Mundo Nuevo, Coahuila Week 5

Well, I only have one week left (probably) with Elder Dearden, or deardles, as i call him. HAha no es cierto. But man its gonna be hard leaving this guy.
We had a baptism this week. She is the daughter of a family that was less active. This week we're hoping to have 4 more. No we WILL have 4 more hehe.
SO I go my scriptures back!!!!!!! We saw that same taxi that we took last Sunday, a few days later and we set up a time for him to take them to our house. It felt sooo good to hold them in my hands again. I hadn't marked them up a whole lot, but still, I had a little bit, and they are just so special to me. So thanks to the tender mercies of the Lord, I have them back. What are the chances of seeing hat same taxi again 3 days later?
We had kind of an interesting experience this week. We have an investigator who is going to get baptized this week who had just moved out from living with her boyfriend. We passed by each day just to see how she was doing and everything, but we passed for a couple of days and she hadn't been there. Her house was just all locked up. So we ask her neighbor if he knows anything. This where it gets good. A nasty man, with a lazy eye, begins telling us that the Mafia had come and killed her and her kids and that they were going to put the blame on us. Sweet. Well have a good day haha. We didn't really pay too much attention, but, we are in a border town, and we have come across some Mafia people before. There was always that thought in the back of our minds. So the next day, she doesn't go to church. Right after we eat, we go to her house and its open, and she's there. We told her what the guy said and she laughed and told us that guy is crazy. It was a good one! Anyway, shes alive, the kids are alive, and she's getting baptized! =)
So, all is well here. I love it here, but I miss Monterrey. It's super chill here, but there's not a whole lot of poeple, so its kinda hard to contact. It gets to like 105 here, but it should get to like 120. WOOO BRING IT!!!!!!!

Chris, quit being stupid. :)
I love you all and take care!!!!
Much Love
JAmes

Piedras Negras, Coahuila week 4

This week was okay. We had divisions with other missionaries and I got an Elder who, well, there was word that he was hard to get along with, and a little dead. Well he came and we got along just fine. However, I thought we did a lot, but then I looked back and realized not a whole lot got accomplished. Then, our zone leader called us, the one who goes home in 2 weeks, and told us we had to go to his area. So the whole afternoon we spent in the church while he prepared a 15 minute activity for mutual. We didn't get back home till 9, so that day was gone. I wish people would just leave us alone and let us work!! Haha no everythings okay, I just have to be more persistent on some things.
So something pretty bad happened this week. Our safety wasn't in danger, Mom, so were okay. We went yesterday to pick up investigators to go to church in a taxi, because none of the members could help us. so we got to one and we're waiting and waiting. The taxi driver recieved a gcall on the radio, and he was closest, so he told us hed send another taxi in like 5 minutes. We were just waiting so we were okay with it. Then about 10 minutes pass, and I realize something. My backpack was in the taxi with my scriptures. We didn't look at the taxi company, nor talk to the driver, so we had nothing to go on. That night we called some of the major companies but none reported a bag. I was pretty bummed. But I have another set that I'll just have to use. I'll keep my eyes out and try to find another taxi that looked the same and see the company and go from there. Yeah, it was pretty bad, but I have to just keep on going.
Other than that everything is okay. We have 2 weeks till transfers, and its almost certain that Elder Dearden is going to leave. I really want another transfer with this guy!!!! O well, whatever the Lord wants
I was recently updated on the massacre Mexico did to the US in soccer. 5 to 0. ¿Qué les pasó? But were gonna play again the 12th but its here in Mexico, so we're probably gonna lose again. Dang it. O well, thats what you get America for under-appreciating the best sport on the planet!!!!!!!

Much Love
JAmes

Mundo Nuevo, Piedras Negras, Coahuila week 3

This week was interesting. On Wednesday, we planned on sunday night to do some things that we'd seen that week that we could have done better, and we made plans to do them. But then our schedule got a little messed up. One of our Zone Leaders (other missionaries kinda in charge of us) came with us for a few days because his comp had to go to another part f the zone, which was 2 hours away. Well, this Elder has 3 weeks left in the mission, and was what we missionaries call " un póco muerte" or a little dead haha. He didn't really work the time that he was with us, which made it hard for us to work. Now I know that's no excuse, and sadly I see that, now that we COULD have kicked his tail into gear, but didn't. Anyway, ya it was a little hard....but this week is gonna rule.
Another setback (only to the numbers) this week was Zone Conference. Its the first we had with our new mission Pres. Hes so awesome!!!! His wife is just always happy and helpful and just awesome. I have a pic attached. Also this week , the zone leaders called us Monday night and asked if I could play a certain song for the conference. Luckily it was an easy one, and the zone leaders and asistantes to the President sang it. It was "How Can I Be" by some odd named somoan man haha.
Our companionship is absolutely outstanding. My first two companions were good, but this one, well it just feels like we're brothers. He reminds me a lot of Mason. Hes just always happy, always extremely courteous, and loves everyone. We just get lost talking about the scriptures and often times go over on our companionship study time haha. The only hard thing is that he has a guitar. At first it was a distraction, but now I've gotten a little more will power and can control myself :)

Everything is great here. Sweating like a... well a White Kid in Mexico, in the middle of summer. But other than that, the life is great.

