May 26, 2014

Hi family...

     Wow sounds like you guys had such a super busy week. Dang it’s crazy how the time flies. I don’t know why I feel so many emotions…It’s weird. But with all these emotions that I feel….they are good, but it makes it hard for me to eat. I try to eat the food but it’s like my stomach won’t let me eat... at times I throw up after eating. What do you recommend that I do? Don’t worry or anything, it’s nothing serious…because I can eat in the house with no problems at all.

     That’s awesome about your new calling mom.  I am super pumped for you. Just like you, I also received a new calling. I will be the new District Leader. They shut down Miramar 2. It now is just Miramar 1. I had to change my apartment and everything. So now I am in Miramar 1.  The area is super big…it’s so so big!!!  My new companion has like 5 months in the mission. His name is Elder Ortega. So we are pretty much opening this area up…because I don’t know much of this side of Miramar where I am at.  I know I cannot do this without the help of the Lord. I am going to rely on him every step of the way to guide me to success here. We have like 14 baptism dates right now, and really like 10 of them I know will get baptized. I am super excited for this new adventure…it will be crazy! But I also know the Lord wouldn’t give me any job that I can’t handle. I am super excited to work here and to see the progress here.  I am a little nervous and stressed also…but I get that from you mom;) haha jk.  With prayer and faith I know we can do anything.

    Thanks dad for the advice. I will definitely put goals for the future. I have so much going on in my head, it’s super awesome. There is going to be so much work here. I know that this time is just going to fly by so fast and I can’t believe it.

      I’m excited for you guy’s, sounds like you have a lot of fun stuff planned for this summer. I just want to finish the mission giving it my all…to the best of my ability and that is what I am going to try to do. I know I will be able to learn the area with my companion and that we will be able to have the spirit to teach the truth to all that is willing to hear it. This church is true.  CTR all day everyday. I love you guys so much! Have a great week!!!

    Elder Lawrence

May 19, 2014 (3 months to go!!!)

Hello family...

      I hope everything is going really good for you all. For us here in Miramar it is going pretty good. We are trying to have more lessons with members so that is our goal that we are working on this week. This last week we had 4 investigators go to church. They don’t have baptism dates right now…but they will have baptism dates soon. We love seeing the progress and the hand of the Lord here in this area. He has really helped us every step of the way. We are looking forward to this last semana, we want to finish this last week working super hard. We would really like to find more investigators that are willing to open their hearts. We are thankful for the investigators that we are teaching and their progress. We love seeing the progress here in Miramar. The spirit is good.

     That’s so awesome that Blake graduated from seminary. He is a stud. Ethan looked so good in his photo when he was rocking out on the piano. He will get all the ladies.  Good for him haha.

      Time is really flyin by fast.  Especially now that we have investigators progressing. This next change we are hoping to have 4 baptisms. I’m pumped. I hope your week is awesome! I love you all so much. The work of the Lord is great.  Love you all, bye adios.

Elder Lawrence

May 12, 2014

Hola familia…

     How is everyone doing? I hope super duper great!!!!  This week was pretty good. It seemed to go by super fast. We had some activities in the church. We had a night of talents and there were a lot of new investigators there. It was great to see and feel the spirit of everyone there. This last week our investigators that were progressing didn’t go to church, so that was sad. Elder Antuna and I are trying to find new investigators that will have the chance to progress in the gospel and this last week one came to church. She was invited by another member who is her friend. So we are going to start teaching her. I am pretty excited about that. The work is going good.

      It was super great to talk with the family this week. I loved every minute of it. I was so glad to see that everyone is happy that is what is way important. It is like a dream when I talk to you guys and then we stop skyping and the dream ends. Haha that is kinda sad…but it’s all good because 3 short months and I’ll be home.  I can’t believe that!!! I’m still super pumped about the work that I have here for the Lord and I’m not going to lose my focus.

     Yes, I know Elder Guzman! He was in Victoria when I was there. But he was in the other zone. That’s cool that Jeremy knows him in Peru haha.

      This week we are going to have interviews with the President so that should be good.  So do you know what airport I will be flying into?  Who is the Stake President? Well it was super good to talk to you this last week. Love you all so much. The church is true! 

Bye,

Elder Lawrence

May 5, 2014

HOLA FAMILIA...

      This week was good…well every week is good when you have a good attitude. I have a strong testimony about attitudes. I know that as missionaries if we have a good attitude, success will come and the spirit will always be present. If we don’t have a good attitude then we won’t have the spirit or the love or energy it takes to be a missionary.

     Elder Antuna is a great missionary.  I like working with him we get along super good. This week we had 16 less actives that went to church... so that number is good. But what we are kinda having a hard time with right now is investigators. We have two investigators that have been progressing, Rosy and Gorge. This last week they did not attend church. So that was pretty sad for Elder Antuna and me but this family is really special and you can tell that the Lord has prepared the corazon to this family. I wish they would have tried harder to go to church...but everyone has their chance to choose right. Their faith in Jesus has really grown since we taught them.

    The other day we contacted a man named Eduardo. He is awesome and I know that he will definitely do what it takes to get closer to God and perserverar hasta el fin. He was so prepared for us. He practically contacted us.

     I’m glad to be a missionary in this time…the work is great. We can definitely see the progress here in Miramar. I feel like the people are always so receptive to us haha but I don’t know if it’s just because I look at everything as good. There is no bad and if there is I usually don’t see it, Everything we do happens for a reason and is part of the plan of God. I have had so many awesome experiences and have grown so much. Spiritually like physically also. Actually I think I’m a little taller but I don’t know. I’m also a little skinnier haha I think. I’m so thankful that I have the best family ever!  I love all of you so much. I’m thankful for the example of every one of you.

