Don't look back -- "Look how much more we have to do"

This week was so cool!

So I received my new companion. His name is Elder Guillen! He is from Bolivia. He can speak Portuguese, Spanish, and English. He is teaching me how to speak Portuguese right now and it is SO cool.

We got to listen to general conference this week and it was so uplifting to know that there are Prophets praying for our success and for our needs every single day. I hope that one day I can be so selfless.

There were a lot of changes in our zone here in Mexico so we didn't have to opportunity to teach very much but this week we are going to do everything in the world we can to get a lot of baptisms!

He just wants to talk to everybody in the streets and just get a thousand of references but we aren't allowed to do that kind of missionary work here so he is a little bummed.

Something quick that Id like to share that I learned this week from the conference is that we can never look back.

¨"Look how much we've done!"

"Look how much more we have to do"

I think that we should remember what we have done, but should always have our noses in the dirt, on the grind, and working as hard as we can to accomplish all the things that are yet to come. It was great to hear especially because I'm just starting my mission, but I have to work so much harder every day!

I love you all! I pray for you all every single night!

I hope you all don't forget me! haha

Con mucho amor.

Elder Winters

We had our 4th baptism yesterday!

Hey Family and Friends,

So this week my companion left to a different part of the city so I'm only with Elder Chacon in both areas. We are doing a lot of work! His companion and he have been teaching this family for 3 months and couldn't put their date for baptism. So I took that as a challenge :)

We went over there and taught them about baptism for two hours. We fought, laughed, they cried, everything that could happen in one lesson, happened. After these 2 hours they both committed to be baptized in 2 weeks! It was so rewarding to see them truly desire to change forever. I already love them.

I am going to have my first kid tomorrow! Which means I'm going to be a trainer to a new missionary! Its so exciting! Ive already had 4 companions and I'm excited to have one longer then 5 weeks.

We had our 4th baptism yesterday! Hermanan Eulalia Hernandez Hernandez. It was super funny. Her grandson did her baptism did her baptism but she was SO SCARED! So every time he went to dunk her she wouldn't go under all the way. They ended up having to do it 4 times! It was super funny but also a very spiritual baptism.

Thank you to all the family and friends who have sent me cards! They were all very funny. Especially the one that said "Adams state for life" and nothing more. hahaha

So we only had one incident with people being rude, well I guess two.

The first was a 15 year old kid trying to rob me and my companion. I just asked him if he knew anything about Americans, he confusedly responded that he didn't know anything. I started to laugh and was going to say something super weird but when I started laughing he kinda just thought I was crazy and turned away and walked away. But we were walking the same way that he came, so as we started walking again he thought we were following him and starting booking it! Probably not the best way to invite him to be baptized. haha

And the other which happened the same day, outside the house of a member (her mom isn't a member) we knocked on her door. And her bitter old mother said she wasn't home and slammed the door. She was home. So I knocked again, she opened and asked me if I was deaf and started to somewhat yell at me, but when she went to slam the door I got my foot in the way so I could try to talk to her daughter. I opened the door slightly and the lady had walked inside the house, and the next thing I know she was running (but for an old woman more like scuffling) towards me with a bowl of chicken bones and started to throw them at me and was yelling a whole bunch of mean words. haha, it was funny. We got to talk to her daughter about it with her daughter in church on Sunday and apparently her mother didn't say anything about it to her daughter. SUPER COOL! haha

Well I'm loving Mexico and I hope you enjoy my stories!

Love you all!

Elder Winters

No one asked in 4 years

So this week we got a new companion named Elder Chacon. From Guatemala. He wasn't getting along with his companion so now we are in a trio! Its so hard but we are learning more and more everyday. ITS LIKE HAVING TWO WIVES! I think I finally changed my mind on plural marriage. Hahaha, JOKE!  But really its so hard but also a lot more entertaining.

This week we ate pig calf and it was SOOO GOOD! The brother that fed us is going to give it to us more often because it was so good. I haven't had the opportunity to kill any more rabbits with him but the time will soon be at hand! mwahaha.

