Mexico Week 49: Happy New Year

Hey there everyone!

Well I hope that you all had a great Happy New Year!! We are officially in the last year of the world, 2012!!! Hahahaha just kidding. If it's true that means I only have 1 month after the mission to be home and get married so that I can go to the Celestial Kingdom hahahahaha. Well I want to send a shout out to Bishop Turner and his family for the sweet package that they sent me for Christmas. Also to Grandma and Sister McAurthur for sending me money. I used that money to buy myself a jacket because it's so darn cold here!! I love you all!!

Well life has been going a bit hard here in Loma Florida. It's not easy being District Leader, especially of one of the biggest Districts in the Mission. It's also been tough with my companion. He is a little different but I love him for who he is. He loves video games so he talks about that all day hahaha, which just drives me up the wall! He also speaks English so he is really really prideful. He doesn't like to work at all but he thinks he is better than me hahaha. It's not been fun not having success these past two weeks...it's actually not so fun. It's really hard but I will be getting stuff done this week so I hope that we will be having alot of success this week.

This past week we didn't do much but the plan that I have here is to visit and reactivate a ton of less active members. I feel like we will be able to have success with that and find some Baptisms. Yesterday only 16 members showed up to Church hahaha and there are almost 300 in the ward so we have plenty of work to do!! We just have to start it up! There is no testimony here so the plan that I have is to teach the BoM to everyone so that they understand who they are and why they got Baptized in the first place. If they have a strong testimony of that book...they won't fall. It's not easy to fall with that book in our lives. In my district meeting I talked about the Book of Mormon and how we must use it in our Mission. Something that I learned is that we have to pray and ask the Lord how we must use it in our Mission. Cool huh!!

Well things are going good and I pray that they get better. I hope things are great at home!! I love you all and hope that you have a great week!!

Love,
Elder Brady Lester

Mexico Week 29: Blessings in Trials and Learning from the Scriptures

Hey there everyone!!

Well first off I want to start off by saying HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRAXLEY!  I can't believe that you are 11 years old now!! That is crazy because I really still remember when you were a little tiny kid hahaha. I hope you have a great birthday!! Kasey thank you so much for you letter and your advice. I am so glad that you are learning, so just apply it!! You are meant to be a leader in the kingdom of God but obedience, study, and prayer is required to take that spot. Brinkley congrats on getting another job!! SAVE your money and don't be stupid like I was with mine. Kolby....Baritone?? Really? Hahahaha cool! You are going to be really good! Mom, congrats on passing your test!! Dad thank you for your letter and for sharing your experiences. I really did learn something and I felt that I must really use the guidance of the Spirit more in that aspect of the work.

Well this last week was hard because my comp did not want to do anything and so he stayed in the house all week. I tried having a member to come over to be with him so that I could go work with other Elders but I didn't feel comfortable with it.

(This is Mom...since Elder Lester has spent a lot of time in the apartment with his companion that won't work, I thought I would show pictures of the new apartment in Castillotla that they moved to awhile back.)

 I think this is the view from Brady's apartment. I believe that's a volcano.

I studied a ton this past week hahaha. There are blessings in the trials. I really learned alot. This week I read 1 Nephi 8 and learned quite a bit of new things. Something new came to me as I was studying this chapter. I learned that the Rod of Iron is like the Doctrine of Jesus Christ which is Faith, Repentance, Baptism, and receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost. If we as members and investigators live and follow that Rod, we will have the opportunity to partake of the fruit which we know from Nephi´s explanation in chapter 11 is the Love of God. I learned in my study that this fruit is Eternal Life. That is the gift that God offers us if we live His Gospel. The love part comes in from the Gospel that He gives us but more importantly His Son, Jesus Christ. Without Jesus Christ we can't partake of that fruit. We need His help. There are dirty rivers and great and spacious buildings in our lives, but we always have the chance to come back to the Rod and partake of the fruit through the Love of God, Jesus Christ.

This past week I also learned about the importance of being obedient. There is no way to have success in this work unless you are obedient. There are rules for our protection and for our learning. We can learn so much by the Spirit if we are worthy to learn from it. I believe that we must always remember our Covenants and these Commandments and have them in our hearts. If we really ponder them it will be easier to follow and live them I believe. We will understand the importance of these commandments and then have the desire to keep them. If we don't, we are offending God and can't learn or live great experiences. I love what Joseph Smith taught "When we are willing to come to Him, He will then be willing to come to us." I believe we do that by keeping Covenants and Commandments.

