Mexico Week 90: Busy!

We did miss a letter from Elder Lester this week but he has been in contact with me and he is doing good. They had mission transfers they were working on and he stayed in the Mission Home with the President during this time. Later in the week he and his companion searched for new housing for them and the office Elders. There are five Missionaries living in one place together. Fun!

We look forward to getting a letter soon.

Apartment in Castillotla and Pday Fun

These are pictures and prints we have sent in Brady's packages. It's so great to see them hung up.

 Brady loves this quote and memorized it and recited everyday while he served on the Work Crew at the Hill Cumorah. He also recited it in his farewell talk.

 Family pictures, special friend, Arizona Temple, and I love that he has a picture of his MTC companion Elder Walker

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 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 18: Cambios - Castillotla!

Hola Todos!

Well today we had transfers and I left Huacaltzingo.

 District Meeting

Special Family in Huacaltzingo

 It was a great time I had there and was extremely tough, but all that I learned I know will really really help me in the future in my mission. I also hope and pray for the best there in Huacaltzingo. Today, and for the next 6 weeks at least, I am in Castillotla, hahaha. It's half city and half village. My companion, Elder Rojas, has one year in the mission and is from Peru!! Sweet eh haha?

Elder Rojas

Well I will tell you about today and my new area first and then about the week. Well this area is huge and my comp tells me it's tough and the members don't really help us out. Sounds familiar haha :)  My house, well is tiny, we don't have a working toilet, we will shower in cold water, and there are cockroaches hahaha :) Sounds fun eh hahaha!! Well I will be fine don't worry about it. I am just excited to be here. My comp seems a little lazy and President Rex told me personally to take care of him hahaha, so we will see what happens, lol. I am just ready to work and am excited :)

This is Brady's apartment in Castillotla

Well in the past week we didn't have much success. It was another tough week in Huacaltzingo, but we did have some interesting experiences. Tuesday was a good day. We were out working and stuff and I had the impression to visit a specific Hermano and Hermana to ask them for a reference. Well my comp and I went and when we arrived the Hermano told us that his wife was really really sick and couldn't move or get up. Well we ended up giving him and her blessings. The spirit really directed our words and you could feel it's presence there. Well two days later she was up and walking :) It was sweet :) Well yesterday was a very strange day in the mission for me. We got up and headed for church and nobody was there. Everyone showed up late hahaha everyone! We finally found out why...apparently at 3 in the morning two young men killed a woman of 30 years with rocks not too far from the church on a hill. She happened to be an investigator that Elder Villalba and I taught. She was loved much by the members so it shook them up too. Yesterday we only had Sacrament meeting and I gave a talk on the Atonement and how Christ suffers with us and is always there calling, we just need to accept the call and come unto Him. I really hope that it helped.


Well thats all the news for this week. Brinkley CONGRATS on your graduation :) How do you feel? :)


Well I am excited to see what is going to happen in this change. I really think we will have success :) I am excited and ready to work! I hope the Lord blesses us :) I love you all and are all in my prayers everyday!


Love,
Elder Brady Lester

News from Mexico

Hey everybody!!! 

So I only have a little time because we have been going everywhere trying to find internet that works and we have an appointment in 30min. Anyways, I am in Huacaltzingo Puebla. It is two hours away from the city of Puebla. It's a farming town. Everybody here is so loving and so humble even though they have nothing!!!! I am about 2 hours away from the city of Puebla, and only every Wednesday do we go into Puebla for meetings. Life here is good though! I don´t understand a thing which is sad because I really want to help the people here. Hopefully soon I will be able to :)

The first night here, when we arrived, we all went to the mission home and ate sloppy joes and potato chips that Sister Rex made. They were yummy!! Anyways we just ate and went straight to bed that night. That was the last night with the Elders I have been with for 2 months, haha.

Anyways the next day we got up had pancakes and went to the mission offices. We received some training and President Rex interviewed us :) He and his wife are great people!!

First look at Puebla Mexico - January 29, 2011

So we got our JP Morgan Chase cards and learned about that. Today we went to the bank and I got my first pesos!!! Cool looking money, haha. Anyways that day we got our trainers. My trainer is Elder Villalba and he is from Chihuahua Mexico. He is way cool!! He speaks a little bit of English which is nice. He is a hard worker, so loving, very patient, and just fun!!

Elder Villalba - Trainer Companion

So the first night we went to our house and then left to go talk to people! We went to Hermana Dolores house and I met her and we ate. She is the Relief Society president in the branch here. Here in Huacaltzingo 600 people live here and about 250 are members, but only about 70 are active. I hope we can change that soon!! Anyways my first meal was some spinach in some tomato broth, then we had this soup with chicken in it. I could not eat it. It was so HOT!!!!!!!!!!!!! They felt bad but I tried saying it was ok :) Anyways I just ate beans and the best tortillas in the world!!! So good!! After that we just went around talking to other members and inviting them to church. 

Yesterday was Sunday and we went to Church after our studies. I have church at 10:00 AM but we leave at 9:00 AM because it takes about 20 minutes to walk there, haha. We walk far!!!!!!! When we go really far we take a bus (which is a charter bus). One time the bus driver stopped, got out, and bought a coke on the side of the street, and then kept going. Hahaha it was weird but funny!

Anyways church was nice! President Rex and his wife came which was a surprise to all. After Church we went and ate with the ward mission leaders family Hermano Guadalupe. Great food! Best rice ever, and the tortillas here are great! We had some soup with chicken again, but it wasn´t as hot, but still hot. At least I could eat it. After that we taught some investigators the Plan of Salvation and they seemed very receptive. So far we have three Baptism dates for February 12th, but they need to come to church before they can be Baptized. Hopefully this week we work hard with them.

Last night we went to Fernando´s house, a member, and role played with him on how to invite his friends to hear a message from us. I was his friend and I understood almost everything he said which is a miracle because I can´t understand anyone here. They all speak so fast!!! Anyways some of the members, including Fernando, want to learn English so they are happy an American is here. I helped Fernando for about 30 min last night and he is very good. When we go to Puebla tomorrow I am going to get him an English Book of Mormon. 

Anyways, yeah life is good here...I am home sick though. I don´t understand a thing and everything is so dirty and nasty. I feel bad for these people. All they have are a couch, table, tv, stove, and beds. Which is pretty much the same that I have, haha. I do have a shower...concrete wall with a shower head. Sometimes the gas doesn´t work so like this morning when that happens we can´t take a shower, hahaha. Today we went shopping after our studies. We got some food and supplies.

We do wash laundry at a members home who has a washing machine, but after the cycle we have to ring out the water and hang dry our clothes. Yes we do have purified water. The members all give us good water or soda, hahaha. They feed us really good. We always have food in our bellies. The houses here are pretty much a square brick/concrete house with a concrete floor. There are tons of bugs and spiders in the houses and it always smells. I am really really glad we live in America and I am missing it right now. Hopefully once I understand a little of what they say I will be fine, haha. Some people here don´t like me as much since I am from Arizona and we passed a law that they all hate here. Hopefully I don´t get in trouble with that, haha. 

Anyways I think I answered all the questions? Can't wait to hear from you and I miss and love you all!!!!! :)

First Home in Haucaltzingo, Puebla Mexico

Elder Lester's Desk

Elder Lester's bed has the tan blanket

Love, 

Elder Brady Lester