Dusty's Email -- 05/25/09

The above picture was forwarded by one of the Missionary Mom’s who son is in Dusty’s mission. These pictures are popular and depict a missionary’s ‘family’. So the Elder in the back row on the left side is Elder Rasmussen. He was trained by the Elder to his right, Elder Sander who trained Elder Mora to his right. Elder Mora trained Dusty (bottom row) who trained the Elder to his right (don’t recall the name). That Elder is training the last Elder who just arrived in the Mission from California. 

JH

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Hey

It sounds like there is a lot going on over there, with the whole office reconstruction thing. But I bet that if you guys do most of it, it`ll turn out fine and you won’t have to pay someone to do it.

I hadn’t heard about the whole prisoners walking out of jail thing (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8054021.stm), but the earthquake, yeah. A lot of missionaries felt it, but we didn’t here in Tecamac. Well, some say yes and others no. We didn’t feel it, but missionaries in other parts say that they did. But everything is well here, no reason to worry. 

Yes my companion’s name is Elder Fillerup. I know it sounds like Pickup, but they are different elders. This last week for us was a bit difficult, it has been raining a ton and we just had the hardest time finding people. We were knocking and contacting in the rain and nobody let us in the whole week. It was a bit tough, but we are excited with the week that is coming and are ready to put the last week behind us and see it as a trial. I really think this last week was the one of the most difficult weeks that I`ve had, between working our butts off and not finding anyone to teach.

We had to postpone the baptism of a couple so they could get married. Once they got married the wife got some nervous and tried to get out of the baptism. We weren’t sure that she was going to get baptized until she was in the water. We were really stressing out about it. The husband was fine, but the wife concerned us. She had some more questions that we talked with her about, and then she got excited again. She did it and is happy that she did. I’ll send the picture another time. But the guy has hair almost down to his waist, he has such long hair! But before his confirmation on Sunday he cut it off, and I didn’t even recognize him when he showed up. He`s going be such an awesome convert and he is so excited to get the priesthood, which we hope will be this week.

It was just a stressful week that really tried our patience and desires as missionaries. But we got through it, we have a family of three that should get baptized this week. They are really awesome. From the moment that we found them, they`ve fed us and given food to take to the house, even though it’s been like sardines and tuna, still it’s the thought that counts. hahahaha. But the work is progressing here in Mexico.

Dad, I really enjoyed the talk that President Utchdorf (http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-1032-20,00.html) also. It’s one of my favorites. The story of Nehamiah is just so awesome! I am doing a great work and cannot come down! We haven’t got the conference edition of the Ensign yet, so I`m still  waiting to read it, as with the other talks.

I don’t know if y’all remember but we are reading the Book of Mormon as a mission, searching for certain things and marking them. I`ve learned so much from words even though I`ve read them before. It’s amazing.

This last week we had our zone conference, and we took the picture of the mission. It was so good to see some of the Elders that I haven’t seen since the MTC. I should be getting the picture soon.

Well, I have to run but I hope that all is well and that everyone is doing fine.

Stay humble and remember the Lord in everything.

Love

Elder Howard

Dusty's Email - 5/18/2009

Hey

This last week was, very busy for me and my companion. Last Monday we went with a lot of people so that Elder Pickup could say goodbye to them. Then on Tuesday we rolled out to Aragon, where the Temple is for the transfers meeting. We got there right before it started, so I didn’t have much time to say hi to everyone that I knew there. But everyone was saying, “oh, you`ve already forgotten Spanish”, hahahaha, being with an American. Then I said just watch its going to happen again, President is going give me another American companion. Everyone just smiled and said “give up the dream”.

Then, during the meeting, President called my name and then......yeah, another American. His name is Elder Fillerup, and he`s from California, and has been out for about 15 months. He`s about 6 weeks ahead of Elder Pickup. He`s rad. We get along well, and he`s a real hard worker. We work a lot the same. So I`m real excited, because I think that we`ll be together at least for 2 transfers. So at least until July, but we`ll see. So that’s the big news.

