Dusty's Email -- 9/29/08

Elder Howard with President and Sister Bulloch

hey hey hey,

This last week my companion and I found a ton of people to teach, and all of them were keeping their commitments to us on reading and praying and so on. We had 17 people that we had committed to go to church this week. We visited all except for this family of 6 because they were gone all day Saturday. 

But Sunday....only 3 came. yep, so my companion and I were a little down Sunday. 3 of the 17 we have been teaching for a couple weeks and one of their baptisms was suppose to be Sunday, but Saturday night 20 minutes before his baptism interview he and the other two decided to inform us that they weren’t really wanting to be baptized and knew Joseph Smith was a prophet but were going to stay catholic. We talked for a minute or two and they had just been lying the last couple weeks about everything.

That’s the problem here. Many people listen because its the word of the Lord and just go along with it, even accept a baptism date and then we find out they were just lying. The others we showed up to their houses to pick them up and they either weren’t there or didn’t want to come to church. Out of all our investigators. We have 3 left. We decided as a companionship to find all new ones this week. There is a lot of work to be done.

I’ve been here for a month already. Wow the time has just flown by and even though it’s hard, I love it. I’ve made a list with my companion, it’s called the “Apostata Lista”. It’s all the apostasy and all the funny things that people say that they believe, there is so much, I’ll show you when I return. It’s funny all the stories.

Mom and Dad got your package this last week…and all the food is gone. haha, but thank you so much. I never thought that I’d miss beef jerky. But that was so awesome. The pictures are so sweet of Brady and the girls. It was so hard to listen to the tape, especially the part right after the babies left. As mom was talking, I admit it I cried. It was real hard to stay focused the rest of the night because I couldn’t be there to help you guys through this. Its continued to motivate me to do something, I don’t know what, but something with CPS or the law or something when I get back. But I got awhile.

Thanks again for the package I really appreciated it. Oh and the toys, might not get to the kids here, because me and my companion have started playing with the animals with the parachutes. We go the roof of our building and throw them off and then run down and get them and do it again. haha.

The cycle ends this Sunday and probably my companion and i are staying here. Well I know that I am, but he has 3 months here, but the District leader who is leaving has 6 months in this zone.

I love you all...

CONGRATS to CJ for his awesome performance with the band and the awards that they won. keep up the work man I love ya!!!

Hope that the baby Bergen is staying healthy and strong and Lynette and Ryan and ALENA too!!!! I miss you all!!!

 Love

Elder Howard

Dusty's Email -- 9/22/2008

yo yo

So yes another week has passed. We did a lot of work this last week but didn’t really see any of the benefits. like I said before we were suppose to have 5 baptisms this last Sunday. But only one of the investigators showed for church. One of them, her name is Juana decided that she wanted to be baptized in December, but we told her that when that time came, just like the last time, she would push it off. So we lost her, because she wouldn’t change her mind. Another named Miguel had promised us on Friday and Thursday he would be at church. Both his mother in law and wife are members, but he didn’t show up because he was too tired. So we had to push his date to the first in October.

There are another three that we are teaching, a mom, her son and the mom’s sister. They are all adults. They had committed to live the Word of Wisdom and needed to attend church this Sunday and then could be baptized the following. We called them at 10 o’clock in the morning, to make sure that they were coming to church. They answered and said yeah, of course we’ll be there. They lied. We left after my talk in sacrament meeting and went to their house, and only the son was there and he got ready and came to church. We are going to talk to them tomorrow and see what’s up and see if they truly want to be baptized, so yesterday was a little discouraging.

We taught 31 lessons this last week and had 11 new investigators. But only 4 investigators showed up for church. After we ate yesterday my companion and I were changing from our suits and my companion asked what we’re doing wrong, if there was something wrong with us. So we prayed about it and just went to work last night. We’ll just continue to work this week and try to find some others that need the Gospel. We were real excited for church yesterday, and it was kinda a letdown. All these people that need the Gospel and the blessings decided that it wasn’t that important. We are thinking of our gameplan when we talk to them tomorrow.

