June 30th - ALWAYS LEARNING!

Ok so here is the deal...everything is all good here in the ward.  We are working hard and stuff and we are having more success.  We had tons of lessons with members this week but we have to find more investigators.  That's like the biggest trial right now for us. We were gonna have a baptism this week but not anymore.  We are gonna have to wait another week because M. didn't come to church this week. She had to pick up her daughter because she is divorced.  So the on the 12th we will have a baptism.  Everything is good in the hood, loving the work and just learning a ton. The good thing is that I am always learning something, every change I learn something new that helps me to be better.
Ya, I am glad both packages arrived,  I will probably get the packages tomorrow cuz I have interchanges with the zone leaders. 
Momma, I got to go,  love you tons but I got to go to Walmart to get some food and stuff.  Make sure to say "what up" to Moody for me and send more pics.  Tell him he needs to do something with GeeTV to save all of our memories.  I think he will put them on his computer or something.  I loved seeing the pic of K.G. and Wiggins...Hahaha!!! I am glad they went and hung out with Syd for her bday. 

I love you tons Mom


The old district

I still hate mayo...but that's the legit stuff right there

Hermana N. and her corn stand with me and Elder R.

June 14th - DON'T WAIT AROUND FOR UNRIPE TOMATOES!

Dad, Father's get no respect around here ...boiyo, sorry.  I tried to call you on a pay phone to say whatup but those things suck too.
The work is going good,  we have dropped a lot of people that we were teaching before because they don't want anything.   But the good thing is, that we are gonna have a baptism on the 28th... I think and the 5th of July,  so that is gonna be tight.   I just hope I stay here in the area and not leave so I can be here for them. But whatever, all is good.
We just figured out that we waste a lot of time with people who don't want to change.   Elder Johnson talked about that a lot this week in the conference.  We shouldn't wait around the garden for tomatoes that aren't ready to be picked,  better look for those tomatoes who are hidden but ready and ripe.  We are gonna have a baptism in 2 weeks make sure you keep M and L in your prayers so that their baptism dates don't fall and they stay strong.
Holy crap... the world cup is fetchin crazy here.  We can't even get into houses when there are games on and the streets are dead cuz everyone is in their houses watching it ...Hahaha!!   And forget it when Mexico is playing the members refuse to turn the game off  and they flat out say "NO".   It's soo funny everyone loves futbol here.  But you know that I hecka wear my Chicharito jersey everynight because they won 2 days ago...beleeeeeeeeeedat!! Everyone was going crazy Hahaha!!.   I am glad you saw a glimpse of Mexico outside the stadium aka the Acoxpan Ward ... just know thats where I was 2 months ago and walked that walkway everyday...Hahaha!! Small world.   I  got like millions of homies up there in Acoxpan.

No,  I didnt really try to call Dad...Hahaha!!  It was a joke!!   Mom,  make sure that the family prays and reads the scrips together.  Seriously, if you want blessings ... you will do it.  We always see tons of blessings in the families who read the scriptures and pray together.  It's something that everyone has to do if you constantly want to gain more faith.

Love you tons Mom.  

 



Our conference with Elder Johnson

 

 

June 8 - DYNAMIC DUO!

Holy...that's sooo sick and I am sooo stoked for Kyle being invited to the recruiting camp.  That's sooo gangster!! I am stoked to hear about Syd's soccer games and stuff ...that's sweet that they took home the bronze.
So here is the deal, so me and my comp are good (he reminds me a lot of Alex Leblanc...Hahaha!! but Latino)  So this area is pretty sweet and we are starting to have more success and find more people.  We found a cool family of 4  the other day when we were contacting.  Also,  we put another baptism date this week with a new lady we found.   Her name is M and she is awesome and super ready.  She is just a little scared to get baptized.  So all is good in the area and my comp is learning a lot and stuff.
Funny story... I had a dynamic duo of puking and crappin diarrhea at the same time 2 nights ago... Hahaha!!  Man,  that's the first time that that has happened to me and it was crazy!!
This week the president of the area Elder Johnson is coming to talk to us on Wednesday and after I am going on splits with Elder Y (zone leader) from Brighton High School.   The funny thing is that he knew me before the mission because of the state championship soccer game senior year.   When we jumped the fence and stormed the field and ran over to the other student section and said stuff that I shouldn't have.   He was there and saw me...Hahaha!! 
But all is good the ward is doing good.  We have like 80 - 90 people are coming to church from the ward ... but its still a pretty good number.
The cool thing is that we also are doing some exercises in the morning.   We found a sick indoor soccer field with turf and we always play there cuz its never locked up.   We wake up at 6:20 and go there every morning ....it's ballin!!