I also read Alma 17 and I love that chapter! It was written for Missionaries I believe! I learned about three things that we must do as Missionaries to have success. The Sons of Mosiah did these things and had alot of success Baptizing thousands for their 14 year mission. First is studying diligently in the scriptures. There is a difference in reading and studying. Studying is really pondering and trying to learn from the Spirit while reading. It takes alot of pondering I have learned. It takes me almost 40 minutes to read one chapter in the BoM because I ponder certain words, verses, and phrases. At home we call it "family scripture STUDY" so I invite you all to really study. The next thing that they did was pray alot. Prayer is the greatest blessing that God gives to all of His children, members or not. We can talk to Him and He will answer us! Its amazing! We just need to listen to the Spirit before, during, and after the prayer. This is one way to receive revelation. The next thing that they did was fast. Fasting is so important in our lives. First, we are more healthy physically. We need to not eat every once and awhile, as the prophets have taught. Second, we are spiritually fed. I have learned that the greatest blessings come from great service and sacrifice. For example, a Mom serves and sacrifices to give life to a child. The Savior served and sacrificed to give each of us the gift of life after death. Fasting is a way to sacrifice something that we all love and receive blessings for it. Then it is not such a sacrifice but something that we want to do because it's a blessing.

Those are some of the things that I learned in my personl studies all week and day long, hahaha. I really know that the Lord is preparing me for something with all these lessons and trials. I just can't wait for it to happen, hahaha. I really see success in the future! I love you all and hope you have a great week!

Love,
Elder Brady Lester

Mexico Week 26: The Lord Preparing Me for Something Harder and Bigger

Hey there everyone!!

Well this letter is going to be a short one because I have like 40 minutes to read everything from you guys and write. No Mom I still haven't gotten your June package and thank you for your letter. Get more sleep!! That was cool what Bishop Alston said in your blessing and I hope it will happen :) Thank you for all your letters kids :) Dad thanks for your letter I really enjoyed it. Seems like you guys had alot of fun this past month.

Well this past week was yet another hard week with Elder Rojas. Sometimes things look like they are getting better and we are good friends but then he gets really lazy. He needs to change really but there is nothing I can do. I really just need to lock down and keep working my patience. It's been a really hard 8 weeks with this guy hahaha! I know that the Lord is preparing me for something harder and bigger in my future though :)

This past week the work got a little better with the members. We attempted to make a ward mission plan but the meeting was postponed until tomorrow. I really hope we start working hard with the members of the ward because maybe its the way to build more unity between my comp and I.

So in the past week we had a boy and his dad come to Church to learn about it and they ended up accepting an appointment with us. Only the 17 year old son came, Enrique, and we taught him the Restoration and invited him to be Baptized and he accepted! He has been really in with the activities and stuff with the youth in our ward, and he came to play soccer with us today, so we are going to try to put a Baptismal date for the 6th of August.

Also this past week, as my comp and I were planning in the evening, I felt that we should go to visit a certain inactive member, who was a reference from another member. Her name is Hermana Alejandra Leon and it's been about a year since she has been to Church. Well we went to visit her and she was a little shy at first but then after we talked and shared a lesson, and she really opened up and shared her feelings. We found out that her husband works every now and then in the US and really loves the NBA basketball. She also has two young boys who are not Baptized and want to get Baptized. The Lord really poured out His blessings that day :) We really feel that they will accept Baptism and be Baptized soon :)

Well that is about all :(  Later today we are going to play baseball with some other Elders!!! I can't wait for that :) I really miss baseball! Well I miss all of you and love each of you a ton! You are in my prayers and please keep me in yours :)

Love,

Elder Brady Lester

Mexico Week 25: Rain, Ward Mission Plan, Showering from a Bucket, Companion Lessons

Dear Family and other people who get this letter,


Well I officially have 8 months in the mission and wow has time passed so fast. I really feel like I am still a new Missionary and just left the MTC. Well this past week things were really interesting. For the past like 15 days it has rained which has been awesome! Thursday it was raining so so hard from like 3-9 in the afternoon and night! We got soaked!! My shoes are still wet hahaha!! My pants got covered in muddy water because some car drove by me fast and all the water in the street just drenched me hahaha! It was fun :) I love the rain!