So yes as you read, I gave a 7 minute talk in Spanish yesterday. It went great I felt and a lot of people said that my Spanish was great and they understood all of it. Which was the point, I fasted and prayed going into Sunday so that I would have success. The bishop had asked me the night before if I could give a talk and of course I agreed, because, come on, you can’t turn the bishop down.

But this last week I understood almost everything and was able to communicate real well with everyone, and so I feel like I can really be of use now that I know what the conversation is about. The Lord has certainly blest me with the gift of tongues.

Today we had to go to the Office of Migration. It was about a 2 hour trip. We took a bus to the metro and rode the metro for almost an hour. Then took a taxi to the office and then did it all over again to return. We had to be there at 9 so yeah we left at about 7 for the metro. The metro in the mornings and at night are insane, because everyone is trying to get on them, and so the doors open and hundreds of people shove their way into the metro. It can be a little dangerous… haha, but it’s fun. I’m sure you’ve seen on utube or on tv the trams in Japan and Mexico with all the people trying to get in. Then there is no space at all, everyone is shoulder to shoulder crammed in. Haha, its really hot and smells funny. But it’s a good experience. haha.

We went with the other elders in my district who needed to go also. So Elder Tanner(the elder that was in my district from the MTC who is also from Gilbert) was there and we got to talk. I enjoy getting together for district meeting because he’s there and we get along great. But also all the Elders from my district from the MTC had to go there today. Most of them are in the zones furthest away so they reported around 10. We didn’t see any of them. When we were in the metro about to get on to return when we saw Elder Miller (my comp in the MTC) and of course Elder Tanner and I and Elder Miller all ran at each other and hugged and talked for a couple minutes before we had to leave. Then we were waiting for the next metro to come when the one across from us dropped off some people and then left and we saw Elder Snook(Elder Tanners companion in the MTC) we couldn’t go talk to him because he was all the way across the way. But we yelled that we loved each other and then our metro pulled up. The only person that I didn’t see was my other comp in the MTC Elder Christansean. But I’ll see them in November.

 I hope that all is well. the weather is wonderful here and things are great. were going to go look for soccer jerseys right now so take care.

 

Adios

Elder Howard

 

Dusty's Email -- 9/15/2008

Hey hey,

 This last week I had my first zone conference. It was great and of course in Spanish, except for one of the speakers. He spoke on thoughts and the power of them and a bunch of really, really good things about them. I took a lot of notes and am using a lot of the different principles that he taught.

Today is the Independence Day for Mexico so we 

have to be in the house by 6 o clock because it’s really dangerous because everyone is drunk.

Yesterday we had a baptism, which was great and yes, I did the baptizing. We were suppose to have 3 others get baptized. But there is a problem with them, well, only with the mother. It’s actually a problem all over Mexico. Many people are together but not married and to follow the law of chastity you need to be married. The lady and her boyfriend don’t want to get married because they have a lot of problems, and they don’t have enough money for one to move out. So for right now they can’t be baptized and neither can their kids. We asked the bishop about the kids and he said no, either all or none. Me and my companion were having a hard time with that. But it’s the Lord’s will at this time.

My Spanish is getting better day by day and I'm starting to understand a lot of what people say and communicate with them. This last week we found 2 people that have already accepted a baptism date. So we don’t have a baptism for this week but the last week in Sept. we have 5 scheduled for that day. so that’s really exciting. My companion and I are getting along great and we are communicating well. I’m learning new words from him every day - and learning words not to say. haha 

This last week has been great and the time has just flown by. I'm really enjoying it here. The people are really nice and the food is amazing. The best thing that I've had is called a huarache. Dad you would love them. There isn’t really a way I can explain it but it’s so, so, so good. Before we 

have to return to the house tonight we are going to buy some. They are huge. 

It’s starting to cool down in the nights. and we don’t have hot water. Ha ha ha, so showers are really fun each morning. But it’s great. 

I love you all and I hope that all goes well. I love to read and hear how everything is going. I hope I’m not forgetting anything. Remember the Lord everyday and never forget the blessings that we have. The city I’m in is total poverty with graffiti everywhere and just a lot of rundown buildings and homes. But the people are so humble and give all that they can. So be grateful for the blessings you have.

