Sí, todos estaban desnudos.

This week, I'll just shortly share with you what President Castañeda shared with me when he asked me to be a District Leader. To sum it up shortly, he told me that he would be sending me seeds and I had to grow them so that they could go be tree somewhere else. (Of course it sounded cooler in Spanish). The point is, my District is to be a learning one. That was made even more apparent when I got the transfers in this morning. The new Elder and the two sisters to be coming tomorrow, well, if you sum together all 3 the time that they have collectively, it does not add up to mine. Extra sad when you realize that I still don't even have a year in the mission. To give you an idea of why, one of the sister missionaries that is coming just got done training. But, when I say that I mean she finished her training with another sister that was training herself as well. Haha. There are so many sister missionaries coming into the field right now that there are not enough trainers. Keep in mind that for my first six months here we had 8 sister missionaries. So, its a blessing I have Elder Sanchez to help them gain experience quick. It is nice to have sisters though because as a District Leader you have to make phone calls every night and since they are sisters, well I don't call them. There are now sister missionary leaders of some sort. So I pretty much just switched to middie if we were playing lacrosse. I'm just the ball taxi that feeds the numbers to the Zone Leaders. But I also get to plan the District Activities (never had one until the week I became District Leader). We have some plans to go visit some Waterfalls. Should be pretty sweet. 

Anyway, coming into the mission I thought it would be cooler to not be a leader just to be able to focus on your area and nothing else, but President explained that to me in a better way. He explained it using a Bishop (District Leader) and a Stake President (Zone Leaders), but you could really use it for any type of rank that you wanted. He explained what I would be doing and how I needed to help the other missionaries grow. He said that the whole process is about growth. That it was about my growth as well. He said that when I train every missionary to leave my District ready to be a District Leader, I would be ready to become a Zone Leader and so on. 

This point struck me harder when reading in Alma 43:19-21 -- something I had actually already come across. Saying that Moroni had prepared his people (the nephites) whereas only the leaders had been ready and prepared for the lamanites. The rest were all naked. :P See the result in verse 21. Point is, we aren't naked in my district. And don't worry mom, my clothes are clean!

Well, gotta run.

Take care of yourselves.

Elder Andrews

Elder Andrews' District

Everyone changes, but growth is optional.

Looking through my things this week a note from my time at the MTC fell out of one of my books. I didn't write down who said it, where, or when, but it really is some food for thought:

"Everyone changes, but growth is optional."

At best, I said it, but I highly doubt it. Sadly, we have had many lessons in how this short phrase is true. We've been working with Hno. Onésimo and his neighbor for about a month now and they had been progressing towards their baptisms (this coming Thursday). They had done everything we had left them, they had truly received answers to their prayers, they had seen the hand of the Master in this short month. We had halped them as far as we could. They had changed. You could even say that they had changed for the better. But, their intentions were not genuine. When the trial of their faith had come, they had lost. They were accustomed to a Church that gives money. 

For all of you reading this, I hope it is clear that whatever Church you go to, its purpose is not to fulfill your responsibilities to maintain your own home. Surely, the church is a fallback, as the rest of your family. But you cannot go to a church one or two times and genuinely expect to recieve money for your month's expenses. If you go to Church to make your life easier you are being cheated. 

It is certain that this life is meant to enjoy, but you will only be able to see those experiences and appreciate them when you have done what it takes to get it. When you work to strengthen your muscles the tissue tears, it hurts, but it grows. When a seed sprouts, the roots may struggle, but they will grow. As you go through life, you will change. It is certain. In almost every aspect is is certain that with time, you are always changing. But are you growing? Are you putting in the effort? Are you seeing the effects?

If you are not progressing, you are falling behind.

"Everyone changes, but growth is optional."

Onésimo has since not recieved us, his wife yelled at us repeatedly and told us to never come back. Do things with sincere intentions. Strive to grow. I hope never to see any of you in the sad state when you deny everything you know to be true because you are not only willing to change, but you are not willing to grow.

Elder Andrews

P.S. Being District Leader is chill. We watched UP for a District Activity and had breakfast together. Sister Missionaries will be coming next Monday. I love you all. Here is a picture of Elder Cabral and I with our neighbors in front. And the other is of me and Elder Sanchez.

Elder Andrews and Elder Sanchez.

Elder Andrews and Elder Cabral with their front neighbors.

The Day After

Of course everything that you actually might want to know happens the day after the call. You all know that. Yes, it is not the same after the phone call. I felt bad, not for being homesick, but because I felt like I hardly knew any of you and didn't miss you like I felt I should. But it's whatever. 