Well in the past week we didn't get alot of lessons in. We have been working really hard on a mission plan for the ward. Tuesday evening after our meeting with our ward mission leader in the church, the Bishop called us into his office and said he had something really important for us to talk about. After he told us that he wanted us to make a mission plan for the ward because he wants us to work with the members more. I was so happy to hear that from him! So this past week we made a plan for the ward! It includes goals and plans to FIND, TEACH, and REACTIVATE. We really want to improve our numbers and feel also that we can have more success with the members working with us. I really am excited to put this plan into action.


Well also in the past week we got kicked out of the house on Thursday. The owner sold the house and said we needed to be out by today, Monday. So also last week we had to find a house really fast and there was only one that we found and its kinda gross hahaha. We moved in all of our stuff on Saturday when we found the house and cleaned out the other one, but since the toilet, sink, and shower don't work in the new house, we stayed in our other house for the past couple of nights on the floor so that we could have a place to shower and go to the bathroom. Well now we don't live there anymore and the owner of the new house is installing the new toilet, sink, and shower tomorrow and Wednesday, so I will be showering from a bucket for the next two days :) Hahahaha I am excited lol ;) In the next month when we have money we are going to buy some cheap paint to paint the place lol because the walls are ugly and gross.


Well this past Saturday Hermana Karla could not get Baptized because we still have some stuff to teach her, so it looks like this Saturday she will get Baptized :) We also have been working with a young lady, Hermana Ana, who really wants to get Baptized but wants to wait a bit. She is not religous and knows nothing about God and Jesus Christ so we had to start with the basics, but she wants to be religous and be closer to God, so she has accepted Baptism but with no date. She came to Church yesterday which was awesome!! So we are going to be helping her to get ready by the 30th of July so that she gets Baptized then :)


Well this past week Elder Rojas changed very little. He is still doing his normal things but President Reeves called us to see what he could do to help. I told President my feelings and he listened. He talked to my comp but I don't know what was said. I know we are together for this change still but I am going to be different in this change. I am going to be patient. I am going to pray for more guidance because maybe I am with him for another reason, and to help him out in another way besides just working. It's going to be hard but I feel like it's the right thing to do. One thing I will be hard on him though, and that is his money. I have taken so much out of the home account because he spends all of his money the day he gets it. He has nothing again for this month like last month and I am having to pay for things for him. I really need him to be smarter next month with his money because I have almost nothing and don't want to keep taking out tons of money from the house just to pay for him and me to live hahaha. I just need to be the example and be obedient.


Well I gotta go! I want reports next week on how you all have been sharing the gospel with your friends and everyone!! I love and miss you all! I can't wait for your next letters!


Love,
Elder Brady Lester


PS: Tell Eric Trott thank you for the email. It really helped me out and I will take his advice. I just don't have time to write him :(


Tell Sister McCarthur that she is awesome and that I love her so much!! I have had no time to write her but I am thankful for all of her support and know that the Lord is blessing her :) 

Mexico Week 24: Conversion to Missionary Work

Hey there!!

Well this past week started off great as we got to know President Reeves on Tuesday! Last Tuesday we had a multi-zone meeting in the mission offices and got to meet President Reeves, his wife, and his 17 year old son Bryan. It was cool to meet them and they said that they have been waiting to meet me which was nice to hear. His son Bryan went to Mesquite High and knows a bit of people who went to Highland. That conference was nice as we learned how to convert ourselves to Missionary work and being better Missionaries. We also learned how to work better with the members in our wards and branches. Also selected Missionaries gave there testimonies and it was nice to feel the Spirit there with us during that meeting :) That day I got my package, so thank you mom and kids for that :) I have nothing left from it hahahahahaha since I ate all the food :)

Well I didn't have transfers yesterday so Elder Rojas is still with me which is a big surprise to everyone! He really doesn't want to be here with me but I told him last night that we are together for a reason. I really just told him all my feelings about the last change and how I felt like we did very little and he was mad, but today has been a little better....but it is Pday hahaha. If things don't get better then I will call President, but I just feel like things are going to be hard in this change. He told me that he doesn't want to be my friend or comp. I will try my hardest with him though. I have decided that I am going to be really really hard with him. I just really hope that we work good together and have success. 

