HoLa!

Mi querida familia, 

Well hello. This week was pretty good! It had some ups and downs but overall it was good. We're finally coming out of the winter season which I'm glad for because this whole month the nights have been really cold. But its just gonna get hot again and I'll complain about that. haha. But everthings good here in our area, with our ward, investigators and most importantly with my comp. I'm trying to enjoy every second of this area cuz I only have 3 weeks left here and I really like this area. 

On Sunday we had a baptism! We baptized Gerardo and it was really great. He is a really great guy, super humble. He works in the street collecting cardboard, and bottles and what not. He is a strong convert and has had many spiritual experiencias lately to convince him of the truthfullness of this message. He, with his daughter, rent a little room and sleep on the floor. They basically have nothing. Its sad but he is so strong, and finds the good in every situation. We are gonna do what we can to see what the church can do to help him. The baptismal service was good, it was combined with another service of an 8 yr old in our ward. Church was awesome yesterday was well because we had over 100 peeps in sacrament meeting. When I got to this ward there was like 50. Were getting somewhere! 

We did divisiones with 2 companionship's from the zone this week and they were pretty good. We have a pretty prideful district leader who doesn't seem to want our help, but I put tried to put him in his place and he asked forgiveness so that was good. The other companionship we helped them work a little harder, contact a little more, and achieve what they are capable of. 

This week was sad because we decided to stop visiting Javier and Jazmine. We have put so much time and effort into them to try to help them, but it just seems like they don't want the help. With their words they do, but their actions sure don't show it. Between the lies they tell us and other things we decided to stop visiting for a while to see if they can figure out what they really want in their lives. Its hard because when you really serve and try to help someone, you develop love and charity for this person and it is hard to see them suffer, but I don't know what else we can do. Their time will come. 

But on the bright side, we have lots of other investigators, and the Lord has blessed us with lots of work here. Today was pretty good, we didn't do anything out of the ordinary. This week we have interviews (I should get my go home date), leadership council, divisions with the assistants, and service projects so it should be a good, busy week. 

Everything sounds good at home, Dad hope everything goes well in England. Well, hope everything goes well this week, keep safe, and always follow the spirit! :)

Love Elder Elgan

Hola!

Hello once again,

Well another week has come and gone, and it was all right, kinda frustrating work wise though. I feel like last week was super great, and we had lots of success, and this week that all just came crashing down. We had 3 baptismal dates for next Sunday, one couple and one other man. but Saturday and Sunday the couple thought it would be better to go and drink and smoke marijuana than go to church. Ah I'm so frustrated with them because its not because its a hard addiction to get over for them, they just do it cuz they want to and they like it. And the other guy disappeared and didn't go to church, wasn't there for our appointment, and don't know what happened. So that's kinda frustrating. We had such high hopes and great goals for this month, and I feel like we are failing. But I'm sometimes to hard on myself because we really have worked so hard, and I feel like we have done our part, God just likes to test our patience sometimes. Patience is one of the things that I have asked the Lords help to help me develop it. And he isn't just gonna give me it, he is gonna give opportunities to show it so that I can learn to have it. He is just so funny sometimes. Oh well, I know that this week will be better. 

Today to get over all the stress we went and hiked the big mountain in the state of Mexico that we hiked a few months ago. So that was awesome. It was actually Elder Rodriguezs comps bday and he is now really good friends with Elder Guillen from all that we have done together so he invited us to go for his bday. It was awesome, I love getting into the wild a little bit and out of the city. this time it wasn't cloudy like the last time so we got some pretty nice city views :) (not that a Mexico City view is that nice. . )

Sounds like you guys had a pretty good week, the auto show and adventures in Salt Lake sounded like fun. Time is sure flying. I have a headache right now, and its hard for me to think of much more to say, but everything is good, and I'm really learning to love the mission and every trial that I pass through here. 

Love you all! Have a great week, 

Elder Elgan

Another Cold January

Hola Familia!

Well since I wrote on Wednesday, I feel like not a lot has happened. But we had a really good week and started off this new transfer well. In the middle of the week we were feeling like everything was going bad and wrong, and we weren't making any progress with our investigators. We got to a point where we both felt like we were just teaching the lessons to teach them, and not focing enough on their needs. For the last few days we really foces on that and we could see a great difference. On Sunday we were happy because we had 8 investigators in church, and all of them are progressing for their baptisms in this month and in February. So we finished off the week great and are happy for that. 