Love

Elder Howard

Dusty's Email -- 9/8/2008

Family

I’m  really torn!! 

I’m so excited that Lynette’s baby came and that everything is well with him. I can’t believe that when I get home he’ll be almost 2 years old! That’s so sweet and I’m so excited. 

I'm torn because of the babies, but I know that this is for a reason and its going to be of experience to us. I always have the babies picture on my desk and I always will wherever I am and work for the rest of my life. It sounds like Mom and everyone are getting through this time the best that they can. Which is good and is always good to take steps forward.

Speaking of taking steps forward, everyday has been a challenge but everyday I'm moving forward with the language. It’s difficult to talk with people because they talk so fast and have different dialects and some don’t have all their teeth.....so yeah, they just slur everything together.

Sunday we were going around picking up our investigators for church and we stopped at this little store where we taught this lady to see if she would only come for an hour. We were in the process of convincing her when her husband pulled up in his taxi. The day before we went to check on her and asked him when she'd return and he was drunk and yelled at us that she wasn’t here and to leave. So as he's pulling up this lady and her daughter are telling us to leave. So we do and as we are leaving he gets out of the car and says "venga" which is basically “come here” and of course you don’t go to someone unless you know them, because they most likely will rob you. We were just walking away as he was stumbling, but he said “voy a partir a su madre”. so I stopped because I was confused.

“Cuz partir” is to divide or to part so I was really confused, because it literally means “to part your mom”. But my companion said to come, so we left. I was asking him what he said and I guess that it means “I’m going to beat you up, or hit you”. haha, it was funny because what went through my mind was "my mother isn’t here how can you divide her" haha so it was funny but unfortunate that the husband was standing in the way of his wife getting the Gospel.

This last week was tough Because on Tuesday I was a little down because we had a district meeting and I didn’t understand really anything, but the day got better. Wednesday and Thursday I got sick. Wednesday morning I went to the bathroom 6 times before I left for the day to go teach and stuff. Thursday I felt better because I bought some Pepto Bismol and I didn’t use the bathroom as much but still, more than usual. I was concerned because I thought that I've only been here 2-3 days and somehow the water has gotten into my system. But I just ate something that gave me food poisoning, and the food poisoning here is worse than back home. But I'm better now. We had 10 investigators show up for church yesterday. Which is great because that’s 10 progressing investigators, and 4 of them have a baptismal date for this Sunday. But we hope to baptize close to 10 this month.

Last week was kind of long, like the first couple days in the MTC because I was trying to get use to the schedule and stuff.

Saturday was good and bad though, we went to an investigators house, and he had been just rolling along perfect, but had a ton of doubts now because of the people that attend his church. He was just reeling off all these different things and this and that and said that he needed 90 days to decide to join our church. I finally got sick of it and slammed my hand on the table and said Manuel (of course all this is in Spanish) “You have no faith, there is only one way, one Lord one faith and one baptism, you know that, you said that you know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. What more do you need? You need to trust the Lord, you say that the Lord is all your life and your everything but you doubt this. I know that it’s not easy to change something that you've practiced for almost 60 years but it’s for the Lord”.

It was quiet...like an awkward quiet and it was raining out and he got up and said that he needed to do something outside and so we were talking to his wife for awhile until he returned. When he returned he said that I was right, but still needed time. He knows a lot of English so I talked in English to him and just bore my testimony again, and said that the only reason that we're here and not back at home studying and living life is because we know the power and truthfulness of the message. He thanked us, but asked us to return in 2 weeks. So the work presses on.

Other than that everything is starting to move along and going great. I'm learning everyday and progressing the best that I can. I hope that everything is going well besides the thing with the babies. I will try and send some pictures someway of the baptism.

 Love Elder Howard

 

Dusty's Email -- 9/1/2008

Hey que tal!!!