Well the past week was a hard week. I didn't really work with my companion at all because we had divisions with young boys in our ward because my comp did not want to work with me. We also did have divisions with the DL too which went well. His name is Elder Riggin and is from Washington. I learned alot from him this past transfer! He is a great missionary!!

Well in the past week we had to drop two of our investigators because they were not progressing which is always sad. Hermana Imelda we dropped because she told us that she feels that her Catholic ways are the truth and I really thought she was going to get Baptized!! This week, hopefully Saturday though, we will be Baptizing a little 11 year old girl Karla. She is the daughter of Hermana Isabel who just got Baptized! Today we are going to visit her and ask her to be Baptized on this date :)

Not much else happened this past week so I don't have more hahaha. I am glad you boys are doing great!! Kasey please be careful and take it easy if you are having trouble breathing. You are in my prayers! Ask for a Priesthood blessing :)  Brinkley thank you for your letter :) Hahahaha the pictures of Daisy were cute! I can't believe she is 1 years old!! That is crazy! Well I gotta go! Love you tons!! Stay safe and have fun!

Love,
Elder Brady Lester

Mexico Week 21: Hard Week

Hey everyone,

Well this past week was probably the hardest week in the mission. I am sorry to say but I have lost complete trust in my companion. He lies all the time and really doesn't not want to work, and when we do, it's not by the rules. It's been hard because he continues not to talk or listen to me and it's been 3 weeks in this transfer. I have been doing everything my leaders have told me to do, but finally today the zone leaders talked to him for a long time because now there is a girl problem. I am not in this problem. I will do all that I can to keep him safe, but I refuse to go home for something stupid that he does. I really hope that we have emergency changes this week. I can't work with him anymore. I pray every night for him so that he has the desire to work, so that I can love him more, and so that I can help him, but its been 3 weeks of the same lazy, lying, disobedient stuff. I don't know what else to do. I really have not felt the spirit at all this past week. I am sick too, hahaha, to add onto things. He also has no money so I have to pay for him all the time to get to where we need to go because the area is huge, so sorry mom for taking out so much money this month :( I feel hopeless.

I am glad all is great back at home though!! I love your letters so much :) This week I will be writing you all personal letters kids, mom, and dad :) So expect them to come in a month or so hahaha. So Kolby, how was camp? I heard nothing from you about that!! Kasey, it sounds like you had a blast at camp :) Brinkely and Brax write more hahaha!!! I love you all :) Anything that I can do for any of you kids and parents?

So the other day I was studying and my comp was sleeping and a sister called us and told us that her dog died at 2 in the morning and asked if we could come and help her bury it in the back yard. Hahahaha, for three hours we dug a huge 4 foot deep hole for the dog, hahaha it was so funny and I was dead afterwards.

Today for pday we played basketball finally, soccer, and volleyball. For some reason it was really boring, hahaha but I still had fun. After, as a district, we went to eat pizza at Sams Club which was yummy :) Today I had to wash my clothes in the bathroom sink, hahaha because we have nothing else, but I am going to ask a sister if in the next change we can "rent" her washing machine every Monday, hahaha. We will see how that will work out :)

To answer questions - I tried one new food this week....donkey meat. It was WAY good hahaha!! It tasted like steak actually hahaha :) Kasey would like it lol. We do eat at a members house everyday but they don't want us because my comp is a jerk to them all...which is sad. The members and the ward are really good though! There is a ton of work to do here but we just need to work hahaha!!

Well I love and miss you all! Sorry this one was short but nothing...and I mean nothing happened this week. I love you and stay safe!! I look forward to your letters next week!

Love,

Elder Brady Lester

Mexcio Week 20: Baptism of Isabel, Work to do, and Giving Talks

Hola everyone!

