I have realized that I can't picture myself doing anything else in the world right now..this work is literally "A Marvelous Work and a Wonder". I have come to love serving the Lord and his children. We truly find happiness when we give our hearts to the Lord. I read something that I wrote in my journal about 7 months ago, it says "I made a goal for my mission, it's to be happy, truly happy that is all I want". Well I can say that I have completed that goal, I am happy.

Juan Eugenio...it's a ranch about 2 hours away from Torreon. All of the streets are dirt, and just about everyone has a donkey and a trailer. We are surrounded by mountains, it's a nice change.

Change in area...a ranch in Gomez Palacio. I have a church building now, a Bishop that wants to baptize and a Ward Mission Leader. The people here are humble and willing to listen. Elder Lopez and I are opening this area. I am very excited and ready to work.

Christmas gathering 2011

We BAPTIZED!! Hahaha, and it felt amazing. We have been visiting with him for about two months, and finally he got baptized. I have really come to love the kid, he is great, smart and full of understanding. He said that he wanted me to baptize him, which was cool. When we got into the water, you could see in his eyes that he was worried. But when I started to say the baptismal prayer, the spirit was so strong and I could feel the power of the Priesthood. December 5, 2011

Having Faith.....

Nov. 15th, 2011
I had a great day on Sunday. I feel like I'm learning more about faith. So Sunday we stopped by three houses on the way to Church to wake people up for Church. We stopped by an investigators house to pick them up...But...they were not there. So just as we started to loose all hope and leave, a boy came out in a suit and looked all ready to go to Church. We asked him if he really was going to Church? He responeded with a no way...(so why was he in a suit?)...so we talked with him and soon he changed his mind and came with us to church. His name is Jesus, he is 10 years old, and a great kid. He loved Church!! And seemed to have had a great experience. So we will see what comes out of this. But I will continue in faith always having hope.

Scorpions..Scorpions..Scorpions....

Found in the bathroom of the Church, and everyone was going crazy !! To tell you the truth it was a little creepy.

Halloween In Valparisio...

Oct. 31st, 2011
They actually don't celebrate Halloween here. The kids all dress up, but that's about it, it's very interesting! But yesterday was our District Meeting, and as usual it was great. It was exciting to see the new white missionaries that have come to our mission. They are the newest ones to come since my group arrived 7 months ago!! I can really see the difference that 7 months makes in all aspects. Especially the language! Wow I feel so blessed to have this time in the mission field, and I really can't imagine a world where I didn't know Spanish!! I testify that the gift of tongues is real. It is amazing how fast we learn the language. I am thankful for the things that I have learned, and the experiences of my Mission so far. All the little things, and life lessons, that seem so obvious now. I know the Lord has his time, and what we need to do is to obey the Commandments and learn as we go.

LOTS OF GREAT TIMES HERE IN MEXICO...........

Sept 13 2011 Strength in Brotherhood

I find so much strength and encouragement from the Elders in my District. They are great! I am thankful that we are serving together for the same cause. It is an awesome experience! And did I mention that we have a great time together....it is pretty fun!

Sept 19 2011 INTERESTING BUS RIDES!!

It's a 1-1/2 to 2 hour bus ride to church one way to the town of Fresno, Zacatecas, Mexico. So yesterday we were late for the bus to bring us home after church, so we had to wait 2 hours for the next bus! So once we got on the bus, we were planning on resting and sleeping, but a man came up to us and said, "Oh my beautiful missionaries". It was obvious he had been drinking, and he said he was a member but could not stop drinking. He sat by us the whole bus ride, and talked the whole time! My companion and I were trying to stay awake and listen, but the natural man got a hold of us, including the drunk, and we all fell asleep! But we came to laugh about it later, as we left the bus. It was another interesting experience.

Sept 19 2011 First week in Valparaiso

Well I have had some really good experiences here in Valparaiso in just one week! Hopefully a family we are teaching is really getting close to baptism, they are a great family! On Saturday we helped a Brother build a grave....now that was interesting....it is made of all marble and concrete. But it was a good experience. We taught him about tithing, and the blessings that come with being a tithe payer, and encouraged him to live the law of tithing. He knew he needed to, and then yesterday at church he payed his tithing. I think that we are going to see a lot of blessings in this area.

Sept 13 2011 TRANSFERRED!! Valparaiso, Zacatecas, Mexico

So I went from a Ward with about 70 or 80 people, to a branch that has about 45 people at church, and we have a prayer house, not a chapel! I'll just say it will be interesting, but I think we will see a lot of blessings in this little branch. All I know it's green here, a big change from where I was before. But ya, I am the furthest South you can go in my Mission boundaries, and I am actually really excited!

Work continues in Chapala.............

A day in the Mission Field.......Paradise!

August Training Meeting

August 8, 2011

Well this week was pretty good, we worked really hard. I attended a leadership training meeting, and I learned a lot. The two things that stuck out to me, while at the training meeting was the purpose that God has for us and what our purpose is while here on earth. The purpose of God is to bring to past the Immortality and Eternal Life of man, that is his work and his Glory. And our purpose is to become like him, to love, and serve one another, and to teach and grow in knowledge. I am thankful that I have the opportunity and blessing to be constantly reminded of these principles, and then to go forth as a Missionary and teach them to others. I love being a Missionary!

This is my Mission Boundries

TORREON MEXICO! Torreon is about 850 miles south of the Arizona/Mexico border. Mission boundaries go south, almost to Mexico City, and west, almost to Mazatlan Mexico, and east almost to Monterey Mexico. The climate here is hot in the summer reaching 100 degrees or more, but because it is high desert, it can freeze in the winter. Our elevation in Torreon is over 3,200 ft. Population is about 610,000.

Things you might see in a shopping center.........

April 18, 2011

So my Companion and I had gone into town one day to pickup a few things. We were surprised to see this Army tank parked in the parking lot just "chillin". I guess it is something that you have to get used to. I will admit it felt really strange, and made me feel uneasy. But I guess I will see a lot worse.

MI FAMILIA IN THE MTC

So this is my new family while I am here at the MTC. These are my Brethen, the Elders in my Zone. It is the weirdest thing, because when I sat down and really looked at everyone, it was like I had already met them all before, and I already had a love for them. They are great!! Top Row left to right- Elder Orr, Elder Carter, Elder Kennedy, Elder Simms Bottom Row- Elder Bohman, Elder Pack, Elder Strong, Elder Peterson, Elder Seiter, Elder Porter January 31, 2011

SUPPORT FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS

I have been reflecting on the events in my life and the wonderful family and friends I have had in my life.  Thank you for your support.  I thought I knew everything before my mission, I thought I was a man, I thought I would just go on a Mission just to say I did.  But its not like that, its not like that at all.  Its the biggest change of life I've ever had, its the biggest blessing I have ever experienced. I consider it a Honor to serve the Lord, and teach others about the Savior..  May 16, 2011