Spanish is getting a lot better everyday especially with two companions I am learning so much more from two different people instead of the same always.

We committed 4 people to be baptized this week! This one sister, she's been going to church for 4 years and nobody has asked her to be baptized so we finally taught her and are going to do her baptism this Saturday! She is so faithful. She never wanted to ask to be baptized because she can't read. And she thought she wouldn't be accepted. When she told us that I literally was trying with all my might not to cry. Her mom never had time to take her to school so she just never learned. It is so sad but also so exciting that she now has the chance to be a member!

I'm making more and more friends! And I'm loving Mexico more and more every week!

Thank you all for your love and concern! Especially all your letters!

LOVE YOU ALL!

Elder Winters

Independence Day

So this week has been pretty great for teaching. We have invited three new people to be baptized and they have all accepted! Its so cool seeing them just learn more and more everyday. I truly grow to love the people we teach everyday.

Its taking a little more time to love the people that rob us... haha

So this week we had the day of Independence here in Mexico, so we had to go home early because we live right next to a HUGE fair. Seeing it all reminded me of home and I really wanted to go and just enjoy it all but I know its for the better to obey the rules. 

Apparently quite a few people die every year while this is going on so I'm rather content with staying inside.

Nothing really new happened this week.

I spoke to two kids who are from the US! They are so cool. They both love speaking English more then Spanish and they teach English here. It was nice being able to speak English but its hard to think in English after a while of not speaking it. Every week I find it a challenge to spell in my own language. Tan triste no?

Well, I hope all is well this week.

I want you to all know that you re in my prayers and thoughts continually!

Love you!

Elder Winters

We can all feel peace from our Savior Jesus Christ

Hola mis amigos!

We finally had the opportunity to baptize Victoria and her daughter. It was super cool. I baptized her daughter and my companion baptized her. They are so awesome.

Last Monday night we met a new family and taught them for the first time and committed them to be baptized and they all said yes! Super exciting!

I've been making tons of friends all around here in Mexico and they always yell my name whenever they drive by or we walk by in the streets. We are helping people love the missionaries.

This week teaching has been so cool. My companion is going home in three months so he cant really focus on the work so I take the lead on everything. I start all the lessons, teach, and he just adds his thoughts occasionally. (I cant spell in English). I get to practice so much Spanish by myself as well as find out for myself what people need.

This week the lights went out when we were in a lesson with a ton of people, like 15. And there were four kids and it was pitch black. There just happened to be a flashlight on the table so I took it and shined it underneath my face and started to make scary noises and ALL the kids started crying and the parents were just all dying laughing. I was pretty proud. Hahahaha.

I love hot food right... So we were eating this habanero sauce at a members and it was hardly even spicy, so I told them I'd eat a full habanero. So I did. And the first ten seconds were fine. AND THEN I DIED! I ate 6 huge pieces of watermelon in probably 40 seconds flat. It was terrible. My companion couldn't stop laughing and I'm trying to stop the burning but I'm laughing too so I'm half eating, half choking, half dying with this watermelon. The family members all have their cameras out taking pictures and laughing hysterically. We all had a pretty big kick out of it all. haha

Another lunch appointment we had this week, WE ATE SO MUCH FOOD! And for the first time on my mission I fell asleep at a members house on the couch after lunch while they were all looking at google maps. And I'm not sure exactly how this happened, but I was dead asleep, but they were talking about something and I woke up long enough to just tell a joke that had them all laughing their heads off, and then fell right back asleep. If that's not pro, I don't know what is.

Today we had a zone activity where we all got together and we play 4 on 4 soccer for hours on end and winners stay, well my team was so beast mode today so we played for 3 hours straight. I'm pretty tired to say the least. And then after, a member came to the church and made us all, all you can eat tacos. I ATE 12 HUGE TACOS! I feel so sick but it was so worth it. The tacos here are so good. The guy that came is in our area and asked if we wanted to come back later tonight to his house to eat again but I'm set for the next three years. haha

Well I love you all. If you guys have questions about anything, ASK ME!