One thing I read this week from an Ensign is a quote from Pres. Monson, "The Lord makes our supposed inefficiencies into obvious strengths." I dont know, I just really liked it haha.

Chris, I love you so stop being stupid.

Much Love
JAmes

Coahuila, Mundo Nuevo week 2

Good week. We had interviews with our new President of the mission, Pres. Romney. He is so COOL!! We had a really good talk and got to know each other a little better. Turns out hes a former CEO of some real estate company in Texas, and also helped franchise a chiropractic chain. So basically, hes retired and we'll leave it at that haha.

Saturday we baptized a guy named Hector. hes a friend of a member who got off his mission like less than a month ago. Everyone calls him "La Mole" because he looks exactly like the giant from the Princess Bride haha. Hes just a huge guy and my comp had trouble baptizing him haha but he did it.

We worked hard this week and found a couple of cool people. Im starting to get a hold of the Senior comp thing. ITs pretty difficult at times, trying to be a perfect example haha but Im making it. We came up with some really good ideas this week to be more effective and get some more numbers. Our numbers havent been the highest, but were going to try and do better this week.
Sat night our zone leader called us to see who we were going to bring to church. Theres one investigator, Angel, who the Zone leaders went to interview for baptism, but he didnt want to talk to us and told his neighbor to tell us he wasnt here. I knew he was there, I saw him, but when the Zone leader called, he told us to go to the impossible to get him to church. I chuckled and said okay. So the next day, we go to his house to pick him up for church, and of course hes sleeping. But they told us he was asleep on the roof of his house. I still have no Idea why. haha but here in good ol Mexico the roofs are all flat, so it was a bit easier for him haha. So what do we do? Two white kids start climbing a tree in suitcoats and everything to wake him up. It was a great sight Im sure. So we got him up and said Lets go! but, he decided to take a shower and everything so we got to church a half hour late, but he was there. The zone leaders told us to call when he was there, so they came and interviewed him and we put his baptismal date for next Sunday. It was a really cool experience of how we have to get out of our comfort zone and just do it. Climb up that tree!!. But ya a good week.
I have come to have a deep and abiding love for oatmeal. we found some packs in our house and made them the express way: water til it looks like good enough, then nuke it for 2 minutes, then another minute and so on until its oatmeal-y. We put peanut butter in it and it was SO good, but peanut butter is expensive here, which reallly makes me mad :( But oatmeal is so immensely delicious and easy and i think its cheap. Even if its not Im loading up on it haha.
I want DJs email and also Elder Andrews's (Andrewses? i dont know which is right haha) I really want to write them. im pretty sure E Andrews is still in our ward haha.

Much Love
JAmes

Coahuila, Mundo Nuevo, week 1

Well I got transfered from good ol Topo Chico/Hidalgo. Im now in Coahuila, which is the state next to Nuevo Leon, where Monterrey is . Im about 8 hours from Monterrey. Its a lot less busy here. Theres no mountains and the people are way chill. We are right now in a time period called the Canicula, which is about 60 days where the heat peaks, and since i sweat more tan 95% of humans, its a pretty nasty sight. But after a certain point its so much I cant even see the difference. Haha its great.
Well I was made Senior companion this transfer. They give a lot fewer senior callings than junior callings. Its not a grade they like to give out, I'll tell you that right now, hehe but ya im pretty overwhelmed. Apparently someone thinks I can teach good and speak good, which I have my doubts. But it comes from God, so apparently He knows something I don't.
Anyway, we met our new misión President. He's White and he's way cool. He speaks spanish about as good as me, haha. His wife knows no spanish so the Assistants had to translate for her. The Pres and his wife are so cool. I'm excited to see how they work here.
Sooo… we had an interesting experience this week. We were contacting and a 16 year old kid called us over ( but he had a mustache like thy all do so he looked 20-22) anyway he wanted us to say a prayer for him. We asked what was up, and he said that he wanted to kill someone. Sweet. He was on the verge of tears because he felt so bad, so i knew we weren't in danger. So we went into his house (a little shack) and gave him a blessing. He said he felt the desire go away. He felt really tranquil. It was really cool. Then he proceeded to tell us that someone else wanted to kill him too, and that he was from the mafia. Now i got a little worried. He said he was looking for him right then and he was walking the streets. So we immediately left and called the Leaders. They told us to stay away from him at all costs. Haha it was pretty intense but cool that the Spirit made him feel good. And don't worry, we're not in danger or anything. All is good.
Anyway Thank you all for your support and sorry I haven't been able to write home the past 2 weeks. Freak, but everything is good now.

Much Love
JAmes

Monterrey, Hildalgo, Week 18

Well I wrote a ton but the page closed on me so all is well. Im pretty mad but theres not really anything I can do. Next week Ill write.

Much Love
JAmes

Monterrey HIdalgo week17

Elder Hawken sent a note saying he is doing well but very busy!. He didn't have time to write this week.