First Christmas in Mexico

This week was crazy because we were barely in our area with the conference, my districts baptisms (I got to perform the ordinance at one pre cool), and just stuff, but we still got some new investis going :) Christmas here is awesome because everyone is fam time lovin. We got invited to eat with members and investig8rs and every single person, some better than others. Christmas eve we had tacos. 

Super super busy still, but it's teaching me to pray harder so that I can find time to do everything. When you have to not only know, but teach someone else how to do something like this, you start learning a lot really quick. Talking to the fam helped me see my own progress and feel better haha. So many powerful examples of other missionaries in this mission and our ward. 

GETS ME SO HYPED to see the boys all leaving. Can't wait to hear about what happens. 

Questions answered:

Saw a few pics of the Christmas party in Puebla…and even found you in a couple. Why were they wrestling on the floor (in their white shirts no less!!)?

Didn't see them wrestling but the Christmas party was surprisingly rowdy

Did you get any presents?

Got a scarf and socks and candy, forgot the scarf in the convi on the way home :(

Have you gained weight? I think maybe the angle of the tablet made things look a bit distorted!! Should I ask, “Do you want to gain weight?”!!! Haha!

I think I have, and I want to but not the kind I'm gaining - haha

Did you go to church on Christmas?

Yee just an hour but we went and so did some new investigators for the first time :)

Ham for dinner tonight…what are you having?

We don't eat with members on pday so we bought dominos pizza just now, last night some weird fish with J family

Miracle

Wow the group is small! (mom here...Joel's....ahem...Elder Lethaby's response to the group of kids at church is getting smaller as many head off to school or missions!)

This week was crazy wowsers! Honestly my mind doesn't stop now, like I wake up in the middle of the night thinking of ways we can teach something, or members we can bring to a lesson or things like that. I don't have time to think about home or Christmas or anything and I LOVE IT! I am so much more busy now with responsibilities but also with progress in the area this week. We had some really good days to start off the mission of my hijo. \

I want to tell you about a miracle!

We were at the church on Saturday for a baptismal interview with the Zone Leaders and a lady and her daughter walk up and knock on the gate so we go greet them, she asks if we have a picture of Jesus, I told her no but we have pamphlets with him, can I show you the pamphlet and explain a bit about it? She was excited and accepted, then she asked for a "special prayer" because she has been sick for 4 years. My companion gave her a blessing, and we then taught her about the restoration of the authority by which we gave that blessing. After the lesson she told us that she was starting to feel better after 4 years of being sick! She then asked if we could go to her house and give her family special prayers too! So we went and taught her other son. The 3 of them accepted baptismal dates and live close to the church and want to come this week! They have 2 more family members who weren't there too! 

We are never at the church at 6:00 on Saturdays, but because we were being obedient, the Lord put us in the right place in the exact moment to find this family. I have seen their faces before. God lives. 

My companion is awesome; he is a convert of 3 years, and knows the scripture really well and applies them to people. He came pretrained. Glad president knew I needed a pretrained comp. He teaches me lots about hard work. He's funny hahaha. 

We got a little cactus with a star on top and we are getting all ready for Christmas, will send pix next week. 

Dios nos ama, mucho animo aquí,

Elder Lethaby

Questions answered:

What do you cook for yourselves? Anything? Do you have time?

No time, pure frosted flakes

History’s most powerful lessons weren’t taught in a classroom, but on a hillside, aboard a ship, and along the dusty roads of Palestine. Like Jesus, we can find important teaching moments anywhere. Where have some of your interesting teaching places been?

Mmm we have taught in the street with dogs fighting between us and the investigators!

Shane wants to know about your transfers and where you’re at.

I'm staying in Teotlaltzingo and I will be here total 6 months (or more), training Elder S.

How do they decorate for Christmas in Mexico?

Pretty much the same haha, but less real trees. There's red white and green all year though- the flag.

Do you have somewhere to go Christmas day? Will you be taken care of?

Hoping giving lots of lessons, but to skype there's 2 families who said we can come, so we will be with one of them I guess, but I like one a lot so probs them.

What new doctrine have you learned about this week?

hahah I guess the doctrine of time management haha it's really busy as DL and trainer especially when you don't speak the language 100%

What are your new responsibilities as a DL?

Baptismal interviews, nightly calls with every companionship and zone leaders, plan district meetings, teach district meeting, umm probably more but I'm learning.

ESTE ES MI HIJO AMADO (This is my beloved son)

On Wednesday President Nelson called me and said "Elder I have some news for you, ready? You're gonna train a new missionary next week." I was like WOW OK and then he said, "Elder I have more news, you're gonna be district leader too."

