Emails on Thoughts of a Latter-Day Saint

In-Field Week 12 - Stay Over There, No Soliciting

Mon, 23 Mar 2020 00:00:00 +0000

You know you’re doing something right when you get yelled at for doing that thing. Welcome back to the weekly, the only thing at this point that won’t give you Coronavirus (probably).

Lunes was wack. Usually, I talk only about what happened after p-day ended but it was really wack. So first, missionaries get a certain amount of money for two weeks of food. We usually split this pretty evenly and buy the things we need every Monday. However, we were told by our mission president to spend it all today. He advised us to buy a two week supply of food in the event that people are quarantined. Okay, so we did.

In-Field Week 12 Bonus

Mon, 23 Mar 2020 00:00:00 +0000

So, I purposefully left out some details in my weekly, as I’m sure you figured out. I’ll cut straight to the point.

For those that don’t know, I’m now home. So what lead to this?

Well, over the course of my time here in the mission field, I’ve been meeting with a counselor to help with some emotional concerns that I had beginning this new adventure. Well, the other day, I received a call from my mission president and he wanted to know how I was doing with all that has been going on. I told him that I was doing fine but as we got to talking about all that has been happening, he expressed concern for my well being. He then asked me to call my parents and counsel with them about it. So I did, and I figured out in that call that it might be best for me to come home during this time for the emotional support that I need. I will still be seeing a counselor about these issues while I am here at home.

In-Field Week 11 - Caught with Corona...virus!

Mon, 16 Mar 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Well, well, well. Look what the cat drug in. It’s my weekly! Here’s a secret: the weekly email is like a delicate dish, you have your specific ingredients that need to all be cooked to perfection. Different temperatures, different times, you get the idea. Well, my dish involves throwing it all together at once, messing it up with a spatula (aka slap whacker), nuking it in the microwave for safety, and seeing what the end result is. And look at that, you’re reading it.

In-Field Week 10 - Mistaken Identity

Mon, 09 Mar 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Pssst! Hey, you! Yeah, you! You there reading this. Guess what? It’s that time of the week. Welcome back to the weekly, where I (sometimes briefly) recap the things that happened during the week. This week was…interesting, as most weeks here in the mission field are.

Lunes was a weird p-day. We had a lesson at 3pm so we stopped our p-day for these lessons. We taught Yuli, and taught a guy named Nico who was quite interested. Then we met a lady who is not having a good time and was so glad to see us. That’s all I’m going to say on that matter.

In-Field Week 9 - The Scandal, the Dog, and the Zone Conference

Mon, 02 Mar 2020 00:00:00 +0000

It’s not everyday you have to try to run with a booted leg (don’t tell my doctor. Also, more on that later). Welcome back to the email. I know you love to see this notification pop up on Mondays. It’s a joy writing these and getting to tell people about my week! This one’s not as long as last week’s (thank goodness, am I right?).

Lunes, not a lot happened. We full sent it up to Bridge City after p-day ended and found a potential investigator.

In-Field Week 8 - An Attack, a Reference, some Disgust, and a Baptism

Mon, 24 Feb 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Fun fact: Port Arthur is blowing up…with investigators! Welcome to the email, the one I send every week even though it always feels like I just sent one yesterday. This weeks is a large one, so grab some candy, lean back in that chair you’re sitting in, and get ready for this. Before I start off this email, I’ve noticed something being down here in Port Arthur. According to literally any Spanish missionary that has served here, Port Arthur has not really been a place to find new investigators. It’s usually kind of a stale area. But since I’ve arrived, we’ve completely blown up with new people we’re teaching, new investigators, references from place you’d never expect (more on that later) and all the sort! I don’t know if it’s something I did or the area is just ready, but all of Port Arthur is suddenly interested. Let’s see what happened this week.

In-Field Week 7 - Banishment

Mon, 17 Feb 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Goodness, I just barely wrote an email, did I not? Anyway, welcome to Port Arthur, banishment for Spanish Elders! (It’s considered banishment because it’s the farthest you can get from the mission office as a Spanish Elder. Lousiana doesn’t have any Spanish areas.) My new companion is Elder Trent and he’s a homie :). It felt like this week was crazy fast so things are a bit hard to remember. Also, this week we had at least one miracle every single day! It’s been lit down here in Port Arthur. But I do miss Broadway. Broadway will always be my home here in the mission.

In-Field Week 6 - Transfers and Miracles

Tue, 11 Feb 2020 00:00:00 +0000

You thought I wouldn’t send an email this week? Psych! Also, didn’t I just write one? It sure feels like it. It’s the week of transfers so our p-day gets moved to Tuesdays (this is only for the week of transfers, so every 6 weeks. The rest of the time, p-day is Monday). A little confusing, I know, but let’s not dwell on the past too much.