Well this past week was a better week in my area and with my companion. He seems to have reacted better to wanting to work. I have tried everything and even talked to him about it, and he responded, for about 2 days hahaha. He is starting to get lazy again and mad at me for trying to do what is right, but apparently we will have divisions with the Zone Leaders soon, so hopefully that will help us out. He really is a great guy and an amazing teacher! I have learned to improve my teaching from what he has taught me, and I know it will help, but I just need to exercise more patience maybe, but still be strong and obedient.

Well I told you guys that the Mavs would win! Just because I am on a Mission doesn't mean I don't have my sports prediction skill and gift :)  Hahahaha but I am glad that they won. I have very little respect for Lebron hahaha. I hope the dbacks win it all this year but I am not predicting anything in baseball yet, lol.

Well this past week Hermana Isabel got Baptized.

The sweet lady who can't walk or move very well. We had to fill up the font at 7pm on Friday and heat it up because she could not get Baptized in cold water. Well after it filled up we left the church to go home. Saturday in the morning at 7 we went to stick in these metal heater things to heat up the water, but most of the water drained out, so we stayed another 2 hours filling up the font again, hahaha. After that we left and worked for the day, and at 5 was the Baptism. Well we got to the church very early, at like 3:30, to make sure everything was ready. Well it so happened that the electricity was out in the building for most of the day and the water did not heat up at all! So we rushed around trying to fix up the electricity, and finally it was working and just barely got the water hot enough for the Baptism. During the services I talked about the Holy Ghost and after was the Baptism. Elder Rojas performed the Baptism, and I had to get in to help get her into the font and Baptize her. We had to do it twice but it was still a sweet experience. This week we hope to Baptize her daughter Karla :)

Well Sunday I had to give a talk and I talked about Charity and Love. It went well I thought. I talked about how we are Diciples of Christ because we got Baptized and took upon His name...but without love, the Pure Love of Christ, we are nobody and definately not Diciples of Christ. Also Hermana Isabel was Confirmed. After, during the Gospel Principles class, a nonmember lady came and asked us how we all say that this Church is true and she wanted to know how she could know for herself! Hahaha golden I thought! Well we ending up teaching her the message of the Restoration and she accepted another visit in her house :) Her name is Hermana Sandra and I really hope that she will progress with us!

Well I have been learning alot in this new area. There is a lot of work...we just need to work hahaha!!

To answer your questions - I have tried new foods almost everyday. They eat much more chicken and soup here in the city. The food is way different from Huacaltzingo because they have more money here, hahaha. Yesterday I had this meatball thing after Church with a salsa and it was so so good!! How we wash our laundry...hahaha well we did wash with a Hermana in our ward but it was on Saturday's and we can't do that, so I told my comp we have to wash Monday's or find another way. Well she is not home Monday's and yesterday we asked the Relief Society President to ask some Hermanas but nobody wants to help, hahaha so we will be washing by hand in our apartment!!! :) hahaha.

Well I am sorry to here about Jonathon and Taylor. I really hope Jonathon gets back out. I am really sad of hearing about people going home hahaha. Taylor....well he is also in my prayers. I hope all will continue to be fine with him. And somebody please tell Jacob Handy to write me!! Little terd hahaha.

Well that is it for today! I love and miss you all!!

Love,
Elder Brady Lester

Life Lessons

Hi Elder Lester,

I have been thinking about what you are going through with these companions that are lazy, doing things their way, etc… And I am very quick to just tell you to tell them that you are there to work, etc… I say that because I know that’s what will bring the most happiness and success to you all. But what I’ve realized is that you will be dealing with this throughout your mission. You will always be with someone that won’t be the same as you. And it’s learning how to work as a team.  What you are dealing with are LIFE LESSONS.

These experiences will help you throughout your life when you are at a job and you are working with someone else and they aren’t doing their part of the job. Or you are the boss and you have an employee who isn’t doing something the way you think they should.  This will help with your future wife and children too.  What I wish I would have taken the time to tell you in the email is that the key is to figure out how to motivate that person, companions, etc., and learning what you can do to help.  By talking and having a discussion on what is it that you guys can do to accomplish this or that. Talking it out and figuring out a way to make it work and what you can do to help.  I know as a Missionary you have to plan out your days and have goals, so this goes right along with this. Also I know that following the rules will keep you safe, so coming home on time at night is crucial.

