Mexico Week 17: Zone Conference with Elder Rasband, Service, Hamburgers and a New Food...Goat Brains

Hey there everyone!!

Well this week was a great and a rough one. It started off bad and good hahaha. First the bad was that one of our investigators, Alejandra, wanted to get Baptized in Puebla where her cousin and friend lives so she got Baptized there by other missionaries which was sad not to see that Baptism haha but I still count it haha. Monday through Wednesday we spent in Puebla with Elder Johnson and Elder Monjaras. Monday was p-day and we just played soccer again haha.

Tuesday Elder Johnson and I worked together all day and we had a lot of success. We taught 3 lessons and found 4 new investigators. One door we contacted didn't answer for like 3 minutes so we knocked the apartment right next to it and then the other door that we were waiting at opened and the door that we at this time were just knocking (sorry my English is bad). So I contacted one and Elder Johnson the other, and it was weird testifying alone haha, but the lady that I contacted accepted our invitation and we taught her. It was cool haha. Later in the day we also contacted a naked guy who opened the door....very weird.

Wednesday was awesome!! Elder Rasband from the 70 came and he taught us about how the Twelve call missionaries. It was the same talk he gave in conference. Later he taught us that we must be balanced missionaries, and if we are here just to baptize we are here for too shallow and pathetic of a reason. We also must help the inactive return. That is a huge priority in missionary work! It was great and the influence of the Spirit was there. After we ate at a chinese buffet which made me sick hahaha. 

Thursday we returned to our area and we taught an investigator Jesus Santos and helped him cut pityas, the cactus fruit haha, and it was fun. That lesson was good too! He was making up so many excuses that an eternal life does not interest him. Well I pretty much told him, with straight up power and authority, that it's going to happen whether you like it or not. So you can choose to accept our message and ge Baptized and be happy forever or not, and not be happy. At the end of the lesson he accepted Baptism :) It was sweet!! 

 Elder Lester and Elder Lumbreras with Jesus Santos

Friday not much happend so my companion and I returned to our house a little early and made a fire and cooked hamburgers. It was a blast haha :)

Saturday was terrible. Three of our Baptisms that we lined up for next week fell through and we won't Baptize Alan, Fernanda, and Trinidad until next change. I cried it was so sad. 

I am still great though and can't wait to get changed!!! Hahaha I also can't wait for the new president to come :) 

New foods this week: 

Rice with banana

Goat brains :) 

Pig skin 

Banana sandwich 

Well I love and miss you all!! :) Stay safe!! I added more pictures!! Check them out!

Love,

Elder Lester 

MTC Week 7: Christmas Visit from Elder Russell M. Nelson

Hey everyone!!

It's been 6 weeks so far and I am on week 7!! Everything is going great! This week was probably my favorite so far, but let me start at Christmas. So for Christmas Eve we had this huge fireside with everyone and the MTC Presidency spoke. They talked about Christ's birth and His life. They also read out of Luke 2 for us which was cool. The best part was when we all sang 12 days of Christmas MTC style. It was hilarious!! :) That night we watched a movie...Mr. Kruger's Christmas and every Missionary got a bag of popcorn :) YUM!

The next day for Christmas we had a MTC talent show with some cool acts and songs. My two favorite were these Missionaries from Russia who sang a Lady Gaga song and rewrote the words to fit us Missionaries! It was hilarious! My other favorite was, this one Elder took one dollar bills and switched them into 20s!!! And then back again!! It was insane and the whole place went crazy!

After the talent show we had our big Christmas dinner!! I had turkey...I swear I have always had ham on Christmas until just now, haha. It was good though :) Probably better than next Christmas' meal lol :) After we had a Devotional and Elder Russell M. Nelson came!!! It was so cool. He talked about the Savior and His ministry and read from Luke 2 as well. An apostle of God read us the story of Christ's birth how cool!! That evening he joined us as the MTC was treated to an act of  "A Christmas Carol". It was amazing and way funny!

The next day after Christmas, on Sunday, we had a combined Priesthood meeting, and guess who came....Elder Nelson!!! Everyone was shocked! He talked about the literal meaning of our calling and what that means. He also talked about the Gathering of Israel. He gave us a ton of scriptures to read, but my favorite was in D&C 88:118-126 :) It applies really well to Missionaries and those who are preparing for Missions! He bore a Powerful Testimony of the Divinity of Missionary work and of the Savior. He then gave us a Blessing as Elders. So powerful!! He also talked about how we as Missionaries are like the Star at Christ's Birth...Leading and Showing the world to Him.

The great weekend led right into a great week! Elder Walker and I this week have been talking so much Spanish and are forcing ourselves to talk in Spanish only. So cool!! It really helps us. We are also teaching lessons 1 and 2 in Spanish now which is so amazing because we hardly know anything in Spanish, haha. It is coming, but it is still hard, but rewarding. We are working really hard though and continue to progress so much!!

This past Wednesday we had the opportunity to be the hosts of the new group of Missionaries. It was so fun!!! I got 3 Elders and 1 Sister. They are going to San Diego, 2 to Brazil, and the Sister to Poland!! Crazy!! It was snowing the whole time though so it was so wet and cold.

Today the Temple was closed so we had a little more down time which was nice :) When I put my laundry in to wash, I accidently bought some Elder more dryer time because I pushed the wrong button, haha. Also the washer that had my darks in it wouldn't open when it was done, so I was stuck waiting with Elder Walker until we could get it open.

