Yo,
friends, we got things cookin here in Cancún, literally and spiritually. I hope
you guys aren't suffering heat stroke over there in the states!
LECCIÓN DE LA SEMANA: ALWAYS be
thankful for what you´ve been given. The message is something that I´d heard
before, but every day I´m absorbing it at a deeper level here in México. I was
talking with E. Coello, and he described to me life in Honduras. Drug Cartels
owned his life. He had to walk where he was allowed to walk, say what he was
allowed to say, and hear what he was allowed to hear. Those who failed to do so
continue to be killed on a daily basis. And the biggest problem is,
NOBODY can do anything about it. The "bad guys" are those who grow up
with you. They're your friends from kindergarten, your upstairs neighbor, and
even your uncle Juan. You've got to pretend like the evil doesn't exist, or you
don't stand a chance.
After
hearing that, I reflected on my life in the states. Maybe there were some bad
influences, some mistakes, and some hard times, but I NEVER walked the streets
fearing for my life. I grew up in a home where my parents loved me and cared
for my interests. The blessing of an amazing family extends to my grandparents,
aunts, uncles, and cousins. I grew up in the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-Day Saints. I've always had friends that support me, and I was educated
in good schools. I consider myself among the most fortunate individuals in the
whole world.
---------------
We had E. Coello's Generation Meeting this week!! It was so interesting to see
my Chan-Hijo enjoying the same time with his CCM buddies that I enjoyed not so
long ago. At the same time, I spent time with my papi, E. Melena, and
participated in a training session from our dear Presidente Reynoso.
THEY CHANGED THE RULES!! We were on our way home one night when the Zone
Leaders called us and let us know that now, in ALL of Mexico, investigators
only need THREE Sundays attending church to be able to get baptized! TWO, if
the bishop knows them and agrees that they are ready. WOOHOO! The news gave us
lots of energy and we´re excited to find new investigators at an
ever-increasing rate!! :D
PRISILA AND CAROLINA GOT BAPTIZED!!! Who knows why we ended up teaching a bunch
of little girls this month, but I was super happy to participate in the
process! These two girls come from families where the parents and siblings are
less-active, so we also got to help the parents revive their faith and come
back to church. Super cool to see all the emotions of the family-members in the
baptismal service. I actually had the privilege of baptizing Prisila,
personally (but only because she asked me specifically - as a rule, it's better
when the Priests do the baptisms)...
We were in a lesson with a less-active couple that needs to get married when a
dude arrived to deliver a nice hammock chair. The sister's eyes got wide.
"THAT WAS A SURPRISE!" she said, rushing to attend to the paperwork.
Her boyfriend's jaw dropped when he saw the chair. I HAVE THE BEST GIRLFRIEND,
is what he was probably thinking. The sister returned to the house, but the
delivery-man called back, "Hey, I still need the signature of... Enrique
Gonzales?" The astonished smile of the boyfriend, Enrique, melted into
comic horror, and we all died laughing. Turns out, he had bought himself
somethin real nice. "Would you like a pen?" offered Elder Mendoza.
"It's for signatures only, brother Enrique, NOT MURDERS."
There's
lots of other things I would like to share - tales of forgetting house keys,
losing my agenda (missionary's worst nightmare), and getting
"blessed" by an evangelical priest - but we'll save it for the autumn
of 2018 :)
Love,
Elder Carson------------------
We have SIX ELDERS in our ward, and E. Jayer had
a birthday!!! CHEESECAKE!!!!!
Haha this was the picture RIGHT BEFORE the
smiles, but it's the only one E. Coello had on his camera (which I'm using
right now because my SD card is wacko).
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