So after thinking about it, I didn’t want it to sound like I just wanted you to tell your companion that this is the way it’s going to be, and you weren’t going to allow what happened with his last companion, and not getting any work done to happen again, etc.  But I know you have the skills, and are learning more skills everyday, to learn how to work as a team, and how to be a happy and successful Missionary, and these Life Lessons will bless you throughout your life.  I know you have shared in your letters ways you have made things better with Elder Lumbreras, and answers you have received from your studying, and the inspiration you have received. This will continue to happen to you as you seek ways to learn how to be successful with each companion you have, and your new companion Elder Rojas. You will be blessed, and you will bless your companions life, and the lives of the people you are serving.

You are gaining so much experience in such a condensed amount of time. I remember when I went on my mission and I was at the MTC, I heard that the mission experience is like 40 years of college education. You are blessed for this opportunity to learn how to work with these companions and they certainly are blessed to learn from you, know you, and have you touch their life forever.  You know how much you learned in the MTC with Elder Walker, and even at the Hill Cumorah. These experiences are invaluable. You are doing such an outstanding job. I am so proud of you and have loved learning from you.  Thank you for that.

I love you,

MOM

Mexico Week 19: Hoping for Change and Goals

Hola Todos!


Well to start off, thank you very much Mom and kids for the packages! I got them this morning and they were great! :) Thank you boys for the bball news and I hope you are all wrong and the Maverics win, hahahaha :) Brinkley, I will try harder doing that ;) Grandma!! How are you?


Well to answer your questions, I did not see the volcano erupt. (How do you spell that word?) I am guessing the wind blew it North?? Grandma, we use the toilet to go to the bathroom but it doesn't flush so we just fill up a bucket of water and pour it in the toilet and that is how it flushes. You guys can try it at home if you want, hahaha. It really works, hahaha. We shower in cold cold cold water everyday, which is our own decision, because it's 200 pesos to buy gas and we have like no money, haha. I had to pay rent and water bill because I am the junior comp and so I won't see that money for three more weeks, and we bought alot of cleaning supplies to clean the house because we might be changing for the cockroach problem, and this lady that lives above us gets home at like 12 at night and plays music until 4 in the morning, so it's hard to sleep sometimes, hahaha. As for my ward, yes I am in a ward and it does start at 11:30. I only have one ward in my area and there are about 150 active and 300 inactives, hahaha so we have alot of work there to do.


Well this past week was a little disappointing in my new area. I was really pumped and ready to go but found out that my comp is lazy and really disobedient. So we stayed in the house alot and didn't work much. We got home late alot and I am telling him let's go or let's go work, but he doesn't really listen, and I have to listen to him since he is the senior comp. But today I told my district leader our problems and tomorrow we are having divisions to fix it. Appartently the zone and district leaders are happy that I am here because him and his last comp did nothing, so they think I will change the area alot...which I hope hahahaha. So far things are changing slowly. We found a lady to teach named Hermana Isabel. She is a sweet lady. She is divorced with two kids, Carla and Alejandro. Carla is 13 and Alejandro is 7. Well we have been teaching her and she really wants to learn and has alot of faith. She gave up coffee and she has a Baptism date for this Sunday so hopefully it will go through :) After, we will focus on her daughter Carla so that she can get Baptized too and we can bring a happy family in the gospel of Christ :) That is what misisonary work is all about! THE TEMPLE!!!! I don't care about Baptims. I want these people I teach, in the Temple making more important Covenants. Baptism is just the step to get there!


Well nothing much happened other than her. This week I want to visit all the former investigators and the member families who are all not Baptized so we have people to teach because Isabel is all we got. My comp and his last comp did nothing here in the last change so we are kinda opening the area, hahaha. I also want to visit alot of inactive members to reactivate them. My goals are 150 baps and 30 families reactivated :) I will acheive my goals I know it, hahaha :)


Well today was fun! We played soccer with the zone and there are some cool Elders in this zone. After we ate at Mcdonalds with our DL and his comp :) Yes, there is a Mcdonalds and Dominos in my area :) Que chido eh :) My area btw is the city and not terribly far from the offices :)


Well I gotta go!! I love and miss you all!!


Love,
Elder Brady Lester


Go Forward with Faith in Christ and nothing else!