Monday we met with a part member family and it was pretty good. There are some things going on that I cannot tell about because of privacy but we’re hoping to get those resolved and start progressing.

In-Field Week 5 - Lights, Spirit, Baptism!

Mon, 03 Feb 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Cómo está? Que pasó? Buckle up for this weeks email. We had lots happen so hang on for this.

Tuesday we had some awesome plans for the day, everything was going great…then my other foot (the one not booted, remember that) decided it wanted some attention and reared its ugly, painful monster for about two hours. We got put under house arrest for the day by the medical advisor because of it.

In-Field Week 4 - A Series of Unfortunate Events

Mon, 27 Jan 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Welcome everyone to the companionship that can’t stop breaking themselves. This week was, unfortunately, another rough week filled with homesickness among other things. But that’s beside the point. What’s happened?

Tuesday we had two pretty good contacts. One was with a woman named Juanita. She had some groceries that we helped carry into her apartment. Then we talked about her family and God for about thirty minutes. Sadly, we had to refer her to the English Elders but she seemed really interested in the church.

In-Field Week 3 - Bilingual?

Mon, 20 Jan 2020 00:00:00 +0000

First week out of the hospital! We’re not confined to a prison cell anymore! As awesome as that’s been, it’s been a rough week for me. Homesickness has finally set in and it’s been quite difficult. And I’ve started getting dizzy spells! Such fun. So…what happened after we escaped from the hospital?

Monday after the hospital, the mission office had a car that needed to be taken down to an area close to ours so we did. GPS kept trying to take us through a tunnel that was closed because of an accident. So we had to keep rerouting back to different routes. Finally dropped the car off and did our shopping for the week (well, what you can do when you haven’t been in your apartment for five days). That was a very short P-day.

In-Field Week 2 - Welcome to the Hospital

Mon, 13 Jan 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Welcome everyone! It’s that time again where I hit you all with another email! This week has been an adventure to say the least. So, I would like to welcome everyone…to the hospital! Don’t worry, I’m fine, but my companion was not. So what happened? Well, I’ll tell you but first, we have to see what lead up to this.

Monday was P-day so I have nothing to write about really.

In-Field Week 1 - It Doesn't Kill

Mon, 06 Jan 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Welcome to Texas, where traffic laws actually exist and our house doesn’t constantly smell like the sewer! I hope everyone has had a great week. My P-days are now on Monday! Yay! There’s been a lot happen since you last read something from me so let’s start. However, we’re going back a little in time.

Monday (part 2) starts with landing in Houston. It was nice to be back in the states. Customs, whatnot and a baggage claim later, we met our mission president. President Hewlett is a super nice, cool guy. All you gotta do is follow the rules and you’ll be fine (you know, as missionaries do siempre (always)). We were taken to President Hewlett’s home where we had a lovely dinner prepared by his wife. Interviews went well then us Elders took off to the Assistants to the President’s apartment. It was an interesting night cramming 13 elders into an apartment.

CCM Week 7 - Showtime

Mon, 30 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Hola hermano’s y hermana’s! ¿Cómo están? Yo estoy muy bien! Uno Navidad en el pasado, uno más en el campo. (Hello brothers and sisters. How are you all? I am very good! One Christmas in the past, one more in the field.) I’m have no idea when I’ll send this out so Happy New Year? Yo no se. Anyhow, onto the…adventures? Whatever this is called.

Wednesday was Christmas!!! Christmas in the CCM is kinda wack. I kinda forgot that it was Christmas; I’m so used to seeing snow on the ground and I’m in the CCM in a short sleeve shirt. One of these things just doesn’t belong here. We started out the day with Christmas songs! Then we went to our classroom to do a district gift exchange when we were met with an unexpected surprise. Our desks were all arranged in a circle and all of them had a special gift on them. I got another sock tie and I love it! We couldn’t figure out who it was at the time, but we figured it out eventually. Called home, then we moved to a devotional broadcast from the Provo MTC with D. Todd Christofferson. That was pretty epic. Later, we had pinatas! The pinatas here all had seven points on them, but those were really easy to whack off so when that would happen, we’d have a new pinata hat! There was also lots of Mexican candy in them. Next was a service project. We assembled drawstring bags full of basic essentials for people in need. We assembled some of those then we had to move them assembly line style to another building. We kept getting stopped because the beginning of the line wouldn’t be ready so it rook a bit longer than expected but that’s all good. Finally, we watched The Testament. If you haven’t seen it, I recommend you do. I’ve seen it before, I don’t remember where though. Mysteries of the CCM.