I really don't even have time to tell you all what has been going on. Long story short, I got called to Villahermosa to have some interviews with the President. A little odd since it was just me and Elder Cabral going to the offices, but not all that odd since the President always has interviews every 3 months at least (and our three months were up). But he usually comes to you and files through all the missionaries in one shot. Long story short, there are some major changes in the mission and he called on me and Elder Cabral.

We have 2 weeks left in the transfer, but there are transfers and not just a few. Elder Cabral is getting sent away. But to where? To Ciudad del Carmen. Barrio (Ward) Universidad. That's right, where I came from. But, that left a whole here with me. So who was coming with me? Well, President Castañeda asked if I was willing to stay here in Mercedes for the next 4 months. I said I would if that is what he wanted.

Well, I don't have much time to really tell the story. But here is what I sent to my mother:

"President called me into the offices today (about 2 hours ago) and told me that I was to be District Leader. I am the youngest in age as well as in time in the mission. President will also be sending me sister missionaries. I've got a lot of things to get myself ready for me because both the assistants have already asked me if I would be willing to train here. And today President told me I should be ready to stay for the next 4 months should I be willing."

Soo, there are a lot of more responsibilites that I get to take on starting now that I wasn't exactly planning for. I have to get everyone here safely and start getting some things together. Elder Cabral leaves early in the morning. 

Check the blog in a few days if you want to see some video of the thunderstorm that woke us up at 2 AM and wouldn't let us sleep. No wonder  the connection yesterday was bad.

Love you all, 

Talk to you more later.

Good [luck] to my journal writing...

Elder Andrews

Whoops

Whoops, I forgot to write a big email. I was busy talking to my mom. You know, Mother's Day is coming up now... About that actually. For the past month or so I've asked various members when Mother's Day is. Apparently here in Mexico it is every May 10th. Which would be this Friday. But from what I remembered Mother's Day was really on a fixed Sunday... Long story short, I kept asking. And I kept getting the same response. Then I come and get emails talking about Mother's Day on Sunday. Who even knows what day it is. I'm so lost. I feel like I'm reading that book-- Are You My Mother? I always loved that book. 

To keep you a bit informed we are working with Julio more again. He is saving for his mission and for that has been working still and not coming to church for over a month. So, we have been practicing waking him up each day--since his last excuse was that he works at night and can't wake up. We went to pick him up for church yesterday and he wasn't ready! He promised he'd meet us there but then didn't have money for the bus to get there. We saw him again today. It's sad when you see people throwing away their potential. What's worse is when you know that they know it as well. Don't be that person. If you are that person, you can always change. Be like Julio. Cause don't worry, he'll be coming to church next week! I love you mom. Give your mom a hug. Dad, you'll have to wait a month. You have your own fixed day here in Mexico too even! How nice.

Elder Andrews

Un Embarazo Después (One Pregnancy Later)

That is what they seem to call it. I often remember when my brothers went on there missions and everytime we talked about them it were as if they had passed on already and died. But, it's the other way around in the mission field. I was born in Ciudad del Carmen. Elder Andrade was my dad. Everyone who arrived with me are my brothers. Its a very large and interesting family tree that I'm sure you would love mom. :P Anyone, so, although I am closer to 10 months now, I forgot to mention I had 9. Going along with that though, the members that live in front of us, and are consequently the biggest help to us with laundry and all, well, the mom of the family is pregnant with her third child. It is getting to be pretty rough for her to the point where she isn't able to do much. Her feet get tired rapidly and her stomach often hurts. As we were over there doing laundry and helping where we could we decided I must too be pregnant because sometimes my feet hurt and I can't get up the stairs and sometimes my stomach hurts (Colitis). She got a good laugh out of it. Point is, no, I don't have any children yet (missionaries I've trained). Although Elder Sanchez kinda counts when I got here to Mercedes, but I'd say he was more of an adopted child.

This week we went on a scavenger hunt to contact a reference. They told us more or less where to go and to look for the tree house. Once we were there we were supposed to call the lady to come out and meet us. So, after walking around a little we found the tree house. Little did we realize that it is the opposite of what you normally see--this time its a tree growing inside of a house. The lady said she had her own religion and she didn't want anything, so, as to not make the opportunity a waste, we took pictures.

We continue to try to work with the Hernandez family, but with work and school they find it hard to come to church Sundays still. Until they decide to give it a try we can't help them progress much seeing as progression requires action. Here's to hoping when she talks to her missionary son Elder Hernandez this Mother's Day some changes in priorities get made. Maybe just a little more personal drive.

