Nueva Rosita, Coahuila week 1 (or week 4 of the transfer)

This week has been insane. We didnt have P Day on Monday because we
were going to the temple on Wednesday, so like always, we changed it
to Wednesday. But, Monday night, I got a call from the Assistants
informing me that I was getting short transferred (or getting
transferred within the 6 week period in which it usually happens). So,
Im here in Nueva Rosita, Coahuila as Zone Leader. Its about 6 hours
from Monterrey. Therefore, They had already had their P-day on Monday,
so when I got here, Id missed it. Sweet haha.
Last week was a true test of faith. The whole week we were doing
exactly what we should have been, but were having no results at all.
Saturday night came around and we had no one for church, so we just
started contacting. We got into a house of a lady who had a ton of
perfect questions, and said she and her husband would go to church the
next day. That night I still didn't count them as surer to go because
we'd just met them. So, Sunday, the next day, I give them a call to
see if they were really going to go , and they said they were on their
way. I was surprised, and really happy! haha. So when they got there,
all the members introduced themselves, it was great. Afterward, we
went to the baptismal font to put their baptismal date for the next
week, but the husband said he had many questions, because his mom is a
7th Day Adventist and filled his mind with a lot of funny stuff about
the Mormons. So he said he was going to take her to his house and we
were going to talk with her and answer her questions. Great, I
thought, a Bible Bash session. But that night he took her over and she
was just a very nice lady and had questions like what we believe about
tithing and fast offerings and other things of that nature. Everything
we explained were with divinely inspired words, because we explained
very clearly and respectfully that this is the only Church with
authority from God.The two who went just stayed quiet, and after about
45 minutes I realized that were not just here to answer trivial
questions but to get these people baptized. So I began talking to the
two who had gone to church with us, and I explained how we want to
teach them all they need to know to get baptized, then I asked them if
they would pray to know that this is the true church of Jesus Christ.
When I said that, the husband sat up on the couch and said, "from
what I felt in the church today, I don't need to ask God any further
if its the true Church. I know" I'm sure I looked like I'd just gotten
slapped in the face. He just went on about all the good things that he
felt and that happened at church. It was a true manifestation to me
that God is preparing people and that he does reward us for our
righteous efforts. Even thought I got transferred the next day and
won't be there for there baptism- I am still very grateful for the
blessings the Lord gave me and for the lesson I learned in faith.
This week on Tuesday we had a special bi-mission conference. Elder
Bednar came and spoke to us. It was so awesome! He's the 3rd Apostle
I've seen in real life. It was amazing how he was. In General
Conference, we see them as distant people, just giving their talks,
but seeing him in real life, I realized hes a normal Human Being. It
was great to hear him making jokes and being normal haha. He even
talked about our note taking, and how all we write down are things
said, not felt. He then said, "How stupid is that?!" It was hilarious.
He then explained that in meetings, we shouldn't write down words they
say, but that it should be a "revelatory experience" and we should
write down what the Holy Ghost tells us that we need to do,
specifically. He spoke for about 3 hours on faith and prayer. That's
it. Who said the Gospel was complicated? He explained things in such a
clear manner that we were all receiving the testimony of the Spirit
that this man really was an Apostle of Jesus Christ and that this is
the Church of Jesus Christ. It was an absolutely unforgettable
experience.
So being a Zone Leader is crazy. I have only worked with my
companion like 1 day out of last week. I don't know my area or
anything. It really reminds me of Piedras Negras, the place I was in
like 9 months ago, just a small town, with not too much going on. I'm
excited to work here.
So ya, insane week. This week should be very interesting because my comp is not going to be here at all, so I have to direct the area. fun fun fun!!!!

Much Love
JAmes

Solidaridad, MTY week 14

This week was good. Saturday of last week they said Id get my companion Tuesday of this week, then Monday they said the same, but Monday night they said not till Thursday, so I was running around trying to get the young men to work with me. It was great. Haha. But finally on Thursday he came. Hes elder Garcia. He was in the mission offices for 7 months so its kinda strange for him working in the mornings too. Hes awesome and Im going to have a great time working with him-till his comp comes. Hes going to be training, so when his comp comes, they re going to send me another, so Ill have to start all over again haha. They say I wont be training again, so I really hope im not getting a new missionary haha.
We had a zone activity this morning. WE had like a barbecue and played soccer and stuff. I brought the a guitar a member let me borrow, and played that a little. It was really fun. I really like these activities to get to know everyone a little better.
My comp and I area really going to turn it up this week, and do even better than last week. We really need to get the area going, so we have some ideas to specify things that we need to do better, and are going to make plans for how to do them. Hes a great missionary and will really help me grow spiritually.
The important stuff- Coke has a program here that certain bottle tops are worth .50, 1, and 2 pesos towards Coke products. So, all day I walk in the streets and find tons of these little bottle tops, so Every time I want a coke, I just take out my bag of bottle tops and throw them on the counter haha. It only goes till the 15th so threes not much time left. I gotta hit it while I can!!!
Nothing too extraordinary this week. Its just been humid :( man i hate humidity! But i guess I gotta deal with it. Just one more heat wave and Ill be home haha.

Take care all and have a great week!
Much Love
JAmes

Soilidarida, MTY week 13

This week was crazy. We went to the bus station to say goodbye to Elder Whitney, and to pick up my companion. Well, the Assistants told me that my comp wasn't coming for another week, because he was working in the offices and was training another Elder how to work the computers etc. so This has been a wonderful week of working with young men from the ward who have no Idea how to do missionary work! Haha some times I couldn't get anyone so I had to go with other missionaries. We still had one person at church though, which was a miracle, so well teach him and see if hes going to get baptized. My comp is coming tomorrow.
Sat we had a meeting with the zone leaders right after they got back from the zone leader council which they said would be way important. Apparently Elder Johnson from the first seventy came and said were totally changing the way we... well, work. Were now focusing more on the spirit and not on our own abilities. Contacts are simply bearing testimony and putting an appointment. A few elders Ive talked to love it because they think they don't have to work anymore to do contacts, just bear testimony, but what they don't get is that we still have to be intelligent in how we do it, and more than anything we have to be 100% sure we have the Spirit. Elder Johnson promised that if we did this, we would baptize each week. Which also means, if we don't baptize, then we didn't have the Spirit that week. It will be kinda tough, but worth it. Missionaries cant simply rely on their convincing power, but they MUST have the spirit of conversion. Elder Johnsons wife said, "its sad to think that so many of the chosen and prepared children of the Lord are born and die without hearing the Gospel because of missionaries who don't have the valor to open their mouths and preach the Gospel, and who waste so much time on those that are not prepared, trying only to convince them." So, yeah. Planchados. o everything is going to change and I'm glad about it.
Other awesomeness- a member gave me a broken electric acoustic guitar he has had for 5 years. IT broke 15 days after he bought it, and was sitting for 5 years because he didn't have tome, money, nor anyone to fix it. So, the bishop took me to a members house who is a carpenter, and hes going to fix it this week. FREE! I'm so happy!
AND... I was given 4 original Beatles vynals, written in Spanish (the lettering, not words) only 8 more months Mason then well jam them!!!
anyone who wants to is invited to my house at 7 my time to be there when I talk to my family. :) So Mason and Amy NEED to be there!!

Much Love
JAmes