Dusty's Email -- 4/26/2010

Family,

So you got my plans this last week?? I only know the rough sketch, I know that they´ve finalized them now, but my ex-companion isn’t one of the secretaries anymore, so I don’t got the scoop on a lot anymore.

The 9 of May is Mother’s day, so I’m going to be in the same house that I was in for Christmas. I don’t know the key and what not to make call, or better yet I don’t remember, but it’s the same number you called for Christmas. I was thinking that at like 5, or 6. It’s up to you guys. Let me know next week, because it´ll be the last P-day before the call. You guys decide on a time and I’ll be at the house.

My b-day went well, some members and investigators invited us over for cake and tacos and all that good stuff. So it was a good day. So CJ´s grand day went well, good to hear. I can’t believe how grown up we all are. I still can’t believe that CJ is going to graduate. Oh, by the way, in his graduation invitation, is he wearing my purple tie???? I saw it and I recognized it and then after examining it, I was left with the doubt. I mean I´m not mad...or anything, I mean you could´ve asked for permission...or something;)

I did get my package this last week, and as of Saturday all the El Fudge cookies were gone. Yep I ate them all pretty quickly. But thanks for the things that you guys sent me. Also the letter from Kelsie.

I have a list of things that I´d like you guys to get before I get back. I´ll tell you guys the list on Mother’s day!!!

The week went by pretty fast, but it wasn’t one of the best weeks I´ve had in the mission. Almost the whole week I had a sore throat, and congestion. Yesterday I woke up with a stomach virus and a bad headache. My stomach still kinda hurts and my head has chilled out a bit, but it was so bad this morning that I could barely open my eyes without it just bugging me. Just an awful migraine. I feel alright now, but I still feel really tired and my body is achy, but it’s a little better.

Oh and next Monday I´m going go to Central Mexico for the last time. So I´d like it if you could put some money in my account, just the last souvenirs. Oh and Dad, what is your favorite scripture about Christ??? Just one scripture that is your favorite?? Please send it to me by next week. Thanks

Gotta run, the Zone Conference went good, President Bulloch is really focusing on the fact that when the new President comes, we can’t rebel against him, thinking that we know more....because that’s what happened when he got here. All the missionaries turned against him, and it was a horrible situation. So he´s starting to focus a lot on the importance of being obedient. I mean it doesn’t really apply to me, I’ll be home when he gets here. But the concept is an important one. But the interview went well, President talked a lot about not getting distracted these last couple months and finishing strong. I´m doing well, I mean dad you know how it is, but I can’t afford to get distracted, because I got a greeny with me. So I have to keep working.

Thanks for your letters and all, I´ll talk to you guys next week.

Elder Howard

Dusty's Email -- 04/19/2010

Hey,
This last week went really well. We had a really good baptism service on Saturday. The dad of the family didn’t get baptized but his daughters did, so we focused a lot on the importance of a spiritual service and I think we got it. The family asked that I baptized the two girls, just because I’ve worked more time with the family.

Last Monday I forgot to tell you guys but I bought 4 new ties, they are so cool....they are light blue and just really cool. Guess you`ll have to wait to see them. haha.

I would imagine that any day now they`d be calling you guys to let you know about the plans - remember that there are 26 of us going home, so maybe it’s taking a little longer than expected to advise everyone. Tomorrow we have our zone conference and I have an interview with President Bulloch, he`ll give me the letter that here in the mission is called the ‘carta de muerto’....or the letter of the dead. President gives this letter to those that are 2 months or so away from finishing the mission. IN the mission one of the things we say is that when a missionary ends, he dies....that’s why it’s the letter of the dead, because I’m going to die as a missionary in 2 months. That’s why I’m getting the letter.

My kid is doing well, he`s learning a lot. I`m trying to teach him everything that I know, all that I’ve learned from my companions over these last couple years. But he`s progressing fine.

I`ll be anxious to find out who the new Stake Presidency will be. In May, on the 22nd, Elder Bednar, Seventy and a member of the presiding Bishopric is coming here to Mexico. They will be visiting a couple of the Stakes in the area, so we`re hoping that we`ll get a meeting with Elder Bednar. But he isn’t coming to our stake, so we’ll see.

I think they are all coming to put some order in here, because there is a bunch of disorder in this stake. So I think in these three stakes they are going to visit will have some big changes. Imagine getting chewed out by Elder Bednar, not fun, but I think that’s what is going to go down. But I guess we`ll see what they do.

I should get my package tomorrow in the zone conference. I can’t believe that I’m turning 21. I got a letter from, now Casey Fillerup, and I totally forgot, but tomorrow is his birthday, he`s turning 22!

Tell CJ I say good luck this week and that I hope all turns out well. Sounds like things are moving along back home.

Dad, sounds like your speaking topic was a good one, but I go agree with you, we either harden our hearts or we decide that we`ll believe, then after that we must follow it up with what you said, a diligent faith, which leads to works.

I gotta run. I am attaching some pictures. In one I`m wearing one of my new blue ties - I`m mopping up the bathroom after the baptism service. Another one I`m with my kid right after the transfers meeting, in the other one I`m with Elder Duce and Elder Christensen after the transfers meeting, and the last one I`m with the two girls that we baptized Saturday.

