Hola Familia!
Im doing well. They are turning over our area to elders to see if they can do anything with the area and if they don't baptize either then they are going to close it :( Part of me wants them to have a lot of success especial since we just found some cool people that I really want to progress, but it will also stink if they just come in and baptize everyone because everyone will think we didn't work or some thing.
I am pretty sad to be leaving this area. We found some really cool nuevos this week. Sometimes when we find nuevos it feels like well yah, they accepted a return appointment, but are they really going to progress? But these guys are awesome! They could totally get baptized! It is a family of father and 5 hijos (4 boys 1 girl) the youngest 2 are twins and are 7. I think they are so great--both the dad and the oldest son seperately told us that they were looking for God but didn't know how to find him. Plus they were both totally on board with all the compromisos and accepted bautizmo (we will put a date next time)! Then there is this other girl who is 15 named Nurhy. We have been friends with her for about a 2.5 months but she would never agree to a return apointment aun cuando le ensenabamos varios veces. (although we taught her many times). We always find her in this member's store and the member always start talking about church doctrine and we all sit down and it just turns into a lesson. But FINALLY she came looking for us because one of her friends (also 15 years old) has cancer. We have taught plan of salvation, restoration, and Book of Mormon in the last week and she is so receptive! I love her! SHE CAN TOTALLY GET BAPTIZED!!!! IF her parents don't say no but... we will see. So yah, things are going great up here in Avila we found some cool people in Rio Frio as well and the bishop is actively looking for a house to rent up there so we can start the branch :) This area has so much potential! Plus there is one eternal investigator who should be getting married this month so she can finally get baptized and we have like 3 menos activo kids that want to get baptized. The Elders that get sent out here can definitely have a lot of exito! [success!] :) I'm only a little bit jealous. I honestly would be happy to stay here another cycle.
So in other news this past week we were helping out the ward mission leaders wife by.... drum roll please.... Teaching seminary!!!! At 6 in the morning! I think this experience is probably to help me remember that 6:30 really isn't that early and that I used to get up at 5:30 all the time. Plus we are studying Jeremiah so that's a blast :) Today we taught the Book of Lamentations. Did you know that 3 of the 5 chapters in that book were written in the form of an acrostic poem? I felt like I was back in Latin class analyzing ancient poetry as I delved in to how Jeremiah used a form of poetry so structured to describe the chaos that was passing in Jerusalem as they were conquered by Babylonia--because it wasn't coincidence! It was the logical and structured consequence of the the jew's sin and disobedience as prophesied by servants of the lord! SO COOL! But maybe just to me-haha!
This Friday when we went to unlock the church for seminary in the morning the keys would not work! we tried and tried. As the students arrived everyone took turns but no one could get it open. I decided that it would be a good idea to jump the church fence and try to open it from the other side and let everyone else in. Drastic times call for drastic measures! I had previously taken a good look at the fence and it looked easy--almost as if they had conveniently designed it so that some one of my height could climb it. Granted I am rather a bit taller than the average Mexican. So I quickly looked around to make sure no guys were watching and in my Sunday skirt and flats I started to climb the fence. At first it was going fine, just as I had predicted. However as I pulled myself up to the top a stabbing pain reminded me that I sprained my wrist a week ago and it was far from better. I managed not to scream but quickly grabbed the top with my other wrist without time to be careful and impaled my palm on one of the spikes on top of the fence. The worst was I couldn't let go of the spike or I was going to fall because my other wrist/hand could not support my weight so I just leaned on it till I could pull my legs up. I got over and made it down the other side but when I looked at my hand the palm/heel was bleeding thick and red and blood was dripping off my fingers. I put pressure on it and tried to hide it from the students/ my comp and chatted cheerfully but it sure hurt like heck as I tried to open the gate from the inside. But it still wouldn't open!!!!!!! so now I had to cross over again! This time I was more careful and crossed safely making jokes about breaking into the church. After we sent the kids home I finally showed my comp. So yah.. thats one more thing that we can add to the list of things that I am waiting for to be healed.