Today was kinda crazy cuz we had our zone activity. It has been a lot of work and stress for the little time that we have had, but it turned out pretty good. I think this is the first time since 6 that I have sat down. ha. We played a version of scripture trivia that included 3 different bop its for tie breakers, when both teams answered the question correctly. (my comp found and bought 3 different bop its in the tianguis and is gonna send them home now ha). Then a scripture scavenger hunt type thing through the church. It turned out really good. And then we made bbq wings and nachos. By we I mean I. They turned out really good actually. haha. Then after that we ran back to the house, to Walmart and here to write. It was good to get to know the new zone a little bit better. I don't like being ZL for zone activities because I stress myself out too much trying to make them good, but I feel good now that todays over. haha. 

I had to talk in sacrament yesterday about mission work and forgot about it until we got to church. It went really well though. It really is true that if we study and have a desire to learn, the spirit will put in our mouths the words we need to say in just the right moment. I felt really happy and I felt in my place here in the mission as I was talking, and as I could see our 8 investigators, various less actives, and the chapel was as full as I have ever seen it. It was a good moment. 

I have a new favorite food dish, its called pollo almendrado. (almond chicken??) Super good, and super easy to make so I will have to make that when I get home, so get excited for that :) ç

Well sounds like everything is going good at home. I'm so sad that Brandi and Brandon are moving, how could they, but I'm glad that they are happy. Brand you will have to send me some pics of the new house! I will sure miss your old house though. . Kayla's job sure sounds rough traveling all over the Caribbean in the middle of January. haha Have fun in the car show Mom and Dad! Send me some pics, and don't forget to sign me up for Motortrend :) I will be waiting for the package thanks so much! 

Well I love you all, have a super great week!

Love Elder Elgan

January Greetings!

Well Hello Again,

Well a lot has sure happened since the last time I wrote. . and the good news is that I didn't have changes! Yay! So I will be here until mid February. I will have 6 months in every area in the mission I'm thinking. haha. I'm happy I really didn't want changes, and I really didn't want to leave my beautiful house. So I'm excited for 6 weeks more here. Things are better with my comp, sometimes I get frustrated with him, but oh well, were getting better.

There were a lot of changes in our zone however, almost every companionship had changes. So we are getting use to all of the new elders, and are excited to work with them. It was sad to see some of the missionaries go, because they were great, but oh well, we have new great ones. Yesterday we had to go to the changes meeting to get the new sisters, because they changed both in one of our areas, and we had to take them to their new house, it was quite the dealio because they ended up giving us the wrong keys, we had to go in through the window, but we eventually got it all figured out and everyone settled. 

On Saturday we had leadership council and then on Monday we had our zone class. The class went really well. We talked about the importance of knowing and studying the doctrine of Christ  and the atonement and how it can change our outlook on the mission. It was quite spiritual to be quite honest. haha. 

UmmI new year was pretty good I guess, even though I couldn't be up for it. haha A super awesome family gave us dinner to eat in our house, and we helped them make it. It was like a ham/potato casserole and spaghetti. We heated it up in our oven that night and had our little feast so that was fun. In Mexico the 5 of January is like Christmas because the "3 wisemen" apparently bring the children their presents. Santa isn't quite as popular here. They eat a big bread thing called Rosca de Reyes. (google it) Super good. Inside there are little plastic doll things and whoever gets it in their piece has to buy the tamales in February. Yep and both times we ate rosca I got the freaking doll. Just my luck. ha. 

Today was a pretty good pday. We went to the zoo! There is a zoo in front of the temple, but its closed on Monday's. Now that our pday was on Wednesday we could go! It was pretty decent, quality in between Willow Park and Hogle. The tiger was tryng to attack us so that was cool, scared me a little bit cuz the enclosures don't seem quite the best quality here in Mexico. I'll send some pics. The rest of the day was just the normal clean, Walmart, and so forth. 

Everything is going alright with the investigators, we should have lots of baptisms and families ready for this month so we are looking forward to that! But I think that should just about do it. . love you all and have a super great week! Talk to you in 5 days! 

Love Elder Elgan