February 11, 2013

Well family I’m still here in Jojulta.  On Saturday Elder Vega and I had a birthday and it went really well.  Agustine and Reyna were baptized and it was really special because we worked with him for about two months and he had struggles with smoking.  But now he is on the right track and was baptized along with his wife.  Now we are trying to work with his family but none of them are married so it will be pretty hard to work with that but we are going to do our best.  This past Friday we had a Zone Conference and it was really good.  I learned a lot of things about the work and how we should work with the members and why it’s important to work with them.  Right now we are working with a non-active family but that has a daughter that is 9 years old and isn’t baptized. That’s where Elder Vega and Elder Park come in to teach her and then have her Dad baptized her so that they can come back to church active. 

Well this change is a little bit different if you don’t know...a change is every 6 weeks but because of the rule change from 19 to 18 and we are going to receive a lot more missionaries here in Mexico.  I believe that we will get 30 new missionaries in this next change...crazy huh.  So in this change instead of 6 weeks I’ll be with Elder Vega for 8 weeks.  So really I will serve 2 years and 2 weeks in my mission.  I’m pretty excited about it...that I can serve two weeks more.  Also we had special changes again with me.  The Elder Fuertes will be with Elder Vega and I for 2 days because he is going to end his mission on the 13 so he is going to stay with us for a short amount of time.  So I will have killed two Elders in the mission so it looks like I’m going to be a killer in the mission haha.  But everything is going good here in Jojutla.  I hope that everything is going great in Texas and that y’all are safe and sound in TX and AZ for Tom haha.  If I’m right in two weeks I will have completed 9 months in the mission.  The mission is going by super super fast and its scary but awesome at the same time. 

Espero que todo de ustedes esten bien en Texas.  Quiero decir unas cositas acercade la obra misional y la razón porque la obra misonal es importante.  Primero es un mandamiento jajaja y por medio de la obediencia vamos a recibir muchismas bendiciones en nuestras vidas.  Se que la obra misional no es solomente con los Misioneros de tiempo completo pero es con los miembros tambien.  Está iglesia es una iglesia de misioneros no con misioneros.  Recuérden que ustedes son misioneros tambien y deben ayudar a los demás.  Les amo con todo de mi corazón.  Se que estas cosas en lo que creemos es la verdad y no hay otro camino o otro nombre que podemos sequir para ser salvo.  Esta es la verdad

Les Amo

Elder Park Parque)

Translation:

I hope that all of you are well in Texas. I would like to say a few things about missionary work and why the labor of missionary work is important. First is a commandment, lol and through obedience we are going to receive very much blessings in our lives. I know that the missionary work is not only with the full-time missionaries but it is also with the members. This church is a church of missionaries not with missionaries.

Remember that you are also missionaries and should help others. I love y’all with all of my heart. I know that these things in what we believe are the truth and there is no other way or another name that can order to be saved. This is the truth only with the full-time missionaries but it is also with the members. This church is a church of missionaries not with missionaries. Remember that you are also missionaries and should help others. I love y’all with all of my heart.

That's our missionary!

February 9th Baptism - Augstine, Reyna and grandson

Wilson and the Harachies!  Oh, and the Elf Christmas Tree...

Miss this guy!

February 4, 2013

I’m still here in Jojutla and it’s going good.  We have a baptism planned for this Saturday and we are really trying our best to help this man stop smoking and be baptized, along with wife and grandson.  Elder Vega and I are working hard and so far we are seeing the progress that we can have because we might be able to have 5 or maybe 6 baptisms this month, but all depends if the people want to go to church.  I’m starting to feel comfortable with my Spanish although it’s not perfect.  I’m starting to understand more and speak much more naturally.  I’m trying to learn the phrases and the modismos so I can understand regular speak.  Right now I can basically understand everything in the lesson when we are teaching about a commandment or something like that...but Spanish is a building game and I’m building and winning. 

It was really weird yesterday to think that I missed my first Super bowl in all of my life.  It was something sad but at the same time it was really cool to think that CRAP I’m in the mission and I missed the first SUPERBOWL of my life…it was really cool to think like that.  Also, it is very weird to think that in this month I’m going to hit 9 months, man is the time going fast and it’s sad to say that.  The days here in the mission are really really slow but the weeks are really fast. I don’t understand how it can be like this but it.  Yesterday I called it. Some members came up to me and told me about the Super Bowl and who would win and I said it would be Ray Lewis and his group of misfit thugs...please don’t tell Ray Lewis that I said that...but I knew he would win.  Well, today is p-day and I’m thinking about buying some Mexican sandals that are called Huaraches. They are super cool and really cheap but last forever.  The sole of these sandals are tires that are for cars hahaha so I’m pretty excited.

les amo y espero que esten bien en Texas y todo...