So yee here I am with my baby boy Elder S from Mexico and he is a treat! Super hyped, 19 years young, 3 years in the church and puro animo! We are gonna have a lot of fun and get a lot done, I think we will get along well. 

I am super excited that the Lord trusts me with the responsibility to teach such a great missionary already. He honestly is gonna kill it. I don't have much time because we just got here and we have to be home at 8 tonight because it's a catholic celebracion of the virgin Guadalupe so I guess it's dangerous, but ye we hyped! 

Elder Lethaby sporting "the tie"

#LIGHTtheWORLD even in Puebla, Mexico

Ahh yes I was wondering how to say #iluminaelmundo in English haha. But ya we have been sharing that with members and less actives and even investigators like every day. Puro poder in that video. Dang lots of Christmas hyped going on here. Gotta get a picture of the hacienda (no idea how to say that in English) with all the lights. Our neighbours have singing lights so we listen to them all night. 

J blessed the sacrament this week with a white shirt and Samuel the lamanite tie that I gave him. Honestly so cool to find someone, teach them, and then see them perform an ordinance for me like that. He memorised the prayer. His grandson started listening this week too and wants to get baptised. Hoping I can stay here another change to see someone I baptised baptise someone else. Leaving would be cool though too, I like change. 

Last night we were watching the devotional (https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/archive/christmas-devotional/2016/12?lang=eng&cid=HP_SU_4-12-2016_dCN_fEVT_xLIDyL1-B_) and listening to a talk (forget by who oops) but he talked about how weird it would be if we all gathered around the tree on Christmas morning, looked at the presents and then left and continued with our day without opening or using them. That's what we do with spiritual gifts all the time! Yesterday we were also with this member who can't walk too well, lives alone in a very humble home, but has the strongest testimony and fights through the pain to take the convi to church every week. I have a hard time understanding him so I normally don't talk much, but yesterday when we were about to leave he told me to come to him. Then he said to me that I don't talk much, but when I do it's exactly what he needs to hear. He then gave me a kiss on the hand (don't think that's normal here either but in the moment it was really tender). I have this gift of being in tune with the spirit and receiving the guide of the spirit but I haven't opened the gift (opened my mouth to speak more). I don't have the language barrier to hide behind really anymore, so gotta go full commit and just talk a lot! I also learned that the secret to happiness in the mission is contacting, the only indicator that I can control and still leave people with their agency. 

Overall pretty good week, love living here. They are so into parties. Like this week one day they had a block party on every street with like 6 foot tall stages with bands playing, pretty unexpected in a little town but pretty cool. 

Dios nos ama :)

Yo les amo

Feliz Navidad  

Elder Lethaby

Questions Answered:

When are transfers?

Next monday the 12th! 

Did you get your box that E was mailing?

No not yet but could be in the offices who knows! I did however get a letter from the primary, a letter from Oma and the tie and sunnies from Elder Palmer! Still haven't read it all but much appreciated. 

Any traditions you’re going to miss this time of year? Chill!! You’re making new ones!!

snow hahaha. But no like they have lights up and stuff and we watched the broudcast last night and we don't have hot chocolate but we have atole which is better :)

Are you and the ‘boys’ writing each other? Even if just a line or two?

Some of them send me like the whole letter but I don't have time sry boys but ya like a few of them a line or two.

How goes the “get happy and smile on my mission”? Having more fun?!

getting more into it, we call that "animo" here :)

What acts of service have you observed this week?

Elder P is really into serving me which is nice, almost every day when I get out of the shower he has my shoes shined or my shirt ironed or something like that. Good guy. Also we have been doing some of the ideas in the thing on lds.org

What does the Saviour’s birth mean to you? (yes…a heavy one!)

Pure hope. Pretty cool to think that even from His birth we have such a perfect example.

Love ya

Who should I send the tie to next and can you get me their address plz!? I will send pics nex week. (Promises, promises!)

Bit of a cold theme this week!

Hi everyone 

Well, its starting to get cold here,whipped out the heavy coat twice this week! There's frost on the cars in the morning and stuff too but the afternoon it's short sleeves again. Really pretty here when there's snow in mounts. 

We baptized 1.5 people this week! J and almost M, like really, really close. She was all dressed in white, and we put her in a chair and carried her into the font (was very scared I would slip), but when she got to the water, she started crying and like screaming! We put her in the water and tried to do it quick but she was so nervous and cold that she wouldn't do it ;-(. It was really hard but we are gonna try to figure something out so we can have a private baptism in another chapel where the hot water works (we were there from 8 in the morn 'til 5 trying to get hot water but it still wasn't very warm). Still have hope with her, and the ward wants to help pay for J and M to get married, so that's good. 