I got to go Momma,  I love you tons!!  Peace out !! Tell the fam I say whatup?

ADIOS!

June 1st - I AM & 100% MEXICAN!

Hey Momma!  I loved the email you sent.  Hey, but that totally sucks about the package being stuck in customs and stuff but if you can try to send it again that would be sick cuz I need some ties and that shampoo, por favor!!  MOM I'M LOOSING MY HAIR!!!!!!!!!  I look like a freakin idiot and I have to get married when I get home I can't when I am bald and 21 ears old.  But whatever!  Whatever you do is fine but if you can send more shampoo that would be sick!  Just put a ton of Jesus and virgin Mary stickers on it and make it look the package on the outside is crappy.  If it looks nice they will steal everything.  That's how it works here.
This week was super cool.  We saw some miracles with some of the investigatores that we have been teachin and we put 2 baptisms to date.  Make sure you pray for S and J so they keep choosin the right so they can get baptized.

I got to go everything is good, so dont worry.  We are gonna start to work normal again this week and stuff so we should start to have more success.  Don't worry about the package, its not a big deal just wait for it to be shipped back and resend it.  I am not really worried about it as long as there is money in my account.   There is no problem cuz I can buy stuff here so just put money in my account and I will be ok.  I am 100 percent Mexican,  so I can find my way around things and always find what i need...so don't worry.

Love you tons Momma,  make sure you say "hola" to everyone for me and tell the family I love them tons... that is what's the most important!!

May 19th - BACK IN THE HOSPITALl!

Monday the 19th

Hey mom!  I just need to write you really quick and tell you everything is real good right now,  I am in the offices because my comp had to go to immigracion.  My companion is Elder R and he is from El Salvador.  He is super cool and a super hard worker.   He just wants to work, which is awesome. He is a convert and got baptized a 4 years ago... he really is a boss!!
Actually we have to go to the hospital soon because he is feeling kinda sick and he has a rash on his leg that looks like an infection...but its all good.
That's about it.   Lovin the work right now cuz I got a comp who wants to ball it up with me!

Thursday the 22nd

Hey mom! If your on that's awesome and write me back...if not don't worry about it.   But finally I am able to write you.   Elder R and I just barely got out of the hospital...Hahaha!!  Ya,  4 days in the hospital and 3 nights.  My companion is good,  long story short... he has a sickness or disease where he gets really bad infections on his leg and stuff.   When that happens he gets like a ball that builds up on his thigh its pretty nasty...but he is a trooper!!  The sucky thing is that we will have to stay in the house for like 10 days or so because he is still recovering. So that's what's happening.  Everything is good.   The President was way cool and came up and visited us in the hospital.   He told me that I need to do intercambios every other day so I can work in my area and help my district with theirs. The good thing is that we work in the same ward so it won't be that hard.  I am glad I get to start to work again but it kinda sucks cuz we haven't done anything with our investigatores for like 5 days, so we will see what happens with them.

I got to go mom,  I love you all so much.   Keep me in your prayers cuz I need to resurrect the area because we haven't done anything, and I have to do it solo.... keep me in your prayers, love you all so much... I have to go now.

Elder R and I at the hospital with another missionary
whose companion was there too. 
We were in a different hospital than the one I had surgery at.

 

April 21 - 3 WEEKS IN ORIENTE...5 baptisms, in by 8:00 and 1 earthquake!

