2/22/14 - DJ

Hola Everybody!

This week has been pretty good overall. We started teaching a family earlier in the week. We contacted them a few weeks ago, but it seems like they are never home.  [Finally] we get in there and find out that missionaries had taught them in the past (like a few years ago) and stopped coming when the father had issues with baptism.  Now the son is old enough that he wants to learn about the church, and he is super interested. Since he wants to check out the church, the whole family said they would come to church on Sunday.  I´ll let you know how it goes.

 

In other news, there is currently a problem with the PO Box we use to get the mail.  For now, please send any letters/packages to the cienfuegos address:

Jose Luis Escobar Maya

Elder Hill

303 Cienfuegos, piso 7, int 704

Colonia Lindavista

07300, Distrito Federal

Mexico

That will still get to me. 

 

That´s all for now.  Nos vemos!

-Elder D Hill

This just came in from a member in Jordon's ward.  They had taken the Elders out to dinner.  Hope you like it.  Jan

2/17/11 - Jordon

Weather Report

It's been mostly sunny here. They say that this next week the temperature is supposed to hit the 90s!  Send some of that cold weather my way would you? Honestly, I had to wear my jacket more last winter than this one, even after I had the Summer for my blood to thin.

-----------------------------------------------

So, this week has been decent.

On Tuesday, we had the opportunity to remove a palm tree from the front yard of one of our less actives. He injured his knee on a skiing trip, so he accepted our help. it was an interesting task, but we figured it out. I think he's really starting to warm up to us. On Friday, after our lesson, he even gave us a ride home. I'm hoping this means we can start getting him to other things.

We also have dinner with a different less active family tonight. We hope to be able to get them active soon. They currently have a son on a mission in West Virginia. (we don't know either, so don't ask.) We managed to get them to Sacrament Meeting yesterday to hear me sing.

"Sing?" you ask? Did I not tell you about that. Well, yesterday I received the opportunity to do the special musical number in Sacrament Meeting. I sang "I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go"; a great missionary hymn. It was a solo, and not only was it fit for me to sing as a missionary, but I also put a Spanish missionary twist on it. I decided to sing the second verse in Spanish. You know, the one about 'I'll say what you what me to say'. I thought it was a good idea. I recorded a run through during a practice session, and intended to get one of the actual performance, but I forgot my MP3 player on Sunday. So, I'm left with the practice recording. It's not the best quality, but it's better than nothing.

Guess what I found out  this week...I found out what happens when I don't have my medicine. Apparently, when I take my medicine, I'm more awake and I'm a bit more focused and calm. Well, this monday, Walmart was out of adderal, and I ran out on Wednesday. I was super tired every day there after, and I was also a bit more random than normal. I think I like myself better when I'm on my meds. I also find it less difficult to speak when I have my meds, as well. I made sure to drop off the prescription today and am going to pick it up as soon as I can. That might be tomorrow after District Meeting, however. Wish me good blessings!

I also realized something else this past week: This, being my 4th transfer here, means that I will have been here for roughly 6 months at the end of this transfer. That's 1/4th of my mission in whole! (ok so it's only going to be for 5+1/2 months, but still.) That's a long time. It's going by so fast! Soon enough I'll be home again.

That's it for this week. Oh, I meant to do this last week: Happy Birthday, Tyler

Also, Happy Missionary Awareness Day! (February 14th)

Until next time.

Con amor,

-Elder Jordon Hill-

2-17-14 - DJ

Hola Everyone!

So this week was a little crazy as usual.  We found out that one of our investigators who we couldn´t get ahold of is in the hospital. We don´t know what happened, but his dad told us that he´s doing better and should be home sometime this week; and although very Catholic, the dad told us we should come by to talk to his son more, and that it would be good for him. I´ll let you know how it goes.

Yamile, who I mentioned last week, is progressing rapidly. She is reading everything we give her and asking questions.  It´s going well.

So the reason my E-mail is a little late this week is that Saturday afternoon there was a missionary activity in the form of a cultural dance performance we had to go to.  It was pretty cool. (pictures below). It was a dance group from the Benemerito de las Americas. While the Benemerito was converted into the Mexico MTC, the students are still together and at another campus.  (Note:  The Benemerito de las Americas is a private high school operated by the LDS Church.  In June of last year it was closed and converted into a Missionary Training Center .)

                                        Note DJ (second from right in back row)

That´s about it. Nos Vemos!

-Elder D Hill

P.S. Whenever someone finds out where I´m from, they tell me "it´s really cold up there right now, and snowing!", and my response is "Que bueno que estoy aquí" with a smile on my face. (How great is it that I´m here) and they laugh.

:D

2/10/14 - Jordon

Well, this week was was fairly uneventful/not much out of the ordinary.

We're still working hard to find people to teach. Our main focus for the moment is less active members. We're working with our bishops to do what we can to help them come back into the fold. As we understand it, the Gilbert Temple Open House receives about 30-50 referals for the missionaries each day. Thus far, we have received none of them. I'm certain that we'll get some soon. As for the members, they've caught missionary fire! They have been inviting all their friends to come to the open house. The consern we've brought up with the bishops is that we have all this excitement, but how do we keep it going after the open house is done. We'll see what we can do.

As reported last week, transfers were this week, and neither I, nor my companion, left. This means that at the end of this transfer he will have been my longest companion at 13 weeks. This is now my longest area totaling about 6 months at the end of this transfer. This worries me a bit. However, I trust the Lord will have me in the place where I can do the most good. I fear not the future.