Mexico Week 7: Finding more Investigators

Hey there everyone! 

Well this week has been a hard but yet good week. My new companion is very obedient and we are getting alot done. This week we found 9 new investigators!! It's been hard though because he knows no English and told me that he doesn't want to learn. He also is very power controlling and does not trust me at all with anything. This whole week we have worked with a member because he feels since I have only been out for a little while I don't know the area. He also is very controlling in the lessons and I can't hardly teach. He has also accused me of many things, for example thinking of family, and when I do that I can't have the spirit and we can't work. That day he got mad at me and he said because of me we can't teach with the Spirit so we went back to our house. It has been very frustrating and I feel like I am being abused most of the time. I hope things get better. 

Anyways this week we have been focusing alot on finding more people to teach. Tuesday we went to find that family, the husbands name is Silverio, and they were not home. We looked for more people to teach but were unlucky and ended up not teaching a lesson to anyone. It was a dead kinda day. Wednesday we had our District Mtg in Puebla and set a goal as a companionship for Baptisms this change. Four is our goal and we hope we can get it. Elder Bencomo is our DL and he is awesome!!! After we went to eat at an inactive members house and then after we ate at another members house, Brother Castro's family, but I got confused which one so we ended up eating at both, hahaha. The rest of the day we went trying to find more people to teach and we ended up getting three new investigators and taught them the first lesson. The next day we had our weekly planning session and planned out how and what we are going to do to help our investigators. After we went and visited Lorena and she declined the date of March 19th for her Baptism. She is scared her family will not like it. We have Faith that here soon she will accept a date. After her we went looking for a reference in some town I have never been to...and we searched for two hours and could not find them!! So that was our day, hahahaha. Friday we went and invited Alan to be Baptized on the 18th of this week, but he keeps saying May 30th which his birthday when he completes 12 years. We ended up finding out that his dad might be interested in the lessons so he can Baptize his son, so this week we are going to take action on that. After we taught Bertha Missionary work and invited her to teach with us with Lorena. We hope she will have a good influence on her because she just recently got Baptized. The rest of the day we spent in our house because of me apparently. The next day we visited Lorena and taught her the Doctrine of Christ and again invited her for this week but she said no. Her husband Pedro was even there and testified to her the importance of this ordinance. We invited her to pray for a date and talk with her husband about it. The rest of the day we taught other lessons with our new investigators.

We have two very religious investigators who we taught for two hours, or my comp taught for two hours, and he was bashing with them. The Spirit was not there and I kept telling him lets go but he didn't listen. Then the investigators got mad because of how we dress and said that it is not humble and we are not representitives of Jesus Christ. Again my comp got mad and I just sat there with a smile on my face and didn't say a word. At the end we asked if we could help them with anything and they thought we wanted money for it. They are really weird but Elder Lumbreras wants to go back this week.

Sunday we went to Puebla for Stake Conference that was broadcasted from Salt Lake!! The Prophet and Elder Nelson spoke!!! It was in Spanish so I could barely understand it but it was uplifting! That afternoon was a fail trying to find people. We were searching for one investigator on this one street and couldn't find her. I asked my comp if we could pray for direction and we did and immediately after the prayer we both pointed to a house and knew it was that one. And it was!!!! She was just busy and asked to come back another day, but still it was a cool experience!! 

Well I hope things work out better this week. I found out today that we can't go into Puebla anymore for our meetings since it is too expensive so that stinks way bad. Friday though I have to go because I need to do something with my Visa, so I get to see Elder Walker and everyone in my generation!! Can't wait for that!! Tell the Elders I say hello and everyone else! I will email Jacob next week!! 

So I have been reading the Book of Mormon like crazy and am in 2 Nephi 27 right now. I really love teaching and learning from the BOM. That with the Spirit is the only way someone will be converted. The Bible wont convert anyone. The BOM has the Fulness of the Gospel and Testifies of Christ. I know that it is true with all my heart! If you want to be inspired READ THE BOOK OF MORMON!! 

Well thanks for all the letters and the packages!  I hope they come soon!! :)  My feet are better thanks. Say hi to Sean for me!! Cant wait to hear from you all again!! 

Love,

Elder Brady Lester :)