12

A while back we were assigned to put a goal for baptisms here for our Zone. As a Zone we pushed for 12, which was much higher than what were had recently been able to achieve. Of the whole mission, we were the Zone to put the lowest goal, and we were also the worst Zone in terms of numbers. We are also in quite possibly the hardest Zone of the mission since for the last year or so the whole Zone has not passed more than 9 baptisms in a month. After a month of work, and small contributions later we were working towards a big final week as a Zone with 9 baptisms in one week! One after the other each one seemed to fall as we were able to hang on to just a few. After all had passed, Friday we had ended short with 10 baptisms. But, with the whole Zone fasting, two miracles popped out of nowhere. One that said he was never going to get baptized who all of a sudden decided he should probably get baptized. Another who had returned after a two month trip and wanted to get baptized the next day. It may be convenient to say that these two miracle baptisms were from two different sets of sister missionaries--which confirms a statement given by one General Authority in the MTC that sister missionaries are the best missionaries in the field. But, he also said that sister missionaries are either the best, or the worst, so make sure to be concious of which one you are. Point is, with a baptism at 8:30 Sunday night (yesterday) and a quick confirmation approved by the Stake President, the month was over. 12.

What does 12 mean? Really no one knows. Especially since transfers are tomorrow, but, the point is, 12. We were the only Zone to meet their goal, which is sad, but shows our effort. Boy, am I tired. Being here in Mina without being able to sleep in my hammock is wearing me down. As for the transfers, Elder Rangel and I are still together for what will be our 3rd transfer straight together (with us already having 3 months together). We are doing alright and just looking for all the oppotunities we can find to help. Still much to be done and much more to learn.

Through this all I was able to notice two particular things that I have shared with you that I see to be important. First, the importance of the fast. How does a fast work? Well, I'm sorry to say that no one will ever be able to explain it to you, but that you learn by putting it into practice. With that, you fast by abstaining from food and drink for 24 hours and then pay a fast offering (of what you would have paid on the food you would have eaten, or more) to help those who may not have money to buy food. It is quite a sacrifice to not drink any water here in Southern Mexico. Secondly, persistence in dilligence. 

Sacrifice and dedication. If you think about it, it is the same in any other thing as well. Sports, music, life. Thankfully, our efforts were able to give fruits in this month of labor. The Zone is going well, now we just have to be able to keep it up. And that may just be the hardest part. Anyone can do a miracle once. But few can repeat them.

All of us have done great things, but if all you can do is talk about what you have done in the past, honestly, where are you going in life? And so I encourage each of you to have one convert by the time I come home. It doesn't matter how many you might have helped in the past, but rather that you each have 9 months to make a difference in someone's life. There are miracles that occur each day, open your eyes to see them. 

The Atonement of Jesus Christ can work a miracle for anyone. Just let it work in you.

Elder Andrews

Hint: If you are going to get one baptism, you've got to work with more than just a few people.

http://www.lds.org/training/wwlt/2013/hastening/members-and-missionaries?lang=eng#media=

Mission's Status

The Importance of Revelation

Why do you do what you do? Could you imagine doing the same thing every day over and over again? I suppose many of you may see that that is what missionaries do, and for the most part you are right. But as you are able to recieve revelation day after day you are able to maintain your high hopes for the day and see at least some progression.

We are a church that invites questions because we are confident of the answers. We had an interesting conversation with one lady about baptism. A lot of people here in Mexico say they are Catholic (in their own manner), which really means they aren't even Catholic. So you spend a while trying to realize that they themselves really don't know what they believe. But we got to talking to her a while and she said that we all worship the same God and that she was baptized in her way and so it's all good. But no, it is not all good. There is one God, yes. and for that same reason that there is only one correct way to live up to His standards. If you keep the commandments when they are convenient for you, God will bless you when it is convenient for Him. Keep the commandments and follow God, in His way. To know His way, ask the missionaries. But it all starts with repentance and baptism in His true church. If you have not prayed to ask God if your Church is true and therefore have not recieved an answer of the truthfulness thereof you have not done things in God's way, no matter what church you go to. 

Take a moment to look at what you are doing right now with your life and look in which direction you are headed. What would you have to say before God at the judgement bar? God Bless.

My prayer is that each one of us might do what it takes, whatever the cost, to do the things we need to do--in the way of the Lord, so that we may all be able to return to His presence. 