This church is real. We can all feel peace from our Savior Jesus Christ and his atonement for us. I know this to be true my friends! I have truly seen it work in my life.

I love this work, and love you all. Keep me updated on your lives and I'll continually do the same.

OH! BTW!  Here are my companion, Victoria, her daughter, and me!

With much love,

Elder Winters

God is all powerful, Right? (Week 8)

So we've been going to the gym everyday! AND I FEEL GOOD!

But its also been forever since I've worked out so I'm also so sore everyday.

So my companion and I have played the worst game ever where we just hit each other in all the areas we are sore. FUN RIGHT?!?! No.  

But we are a funny companionship. We literally spend 40 minutes in a house, 20 telling jokes and just everybody dying laughing, and 20 actually teaching. The people love it and we are becoming friends with everybody. 

So a FUNNY joke this week. We were teaching this Lady and teaching her how God, Jesus Christ, And the spirit all are different. She said they were the same. My companion responded that another body can't posses our bodies. And the lady responded "God is all powerful, right?" hahaha It was great.

So we go to the tiangis (basically huge swap meets) in another area every week. Its my time to hustle people. It is so awesome. Today I bought A HUGE Mexican flag, 3 different watches that are like 80 dollars each in the states, 2 affliction shirts, and a blender for all less then 100 dollars. SO BALLIN! But just about everybody there knows me now. We just talk to everybody and I call everybody out on how fake all of their stuff is and then buy it for practically nothing. And this HUGE guy that I would talk to every week is like my best friend. He has tattoos covering his entire body, he has filled in tear drops on his face which means he has killed people. And we were talking a lot about God the past two weeks. So he sold me the affliction shirts, and saw I had a ton of stuff, so he started to just escort my companion and I around everywhere!

He can partially speak English, so when we were leaving he yelled "NOBODY "MESS"(apply your own bad word here) WITH THESE MISSIONARIES!"

It was pretty cool to have a guy like that have our back. We are now semi famous. haha

Well not much has happened this week but I like hearing from all you guys!

Keep me updated on all thats going on!

LOVE YOU ALL!

Elder Winters

Week 7 / 3 Months -- Humility

So I've been on my mission for 3 months. HOLY COW!

 

To start off with the most important things, I got a new companion, and he likes going to the gym. And I like going to the gym.. SO WEVE STARTED GOING TO THE GYM! They president gave us permission so we just started lifting every morning for about an hour. IT IS SO AWESOME!

I have lost 30 pounds in the 7 weeks I've been here. Its pretty terrible.

 

So this week, I finally got humbled. On Thursday there was a HUGE power outage due to an earthquake and there was no lights. None. And this is when the thugs come out to play. My companion and I were walking home in the pitch black darkness when we were all of a sudden surrounded by 6 young Mexican men. They began to yell at us and took all of our stuff. I planned on keeping my watch and when they told me to give it to them, of course being prideful I said no. They asked me why and I told them it was mine. And I was raised in a house where if you want my things, we are going to fight. My new companion, Elder Tapia, being 4 feet tall and no more then 160 pounds was not fond of the idea so we took off my watch and gave it to them. I now lack a watch, money, and a desire to fight Mexicans. haha, they ended up just taking all we had and gave us a couple shoves but all was well.

 

In a great note we have gas again so we can take warm showers! woohoo!

So to end this week I have started a new hobby of hustling people in las tiagys. Basically like the swap meets here that happen everyday. I am collecting automatic watches that don't need batteries and what not and they are SO cool. So the first one I bought the guy wanted 1000 pesos for it. I ended up leaving with it for 40 American dollars. That's about 440 pesos. haha And then today a different guy wanted 900 for this other one, I told him I had 300 and It was yes or no. he said no and as I was walking a way he chased me down and begrudgingly gave me the watch. Pretty sweet! They are pretty much the coolest things ever but I cant wear them here! haha 

 