Elder Howard

Dusty's Email -- 04/12/2010

Hey,

Sorry i`m getting to this so late, we had a lot to do today, seeing as it was my comps real official P-day in the mission. Things are well, my comps name is Elder Garcia from Tijuana...he speaks a bit of English and he`s real cool. He has a lot of potential, so i`m really excited for this time that i got with him. I`m pretty sure that i`m gonna finish the mission with him.

This last week we saw a miracle....Elder Vargas and I were teaching a lady that finally wanted to get baptized, so we were gonna baptize her Elder Vargas`s last Sunday here, but we couldn't find her. But this last week she called us, and got baptized yesterday. SO my comp got to baptize his first Sunday in the mission. How cool is that??

This week we are gonna baptize 2 girls of a family where only the mom is a member, we`re also working on the dad and hoping the he too will decide on Saturday to get baptized with his girls. Its a really cool family, they have a lot of potential. The Bishop and a lot of the members know the mom, they have told us that back in the day when she attended she was just awesome, that she was gonna do awesome things in the church, but they she got married and fell away. So for many of them to hear and see that she is attending again and that her kids and possibly the dad are gonna get baptized, has really excited them. The bishop said that she is like the Prodigal Daughter of the ward. haha.

But we had a good first week that we are looking to build on, a lot of people let us pass and teach them, and we had some good new investigators in the church yesterday. So i`m really excited for these next two transfers.

I`ve seen a huge change in the members this last week, seeing that Vargas is gone now, a lot have really changed their attitudes. There were some that yesterday at church, when they saw me with my new comp they said, Its a miracle.haha. I hope they don't say that about me when I leave.

Dad it sounds like your lesson went well, some of things that you mentioned in the letter are really interesting. I liked it a lot.

Yeah and the days are coming to an end for Elder Butters and Elder Helding, hahaha.
But i gotta run, Thanks for your letters. I appreciate all of them. I love you all.

Elder Howard

Dusty's Email -- 04/07/2010

Hey,

So last night transfer calls came, and my companion, after 7 months, finally has changes, and i´m staying here. I´m going to train a new missionary. Tomorrow I´ll meet my 2nd ¨kid¨. Don't know if you know that in the mission, when you train a new missionary you are his ¨dad¨. For example, Elder Mora was my ¨dad¨and Pastrana was my first ¨kid¨.

But I´m really excited to be able to train again. Last time I trained I had 7 months in the mission and still was trying to get the grip of everything. Now I have a little better grip on the mission, so I think that I´ll be able to help this missionary out more than the last one. I imagine that I´ll finish here, seeing as I have 2 transfers left. Its a good area and I´m excited to work it with someone that is gonna work.

Dad, that's a weird dream that you had, but i don't think so...one of my ex companions is the secretary in charge of making flight plans....I just found out this last week about the whole flight plan stuff....They should be calling within the next couple weeks to tell the plan to you guys. But basically, I´ll be back the Friday the 25th of June, I imagine in the afternoon...we´re flying from here to Texas, then from there to AZ. But they will give you guys more info.

I loved the conference this lat weekend. I felt like they really concentrated on the family. The talks from President Uchtdorf I loved - about true love and patience in the priesthood session. I enjoyed the talk about the scriptures by Elder Christofferson. I really enjoyed the Sunday morning session, first with President Uchtdorf, then Elder Scott, I really enjoyed both of their talks. I really like the topic of love and how President Uchtdorf teaches the principle. I think that I´ve mentioned before that I´ve read and listened to his last talk from October about love just a ton of times.

Elder Holland just tore it up, I´ve never ever picked up that love and lust are opposites, but what a talk it was, we had some investigators that said that with the Prophet and the Apostles, they knew they were men of God, they could just feel it as they were talking, and its true. The spirit truly carries the words they speak straight to your heart. It was a rally good conference and i look forward to reading the talks when they come out in the Ensign. Oh, and for your info, yes i watched every session of conference in English:)

Mom I´m glad that it looks like things will lighten up a little bit with the babies, that they are sleeping more, and that Casey isn't on the sleep machine anymore. So Dad you got out a played a little volleyball the other night?? That's what i´m talking about, we´ll play some ball when i get back:)

Its so sad that there are so many people that don't believe that God reveals His will to His prophets....referring to your comments on Isaiah...it´d be interesting to sit down and listen to those discs that you got.

Did you guys get my pics that I sent last week?? Hope ya did, I´ll be looking for my package in the next couple weeks and i´ll tell you when i get it.

The time is just ticking away, the time is just getting shorter and shorter, I know that these two transfers are going to go by quick, because the first transfer that you have with a new missionary that you´re training always flies by. Then everyone has told me that the last one just goes by so so fast. That's what we´re down to. Of course I´m going to miss being a missionary, but I´m happy with the work that I´ve done so far. I will keep working so that there are no regrets at all.

I love you guys alot, and appreciate the packages and the letters that you send me.

Elder Howard