This transfer brought in 11 new missionaries to the mission -- ten of them were sisters. Yes, that means there was a lone elder on the plane with them.  Quite the flip from when I came out (1 sister with a ton of elders). My how things have changed. I like it.

As for my district, there were only a couple changes. One of the Zone Leaders was transfered out, and so was one of the Spanish sisters. The new Zone Leader is a great guy, and was on the plane with me for the flight out here. As for the new sister, she was in the new group, and she doesn't speak Spanish...yet. She actually was called English speaking, but her trainer is assigned to the Spanish Branch here. Everyone, including her, is optimistic about her learning Spanish. I know this because of the constant use of the word "yet". Hehe. Good news for her that they also cover an English ward, so she's not going to be completely lost. I'm glad to have them both in my district.

This past week we got to go to the open house again. ^_^ This time in the day. So, day pictures this time. (pictures below) We went with one of our less actives and her nonactive and nonmember family. They really liked it. Only one week left. 

(Apparently, Jordon loves the stonework.) 

That's all for this week. We're loving the work we do, and we're striving to do all we can to be worthy of the Lord's Blessings. Until next time.

Con amor,

-Elder Jordon Hill-

2/8/14 - DJ
Hola Everyone!

Firstly, I wanted to wish my Brother, Tyler a HAPPY BIRTHDAY! He turns 18 today.  

 

Now on to the good stuff. This week has been crazy. We have been kept busy in the offices with the changes this past Monday: new missionaries arriving, end of month secretary things, and the regular secretary stuff, but that´s not what you want to hear about.

 

So we now have a new investigator named Yamile. She is a college student living with a member family here in our area. We passed by and taught her for the first time this week. She said she had never really considered our religion before and that she is Catholic, but we taught her a little and the spirit came strong. She liked everything we taught and accepted another appointment when she would have more time to listen. So cool.

That´s it for now, 

 

Nos Vemos.

-Elder D Hill

2/3/14 - Jordon

This week was fairly nice. I'll cut to the chase.

 

Transfers. We had our transfer calls last night, and guess what...I'm staying! ( Woohoo!)  Yes, I'm aware of the fact that I'm where the Lord needs me, and if he needed me elsewhere, I would be just fine with that. But, I am happy that I'm staying, and I suppose some of the members will be, as well, once I tell them. In addition, Elder Jewkes is also staying. So, it looks like we will be together for another transfer. Cue transfer 12-companion 11. Also, no change in my leadership assignment, as of yet. However, I can see a possible area rearrange happening. Our two wards both meet at 8:30am. The zone leaders two wards both meet at 12:30pm. So, potentially, we might be getting one of their wards and they might be getting one of ours. Better yet, we both are split between the same two buildings, so if we swap wards, then each companionship could have a single building. However, I can see a reason to keep my two wards together. We'll see what happens.

 

On Tuesday, we had the opportunity to accompany one of our investigators to the Gilbert Temple Open House. It was fantastic! Granted, it's the temple; they're all fantastic. But, the building is amazingly beautiful, and the Spirit was strong. Margaret, our investigator, and her parents really liked it. As you walked in, the spirit was instantly noticeable. And the deeper you went, the stronger it got; especially in the Celestial Room. I took notice that each of her parents immediately reached for tissues upon entering the Celestial Room. Something I liked was afterward we were talking with Margaret, and she mentioned that she felt something in the baptistry. She attributes it to a touch of vertigo -- looking down to see the oxen -- however, I question if it might have been something else. hmm... We'll see how this plays out.

 

 

 

Speaking of the new temple, apparently, they will not have clothing rental at the Gilbert Temple. President Nattress said he would check into what that means for the missionaries, but I think I may need to get a packet soon. The open house ends on Feb. 15th, the cultural celebration and dedication are on March 1st and 2nd, respectively, and after that I presume we will be going to the Gilbert Temple for our temple trips. I'll keep you informed.

 

Other than that, there's not much else to report this week. I really am greatful to be a servant of the Lord in this place at this time. I know that he does head this work, and that, save the earth and all occupants thereon be destroyed, this work will not be halted except for by his hand. I love the Lord. I know that He loves me, and I wish to share that love with all his children that I may encounter. I know that Joseph Smith, in reality, did see God the Father and Jesus Christ, and that though him, they restored the true Chruch of Christ in it's fullness to the face of the earth. I also know that the Book of Mormon truely is another testiment of Jesus Christ, and that, by the power of God, Joseph was able to find and then translate that ancient account contained upon those golden plates into what we know as the Book of Mormon. I know that God lives, and that his son, Jesus Christ, also lives, and that though Jesus Christ we, too, will live again. I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

Con amor,

-Elder Jordon Hill-

2/3/14 - DJ
Hola Everybody!

Sorry for the late e-mail. This week has been crazy!

 

We have been prepping for the Transfers and new missionaries all week/weekend.  Saturday we were going crazy making sure that we had everything for today(Monday). We left the offices Saturday feeling that we had everything possible ready, which means I left waiting for something to go wrong. Well, things haven´t been the smoothest, but there have only been a few problems. On the plus side, the worst thing we had was we caused President to be 15 minutes late to get to Transfers.  We are opening new areas so we had to have the new phones and area books ready.  Compared to last time, it´s been great. We are keeping up with everything, and it´s all coming together. 

 

Gotta run. The American new arrivals will be here any minute. 

 

Nos Vemos,

-Elder D Hill