     I am super excited to talk to you all this week in skype. So I will talk to you guys at 12 in the 10 de may. Can you believe I will be talking to you guys this week? Wow so crazy!! I hope I can find a computer that is really fast so I can hear every word of you guys haha. I have faith that I can.

     Blake’s suit is super chill, I like it a lot.  So I will be living in the King Henry halls then? Sounds tight!!! Well, I love you all so much. I hope you have a great week. Remember to read the scriptures, say your prayers and go to church. hehe. loves yall.

CTR

Elder Lawrence

Elder Lawrence and his companion Elder Antuna

April 28, 2014

What’s up family!!!

      We are doing super good out here in Mexico. It’s supah hot, really hot!! Like I leave the house and I start sweating. Super hot and really humid!!! But I really like my area a lot…it’s awesome. We have got so many new families that we are teaching…it’s bomb!!!

      One of our investigators went to church this last Sunday and she seemed super happy to be there. I know that she really felt the spirit. Her name is Rosy. She also has a husband named Gorge.  Gorge didn't go to church this Sunday but he will definitely for sure go this next Sunday.  Some other investigators that we have went on vacation, so for that they did not go to church.  His name is Victor and Jose.  Victor likes to drink...but we are helping him with that.  He won't like drinking for long.  We had 4 investigators in church this last Sunday so we were really happy about that. 

     I feel really blessed to be in this area. The spirit is so strong here and I know that we will see so much progress here.  Like this last week we had about 16 families show up to church. These families that showed up are less actives.  They are some of the families that we are teaching. It felt so good to watch the chapel start to fill up. I know that the work that we are doing here will truly bless the lives of these families.

     I’m so grateful to be a part of this work. I seriously can’t believe how fast the time is going though. It’s really crazy. I just have to stay strong and enjoy and love this last part of my mission. I love all the experiences that I have had and keep having. I really feel like I have grown so much spiritually…maybe not in my height but definitely spiritually. I know I will continue to keep growing if I do my part and do what the Lord wants... I love Mexico and I love the people here. I also love my family so much... thank you all for everything you do for me! Have a great week!!!

Elder Lawrence

 Mi Casa in Tampico

 Elder Lawrence with his new companion Elder Antuna

April 21, 2014 (4 Months to go!)

Hello my family that I love so much!!!!!!!!!

     How is it going?????? Sounds like your guy’s weekend was awesome…fun filled and full of adventure! Hahahaha that story is so funny that you sent mom! That really could be like an episode from “The Middle” or something haha that’s super funny. That’s so good to hear that Nadia did really good on her farewell talk. She is professional!! She will be a super good missionary!

     Dang... I can’t believe that you guys sold the little blue the car for only 300 bucks. That is sooo cheap... I hope you took off the pipe on the back and all the stuff for the speakers and the rims hahaha:)

     So do you know where I am going to be living with Elder Rohde?? Has his mom said anything? I’m pumped haha.

      So this last week was Easter? I didn’t even really know it. It did not seem like Easter at all. I didn’t even see one painted egg. Can you believe that? Soo sad…but what do ya do hehe.

     So this last week was pretty fast. I am pretty sure these last cambios are just going to go by soaring flyin. This last week was super good... we actually didn’t have that many lessons because all of the lessons were fallin through. I am used to having a little bit more lessons because in Victoria none of the lessons fell through, we always had lessons... so it’s a little different…but the people are awesome here. The church is way beautiful. There is a good spirit here in the area so that is nice. We actually put two baptism dates this last week…but they did not show up to church this week.  So that was sad... but its okk. We are going to keep visiting them. Their names are Rosy and Gorge. We actually helped them change their whole house. We came in contact with them when we were walking the streets.

      The bread here is pretty good…I’ve bought a little bit.  I’m really lovin it here!!! It will be a nice area to finish my mission. I have a good feeling that this is my last area. I’m excited!!! I know that the spirit is definitely with us here helping every step of the way.

     Well, I love you guys so much. Can’t wait to skype with y’all soon:) It will be super fun!! Love ya bye…adios.. 

Elder Lawrence

April 14, 2014

Hello Family...

     I’m so glad to hear that you guys all have been keeping busy... and you are having success in your activities. It’s super cool to hear that Blake is tearin it up out there on the tennis court and that he will be going to prom here soon. It’s awesome that Ethan has been doing super good with his baseball team and that he is a boss when he pitches. Also that Kamrie is dancing and cheering up a storm. All the news is super good. I love it!!!

     My news is good too, haha like always;). I got changed and I’m no longer in the Promised Land haha.  I’m now back in Tampico in a place called Miramar in the Zona Bosque.  I’m super pumped to be here! I can’t wait to meet and come in contact with all these new people. I know that these last months will be full of the spirit. My new companion seems pretty cool.  His name is Elder Antuna and he is from Mexico. He was actually in Victoria when I was first there. So I know him a little bit.

      So wow I can’t believe I am all signed up for college and I’ve got my classes!  That is some really good news.  I’m super excited...but more than that I am excited because I am a missionary in this time. What a special time to be a missionary really. There is so much work and so much progress here that is just waiting on the hands of the Lord…which is us missionaries. We’ve just got to reach out to the people... who have little faith. Just like Jesus reached out. I know and have testimony that if we show the Lord our faith and our willingness to serve we will see the blessings and the fruits will come for our esfuerzos…actions.   I love the gospel. I love helping people learn the gospel and that is why I am here to help the people understand learn and put the gospel to work…especially with the families.

     I love you guys all so much and I will see you all really soon…except for you Blake…you have to wait two more years.

Elder Lawrence