Elder San Diego's Address

Explanation on Sending Packages and Letters

If you would like to send a letter:
Elder Eric San Diego
Apartado Postal 118-184
Gustavo A. Madero
Mexico, D.F. C.P 07051

If you want to send a package:

You write this exactly, including Elder Jose Luis Escobar Maya (They don't like more than one name coming to the same PO Box when dealing with packages).

Elder Jose Luis Escobar Maya
Apartado Postal 118-184
Gustavo A. Madero
Mexico, D.F. C.P 07051

To make sure Elder San Diego gets the package just make sure his last name is in the return address (or next to the return address).

January 16, 2012

Have You Taken Moroni's Challenge?

Hey hey!

What a good week it has been down here in good ol México! Lots of finding and teaching this week which has lead to four baptismal dates for this up and coming week! Those are the sure ones and we can set even more baptismal dates for this weekend. This past week we baptized one of our investigators, Guadalupe. She was baptized on Wednesday and confirmed on Sunday. It has been a joy teaching her with my companion, Elder Lozano. We have felt the Spirit so marvelously strong every time we have taught her and it was truly wonderful to watch her make a new and everlasting covenant with our Father in Heaven and follow the example of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I testify that when we are baptized in the correct form, as was Jesus Christ, and keep our promises that we make in baptism, we are able to open the windows of heaven and receive tremendous amounts of blessings directly from our Father.

Lots of good things happening and lots of blessings being received and even more to come! I love you all! And, since it has been quite a while, I will leave you with my testimony in Spanish! (Translation to follow).

Yo sé sin duda que mi Señor, Jesucristo, vive. Yo sé que la Biblia y el Libro de Mormón testifiquen de Él y todo lo que ha hecho por cada uno de nosotros. Yo sé que por Él y solo por Él somos salvos, después de hacer cuanto podamos. Sé que su doctrina, que es la fe, el arrepentimiento, el bautismo, recibir el don del Espíritu Santo, y perseverar hasta el fin, es lo que tenemos que hacer para poder regresar y vivir en la presencia de nuestro Padre Celestial. No hay ningún otro camino. Sé que José Smith en realidad vio a nuestro Padre Celestial y Jesucristo, nuestro Salvador y Redentor. Por medio de su profeta viviente, Dios estableció de nuevo a la tierra su poder para actuar en su nombre y efectuar las ordenanzas de salvación. Este poder se llama el sacerdocio. También, mediante el profeta José Smith, Jesucristo estableció su propia iglesia de nuevo aquí en la tierra a fin de que podamos encontrar la verdad de Dios y lograr nuestra salvación. Soy testigo que hoy en día, Dios habla a nosotros mediante su profeta, Thomas S. Monson. Hoy en día, Dios revela su voluntad a nosotros. Sé que esta iglesia, La Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Últimos Días, es la iglesia verdadera de Jesucristo. Estamos guiados por revelación y por el Espíritu Santo. Sé sin ninguna duda en mi mente, corazón, y alma, que El Libro de Mormón es verdadero. Es la palabra de Dios. Si no me crees, léelo y haz la prueba de Moroni que te encuentra en Moroni 10:4-5 y pregunta a Dios para saber si El Libro de Mormón en realidad es verdadero. Si pidieras con un corazón sincero, que es decir que realmente quieres saber la verdad, con verdadera intención, que es decir que vas a seguir tu respuesta, teniendo fe en Cristo, Dios te ha prometido que te va a manifestar la verdad del Libro de Mormón a través del Espíritu Santo. Sé que si lo haces, vas a recibir tu respuesta de Dios mediante tus sentimientos. Sé que esto es verdadero. Sé que todo que sé es verdadero. Les comparto estas cosas en el nombre sagrado de nuestro Salvador, Redentor, y Rey, aun Jesucristo. Amén.