(April 14th)
Good week.  We have like 5 baptism dates and this week we are gonna have a baptism.  This ward is good and everything.  We are gonna go to the new visitors center with the herman this is going to get baptized.  Make sure you pray big time for her...that's about it, honestly!
I am so stoked for Kyle, he is such a stud! I can't believe he went with Hyatt to the dance.  Honestly , he is such a good kid and he looked like a bonedaddy with his new suit...Hahaha!  His hair was sicker than Bruce Wayne!

(April 21st)
Ya, so here is the deal...the earthquake was pretty crazy...Hahaha! Not the strongest one I have felt here though.  We were studying when it happened and it just felt like we are were on a cruise ship again, Hahaha!  Some people were freakin out here and stuff it was ridiculous!
But this week was crazy!  Here is was a holiday and it's called Semana Santa or Holy Week.  In Iztapalapa, they actually do a reenactment of the crucifixion and stuff.  I don't think they cruckify the guy but some one plays Jesus and he has to walk with his cross through the towns and people throw crap at him and stuff.  We actually had to go home early and bin in the house by 8:00 this week because it's super dangerous for the Mormon missionaries, but nothing happened.  In other areas, the elders had to stay in their house for 3 days and couldn't leave.  This week I had to get nasty with some members who were celebrating Christ's death.  I just set them straight with the atonement.  It's pretty sad that Mexico honestly celebrates when Christ was crucified...everyone gets drunk and parties, it's messed up!
We went to the temple this week with out investigators and it was super spiritual.  Some of them cried.  We couldn't do a session here because the temple is closed and won't open for 2 more years.  I think for maintenance or whatever...but who knows.  We are for sure gonna have a baptism this week.
And yes, I got your package, thanks so much.  It was awesome and my comp loved it.  He sent pics to his family and stuff.
Momma, I love you tons and everything is going good, can't wait to Skype again...I am stoked!!
I love you tons...Adios!!

The district

Our trip to the temple

The water we use to wash our clothes,
Hahaha...It looks like straight pee!!

March 31st - I AM LEAVING IN 5 HOURS!

We had changes and I am leaving this area and going back to the ghetto, to an area called Oriente.  I leave in 5 hours and I am going to be a district leader again.  My new companion is native and his name is Elder S. and he has been struggling with other comps.  I don't want to leave this area.  I have worked so hard and we are gonna have a baptism is a week...and now I have to leave. For real, we are gonna baptize like 5 people and I won't be here for them...and I'm the one who found them.  I was the one who contacted them and worked super hard and I can't even baptize them.
Elder M. and the others are staying and don't have to change.  Last night I cried because if the changes. I haven't cried in a long time.  The zone leaders told me that they think Pres. V. put me with this kid so I will be a better missionary and ready to be a zone leader, but whatever.  I have noticed that Pres. always puts me with all the struggling comps...maybe because I am the only one who loves them.

(Kyle was home that day and they emailed back and forth)

Josh:  How are the hunnies? Are you reading your scrips...if not, I will punch you so hard in the throat!!

Kyle: Dude, girls are the THE BIGGEST JOKE IN HIGH SCHOOL!

Josh: Son, if you honestly read the scriptures for 20 minutes everyday I promise you will be more happy.  Why do you think missionaries are so happy all the time, because all they do is read the scriptures (aka The Word of God).  But when you read, write in your journal what you learned or your head will explode with all that information you are gonna get...bleeeedat!  Of you do it, you will get more blessings with everything and the Lord will help you in all aspects.  Dude, just be an example to everyone at Davis High...the world is so lost and messed, the Lord needs more Nephi's and Alma's to teach and be good examples.

Kyle:  For sure, for sure!

I got to go Momma, Make sure you all watch General Conference especially Kyle! Love you all tons and keep me in all your prayers.  I need them big time this week.
Adios...I love you all!


These are my boys that I am so sad to leave.
Estadio Azteca.

The bishop and 1st counselor in the
Acoxpan Ward

Yes!  real food...not as good as I could have made...
  once a sandwich artist  -  always a sandwich artist!!