With love,

Elder Andrews

Mountains to Climb

No mom, I am alive. There have been a few "hurricanes" that have passed through here in Minatitlan and Weather Alerts and all. But nothing nearly as bad as normal rain season in Villahermosa. I live on the second story of a really secure apartment complex, so we don't have any problems with flooding. Also we live in one of the highest parts of Mina, so its all good. The worst that has happened is that the roof leaks a little and in one of my first nights here it wet my bed. But its all good. I've been blessed with some really great houses here in Mexico. They are small, but I don't like to carry many things either, so it all matches up. The streets almost always flood. But the heat trumps the humidity so your pants dry quickly. I always carry my rain coat with me. I really only use it to keep my backpack dry. It's the most important. 

Things are great. This week I lost my voice. I didn't even get sick, just lost my voice. It might have been for going on divisions with a new Elder and having to talk the more part of the day. He accidentally told someone we were missionaries from another church. Then he just sat and listened to some lady tell us how she had seen Jesus when she went shopping. It is what it is. After meeting up with Elder Rangel again one lady asked if I had just gotten to Mexico because I hardly talked and talked funny. Ouch.

It was the least of problems though. In the mission I have had many opportunities to grow. I am thankful for them. I have become a better person because of what I have lived. And so I encourage each of you to do the same. Live that you might learn. We will never live a moment impossible to learn.

D&C 112:13

1 Nephi 20:10

And from what my dad shared with me at the very beginning of my mission:

Mosiah 24:14

I will be here to share this message with everyone I meet here in Mexico for the next 10 months. And then my work continues in wherever else I might be afterwards. May we all try to lift others burdens and help them find the happiness that abounds in knowing of God's plan for each one of us.

Elder Andrews

P.S. This week went well. I really can't complain. But it may not have gone so well for the rest of you, and if that be the case, please watch this video:

A Clearer Picture

This week we had another week of...success. Except you learn to accept success in different ways on your mission. You can walk around all day in the sun and not get accepted by anyone the whole day and then find ONE person that tells you that they had been praying that someone would come help them. That happened to us just about every single day this week. Makes me wish we could have just gone there first, but the Lord's timing is his own.

Luke 12:53. We went with a Single Sister who has been falling away from the Church for quite some time. She has been a member for about 3 years from what I can tell, but is the only member in her family. For that, she sometimes has to choose between her family and Church, and her husband tends to abuse that priveledge. She had been praying that we would come by to visit her as she is contemplating a divorce that would require her losing her house, her money, and her best friend: her husband. For more reasons than just not going to Church (obviously). Although we consoled her, she decided she needed time away from everything, and we left, and said she was on her way. I got a clearer picture on why you need to start a family with the right person.

Ecclesiastes 3:2-8. This week we talked to a family here in our area. The mom is 22 years old, and has three kids, the oldest of which is 7 years old. She is great, her husband is great; but due to the timing of their marriage they did not get to experience what you and I might have, and for that reason have certain regrets. They both really are great people. They both say they started their family too soon. But, one, two, three kids later, its hard to just give it all up. A clearer picture of why you need to do things at the right time.

Numbers 13:25. We started to visit more members from the ward list since it is 20 pages long but we only have 70 people in assistance each Sunday. We found out some really interesting things. Mainly that our ward is dead. Literally. We found at least 10 people that had already passed on. Thankfully we didn't see them personally. Afterall, one of them has been in the ground now for 35 years. But, even more troublesome than that, it gave me a clearer picture of the game we as missionaries play here in Southern Mexico when looking for specific houses (see picture below).

Ezekiel 38:7. I'll share with you my anagoly I shared with a few of my family members. After talking a bit with Elder Rangel, we wondered why people didn't want to hear our message. We figured they must be getting bored. But why? We looked at what we were carrying around--the scriptures and the pamphlets of the missionary lessons. Isn't that enough? We couldn't decide. I had some DVD's of the Church and so did Elder Rangel, so we decided to start to carry them around. People tend to like movies more. I figured that we had to become better teachers. President Morales taught us once, "You all are teachers. Remember back to your teachers in school. Remember your worst teacher. Imagine he/she showing up to your house to teach you. Would you let them come back?" It goes along with the "work smarter, not harder" quote. I saw soo many of my teachers struggle to teach what they already knew. WHY? But I had one teacher that had her own method. She had all her materials all set up. She had her plan. She stuck to it. And we really learned. Sometimes I wondered. And she really gets paid for this? She could have done really anything she wanted--so much free time. But I learned more in her classes than in anyone else's. And so, that is why we are shooting for. Teach better, learn better. Teach smarter and it should be easier for me and for the people I teach. 

And so, that's what we are shooting for in the 10 months that are left with me. Sorry all I didn't send anything out last week. I was working on this email when all the power went out in the computer lab we were at.

Take care, all,

Elder Andrews

So, what's the house number again?

No E-mail This Week

Sorry, guys. Stay tuned for next week.