Elder Park

LDS Church-owned high school in Mexico will become new MTC

LDS Church-owned high school in Mexico will become new MTC

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=1016&sid=23905823

SALT LAKE CITY — At the end of the school year, what was once a prestigious high school just outside of Mexico City will become a new Missionary Training Center.

Benemerito De Las Americas, a high school owned and run by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, will be converted into a new training center for missionaries in order to accommodate the increased interest in mission service.
"Church leaders announced today that the Church-owned high school Benemerito de las Americas near Mexico City will become a training center for missionaries who will serve in Mexico and North, Central and South America," said LDS Church spokesperson Michael Purdy Wednesday.
"Church leaders made the decision after considering every immediate alternative that could alleviate the demand at the Church's other missionary training centers around the world, including the MTC in Provo, Utah," he said.
The school has been open since 1964. It currently has approximately 2,100 students and is housed on a large, multi-building campus.
"The school itself is actually very beautiful," said Kyle Green, who served a mission in Mexico City and lived a block away from the school. "It's green, it's big. They have on-campus housing for the students. They have a football field, track. I mean, it is a really nice facility, big library, cafeteria, basically a miniature Brigham Young University."
Elders Jeffrey R. Holland and Russell M. Nelson, who advise the Church Missionary Department, made the big announcement in Mexico City. Provo's MTC is the best known but there are 14 others around the world, including several in South and Central America.
Three were built in 1986, first in Argentina, then in Guatemala and another in Peru. In 1992, an MTC was built in Colombia... The next one came in 1997 in the Dominican Republic.
Orlin Clements served in Mexico City from 2001 to 2003. He said starting at the new MTC in Mexico City will be a great advantage for Spanish-speaking missionaries.
"It speeds up the learning process of the Spanish language abilities and all of my companions were native speaking so, I definitely benefited from that," he said. 

January 25, 2013 - Siguen adelante en la Fe (Continue in the faith)

How are y’all doing?  Here in Jojutla is going really good.  We are getting more and more referencias from the members and that means work!!!  Without referencias we can’t work because it is against the rules aqui in Mexico.  This past week Elder Vega and I had a baptism set for this past Saturday but the Dad had a set back.  We talked with President about this situation and all because he never wanted to be baptized in the first place.  When we went over to talk with him his whole manner changed and he told us that he wants to be baptized and wants to do these things in the church.  He also told us that he is going to put his life and faith in the hands of God so it was a miracle that he wants to do these things and progress for baptism.  So now we have him for the 9 of Febrero so all is good right now.  He also said that he is in the Luz (light) right now and so he’s doing pretty good and it is a blessing for us. 

It’s stinks to think that I will probably leave before the baptism of this family but it's all good.  We will just wait and see what is going to happen with this VISA problem.  I don’t have any idea on where I’ll be going and when I do I’m not going to tell y’all especially if I’m in Texas! Haha 

I’m not too worried about it and am pretty sure, actually I’m 100%, that I’m going to be in some Spanish speaking mission.  I just don’t know where or when...there are a lot of questions to be answered.  La oracion es real y por medio de esta gran don que tenemos podemos superar cualquier desafio que tengamos.  Se que esta es la Iglesia verdadera de Dios y el quiere escucharnos en todo momento...La oración en nuestra mente tambien es una manera como debemos cominucarnos con nuestro Padre Celestial. 

Les Amo con todo de mi Corazon

Siguen adelante en la Fe

Elder Park (Parque) disfruten las fotos

Translation:

Prayer is real and by means of this great gift that we can overcome any challenge that we have. I know that this is the true Church of God and he wants to listen to us at all times ... prayer in our mind is also a way how we communicate with our Heavenly Father. I love y’all with all of my heart.   Keep continuing in the faith.