I Just wanted to share with you guys the letter Prez wrote the mission. I love him :)
[Elders and Sisters,
Tonight I am sitting in a chair in the hospital at my wife's side, Hermana Stutz ("Mama Stutz"). I am thinking of her, her health, and how much I love her. Also, I am thinking about you who seem so far away from me. Looking through the hospital window, I can see the mountains of Paradise, and I can imagine where you are... even the furthest in Texcoco, Chapingo, Ixtapaluca and even the Sisters in the mountains and pueblo of Avila Camacho!!
As I look through the window I am thinking of all of you, working with faith, of your own volition,
contacting, teaching, gathering with your investigators, praying and giving your all. Tears fall from my eyes, thinking in your sacrifices, and your efforts. Many thanks for giving so much, for serving faithfully as servants of the Lord. Please continue en virtue and diligence.
I extend an invitation to any who for any reason are already tired and don't with to serve with zeal. Please, search inside your hearts to find the love that you have for this work, this service so beautiful and sacred. Invite yourselves to come to Christ. Your actions (getting up on time, meeting people, teaching, etc) show the Lord your love for Him. Do you think He doesn't see your actions? How blind they are who think this way! He sees you even in your discouragement, your lack of desire to give everything. I know you can, all of you. Imagine, all of you... how would the work of the Mission MexicoCd de Mexico be if everyone gave it all, all the time. I know you can, and that the Lord will bless you. Thank you for your prayers for Sis. Stutznegger. She is fighting to be rid of an infection in her body. She is a fighter!!! I know that very soon she will get up from her bed in this hospital. Meanwhile, many thanks for your faith and for being here in the best mission in the world.
Presidente Stutznegger]
Elderes y Hermanas,
Esta noche siento en una silla en un hospital al lado de mi esposa, Hermana Stutz ("Mama Stutz"). Pienso en ella, su salud, y lo mucho que yo la quiero a ella. Tambien, pienso en ustedes que parecen lejos de mi. Viendo por la ventana del hospital, puedo ver a los cerros de Paraiso, y puedo imaginar a donde estan todos ustedes...aun los mas lejos en Texcoco, Chapingo, Ixtapaluca, y aun las Hermanas en las montañas en el pueblo de Avila Camacho!!
Al mirar por la ventana, pienso en todos ustedes, trabajando con fe, de su propia voluntad, contactando, enseñando, arrodillandose con investigadores, orando, y dando de todo. Lagrimas salen de mis hojos pensando en sus sacrificios, y de sus esfuerzos. Muchas gracias por dar tanto, por servir fielmente como siervos del Señor. Favor de continuar en virtud y diiligencia.
Hago una invitacion a algunos que por alguna razon, ya estan cansados o no desean servir con fervor. Por favor, buscan de en dentro de sus corazones para encontrar el amor que tienen por esta obra, este servicio tan hermoso y sagrado. Inviten a sis mismos a venir a Cristo. Sus acciones (levantarse a tiempo, encontrar, enseñar, etc) muestran al Señor su amor por El. Piensan ustedes que El no ve sus acciones? Que engañados son si es asi!" El les ve tal vez en su desanimo, su falta de deseo de dar de todo. Se que pueden, todos. Imaginenses todos...como seria la obra en la Mision Mexico Cd de Mexico si todos pueden dar de todo, todo el tiempo. Se que pueden, y que El Señor le va a bendecir.
Gracias por sus oraciones para Hna Stutznegger. Esta peleando para quitar una infeccion en su cuerpo! Ella es una luchadora!!! Se que muy pronto se levantara de su cama en este hospital.
Mientras, muchas gracias por su fe y por estar aqui en el mejor mision en el mundo.
Presidente Stutznegger
Well I love you guys a lot. I can't believe that I am going to be talking to you guys again in a week! We forgot to talk to members about where we could Skype you from but we will figure it out this week we will probs try to talk to you guys at like 5 our time. Have a great week :)
