy. So do you guys have a lot planned for the summer or do you just plan on chillen a lot more?? Sounds like Kamrie had a pretty good week at EFY. That’s really good for her:) and Ethan made all-stars… that’s awesome haha congrats to Little E... and sounds like Blake just works and than gets dumped by girls all day haha nah jk:) I’m just glad to hear that the family is doing so good…what a great blessing.

      I can’t believe how fast the weeks go by here in Mexico. It’s so crazy…I guess time flies when you’re doing the Lords work:) I think one thing for me that has made these weeks seem like days is to just always keep a positive attitude. Just try to have the best attitude about everything and the days seem like minutes…. or weeks seem like days.

   We have been keeping so busy! We have so many menos activos that live in our area.  We teach about 4 lessons a day to all of the menos activos in our area. We also have to walk a lot. So I’ve been getting my tan on hahahah! The Lord really is with us during this work, because I don’t know how I’m still alive in this heat hahaha jk but its true;)

     Well anyway, this week none of are menos activos came to church.  Too bad for them, they are really missing out. No but really we can only do so much.  It is their choice and testimony that is what is going to get them to go to church. I love every one of them, so it’s sad when none of them show up.

     I went on divisions with Elder Griggs this last week.  He has a lot of time in the mission so it was nice to teach and learn from him.  I hope I make his blog hahahaha!

     Well, I hope you all have a good week!  I love everyone so much. Oh yeah, last night we had a pretty awesome lighting storm here… it was pretty intense & really cool.

     So love you all and hope you all are doing really well.  This summer is going to go by super fast so enjoy every minute of it. This is Blake’s last summer at the house right?? Wow sooo crazy!!!

Love you all so much and thanks for everything always:)

   Elder Lawrence

                Just part of my area:) good thing nobody lives in these houses hahaha.

June 3, 2013

Hey:)

    Sounds like you guys had such a great time on your vacation. Wow I can’t believe how much you guys drove. Those pictures looked awesome though!! I can’t believe that Kamrie is already going to EFY… she seems so young to me, I don’t know why. Oh yeah it’s definitely hot here in Valles.  It’s sooo important to drink lots and lots and lots of water…if we don’t drink water

we walk around with headaches and our bodies feel really weak. So ya we drink lots of water. It’s good to hear that you had a good 35th birthday party also haha;)

     So yeah, all the menos activos that we teach usually say that they will go to church then church rolls around and I guess this must be the day they decide to be lazy or something because they never show up. They usually are just sleeping or something hahah. But this week was so awesome! One of the menos activos, Terre Beltran, that we have been teaching went to church!! Elder Martinez and I were so happy you have no idea! It was the perfect time for her to show up because it was fast testimony Sunday. The spirit was soo strong in there when everyone was giving their testimonies... then Terre Beltran went up and bore her testimony.  She was so grateful for those two angels that have been visiting her and reading the Book of Mormon with her and helping her receive revelation…(Elder Martinez and Elder Lawrence) It was so great to hear her testimony and the spirit was so strong really. So that is some really good news!

     This week I also went on divisions with Elder Krambule… my best friend in the mission.  I’m pretty sure I talked him into going to Dixie…so he will probably be my roommate when we get back hahaha. It was so great and fun to go out and teach with him. The lessons that we taught were awesome! We taught Hma Rosario but she didn’t go to church. She is a really lazy sister haha. We also taught the family Torres. This family is really great and I know they will definitely return back to church. We just need to focus in on getting the father to go to church because that’s why they are missing church.

     So we also had our interviews with the president and that was really good too. I’m actually going on divisions again this night and this time with the leader of the zone, so that should be great.

     It’s pretty crazy how fast these weeks are going right?? I feel like I just got done writing you guys. And wow this week I hit 9 months in the mission!!! Not that I’m counting or anything. I love you all so much and I’m so thankful for everything…especially all the experiences that I get to have. I’m learning so much everyday. Thanks and peace and love:)

Love,

Elder Lawrence

 Elder Krambule & Elder Lawrence