Elder Park (Park) enjoy the photos

Elder Park

Elder Vega

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January 21, 2013

Well family everything is going great here in Mexico...Elder Vega and I are doing just great.  He’s a great elder and always has a smile on his face.  That’s one thing that I like about him how he is always happy and always brings a smile.  We are working hard still with this family and hopefully they can be baptized this Saturday if the Dad has received his answer or better said if he wants to do it.  It’s tough to let people have their agency because they can know that these things are true. But if they don’t want to, well, then that’s all we can do.  I learned today, pues really this week, to be a successful missionary is being obedient worthy and inviting people to do these things.  Because our purpose of being missionaries is to invitar a las personas a venir a cristo al ayudarlas a que recibir el evangelio restaruado mediante la Fe en Jesucristo y su expiación. El Arrepentiemietno, Bautimso, la recpion del don del espiritu santo, y perseverar hasta el fin. 

Translation:

Our purpose of being missionaries is to invite people to come to Christ to help them to receive the gospel, restored through faith in Jesus Christ and his atonement. The Arrepentiemietno, Bautimso, recpion the gift of the holy spirit, and persevere to the end.

That is my purpose to be worthy and do the things to invite people to be part of the Church of Jesus Christ.  The real news about this week…when my generation and I arrived here in Mexico they gave us a card that said we have to renew our VISA in 180 days...instead of 360...well these 180 are about to run out and so sometime in the near future the three Elders Vick, Elder Anglin, Elder Evans, and I have to leave Mexico for a little bit to start the papers over again and hopefully have the VISA in about two weeks.  So, I and the three Elders will be in the US for a little bit.  We don’t know where or when we are going...so mom you can’t come visit me if I have to stay in Texas for a little bit or if I’m in Arizona haha.  I’m not worried just a little down because I don’t want to leave Mexico...but I guess it’s just the plan that God has in store for me. 

Here are the fotos from Xochicloco or algo asi.  fue super chido allá...estuve en la tierra de los lamanitas y la

verdad era bien bien chido.

Les Amo con todo de mi corazón Elder Park

Translation:

Here are the photos from Xochicalco.  It was super chido there ... I was in the land of the Lamanites and the truth was well chido.  I love y’all with all of my heart Elder Park

Elder Park and Elder Hernandez

 

January 14, 2013

On January 14th, a ward member took Elder Park and Elder Vega to the Z. A. Xochicalco (Nahuatl pronunciation: [ʃot͡ʃiˈkaɬko]) is a pre-Columbian archaeological site in the Municipality of Miacatlán in the western part of the Mexican state of Morelos. The name Xochicalco may be translated from Nahuatl as "in the (place of the) house of Flowers". The site is located 38 km southwest of Cuernavaca, about 76 miles by road from Mexico City. The site is open to visitors all week, from 10 am to 5 pm, although access to the observatory is only allowed after noon. The apogee of Xochicalco came after the fall of Teotihuacan and it has been speculated that Xochicalco may have played a part in the fall of the Teotihuacan empire.
The architecture and iconography of Xochicalco show affinities with Teotihuacan, the Maya area, and the Matlatzinca culture of the Toluca Valley. Today some residents of the nearby village of Cuentepec speak Nahuatl.

 The main ceremonial center is atop an artificially leveled hill, with remains of residential structures, mostly unexcavated, on long terraces covering the slopes. The site was first occupied by 200 BC, but did not develop into an urban center until the Epiclassic period (AD 700 – 900). Nearly all the standing architecture at the site was built at this time. At its peak, the city may have had a population of up to 20,000 people.

January 14, 2013

Pues familia, so far everything is going great with Elder Vega. He’s a great Elder that wants to work and baptize and so we are going to work extra hard to find those escogidos.  This week was scary here in Jojutla and I have never had so much responsibility before. I can lead a football team but it was weird to think that I’m the one who has to work and decide what to do and where to go because Elder Vega is new here to Jojutla.  I grew up a lot in one week.  Right now I am reading a letter from Elder Rodriguez that he wrote to me and it says that I speak good Spanish.  I just have to perfect it. I’m trying to learn more verbs and how I can learn more modismos.  My grammer is pretty good so I just have to listen and pay more attention to the people when they speak. 

Right now we have two investigators that are really progressing for baptism but the husband is still unsure about baptism and why he should do it.  So with him we are going to talk about baptism and how he can have more confidence.

Today we went to the piramides and it was really cool!  I took a whole lot of fotos but can’t pass them because of this crapy computer.  Next week I will have a lot for y’all.  In these temples there were two fields where they played a game and the losers were sacrificed to the gods of the Lamanites...little scary.  It was cool to think that people really played there.  Mexico is just a super cool country.  There’s so much to do here...so much history...the best food in the world...and the people are just great.  I’m learning so much here in my mission and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.   

