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

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

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