This week Elder Walker and I really focused on how we can adjust our teaching to meet the needs of investigators. We also got a head start on outlining lesson 3 because you don't do that in the MTC. We also have been reading and studying on how to work with members and leaders in the Church to help us as Missionaries. I love working with him!

Well, 7th week and still no visa has come. I hope it comes soon because I really want to get to Mexico bad!!!

Anyways gotta go! Love ya and look forward to hearing from you :)

Next week I will send my camera card again so look for that! I also wrote Braxley too, so look out  Brax :)

Love,

Elder Brady Lester

MTC Week 6: Love, Member Missionaries, and Joseph Smith

Hey!!

So it's been 5 1/2 weeks here at the MTC and everything is going great!! Thank you for all your letters and goodies. I did receive all your packages :) Anyways this week went by so fast!! It seems like each week just flys even faster! If I'm right I only have 23 days left until I should be in Mexico!! It's going to be here faster than I know it! I can't wait though!

So this week Elder Walker and I have been studying way way hard!! We have been teaching alot and continue to get better every time. We learn so much!! I really do love working with him and can't imagine working with anyone else for two years. We work really well together off our strengths and weakness's. This week we have worked on teaching members so we can help them be great missionaries. It is so important for members to find the people. Us Missionaries are called to teach and baptize... that's it really. Missionary work is a church wide thing that everyone helps with. I encourage each of you to help the Missionaries teach a friend that you can refer to them :)  It's a great time because it's Christmas :)

On our Tuesday devotional we had a member of the seventy come. Elder Shayne M. Bowen. He talked about the decisions right now in our lives and what we need to decide right now as a Missionary. Like decide right now to love everyone. He also talked about the birth of the Savior and testified of Him. It was beautiful :)

The fireside we had on Sunday was very unique. An institute teacher came and acted out a man who knew Joseph Smith, and was there when he was killed. It was way way cool. In our District Meeting we also talked about Joseph Smith, and each Elder in our district taught something about him. It was cool as the DL as I prayed about the meeting over the week trying to find out what should we teach about. I felt that it was important that each Elder should have the chance to teach and bear testimony of his life. It was special and the spirit was so strong. You could sense that Joseph was in the room with us - it was amazing :) I love our district :)

Tonight we have a special devotional!! I think Elder Russell M. Nelson might be coming but I am not sure. That is just the word on the street, haha. I hope he does!! Tomorrow we have a long but eventful day here!! Everyone is hoping the prophet is going to come :)

So Elder Alston did leave on this past Tuesday, so he is enjoying Christmas in Portugal right now :) Lucky dog!!

Well, I am almost out of time so I will wrap things up!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE LOVE YOU ALL!!!!

Amor (Love)

Elder Brady Lester :)

MTC Week 2: The Temple, Service and Thanksgiving with Elder Holland

Hey there guys!!

First off I just wanted to say thank you for all the letters, treats, and prayers! I love you all :) Second, if possible if you could use just Dear Elder and not email me back because I only have 30 minutes to read and type and I know mom likes to type alot ;) So unless it's short and sweet, please use Dear Elder so I can use my time telling you everything.

Well the week has been great! Elder Walker and I have been working hard hard hard!! We have been trying as much as we can teaching the first lesson to investigators, teachers, and other missionaries here at the MTC. It's amazing to see how much we learn and grow by just teaching. It's also amazing to see how much we learn in one day here during study times. We have also tried contacting people in Spanish and testifying to them in Spanish as well. It's way fun.

Today I just got back from a session at the Provo Temple. The spirit was great there as my district was all in the same session together. I couldn't help but cry when they prayed for us missionaries, and also when I stood in the Celestial Room watching each member of my district walk in. It was amazing and I can't wait to go next week.

Yesterday, Thanksgiving, was AWESOME!!!! The food in not as good as Mom's Thanksgiving meal but it was good. During the day we had service projects going on. The whole MTC made over 33,000 kits and backpacks for kids around the world who don't have anything of their own. In the morning, Elder Holland and his family came to the MTC and spoke at the devotional. It was so amazing. I learned a ton! Sister Holland spoke of Luke 12:8 which I'll leave you to read :) Then the Holland grandchildren sang a beautiful primary song. Then Elder Holland gave an amazing sermon! I've never heard a more powerful testimony from an Apostle before. He spoke of how if there was a symbol for our church, it would be two elders and two sisters. He also gave an account of the Savior's ministry and the Atonement. He said that the only reason we should think we are on missions is that so the Savior doesn't have to do it alone like He did on the cross and in the garden. It is our duty as Elders to confess His name to the world. He also spake of giving to the poor and how it's our obligation as man to give to the needy. He also yelled at us and said that we must not turn down using the opportunity in our lives to use the Atonement. If so he declared, "good luck to you and to me in our mission who crucify Christ afresh!!" The devotional was amazing and I can't wait till the next one :)

Anyways, yes, the Elders in my room are going to my same mission and report the same day as me. I am not allowed to wear braclets or chew gum so don't send me any of that. I will have to give that to all the children in Mexico says my Branch President :) This week I taught the district on the power of our calling. I will later teach them on the doctrine of conversion. I also have been preparing a talk in Spanish on the Atonement for this Sunday. Each Sunday they randomly select an Elder to give a talk in Spanish haha. Scary!

My schedule is similar and yet different everyday. I will have to explain this to you in my next email.

I love you all and can't wait to hear from you!!

Love,