CCM Week 6 - Hallelujah, It's the Final Countdown (of the CCM)

Wed, 25 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Merry Christmas from the CCM! It’s not too often you hear that from a missionary! Wait, hold on. Someone put the brakes on this train. I’m less than five days away from Texas. The CCM has felt ridiculously long but now that we’re here at the end, it’s felt like barely a week. Nonetheless, the next time you hear from me will be from Texas and, more than likely, will be a new year! I’m so excited for the field. While my language is broken at best, I’m ready to share the message of the gospel with the people of Texas. Now, enough about wishing to be in Texas, let’s see what happened my last full week in the CCM.

CCM Week 5 - Embark ye in the Service of God / God Be with You Till We Meet Again

Wed, 18 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Is that what I think it is? P-Day again already? Feels like just yesterday I sent a massive email to you all. Nonetheless, hello and welcome to week 5 of the CCM. It feels like I arrived just yesterday, but it also feels like an eternity. It’s crazy to think that next week will be my last P-Day here in the CCM. I’ve learned so much and still feel unprepared for the language. Pero está bien. The Lord provides a way for those things He asks us to do. So, let’s see what happened.

CCM Week 4 - As God so Commandeth, He Provideth a Way

Wed, 11 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Hola todos! ¿Cómo estás todos? Este misionero es tan feliz y emocionado! (Hello everyone! How are you all? This missionary is so happy and excited!) We’re going to the temple again today! Wooo! I made the mistake of sending my email early last week so I waited until later for this one. Siento, no siento (Sorry, not sorry). So what happened this week?

Wednesday (Miércoles) we went to the temple!!! It was absolutely epic and so pretty! The temple also sells what’s known as sock ties and they’re super popular here so I obviously had to grab some. I love the temple! El templo de la Cuidad de México es tán bonita! (The Mexico City Temple is so pretty!) It looks like an ancient Aztec temple which I’m told is where the inspiration for its design came from.

CCM Week 3 - Halfway Through the CCM? You must be mistaken...

Wed, 04 Dec 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Hola mi amigos y familia! ¿Cómo está? This last week has been short and amazing! I am so excited for this opportunity to serve the Lord! I feel His love constantly around me and I feel the love He has for all of you! I love being able to tell you all every week about the experiences out here on a mission. So sorry, not sorry, my emails are long. I am about to do a temple session here in the Mexico City Temple so I will try my best to reply to everyone. Anywho, enough rambling, onto the week! ¡Vámonos!

CCM Week 2 - I need a subject lol

Wed, 27 Nov 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Ah, here we are. Week 2 P-day came a little early this time but it’s good (está bien). These last few days have been absolutely amazing and I’ve loved it! Also, I found out right after my last email that I can read any email that comes in during the week, but I can’t respond until my P-Day. Anyhow, onto the letter!

Sunday was epic. I barely understood the talks that were given but the Spirit was there testifying about the truth of whatever they were saying. We started of the day with a presentation about the importance of chastity. The adversary was very determined to be there and made everyone feel guilty, even though we were all just fine. If we weren’t, we wouldn’t be able to be here. Then we watched an MTC exclusive video from Elder Holland. I’ll admit, he gets right up in your face about it. He said some awesome quotes but one in particular hit all of us like a brick wall. He said the following in reference to leaving the church after serving a mission, “You can never go back, it will never be the same. If you do, you will… break the heart of God himself.” Wow. That is powerful. Just taking that in, in that moment, was heartbreaking to think about.

CCM Week 1 - I have no idea what's going on... and I think I like it

Sat, 23 Nov 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Hola! ¿Cómo le va? Yo soy fantástico! (Hello! How are you doing? I am fantastic!)

There’s been so much happen this week and it’s all starting to melt together into a blob. But I’m completely fine with it! Normally I won’t email on Saturdays, it will be Wednesdays here in the MTC (CCM). The schedule is a little messed up this week. There’s lots to say so let’s start with the adventures.

Pre-MTC

Sun, 17 Nov 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Hello everyone! I just wanted to write something before I head off onto the plane and the MTC. I’m certainly going to miss everyone and once again, thank you all for helping me get to this point in my life.

I keep getting asked how I feel about this and honestly, I’m just excited. I’ve been excited ever since I opened my call back in July but I know that I was supposed to enter this mission field at this time in my life, both for my own good and for the good of those that I am going to go serve. I’ve learned many lessons to this point and most have been good. Some have been bad, but I’ve learned from those and they’ve helped me get here.