Year 2, Week 29

LECCIÓN DE LA SEMANA: Speaking of relevant topics, let us take a moment to reflect on the sacrifice of a mother. I was reminded recently of the enormous effort that every mother puts forth as I...

(1) Saw this video-initiative: https://lds.org/media-library/video/2018-01-0020-just-a-mom?cid=HP_WE-9-5-2018_dOCS_fBLOG_xLIDyL1-C_&lang=eng

(2) Witnessed the tired countenance of an investigator’s mom as she arrived from a long day of work (7am - 5pm), put on an apron, and began to work in her porch-front restaurant, meanwhile instructing her children to do their homework and help her with the business.

(3) Reflected on my personal experiences with my mom. Despite all the grief I gave her, she was consistent in teaching and disciplining me so that I could be who I am today.

My hope is that tomorrow, you can all make the day special for your mom. I am so excited to speak to my mom, and I hope that I can make it as special for her as it’s going to be for me!!! Make a card, go on a walk (or run), take her out to eat, go to a movie - something that she’ll love!!!

If you aren’t familiar with Mormon teachings about eternal families, take a minute to read the Family Proclamation (https://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation?lang=eng&old=true) and decide now that you will do whatever it takes to be with your mom in heaven forever!

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This week was a great big adventure. We were passing by an Oxxo (basically a gas station without the gas) and we saw a lady struggling to push a giant cart, so we decided to help her out. As we pushed, we got to know her a little. Her name is Lucy, she’s homeless, and she suffers from a spinal column issue. It was hard to see her in pain as we walked, but at least she wasn’t pushing a ton of clothes and bedding.

We went to Isla Mujeres to help out the elders there. They have been trying hard to find investigators and face lots of difficulties. We were able to place a baptismal date and get a bunch of referrals from some less-active members!

We had Mother’s Day in Mexico! It was the 10th of May, and I recognized Sister Reynoso as my Mexican Mom XD She does a lot for us goofballs and always worries about us eating enough (even though the pozole and the frijol con puerco is making me gordo!!!)

We found a new investigator who we had contacted months before. Nothing happened with him at that point (he was always at work until late at night). After the contact, he went to his (member) girlfriend’s house and watched ALL of General Conference, blown away by the power of the talks!! Now he quit his job and is available to listen to the message. His baptismal date is for June 2, but he’ll have to go to church every week if he wants to achieve his goal!! His name is Joshua, and prayers would be greatly appreciated!!!

This is going to be Elder Vergara’s last week :(

I turned 19 months old.

That’s all for this week, friends!! HAVE A MIRACULOUS WEEK AND CALL YOUR MOM!!!

Love,

Elder Carson

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I continue being a terrible photographer. But I´m happy in paradise with my buddy. Burnt like toast.

Puerto Juarez - late afternoon.

Year 2, Week 28

Hello from the urban web that sits next to tropical paradise!!!

LECCIÓN DE LA SEMANA: We had our Ward Missionary Activity this week (with a family-history "COCO" theme), and I learned that if you’re going to lead a group, you have to have a "group-mind". The idea that we had so carefully meditated was that we would put on the movie "COCO", have a lesson from the elders quorum about the FamilySearch program, and then have the Relief Society do a presentation of several traditional mexican dishes, together with their own family stories.

BUT:

1) The computer was having dificulties connecting to the projector.

2) The elders quorum was a no-show.

3) The (wonderful) sisters didn’t know that they had to present their histories.

SO:

1) We recruited an investigator (who happened to be a tech-expert) to help us fix the computer problem.

2) We searched out a timid sister who works in the Family History Center, gave her a 5-minute pep-talk, and committed her to give a short verbal presentation about the church’s geneology resources.

3) We utilized the stereo that one member family brought and the Spotify account of another brother in the ward to put on music from the movie while visitors and members ate the food and their children danced in the middle of the room.

I can tell you all that when you want to get a group activity done, you’ve got to take into account the many strengths and weaknesses of each person. You have to keep in mind the good experiences that others will have as you invite them to actively contribute. And, (very important), you’ve got to have a back-up plan! God is the perfect example of a "group-mind". In fact, His doctrine is that as we lose ourselves in the service of OTHERS, we will come to know ourselves better. He knows our strengths and weaknesses. He is willing and happy to give us chances to contribute to the "glorious anthem of the Restoration" (Deiter F. Uchtdorf).

I invite each of you to consider how you can better apply the principle of "group-mind" as you seek to excel in school, in your homes, and in the building of the kingdom of God.

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We found a new investigator this week named Angel! And in an effort to minister, we helped him paint his house and set up his porch-front restuarant in less than two hours. I’m telling you, the mexican people have an INDUSTRIOUS culture!! I’ve learned a TON about entrepreneurship from them.

We had our leadership council! With leaders from the whole mission present, we discussed various ways we can be creative in our finding efforts.

Some former investigators of ours came to the ward activity! The father’s name is Oscar, and he and his family are from Venezuela. The guy is a giant compared to everyone here. And compared to me, to be honest....

Let me know what questions you guys have so that I can better tell you about the details of Mexico!!! I love it here and wish I could spend way more time serving the Lord in this capacity! I wish you all a great week! LOVE YOU!!

Elder Carson

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Hector from "COCO" - in skeleton and in living form XD