Trust In The Lord!!

Hey guys!

This week was good and full of little blessings from the Lord.  We really have been working hard and continue to rely on the Lord to bless us in all we do.  This week in my free time I have pondered many things that pertain to our personal spiritual progress and about how dependable we are to the Lord.  I think when we can remember in the work and in our lives what the Lord is trying to do with each one of us specifically, we forget the troubles and challenges we face and move on knowing that our trials are but a small moment and if we persevere faithfully we shall be exalted on high.  While working some weeks, I know I have felt that at the end of that week like we didn't accomplish much.  This week for example was not one of my best as far as being able to find new people to teach and teaching them. 

However, I thought about some of the things that happened while we were working and how they were challenges sent from the Lord to help strengthen us.  For example, I was able to teach my companion about patience with people when we get annoyed with their excuses.  Also, when we were looking for someone, we came to a dead end and we saw that a guy who was drunk and high had followed us and was waiting for us at the bottom of the hill.  We were considering other options to escape but then I just told my companion that if we had faith and prayed we would leave unharmed.  We prayed and left and passed right by the guy as he tried to stop us and went along with our work without trouble.  In trials we need to rely on the Lord and see what he is trying to make out of us, what kinds of lessons he is trying to teach us, and ultimately who he wants us to be; that is, men and women of God.

I am so grateful to the Lord for the many blessings he has given me in my life and also for the trials that he has put in my path to help build me up.  I know that as we focus our energies and talents on building others up, we will find that we are also built up in the process and that the Lord will bless us in unimaginable ways. Trust in the Lord.  Trust in his power to change and lift you.  Forget the challenges and focus on the blessings.  I testify that the Lord does indeed build his people and shapes them according to his will and I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

¡Ten fe y se obediente!

Todo mi amor,

Elder San Diego

A Super Duper Week!!

Hey folks!

We had a super duper week over here working, getting wet, and doing all the things a missionary does.  I don't have much time to write, but here's a little update.  We have a few good progressing investigators and hope to work them more towards baptism this week.  We helped this one lady out who is getting baptized this week and her's is a very interesting story that I will have to tell later.  We are doing good and working better together.  Good things are happening and we are gonna do even better!  I love you all! 

Have a great week!

¡Ten fe y se obediente!

Todo mi amor,

Elder San Diego

September 15th and 16th they celebrate the Mexican Independence Day.  
We had to be in the house early and these are the fun things we did.  Enjoy!

"Just look at my beauuuutiful mustache!!!"

Viva Mexico!!

Ay, ay, ay, ay canta y no llores,
 Porque cantando se alegran, 

Cielito Lindo, los corazones

"The Things We Can't Measure"

Hey guys!

Wow, what a week it's been! 

Elder Cadena and I worked so hard this week and things are coming along.  He is learning really good and putting all the things I teach him into practice.  He is excited to learn more and that just makes me even more excited too.  We had a really good week and found a lot of people who know this is true and want to change.  All they need to do is act.  So things are going good there.  It is a little different with my new responsibilities as district leader, but it's going good and really gives me a good opportunity to serve those in my district and bear my testimony frequently.  So the work has been going great and will be going even greater!

Then, on Saturday, we had a special mission conference and Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles came specially to our mission just to talk to us.  It was a really neat experience and we each got to greet him personally and shake his hand.  He's really is a funny guy in person and very lively.  I was part of a special musical number that we sang and that also was a cool and very spiritual experience. One thing he said that really stuck out to me was, "It is the things we can't measure that are often more important than the things we can." We can all apply that to our personal lives that the things that are often more important are the unseen internal personal growths of testimony and love towards God and Christ. So all in all fantastic week and great experiences and more to come! I love you all!

¡Ten fe y se obediente!

Todo mi amor,

Elder San Diego

Elder Quirante, an old BYU roommate

Me and good 'ol Juan Diego

Washing Clothes!

District Leader & Trainer

Hey guys!

Great week and man am I tired.  But! Gettin' all geared up with energy to kick butt this next change! 

Some things have now changed too.  I am now a dad! Yay!  Haha, that's what we call it in the mission when we train someone.  So, I'm training a new elder now! Woo!  His name is Elder Cadena and he is from Monterrey, Mexico. Cool kid.  He and I are totally gonna tear it up this next little bit!  Rock! 

So, along with being a trainer, President Tervort also called me to be a District Leader. Yay!  So now I gotta keep doing good and working hard.  Elder Wood also is going to be a trainer and still being DL so all is well with us. 

Other than that, it was a pretty uneventful last week with Elder Wood.  However, we did baptize! Yeah!  We baptized Pilar, who I might have talked about before, but not sure if I did, so I will fill in one day when I have time.  Anyway, we are going to have a rockin' week!

¡Ten fe y se obediente!

Todo mi amor,

Elder San Diego

My new comp, Elder Cadena from Monterrey, Mexico

We helped the sisters in our district with their baptism and we got to meet Bro. Juan Jose. 

He is super cool and one of the most solid converts I have ever met.

Pilar's Baptism!