Well even bigger news is that we had a baptism this last week, it was really cool. It was a kid that we`ve been working with, he`s real awesome. The Lord has surely blessed me here in Tecamac. I feel like every week we find people that are just sitting at the door waiting for us to knock. We found 3 families of 3 this last week, they are just awesome. Two of the families came to church and the other should come this week with the others. But they are just so awesome.

I`ve been here for 8 weeks already and the Lord has just shown the miracles that can happen if we work with our hearts centered in Him and in the love of the people, with a desire for their salvation. He`s blessed us with 12 baptisms in the time that I`ve been here.

So this last week I’ve studied a lot on Moroni 7. I love the chapter and would recommend it. Read it once, and mark all the verses that talk about hope. Then read it again and mark the ones that talk about faith and then again and mark charity. These three attributes of Christ are some of the most important ones that we need to develop here in this life. President Utchdorf talked of these three in his talk on pure power in the October session of conference, entitled “The Infinite Power of Hope”. That’s one of my favorite talks that I`ve read a lot and learn something new every time.

I hope that this week goes well for you guys, it’s starting to hit the rainy season here, and every day for like an hour or 2 it just pours. I love it. Thanks for your letters and your support.

Shall we not go on in so great a cause?

Love

Elder Howard

Dusty's Email -- 05/11/2009

We had a great  call with Elder Howard on Mother’s Day. He is doing really well! He is still in Tecamac serving as a Zone Leader. The Mexican government has lifted the bans they put in place to control the spread of the Swine Flu so they can finally go out and meet people, go to church, and see the other missionaries in their zone.

Dusty impressed us all with the things that he has tried to eat since being in Mexico. Not only has he made peace with onions, he also confused that he has tried fried crickets! He said that he’s only there for two years and that he needed to atleast try it. I asked him if it tasted like chicken. He said “no, it tasted like a cricket”. He then talked about some of things that he has since in the markets for sale. It really made all very thankful to be here.

One of Dusty’s friends, Mike, was able to be part of the call. I know that meant a lot to Dusty to be able to talk with Mike. Mike, who has family in Mexico, was surprised by the things that Dusty has tried. It was fun to hear them talk about the culture there.

 Anyways, Elder Howard is doing great. Both he and his companion came through the flu “pandemic” without any illness (with the exception of a slight touch of food poisoning).

 Thank you all for your love and support of Dusty. It is a great pleasure to us to hear how he is growing as he learns to the love and serve the good people of Mexico. These really are experiences that will shape his life.

 John

  

Hey
 
It was really good to hear from you guys yesterday.

 Sounds like things are going well, and I’m glad to hear about some of your experiences and to share some of mine.

Well, as you all thought, and us too. Elder Pickup does have transfers. which is a bummer, but he has served his time here in Tecamac, and it time to go to another area. Many people are saying in that I’m going to get another American companion, but we´ll see if that happens. It would be nice, but I don’t expect it. President Bulloch rarely does it, but there are 4 zone leaders with changes and 3 of the 4 are Americans. The other one is from Argentina and has already been in this zone, so I will let you know next week.

Not much more to say. You asked about what to send in the next package. More pictures, some more church socks, like blue and brown. Can you put a little more money in my account?  We might go to the pyramids here soon, and there are some souvenirs I´d like to get ya´all.   But back to the package -  Laffy Taffy, Riesen, not sure what else. I’m going to get a new backpack from the mission, so everything is good there.

 That’s about it for me, we need to  finish getting some stuff packed up for Elder Pickup and say bye to some of the people he taught. So I´ll go now. 

But again Mom, Happy Mother’s day. Dad, I hope that your training goes well and that you get back safely. Cj, just do your thing and I hope that  Alenna learns more words besides no!!!!

Love
Elder Howard