Sè que hay una razòn porque yo tenìa este deseo para servir esta misiòn.  Espero que por medio de mis acciones unos de mis amigos de la prepa o universidad puedan enteder y conocer este gozo que nosotros tenemos.  Pienso en el capitulo 8 de 1 Nefi y como habla acerca de el arbol de la vida y como Lehi tenìa este deseo para compartir este mensaje con todos.

El milagro de esta semana...Nosotros estabamos en una lecciòn y Elder Vega emepzo a hablar y yo emepeze a pensar acercade Jesucristo y este mensaje que tenemos y en esta momento yo tuve la impresiòn o respuesta que Jesucristo vive,me ama, y que estas cosas son verdaderas....SIN DUDA 

Les Quiero con todo de mi corazon...

Elder Park

Translation:

I know that there are reasons I had this desire to serve this mission.  I hope that through my actions some of my friends from high school or university can understand why and discover this joy that we have. I think in chapter 8 of 1 Nephi how they talk about the tree of life and that Lehi had the desire to share this message with everyone.

The miracle of this week ... we were in a lesson, and Elder Vega asked me to speak.  I got to thinking about Jesus Christ and this message that we have.  At this time I had the impression or response that Jesus Christ lives, he loves me, and that these things are true NO DOUBT! 

I love you with all my heart…

January 7, 2013

January 7, 2013

Pues, my trainee didn’t receive his Visa so I’m not going to be
training him after all.  I’m still in Jojutla and still driving
on. It was sad to see Elder Rodriguez end his mission
he was a great missionary and really was an example to me of how I
need to endure to the end. When he ended the mission, or left for
Cuernavaca, I thought about how fast the mission really is. To think
that I have completed 7 months and that this transfer I’m going to
complete 8 and 9 because we have two more semanas this transfer. To
think about how the mission is...its really scary but all is well
right now and I’m grinding on.  My new Compañero es Elder Vega. He
comes from Acapulco and he has 6 meses in the mission.   So there are two
newbies in Jojutla but two newbies that are going to baptize un buen.
Yesterday Elder Rodriguez and I went to say goodbye to some members
and on the tele they had football like real American Football and it
was the Texans versus the Bengals. I couldn’t take my eyes away for
about 6 minutes until we had to say the prayer. I don’t know who won
or how they played but aye how I miss that silly game. Here in
Jojutla it’s getting hotter and Jojutla is suppose to be super hot so
we’ll find out what’s going to happen this month. Well Love y’all and
hope y’all have a Happy New Year and stay strong in the Gospel.

Elder Park Con Amor.

December 25, 2012 - Merry Christmas

Feliz Navidad!

Salud!

Not exactly sure but I'm guessing it 'was' a cow . . . perhaps dinner?

Elder Park's Christmas stocking!

9' Foot Christmas Tree

Feliz Año!

Well I have to say that was the best Christmas I have ever had in my life!  Although I had already opened all of my gifts and wasn't with my family in person, I had the opportunity to Skype with y'all and hear your voices.  It was great to see everyone and to talk about the mission and things that have been going on in the mission and in the real world of the people I love.  Genn, Vance I'm so glad that y'all are going to be married...I hope that y'all are happy and I know that y'all will have a great time together in Texas.  Still there is the question when is the wedding?  I know I won't be able to come but I'll try to send y'all a gift or something.  Vance, I'm sorry that you have to be apart of this family. We are really weird and we stink a little bit...but the good thing is that we aren't NARPS.   If you don't know what that means...well Genn didn't teach you enough.  No, but I'm glad that you are going to be a part of this family and can't wait to talk to ya in Spanish para que las mujeres no vayan a entender  jaja.   Translation:  because the women will not understand haha.

The miracle of the week was that I escaped from a Gay man today.  Elder Rodriguez and I were leaving to write and leave for the Junta and this gay man started to follow us.  We told him to leave nicely but he followed us and was calling names that are GAY...it was funny but I'm scared that he's going to try and find me.  Hope y'all enjoy the pictures and I'm going to KILL ELDER RODRIGUEZ today by cutting off his tie.  Love y'all and hope you have a HAPPY NEW YEAR...FELIZ AÑO

Elder Park    

Goals for 2013 are to read all of the Bible in Spanish...and Doctrine and Covenants.