sleeping with cucarachas

HOLA!

It's been a looong week! A great one too!

I've been just about 6 months without sister missionaries in my zone... but almost all good things come to an end and Presidente opened 2 of them in our ward...They aren't that bad I promise. One of them reminds me of Whitney a ton. She's a pulpit pounder and a finger pointer. The other is from Bolivia, has a sweet accent, and cooks good food. I don't have any problems with them...and the best advice I've received about how to deal with sister missionaries is, "whatever you do just don't be yourself".  I gotta a good laugh outta that one.

Well we found a new house. It's about as pretty as my feet and smells a little worse, but its cozy.  For about 3 days we didn't have furniture, beds, or power so we slept with all the dead bugs on the floor. Its hard to complain cause one night while I was sitting on the floor with my flash light writing in my journal, I felt the Spirit super strong and had a super strong feeling of gratefulness. Its hard to explain but I've never been so grateful to have "nothing" -- It helped me realize I have everything. :)

The Family G that just got baptized last week decided that they didn't wanna move!  Their older son came to their baptism along with the WHOLE family and they all felt the spirit really strong. They decided to stay here for a little bit more so that he can live the Gospel too. I am extremely grateful to God that He has allowed me to be part of the life of this family.  I love them to death! 

We are planning for Luis to be baptized in the next week! We taught tithing the other day, and he told me he already read the pamphlet like 4 weeks ago and has been keeping his tithing stash in his pillow case! It has been a trial of his faith because he doesn't have papers here in Mexico because he is Dominicano and he's having a hard time finding a job! He has been an example to me!

I testify that God hears and answers our prayers!  I know he loves us and is a part of our everyday lives!

Elder Minnick

New place!
(Tam: looks bright and cheery!)

Losing weight?

NEW Zone after changes!

FRIDAY NIGHT WHITES

Hello!

This week was awesome. One of those weeks that make all the hard ones worth it! 

The AP's called me last week to tell me to find a house... cause they decided to open Hermanas in our ward! I'm stoked because finally the ward is starting to get excited in the good work and there are about 100 less active single sisters in our ward that we can't visit. So this whole week we've been looking for a house. We finally found one, but its in a dangerous place so we decided to go there and the sisters are gunna steal our house! 

The AP's also told me that I didn't have changes -- because I gotta help the sisters out, and my comps been super sick too! But he's iron tough and still works hard! Pray for him!

Angeles, Paola and Fani all got baptized Friday night! It was awesome!  Their whole entire family came! They also decided that they don't want to move now, because their mom, dad and other sister want to be baptized!

No time today! Gotta Go! Love ya mom!

elder minnick

Tam Notes:  The title of the email this week just got me!  So many awesome memories of Friday nights spent cheering Weston and all his best friends on at Charger stadium.... and now....with so many of them on missions or about to go...just a different kind of cheering!!  I love to think of all these young men in their missionary badges on a Friday night - spreading the gospel!!  Life is so good!   

Also, small world!!  One of the Hermana's they transferred to Weston's area is my good friends daughter (from my Hillcrest days)!!  Shout out to Hermana Talbot and her mom Sonia!!  We were hoping they would get to serve together!!  

Got a ton of pics this week too!!  The best kind!  

Friday Night Whites!

Hermana Talbot  -- tall one in the back!  

La Zona

Weston has a wifi camera and when he is at the church with wifi - he can send pics.  I got this on Friday afteroon!!  He said, "What I'm doing > What you're doing!"   
FILLING UP THE FONT!  

YEAR 1

Yep. Its been a year. If the next passes as fast as the first, I'll see ya real soon ma. 

Well this week was a highlight week. We've been working lots with the Fam G. They dropped a bomb on us this week and told us they are moving to Dolores Hidalgo soon. Soon here is like a week and a half...I'm sure they'll need at least one suitcase dedicated to all the pamphlets, pictures, drawings, and Books of Mormon we have given them. Its a big family and each one of them wants there own folletos --so its a ton.  Best news is there will be a baptism this week! This is a huge accomplishment for us, them, and the ward! It's been about a year since we have have baptized in this ward!  But Fani (8) Paula (11) and Angeles (15) will be making sacred covenants with God on Friday night :)  You're all invited ;)

We had a very special experience last night. We decided to fast with them so that they would have a confirmation that this is right. We started the fast with them and then we went home. We left homework with them to read 3 Nephi 27. My comp and I, after we planned that night, kneeled down and prayed for this very loved Family so that these girls would receive an answer and know that God was pleased with their choice. We prayed that God's will would be done and not ours. During the prayer the sweet sensation of the Spirit confirmed in our hearts that we have done our part, and He will do the rest. I sat in my bed very grateful to my Father in Heaven that listens to every prayer. He answered ours and today we learned that He answered theirs. Today I witnessed the mighty change of heart that comes with confirmation of the Spirit. We read together with this family the following scriptures:

Alma 37: 35-37

 35 O, remember, my son, and learn wisdom in thy youth; yea, learn in thy youth to keep the commandments of God.

 36 Yea, and cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever.

 37 Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day.

I know that this is God's church restored to the earth through the prophet Joseph. I know that because I too, like these young women, have received an answer from God through the Holy Ghost.

elder minnick

From Tam:  Weston always sends a family night "lesson" for us to read or discuss on Monday night.. this week it was a talk given at BYU titled "Our Refined Heavenly Home" by Elder Douglas L. Callister.   Here is the link....  Weston also asked that we print it out and put it on his bed so he can read it when he gets home.  Its under his pillow!  HAHA.  Great instruction!  

 https://www.lds.org/liahona/2009/06/our-refined-heavenly-home?lang=eng&query=Douglas+L+CAllister

Valle de Santiago

HOLA!

bueno.... Lots to share this week.... but little time because we played a little longer today sacrificing time to write.. totally worth it!

This week I went to Valle de Santiago with Elder Lagunes! He's rad but his little branch is having a hard time. It's been a branch for about 20 years and its not progressing. They are thinking of closing the branch! So we did diviones and it was sweet! Valle is a little pueblito 30 minutes from Salamanca!  There are giant volcanic craters there that are sweet. We taught five "atheist" (at least they say they are). Usually we can get them to change their mind, but sometimes they just start to argue so we just leave!  But, we had a good time in this little city! We found a miracle. Somebody completely ready to be baptized! That never happens! He came from up north and had already assisted for a long time, and has a little testimony of the gospel!  He is  61 years old  and his name is Mario!  I'm going back there Wednesday for his baptismal interview!

My comp stayed in our area with a baby missionary... he didn't do very well!  They called me every night with more and more problems.  I got back Saturday night and we fasted that all of our investigadores could get to church the next day! God heard our prayers!  All of them showed up the next day -- all on their own! 

I love Mexico and the gospel!!

elder minnick

happy 4th :)