Zaragoza, Saltillo week 11

This week was great, and flew by. We had some really cool lessons and
stuff, but the people ended up not being able to progress. But its all good,
God sees our efforts.
Sunday we had Regional Conference, and Pres Andersen spoke as well as
Pres. Monson. I didnt know Pres Andersen spoke Spanish. It was cool hearing
him speak all gringo style..... Pres. Walter F. Gonzalez presided. Hes from
Uruguay, and it was cool listening to him speak with a Uruguayan accent.
There are accents in Spanish as well as English. When Logan gets home hes
going to speak all weird haha Spaniards pronounce -th when theres a soft
-c... Well dont worry about it gringos, that wont mean anything to you, ha.
My comp and I are getting along well. Hes super chill and just takes all
my jokes haha. I feel like Im with a less-intense Chris haha!
Man, Im going to start writing stuff down so I can write it to you. Im
sure cool stuff happened, but I just cant remember, it all goes too fast!
Sal, are you signing on to my Myspace? if not, I think it deletes the
account after a certain time, so if not just sign on then off once every
month or something. Gracias
Chris, when are you gonna get your call!!! I saw a Mexican kid playing
with dinosaurs and I immediately thought of Chris. Haha!!
Much Love,
JAmes

Week 10 Zaragoza, Saltillo

Thanks Mom and the family for the Christmas Package! Im so happy for the
candy and the beanies from Katie and Mom!
This week was amazing. I was in all different parts of my district trying to
help them out. I wasn't in my area too much. But it was fun.
We had Zone Conference this week. It was awesome, as usual. I got some
really helpful tips. I saw Elder Velazquez, who was my zone leader last
transfer. It was good to see him and talk with him a little.
We also had interviews with the President while we had the Conference. I
went in with the intention of telling him some certain things and asking some
certain questions, and ended up letting everything out haha. I guess the
Spirit does that sometimes, It tells us, " Well youre already here, might as
well" haha. But the President really helped me, and answered some question Id
had, and made me feel really good.
We had the baptism of a 9 year old kid whose parents were less active.
They are really great people, and we hope they will keep coming to church.
the son is really quiet, but his family is really cool. I couldn't get to the
baptism, because the missionaries from the other ward in my same building
had a baptism that suddenly didn't work out. So the Zone Leader`s
just called me up and said take care of it. So I was interviewing this fellow
who said from the beginning that he didn't want to get baptized, he just wanted
learn about God. We talked for a good 45 minutes, and he just didn't want to
go ahead. We cant obligate anyone, so, we'll continue to work with him.
We were going home the other night from divisions, and got a taxi. Well it
was the best taxi ride of my life. The taxi driveer started singing
to us. Id ask him
a question or say a certain phrase, and he'd sing me the origin and meaning
of it. I was smiling the whole time haha it was great.
Love you all and hope to get a ton of letters from all my friends.
Much Love
JAmes

Zaragoza, Saltillo week 9

This week was interesting. Thursday we had weekly planning, the sun was out
and everything. Then at about 4, a cold front came in, and the result Friday
was the first time its snowed here in 13 years. Im so excited I was
here to witness it! I hope my sarcasm is portrayed.
It was pretty difficult this week with the snow and all. Friday we actually
had to go home early because it was so cold and we were having almost
literally no success. Nobody wanted to talk to us and just told us to come
back when it wasn't as cold. So, you want me to continue walking outside in
the below-freezing weather, and come back another day when its warmer? How
gracious haha. We had a good laugh about that.
I went on divisions with an Elder Mendoza in my district. At the end we
went back to his house and had a seniority interview (intrevista de
mayordomía?) I think thats how you say it. anyway he asked me for a blessing
at the end to help him with an experience hed had the day before. Someone of
another religion started throwing out scriptures at him and stuff like that,
but he'd made a promise with God that he'd never contend with those
kinds of folks,
even though, trust me, he's more than capable. So as I gave him the blessing,
I felt the spirit pass through me and into him. I said things that I hope
will help him and that I'm sure were inspired. After he gave me a big hug and
thanked me and said he was glad I was his DL. It was a great experience for
me to exercise my Priesthood authority to help those in need.
Anyway, a good week. I pray the snow is gone for good. But im not ready
for the 120 degree days either. Dang, there's like 4 days of a happy medium
haha.
I love you all and hope all is good in Gringoland. WRITE ME!!!

Much Love
JAmes

Zaragoza, Saltillo week 8

Well here I am with a year under my belt. Its gone so fast I cant even believe it. I just gotta make the best of this next and last one!!
This week was great. We worked hard. We had a 14 year old kid at church who is a reference from a member that lives right by them. He went and liked it, but also thought it was kinda boring. When we asked hm if he wanted to get baptized, be said no. We kept answering his excuses, but kept just chuckling nervously and said no. The Spirit told me to take him into the other room and talk with him just us two. He said that would be better. So he told me the real reason, and I answered his questions and the Spirit really helped me answer his questions in a way he could understand. He still said no, but were still working with him and I'm sure he will make the decision to do it.
The other night I woke up to something I thought was a gunshot, but ended up being fireworks on new year. It was really just a celebration for my 1 year mark :) haha but it was really cool. This week the converts of my last companion randomly brought us over some tacos at like 9 PM. He said "oh, we were just thinking about you and decided to make you some taquitos". They ae absolutely amazing. The ward here is so friendly and help us out so much, we just need to decide to use them more.
My companion is doing good. Getting better at Español. He had 5 years in school before so that helped a lot. Hes not really afraid to contact or teach, he just doent know vey well how to. But Im helping him out as much as I can.
Anyway, thats all folks. Write me letters, thats all. I what to hear from the Dudes, and all the other buddies I have there in Pueblo. Has anyone heard about Michael Farnsworth and if he got his call?
Love you all and ¡feliz año nuevo 2010! ¡Año de milagros!