Today we went to las Grutas de Coconá (some sweet caves in my area) as a district activity--there are only 4 of us in the district since we are kind of far away from everyone else. It was sweet, we walked around and there were a ton of bats. One kid outside the caves kept asking us if we wanted to hear the story and secrets of the caves and we kept telling him no and the other gringo missionary kept asking us why not. Another Elder finally told him that every secret comes with its price. Haha.

Another cultural saying here is: "Si Dios quiere" (If God wants, or God be willing) It's the local way of saying yes while meaning no. Just like when people tell us to come back another day and you ask when and they say it doesn't matter, just any other day. Ha

Elder Cabral and I have some sweet activities we are looking to do in the coming weeks to really involve the community in what we do.

I'll leave you with the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7, 3 Nephi 12-14) with you. If you've got a second, try rereading it to frequent yourself with the teachings the Savior himself saw as important. There are many good one-liners to use.

Sufficient to the day is the evil thereof.
Wherever you heart is, there is your treasure also.
Ye are the salt of the earth.

I hope you all are really studying your scriptures. Simply reading is not enough. Reading is an action, but it's only a page deep. May your studies of the scriptures always be meaningful so that you will have desires to continue and learn more. God Bless.

Elder Andrews

After a Week of Waiting

Yes, I went to Palenque last week. It was pretty cool and even cooler that we went with a member so it was virtually free and we didn't lose so much time in travel. It was actually Bishop Chablé's birthday last week, and I'm still not sure why he didn't come with us, but his wife did. Note to all of you, if you go to Palenque go with a guide. Unfortunately, a lot of the cool artifacts are gone and all, so it just a bunch of temples. It's cool [though] because you can climb up almost all of them, but it wasn't as cool as La Venta because we didn't have it all to ourselves like we did when Elder Deem and I went there. Upon entering, one English tour guide convinced an old couple that the plants had been shipped in from Hawaii. It was fun walking behing other tour guides and translating for everyone in our group. Sadly, we only did it when they came to us. I'm still honest, mother. Upon entering the park the second time (long story) a little native boy asked Elder Cabral and I if we wanted a guide. We politely told him no, but he started screaming at us and told us we weren't going to enjoy our visit because the rocks don't talk! Long story short, it was an enjoyable trip. 

The work has treated us a little more rough this week with appointments falling through and all of that good stuff. So I'll opt to share a little of Mexican culture with you that I haven't been able to get around to. 

It is very common to burn your trash here in your yard.

Every New Year's Eve, the people make a form of a person with a shirt, pants, etc. and stuff it with explosives (they call them fireworks, but it really just explodes. A lot). It called "El Viejo" (the old man) and symbolizes the death or end of the year. It's pretty cool. 

For your birthday you always get your face slammed in the cake. And yes, people eat it afterward... (P.S. For my Colitis I didn't have a cake. So my face is still clean. :)  )

Also for your birthday, people throw flour at you for fun. Since I'm a missionary I dodged that one too. 

This week we were invited to a Quinceñera (a sweet 16, just for 15 year olds here). We quickly realized its not a place for missionaries. Whoops. So we headed out early without trying to be too rude. It's a Catholic tradition practiced by really everyone (Catholic or not) to present the young women to society. 

Here, instead of saying "Bless You" you say "salud" which in English is "health". Having a companion with allergies makes this one very common. 

Also, his Mission Manual says he suffers from "alergia" (allergies) but looking at it quickly I saw "alegría" (happiness). So now Elder Cabral suffers from happiness. Whoops.

Also, I've been sleeping in a hammock every day in the 20th year of my life. It is the lifesaver of our house since we only have one fan for the both of us. Except for it rained. So we got really really cold. See the photo for the story of Elder Cabral on the floor. When I woke up I saw him on the floor and asked him if he fell. He said, no, he got really cold. I guess he got a little lazy to get up and turn off the fan. Haha. 

I love you all, and I'll come back with something good to tell you. Stay strong.

Elder Andrews

Elder Andrews in his hammock. 

Elder Cabral on the floor under his hammock to avoid the fan.

Email from Caleb

Hi All!   Caleb gave me instructions last week that if he had not sent his email by the usual time I was to let you all know not to worry.    As he mentioned last week he would have the opportunity to visit the Mayan ruins in Palenque for P-day this week. He anticipated that with the travel time and all he would not return in time to send a message.  I'm sure he will have some exciting things to share next week.    Let's keep him in our prayers and trust he will recognize more miracles to share.   Love, Sister Andrews, Katherine, Mother, Grandmother, etc. <3