Siempre Hay Luz

Hello!

This week was blinding. Here's how it went:

Ran out of two things this week.... contacts and power.  Don't worry MA I'm going to the offices this Thursday and I'm sure they got here! They cut out power Tuesday and I ran out of contacts Wednesday... and I'm not a fan of my glasses so I only put them on when I gotta read. The rest of the day I walk by faith... in God and my companion. :)

Here are some things I learned...  I learned faith is to believe in things you can't see, including cars, trains and cactus. I learned the importance of eye contact, especially with dogs. I think the most important thing I learned this week is that God has a sense of humor and is a very creative teacher, cause I have learned A TON even though I can't see.

It wasn't until day four without light that I knew God was definitely trying to teach me something important, It was like the light switch worked on Saturday night when I was sitting on the floor next to a candle writing down some comments for some elders in my district. The Spirit told me lots of things, answered my questions, and gave me some ideas for my investigators!

I took the light theme to the extreme... We taught the life of Christ and apostasy with a bunch a little candles and the Restoration with a light switch. The Spirit taught eternal life with the fire we felt in our hearts. 

The mission life is great. The investigadores are progressing, the house is clean (I think) and I finished the BoM again this week. Its true in Spanish too! 

Love you Mom and Dad and Whit and Zane!

elder minnick

p.s. Aubs I got your letter from July 21st... it only took 11 months! I haven't laughed harder.

(Tam Note:  He got his contacts... and some other pkgs.  THANKS JILL AND PAUL.  I think Mexican Customs is waaaaaaaay harder to get things through than Guatemala.  I also told Weston to go pay the power bill and work it out with the mission later...)

Washing Machines

Hello!!

I had an awesome week! One of my favorites. I did exchanges with my ZL Elder Salcedo for a couple days... He is Dominican and we get along super well, and we had a bunch of tight experiences. He only gave me one word of advice.. told me I need to hold still during lessons, and the rest he taught by example. One of the greatest lessons  learned here is that the best teacher speaks VERY LITTLE.

We found a new family... they are GOLDEN... almost. The mama y papa only have to get married... but they want to and just need to find some papers and we are set. Its a big family to! In all they are 8, but 2 of them are members already. They were investigating the church like 12 years ago but then moved and couldn't find missionaries.... until we found them on the street. I'm not sure how they couldn't find missionaries in so much time but I'm sure God was preparing them. It was a blast getting them all to church Sunday... full truck and a popped tire. Good times!!

I washed my clothes for the first time in a washing machine today! I was mesmerized. I've never enjoyed a washing machine so much. I also realized how good life is back home, cause I have two washing machines in my house... and I also realized how ungrateful we are back home -- repent sinners.

I was bummed to hear Elder Perry died. I'm listening to his last conference talk right now, and I remember that even though he looked so weak, he was full of power when he testified of the importance of the family! Here's his last words to the whole world...

"We also want our voice to be heard in sustaining the joy and fulfillment that traditional families bring. We must continue to project that voice throughout the world in declaring why marriage and family are so important, why marriage and family really do matter, and why they always will.

My brothers and sisters, the restored gospel centers on marriage and family. It is also on marriage and family where we can unite most with other faiths. It is around marriage and family where we will find our greatest commonality with the rest of the world. It is around marriage and family that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has the greatest opportunity to be a light on the hill.

Let me close by bearing witness (and my nine decades on this earth fully qualify me to say this) that the older I get, the more I realize that family is the center of life and is the key to eternal happiness. I give thanks for my wife, for my children, for my grandchildren and my great-grandchildren, and for all of the cousins and in-laws and extended family who make my own life so rich and, yes, even eternal. Of this eternal truth I bear my strongest and most sacred witness in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

XOXO

elder minnick

P-Day.... (Weston would rather be out and about)

Happy Birthday MOM & DAD!

Haappy Birthday Mom!!!! I love you! I'll never be able to thank you for everything you have done and do and will do for me. One of my greatest blessings is you and pops. I hope you have the greatest birthday ever! Forever 25! :)

Happy Birthday last week Dad! Thank you for showing me how a priesthood man does things. You are my second greatest example and the second greatest dad! ;) I'm sure your hair is even grayer than before and you'll be bald before I get home. :)

These past two weeks have been crazy. I've had  2 full days in 2 weeks to work in my own area. That's been a little rough. I've had to do baptismal interviews, interviews with president, hospital visits (I've felt like dad probably did after taking me to the hospital at least 3 times a year) and exchanges. My comps alright!  He had heart problems before he came out here, and they started up again. It turns out he has some anxiety problems, so we are working on some new things to help him relax... its been really good for me too. We did yoga today in the house... I'm not a fan cause I can't touch my toes anymore but it was fun. Doc told us he's gotta do exercise more so we started running every morning. I'm a fan!

My interview with president was sweet! 1 minute and 20 seconds. and about 60 seconds of that he told me how blessed I am, and that I have great parents. I'm not kidding! He reminded me not to forget where my blessings come from and gave me a hug only President Mejorada could give... they are quality. The other 60 seconds we talked about all my sins and imperfections... he knows me so well.

Well we had some good lessons this week. We've got 3 baptisms for June... I hope! One of the hardest things here is that every kid and his puppy smokes and they have addictions for 50 years. But everything is possible with the atonement of Christ!

Lots of love

elder minnick

Ton of Pics....

Repent...

Hello!

SOOOOO great to see the fam this week! Cool to see Whit in Jerusalem... all the pics are sweeet and you look good hija. And HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY again Ma!  Love you and miss you all... but the mission is better than home. Looks like not much has changed!

So I had a sweet training this week in Queretaro. President told all of us we are sinners and we need to repent and then taught us that we need to teach people and not manipulate them. I learned that if you don't teach with the spirit your just manipulating people and that's what Satan does-- and you should probably repent.  So I repented and I'm doing all I can to have the Spirit with me always! Being called to repentance never felt sooo good. And no ma, that's not sarcasm.

As for the teaching part of the week we had some awesome experiences. I think I'm starting to get this whole power thing down. The power of the spirit in teaching and all. As I get more and more time in the mission and understand and work more with the spirit, teaching and discussions just get better! Even though I've never smoked or taken drugs, I'm 10000% sure the Spirit is better than any drug. It's Gods power and there is nothing better than when its rushing through you and manifest in a investigator's home! 

I'm addicted ;)   I invite you all to do all you can to live with the spirit in your life! I testify that nobody is truly happy until they have it as a constant companion!

Happy late birthday on Saturday Whit and happy early birthday Dad for the next Monday and happy early birthday to Momma the Monday after that!  A bunch of sweet Mexican stuff coming soon :) 

elder minnick

P.S. Tam note -- most of the comp pics are with Elder Jesus Luis, Weston's old comp.  Weston will miss him!!  

Closed eyes...its a Minnick thing!

Matching camo ties (OH WESTON...)

I hope painting is a skill that Weston is happy to keep up when he gets home!

Playing jokes on his comp!

Skype was awesome!!  

We didn't have the best pic, but we could still see his smile and hear his funny laugh!!