I know without doubt that my Lord, Jesus Christ, lives. I know the Bible and the Book of Mormon testify of him and everything he has done for each of us. I know that through Him and for Him alone we are saved, after all we can do. I know his doctrine, which is faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end, we have to do to return and live in the presence of our Heavenly Father. There is no other way. I know that Joseph Smith actually saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. Through its living prophet, God made the earth back to its power to act on your behalf and perform the ordinances of salvation. This power is called the priesthood. Also, through the Prophet Joseph Smith, Jesus Christ established his own church back here on earth so that we can find the truth of God and our salvation. I bear witness that today, God speaks to us through His prophet, Thomas S. Monson. Today, God reveals His will to us. I know that this church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true church of Jesus Christ. We are guided by revelation and the Holy Spirit. I know without any doubt in my mind, heart and soul that the Book of Mormon is true. It is the word of God. If you do not believe me, read it and do the test in Moroni, Moroni 10:4-5, and ask God to know if the Book of Mormon is actually true. If you ask with a sincere heart, which is to say you really want to know the truth, with real intent, which is to say that you will continue until you receive your answer, having faith in Christ, God has promised that you will manifest the truth of the Book Mormon through the Holy Spirit. I know that if you do, you will receive your answer from God through your feelings. I know this is true. I know all I know is true. I share these things in the sacred name of our Savior, Redeemer, and King, even Jesus Christ. Amen.

¡Ten fe y se obediente!

Todo mi amor,
Elder San Diego

P.S. Enjoy the photos of Guadalupe! Photos of Itzayana to come soon!

Guadalupe and family at her baptism

Guadalupe's Baptism

We woke up at 4 in the morning to fill the font for one of our baptisms

At my desk

Me with a cartoon sketch from a brother in the ward

January 9, 2012

Calle Estados Unidos, Six Steps to Success & Tacos de Tripa

Hello and greetings from Mèxico!

Pretty good week with some pretty good success! But first! I need to tell you guys something pretty funny about my area. So, my area is a little part of the mission that sticks out from the rest so that it is bordered on three sides by the Mexico City East mission. On one side is a beautiful black canal that carries something besides water, to the North is just the street that divides us, and to the East is the funny part. You know what that street to the East is called? Calle Estados Unidos. (United States) Do you get it?! The border that divides the missions is Estados Unidos! Hahaha! Ok. I´m done.

But! This week has been great! On Wednesday and Thursday we had our mission conference and it was a great time and lots of learning and re-learning of our important duties and how we should teach using the spirit and the revelation President Tervort received to increase our success. Elder Lozano and I got to work focusing more on those things and, with the help of the Spirit, set two more baptismal dates with investigators. During the lessons we taught them, we decided to talk about the importance of the Holy Spirit in our lives and how important it is to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, by proper authority, after our baptism, so that we may have God´s help throughout the rest of our lives. As we talked, I decided to focus myself on my feelings so that I could identify the Spirit when it came. I felt a little warmth in my chest and knew it was the Spirit. We started to talk more about the role of the Spirit to testify of the truth and invite us to follow the example of Jesus Christ. We followed the six steps that President has taught us, and switched the lesson to talking about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Spirit was marvelously strong and I felt like my shirt would catch on fire! We testified and invited our investigators to act and be baptized, and they accepted! Their baptism is set for this Wednesday!

The week was great and we are having lots of success and fun here! One more thing! I ate tacos de tripa (tacos of cow intestines) on Saturday! Yum! Well I have to go! I love you all!

¡Ten fe y se obediente!

Todo mi amor,
Elder San Diego

P.S. Family! Please send stamps if you haven`t already.

Elder Lozano bowling

Elder Triana failing

Elder Urrutia bowling

Me bowling

January 2, 2012

¡Feliz Año Nuevo! - Happy New Year!

¡Hola! ¡Feliz año nuevo!

What a week it has been here in Mexico! The new area I am in is really cool and Elder Lozano and I are seeing a lot of miracles. We worked real hard this week and, with the help of the Holy Spirit, set four baptismal dates for this month. All of our investigators are really cool and they are so open and ready to listen to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and follow Him in His example. We received some special blessings from the Lord this week in the form of contacts and references who are ready to accept the true gospel in their lives and be baptized. It is really exciting seeing all the success in this area that is being wrought by the Lord. Elder Lozano is a really cool guy. We always have some really good laughs during the day and some fun experiences. The funny thing is he speaks a little bit of English so we talk in English sometimes.

On New Year`s Eve, we went and bought food and cooked with a member family who didn`t have too much as they are limited with money. So, we went and bought stuff and I cooked that delicious alfredo parmesan sauce that I have made a few times with pasta and they loved it! During the week, Elder Lozano and I did a little bit of service for a sister in the ward who sells juices and chips and other little goodies. We went and got the oranges she needed and used their tricycle thing to go get it. Pretty funny sight seeing two missionaries riding that trike thing. Anyway, we are having lots of success and are going to have even more! Love you all and keep doing great in all you do!

¡Ten fe y se obediente!

Todo mi amor,
Elder San Diego

View from our apartment

Mexico City Lights

Elder Lozano and I on the tricycle