To end on a spiritual note, we had a lesson with a family and my companion knows I like working out and what not so he took a piece of bread and broke it into really small pieces. He then told the family we were teaching to eat the bread and for every piece of bread they ate I had to do 3 pushups. They began to eat. After the 1st time he never said anything more he just held the bread out. So fifteen minutes later and about 100 pushups down he told them to look at my face which was red and I was breathing rather heavily. He asked them why they wanted to make me suffer. They told them that he made them when he only said once to eat the bread. Its a great example of us. We make Christ suffer for our sins and we are so blind to his face and the amount of suffering that occurred for us to be redeemed. We should never partake of anything that will make Christ, or anyone for that matter, suffer. It was just a good example of how we need to know the consequences of all we do.

I love you all and think of you guys!

Thank you for writing me!

Hasta luego!

Elder WINTERS

Week 6

Hi Family and Friends,

This week was kind of the same. Did some missionary work. Did some crazy stuff. And had a great time doing it all.

We didn't have a lunch appointment one day so we took the lunch hour to walk in the forest to find food. We found cactus and aloe Vera. So we cut up some cactus and aloe Vera, made a fire and ate it. It wasn't very good but it was fun doing it. My companion kept trying to tell me it was good but I didn't agree. We told members of the ward this story and they figured we were CRAZY! I believe them.

 

So Elder Macdonald (My first companion) is in his house. But on his last night he wanted to have a huge fire on the roof so we talked to tons of people and got tons of wood. We were going to cook a full chicken and three pineapples!

 

Well... when we got home that night it was POORING rain! So as I was preparing the chicken, Elder Mac started the fire in the house.... And started smoking us out, we eventually had a roaring fire in our upstairs. Luckily all the houses here are made of concrete and cant be burnt down. So we just waited for it to burn out so we could take the coals to cook. After a while our entire upstairs was black and smelt like fire. He thought it was funny but I still have to live here. And we began to try to cook our chicken. IT WAS TERRIBLE! It didn't cook at all. So it was all for not. We ended up cooking it on the stove with some BBQ sauce and it was pretty okay. haha

But since he left I had to get a new companion for 5 days until we have changes, and our Zone leader left so I went with the other zone leader. His name is Elder Nicolas. He is 22 and he is super funny. I make him read in English every day and then make him practice. He doesn't like to do it but he just needs a kick in the butt and he will learn to like it. But he's pretty cool. So, I am in training, a District leader, and a Zone leader right now. Its pretty awesome doing it all. But Ill get a new companion tomorrow.

SO A LITTLE ABOUT REAL MISSIONARY WORK.

Here, we aren't allowed to contact on the street EVER! We got a letter from our president that says to not talk to people unless we have an appointment with them unless the spirit SCREAMS at you to do other wise. Well we were walking by a basketball court and my companion pointed out a black guy. And I felt like I needed to go play some basketball with him. We starting shooting around with him and turns out he knew English! He was very smart. He had a full beard and was 6 foot 5 but hes the same age as me! After a while of just him and I playing we talked about the church. It was so cool. He wants to learn more and play some more bball and said that my companion and I were the nicest people he has ever met. Hopefully he truly wants to continually grow. (HOPEFULLY NOT HEIGHT WISE)

We also received a referral this week from some other missionaries about a lady who just showed up at church and wanted to learn more. We had other appointments set up with Less active members but we felt like we should cancel them to go meet her. And so we did. Her name is Victoria and she has a daughter. Its been 5 days since we have met her. She has taken 3 lessons and has already set her date to be baptized. She truly is ready for the Gospel of Jesus Christ in her life. It is amazing being able to see the change in their hearts and eyes as they learn more of the truths of this world. 

I think I finally figured out how missionary work is truly out of Love. All I want is the best for my companion, my ward, and especially the people we teach. Its an amazing work we have the opportunity to do.

I love this Gospel. And the Church is TRUE!

I love you all.

Elder Winters

Week 5 -- 1st Companion is going home

So last update on Daffy, HE WAS MUY DELICIOSO. Literally tasted like steak.