Ok first off, I don’t have an address, you can send a package and stuff to the Mission Home address, but I'll only get them when I have a transfer!!!
Yes, my companion is a native and doesn’t know any English so its kinda tough but it’s nice because I'm doing everything in Spanish! We live in this little apartment, it’s just a front room with a sink and 2 desks and a fridge, then there is the room with 2 beds and a bathroom. To get the heat to work we have to turn on the gas and light it. it’s pretty sweet!!!
Saturday I met my companion and we went to teach some lessons but the people weren’t there so we got to contact people and it’s really hard because they speak extremely fast. ha-ha, but I love it. Church on Sunday was awesome, I didn’t really understand a lot but I was asked to bear my testimony in Sacrament meeting. I was nervous but it all worked out. After church you'll never guess what I did?????? I baptized a 14 year old kid. It was awesome and I was really nervous but it was so, so, so cool.
We've eaten pretty good here. Here in Mexico, the meal that people feed the missionaries is lunch. You have a huge lunch and then maybe something to eat later. SO yesterday and today we didn’t eat till then, but they gave us so much food......it was so, so good, I don’t know what I ate today, some kind of animal, but it was good. All the food that I've had the last couple days here is awesome.
I'm so happy that Mom got me that camel pack, everyone wants one know. it’s a great idea. It’s so awesome. The church is the only place that has clean water, except for the bottled water at Walmart, so I just fill my pack up each day at the church. It’s all good.
Oh and funny story. Yesterday, after the baptism we returned to the apartment before our eating appointment and I changed my shirt and dropped of my wet stuff. We were with another companionship and my companion forgot the keys in the house. We had no extra key the owner doesn’t live there. So we spent last night at the other companionships house, it wasn’t very comfy, but it’s just another day. We got up this morning and tried to find the owner at his other job at the market but he wasn’t there. So we went all the way across our area thinking that we left them at the eating appt the previous day. But no.
Finally, we came back to the market and found this guy that makes keys, and he actually busted into our house, and low and behold, the keys were there, on the desk. Bueno!!!
I hope that Lynette’s baby comes here soon. So that she can be comfortable again. I'm glad you guys got my tape, I'm not sure but I don’t think that I can receive mail, like I said I don’t really have an address, so this is how I'll be communicating for awhile. My Mission President said that I can only email with family, so I want to hear from everyone and how there doing but I can’t email back. Letters only, when I get that option. sorry!! That’s how Tanner can get a hold of me. I hope all is well, I'm still trying to get any kind of hold on the language that I can, but it’s really difficult.
The area that I'm in is really cool. it’s really, really ghetto. There is graffiti everywhere. We ride in buses, vans and taxis to get to anyplace. It’s really insane because there are no traffic laws here, only speed bumps to slow everyone down. There are people trying to cross the street and cars, buses, vans and taxis are just flying around everywhere. it’s insane. The police don’t do anything about traffic things. The area is really run down but the people are so humble and they work extremely hard for all that they have.
Elder Tanner is in my district, the one that is from Arizona and was in my district in the MTC, we played soccer earlier with the other Elders. There are 8 of us, 4 companionships, not in the same area, but we all go to the same building, and our areas our big with a lot of people.
Mexico City is so much different than America. It’s really crazy!! But it’s really cool to see the culture. They do this thing called the ‘brazo’. I'll show you when I get home but it’s pretty sweet.
Not much else. We have an appt this evening so we need to go clean our apt. and prepare it for the next week. There are some crazy people here, but there are all really nice and kind and patient while I try and get through my Spanish. The city that I'm in has a really long name, I don’t even know how to spell it, it’s like neohualcoyotl, that’s not right but its close enough. We're in a little internet cafe here. Tt’s cool but there are a ton of people.
I'm so happy to be serving here and to be learning this language, but especially to be serving the Lord. This is a lot of work, but it’s worth it. It was so cool to baptize someone yesterday and I look forward to the opportunity to baptize someone that I've helped through all the steps.
thanks for the scripture and the advice, I know that everything will work out for us and that the Lord will bless us.
Never forget the words in Master the Tempest is Raging "the wind and the waves shall obey thy will peace be still" the Lord is in command of everything and if He wanted it to be easy, He could make is that way, but He doesn’t because we need to learn and gain experience.

Love you all and wish you a great week
Elder Howard


JH