Much Love
JAmes

Zaragoza Saltillo week 7

WEll Im still here in Saltillo. My comp got transfered and I got another hijo, or child, or new missionary. Hes a gringo,but the good thing is he speaks spanish. He took 5 years before and just needs to localize it or speak like the Metsikans do.
This week was good. A little hard with Christmas and all. Everybody was going to go out of town, so we didnt have too many people to teach. Christmas eve we went and spent it with a family from 8:30 till 11. It was kinda akward haha. Their family was all ther and they were making the food till 1030 then we ate really fast and came home. They made fish. Those whoknow me know I hate fish. But luckily they made some chicken too so I was happy, but the fish I just had to gag down and all was well.
It was great talking to the fam! Im glad to know nothing has changed in Pubelo. It was also amazing to talk to Chris and Cathy! I love you guys and thank you so much for being there. and also... MASON! Man I hadnt heard from him in like 8 months but it was so great to talk to him. Glad to know the music situation is under control. 1 year man then back to jamming This Side!!!!
Anyways, its almost new year, which means its almost my new year in the mish. I complete a year the 1 of January. Its gone WAY too fast. And they say the second year goes even faster. Im not ready for that! I just hae to take advantage of it and not hold anything back.
Well all is well here folks. Except no letters, but I knew that was gonna come. They said after 10 months they stopped, but mine stopped when I left the MTC. Haha. Write me.
I love you all and hope Christmas was awesome for you. talk to you all next year HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry.

Much Love
JAmes

Zaragoza, Saltillo Week 6

This week was great. We had the conference for this half of the
mission. It was so cool! I got to see Elder Andersen again. I cant
wait for everyone to meet him haha hes so awesome.
Elder Kioa, the Tongan elder in my district, decided we were going
to sing a song for the conference. HE decided and just told me haha.
they just asked if anyone had a musical presentation and he jumped up
and said Ya me and Elder Hawken. Haha we sang Brillan rayos de
Clemencia, or... Brightly beams our Fathers Mercy. haha I couldnt
remember there for a second.
We all did sketches. ours was really lame haha. my ZL and i were the
Asisstants to the Pres and it was all in slow motion when the new
missionaries arrived, to the tune of Chariots of Fire. Them my comp
gets a call and gets mad and slow mo punches me and then everyone jut
starts fighting slow mo to Chariots of Fire haha it was so silly.
Im pretty stoked to talk to you all on Christmas. Anyone who wants
to can go to my house to talk to me if you want to. ESPECIALLY MASON!
I havent heard from that guy in forever! Be there!
Well I dont really know what more to tell ya. Today we have
transfers. We find out at night. so well see whats up there.
I love you all and take care! ¡Feliz Navidad!

Much Love
JAmes

Zaragoza, Saltillo Week 5

Thank you so much to my family, the Lindenmuths, the Nielsens,
Cathy, the Primary kids, and Cari for the letter I received! I was so
happy to get them! SEND MORE!!!!!
Man this week has been a crazy one. On tuesday we had interviews
with the Pres. de Misión. It was amazing as always. He told me he has
seen the growth in me since our first interview. That was great to
hear because at times we cant see our own personal growth. The rest of
the interview we talked about certain things that really will help me
become a better missionary.
Yesterday we had the baptism of Isabel, the mother of the girl we
baptized last week. It was amazing. She talked with President Romney
and decided she wanted him at the baptism. He came and gave a little
talk that was awesome. The Spirit was way strong there and I'm sure
they are going to be faithful members for life.
The other day at their house we were getting ready to leave and I
asked Jerica (the daughter) to say the prayer. It was one of the
sweetest prayers Ive ever heard. I dont think there was anything
special about it, but the Spirit just confirmed to me that there
really are people prepared for the true Gospel of Christ. I realized I
need to be more grateful for the people who are put in our path or in
whoms path we are placed. Its also kind of bitter-sweet, because Im
always on divisions in the areas of other missionaries, so I dont get
to know investigators very well. but its all in the positoin of being
a leader I guess.
I did a baptismal interview with a kid this week. He had the desire
to get baptized, but was always in school so he didnt have all the
lessons, but he had the desire so I went to interview him. As it went
on, I just got more and more of a feeling that he wasnt ready: Yes, he
didnt know all the doctrines, but he hadnt even prayed to know the
Church was true. So I said it would probably be better if my
companions teach you this week and you get baptised the next week.
When I said that the Spirit made me feel like Id made the right
decision. The next day he didnt even go to church. We are here to
baptize only the ones who are prepared, not just any ol person. They
must know,at least, why they are getting baptized and that this is the
true church. Its amazing how the spirit works.
To end, I had a cool dream last night. I dreamt that I was in the
MTC again, but I saw DJ there. when I hugged him I was so intensely
happy I cant even describe it. He was still headed to Kiev, Ukraine.
But then I turned around and saw Chris in the doorway. We both gave
him a hug and felt so happy I cant even begin to describe it. There we
were, 3 best friends united by the one true cause in all the Earth.
Chris was going to some European place, with really small letters on
his nametag, and a really hard language. It might have been Middle
Eastern. But it was so amazing to be there with them, even for a few
Much Love,
JAmes