 

This week we did divisions. Its where you spend 24 hours with a different missionary to see how the work and hopefully get good ideas or tactics from them. It was pretty fun. I was with a 4 foot kid from Guatemala named Elder Chacon. He kept pinching me throughout the day so I threw him in a trash can. He got stuck. Then I had to help him scurry his way out of it. He wasn't too happy but the pinching stopped. EXITO!

 

They have Red bananas here? They are very sweet and pretty bomb. We bought 6 kilos to eat this week.

 

A family in a ward has this book of the New Testament with one column in English and the other in Spanish, AND THEY GAVE IT TO ME! FOR FREE! They don't read very much and they know I want to learn a lot more so they gave it to me. Its the coolest book ever! We have some sweet members.

 

We met a guy from LA this week. He got deported 13 times and so he cant go back. But he's interested in learning more and wants us to teach him so we will see how that goes.

 

This week. During a family home evening, I did a Photo-shoot with a Wig and a Cat. It was so funny and the members were dying. I did some posses like it was a football, some like it was part of my clothing, it was just a grand old time. I'm finally developing a Mexican sense of humor!

 

A return missionary and I were talking this week and he asked me how long I had been here. I asked him how long he thought and he said 6 MONTHS! WHAT! Holy compliment! I told him 5 weeks and he could hardly believe me. The Spanish is getting better and better but I often find myself wishing I was fluent already.

 

Our water heater broke this week so every day is a cold shower at 7 AM. ITS TERRIBLE! I just know my wife will be more attractive if I keep doing it without complaining too much. 

 

Were kind of getting bored going and seeing the same people so we decided we are going to become friends with them instead so whenever we go to their house we have them teach us something new. Sometimes its how to cook new things or how to fix things in a house. Its cool because they feel smart, we learn, and we become closer. So its working!

 

One thing about Mexico, whenever you knock on a door, the kids are automatically going to lie to you no matter what its about so you HAVE to trick them into telling you what you want to know. Its awesomely annoying. haha.

 

Well my companion goes home in 3 days so we bought a full chicken and 4 pineapples that we are going to eat on his last night here. Like a feast. Its going to be SO GOOD! He's very excited. I'm kind of jealous but I want to learn more and more here!

Love you all! Please keep writing me!

Sorry this one wasn't too exciting.

Ill pick some fights for next week for you all.

Love,
Elder Winters

Week 4

MISSIONARY HUMOR MOMENT! I have found a new game, I like to eat hot stuff but my companion cant handle it at all. So I went and bought a lot of dried, super hot peppers, and I ate one in front of him and told him they were dried berries. He proceeded to eat a couple and after about 2 minutes was in tears. I WAS DYING! hahaha, I convince him to eat tons of hot stuff. And I tell the members he LOVES it! So they try to make our food as spicy as they can. He likes me... haha

 

So an update on Daffy (our pet duck if you aren't reading my letters). He is still alive! We gave him an extra week to eat more. We bought him 5 kilos of tortillas to eat to get bigger. THAT IS 11 Pounds! But we are going to go kill him right after I send this email. MWAHAHAHA. But seriously, hes going to be the pet that keeps on giving.

 

A guy tried to rob me and my companion so we started acting crazy and yelling at him in English, he didn't like that. So then he tried to grab my watch to take it from me. I gave him a little shoulder bump and strictly declared "NO" haha. He tried to get bigger with me so I took off my backpack and said "NO" again. The second time he got a little bit afraid especially since he realized it was 2 on 1 and he was only 4 feet tall. He proceeded to shake my hand, told me I had . . ., and went on his happy way.  My companion couldn't believe that this happened twice already with me and both times we came out victorious. He likes that I'm bigger then most of the people here, but not the fact that it just makes people want to try to act more tough.

 

We saw these two old dudes fight this week. They were drunk. It was HILARIOUS! People were running out of the woodworks to try to watch. My companion and I were just sitting laughing so much.

 

I got a piece of glass in my foot this week from a broken mirror, so my companion became a handy dandy doctor with his surgery kit and cut it out. All is well, kinda.

 

So there is no more rain! And that's nice. The last time it rained we had to sweep the water out of our apartment... what... that never happens in the states.

 

Everybody asks my companion why he doesn't have a Mexican girlfriend here, and when he tells them that they're so dirty they get so offended and call him racist. At these moments I act like I can't speak Spanish and try to read something. haha

We keep running into this girl, she's 21 and she's in love with my companion and I. She is a friend of a member and we tricked her into letting us teach her the gospel. I said I needed more help with Spanish and she could act like an interested investigator and give me feedback. Sooooo I had to teach her by myself. BUT SHE REALLY LIKED IT! Crazy right, I think she just likes us. But we have another appointment tonight. Its hard not having a crutch of a companion but it pushes my linguistic skills.

 

So my companion is District Leader.

 

Here, they don't put eggs in the fridge! Only outside! Its really weird. haha, but they don't go bad.

Our Bishop came up with a good idea to offer self-sufficiency courses at the church and go to the tents to sell the idea. 42 people signed up in 4 hours! We told them the missionaries will stop by to talk to them and they were all cool with it. So we have 42 new referrals! Its going to be a busy week.

 

Last but not least, the difference of Jesus we've been teaching this week is that He came to save us FROM our sins, not IN our sins. Many people believe it to be the other way around. How nice to know we have an opportunity of letting all our regrets go if we just have faith, a contrite spirit, and a broken heart.

 

ALL IS WELL IN MEXICO!

I Love hearing from all of you! KEEP IT UP!

LOVE,

Elder Winters

2 Months

Today Is my two month anniversary on the mission! Pretty legit right?! And since everybody goes home about a month or 2 early here because of Visas and what not I've only got about 21 months left! Pretty crazy to think about.

But to start off, DOES ANYBODY HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT MEXICO?! I'm more than happy to tell you what I know. And to find out the rest. haha. 

 

This week has been the craziest. I BROKE MISSION RULES! MWAHAHA. You're not allowed to have pets but my companion and I made an exception, I had a pet snail and named him speedy. I just carried him around for a day, then I saw a goose and I fed speedy to him. And that ended that.. haha, and then while feeding the goose we saw that the lady had ducks and other geese too! Sooo, being the missionaries that we are, we bought a HUGE duck. And tied him up in our apartment and are feeding him tons of corn. and we are taking him to the slaughter house (a members house) tomorrow for our meat for the week. He's cool. We named him Daffy. Real original right. 

 

Today we killed rabbits. We killed and skinned three rabbits and we are about to go eat them for a before dinner, dinner in about ten minutes. I learned how to kill them with one firm karate chop. I was pretty proud doing it all by my hands. But we will be eating GOOD TONIGHT!

 

On the topic of food here, we get 400 pesos a week for food for 2 of us, that's 32 dollars, and we can buy a TON of food. we eat 11 eggs a day as well as an overwhelming amount of veggies. We just get so stuffed every morning while other missionaries buy 3 boxes of cereal for about the same price.. lame. We also bought a whole chicken this week and cleaned, gutted, and chopped it up ourselves. And I guess there was some kind of deal going on because THERE WAS AN EGG INSIDE OF IT! We ate that too. haha They eat like a knock off version of sour cream and onion chips here, but they pour them into a bag with chili sauce, and I tried it. AND ITS DISGUSTING! haha

 

So the only really other crazy thing to happen this week was it rained more in one day then it did for like 4 months... we were up on the hill when it started and we were running down when we crossed this HUGE river. and then we started walking some more but we got stuck at another river. And when we went to go back from where we came we couldn't cross back! So we were stuck under a tree in POURING RAIN! and everything we had was completely soaked. We were stuck there for about ten minutes before it started HAILING! Which made it that much more fun. So my companion and I started to have an Ice fight and started throwing them at each other. The people inside a house heard us and told us to come in. We went in and sat down. They didn't say much but the grandpa just started talking to us for a LONG time. I couldn't understand the story, but he told us his entire life story. We were there for 2 HOURS waiting! My companion then retold me the story and it was just CRAZY. So I've started writing a book based on all of the events in his life. Its called DON ISAAC. Like old man Isaac being translated. Its awesome. And my companion has been translating it into Spanish! Its pretty cool.

Well things sure are different here! But I'm loving it!

Keep doing what you're doing! Love you all!

Elder Winters

Week 2 - in Mexico

Hola amigos y familia!

So this week was quite a bit different from last week. But to start off with what is most important, MY BIRTHDAY! Thank you to all of you who wished me a happy day. It meant a lot being here.

 

Well some things I forgot to mention about Mexico in my last email, for one is that there is no such thing as street names here. Or signs. Or anything of that manner. When you ask where someone lives you ask how to get there and then you ask what color their house and/or gate is. Quite different. It rains EVERY DAY.

 

This week the work got a lot slower and we don't really have anybody to teach since we aren't allowed to contact in the streets or go door to door so we basically have to rely on all of the members to give us people to teach. We have 1 investigator. Its crazy how there are so many people but we aren't allowed to talk to.

 

To end on a spiritual not as well as a picture, have you ever thought of what the Devil does on his down time?  In Lucas 4:9, when Jesus is with the devil on the top of the mountain Satan says. "If you are the son of God, jump off this mountain and IT IS WRITTEN that they will catch you" The Devil reads the scriptures. And I'm sure he knows them better then we do. We need to ever be striving to KNOW the scriptures, continually studying them, and praying to know if they're true, if not we are almost exactly like the devil. Interesting food for though. 

Well Id love to hear more from you all!

Thank you again for all you do!

With Much Love,

Elder Winters

Week 1 -- in Mexico

Okay.. where to begin. This keyboard here is all weird so its hard to use but ill try to make it work. So who has seen Aladdin? (Everybody raises hands) you know the part where Jasmine is on the flying carpet and Aladdin is singing ¨A Whole New World¨.. well that's here. I literally don't even know what's going on half the time haha.

You know how people tell you not to tell your Mom about the scary things that happen to you until you get home? I'm not about that life.

 

To start my companion is Elder Macdonald from LA. AND HE IS WHITE! So we speak in half and half English to Spanish but he's helping me a lot with the language. I'm learning so much every single day. He is a genius and knows the language like a boss.

So now I'm going to tell you all of the crazy things that have happened this week.

Today, a drunk dude pulled a gun on my companion and me, and said he liked to rob people... So my companion told him to repent.. and I happened to think this was very funny so I started laughing and the guy, apparently confused decided to just walk away.

 

I have seen probably about 1,000 stray dogs this week, 1 of which I wanted to keep but he would have been too much work to feed, so we left him alone. OH I SAW A DONKEY! It was in the back of a trailer sawed into two halves. 

 

The first day here I asked to see a newspaper and my companion took me to a stand and on the cover was a man who was split into 4 pieces and then he told me that that's why we don't read newspapers... He thought it was funny since he's seen so much of it.

The members here like to make fun of me here for not being able to understand everything they say so whenever they get too mean my companion will start talking to me in English and then they all stop talking and feel dumb. Its a great way for my companion to teach humility. Which has to be taught a lot.

 

We have 1 investigator and we teach about 30 less actives. We gave 2 blessings this week and already had our first baptism on Saturday.The man we baptized left after his confirmation to go home and have a fiesta...

 

TO end on a good note, I was reading in Jesus the Christ by Talmage and I had the question of why we only needed one sacrifice to save all mankind. And in the book it said that it only took one person to fall (Eve) for all man to be subject to physical and spiritual death. In turn, it only took 1 person (Jesus) to bring us back from both as well. It was eye opening. Also very humbling to know that the example of one person can change the lives of many. I'm working hard. BELIEVE THAT! haha. My Spanish is getting a little better everyday. 

 

I LOVE YOU ALL!

KEEP THE LETTERS COMING!

Thank you for all of the support!

Love, Elder Winters

July 2