J though, so so special. I got to baptize him for my first time! He bought his white shirt and pants and brought like 10 fam members to watch cuz he was so hyped. Showed up an hour early. When he came out of the water he was just laughing and smiling and I realized in that moment that baptism is not just symbolic, he was literally fully clean and ready to start his life again. He has some stuff in his past, but now that does not matter at all. His wife isn't a member but was very happy for him and she came to church so maybe now we can start to teach her too! Honestly so happy to have had this chance to be lead by the spirit to find this man. He recieved the priesthood yesterday. 

J is the short, older man in the back.

We found lots of people to start teaching this week, some with a lot of potential. Things are looking up! 

Love you all!

Elder Lethaby

Questions Answered:

Has anyone Mexican commented on your Canadian flag on your bag? And what was it.

Oh ya forgot to tell you but President is ok with backpacks so I don't use that bag now, so no comments, but before some people got hyped. A lot of people here think Canada is in the states too so they get a bit confused. Lots of trump questions. 

How is your health? Thinking you should take a multivitamin…just being a mum here!

My health is 100% and I am taking multiitamins, president told us to because he's a doctor. Also we got shots this week at zone conference.

Are you collecting any recipes? You should!!

I will get on that because there’s some good stuff, getting more into making this one kind of eggs that I don’t know what they are called in English.

What was a highlight of your week?

BAPTIZIN

What was a second highlight!!??

ALMOST BAPTIZIN (will give more details)

Try Smiling

Dang scotty looks like he is having a really good time! 

That's something I think I have forgotten, we were with a member last night and he hyped us up talking about how when we are having more fun, laughing and smiling more we are not only more happy but the work increases also. We have been so focused on working hard, teaching as many lessons as possible and so serious about it that I think we forgot to enjoy ourselves. We can work hard and have fun! We need to be more creative with contacts, smile more in lessons, and show the people that the gospel brings happiness, not just tell them about it. 

This week honestly was very hard again. We have to walk a lot and people don't have cell coverage in most parts so sometimes we arrive and nobody is there after walking half an hour. Our numbers were low, and we didn't use the time that well. LEARNING though. 

Last night though we had 4 baptismal interviews and we will see between 1 and 4 baptisms this week! J is for sure and the rest could be but 2 need to get married and one needs another interview with president. That was a highlite. We have exchanges with the zone leaders tomorrow so I really think we can learn a lot. One of them did the interview with the couple last night and when they finished they both had changed so much. I do not know what he said but I know that the spirit finally hit them where they needed it. I think he will be here working with me tomorrow so I am hyped! 

Ate lots of tacos and tamales this week, starting to get really into the culture, like every meal has to have salt and lime hahah. The stake president came to our ward (like a parish) on Sunday and got the ward hyped because if we get attendance of 120 they are gonna renovate and make a bigger chapel. We had 93 yesterday and when we arrived (in the area) it as in the 60's! 

This less active brother who had big big problems with drinking started coming again and we are working with him to prepare him to baptize his daughter in December! 

Hard week but lots to look forward to. I think this week everything will change. 

Love Elder Lethaby

Questions Answered:

Where's your favourite place to go so far in your mission?

favorite place? idk whereever the people will listen .

Where do you feel most at home?

mmm theres a young couple that I can understand pretty well, they always wanna help and we have the same watch so probs their house. Or the church

What part of Mexican culture has become a part of you?

Phrases like "Hijo de la tostada" or "que cosas no?" but also some of the food I am really into, normally eat like 10 tortillas every day. 

Who can we pray for this week?

Pray for J and M, they had a pretty big change of heart and were hoping they can get married this week. Last night they went from maybe we will get baptized to we wnt to get baptised this weekend so I hpe they can get in to get married.

What scripture did you find this week that was meaningful?

Ugh theres one in D&C but I forget where but it talks about how whenever we get a blessing it is the direct result of following a comandment. Helped some investigators 

"Keep Calm and Keep Knocking" - how I signed off on his email, and here's his reply!

Pretty sure it isnt legal to knock doors :( we dont do it, Elder Perez still hasnt given me a straight answer if it is or not but one time a security guard thought we were knocking and he yelled at us so idk

I Speak Spanish in My Sleep

This Elder Wolf guy sounds like a treat!

This week I really learned a lot; there so many things you can learn - wow. Lots of problems coming up with investigators that we thought were perfect, which can be hard because you really love them and know how awesome their lives can be if they can just let go of the past ugh. J is still gold though, got permission to baptize him in 4 sundays instead of 5. Honestly the last few weeks have been pretty discouraging but I am learning a lot about consistancy, patience and hard work. We are trying to change the way we contact, the way we teach, and everything because someone put it pretty simply at a conference, "If you want different results, do different work." Crazy that I already have 3 months in the mission, new missionaries arrived this week and I felt really good because I realized how much I have learned. Like I remember being in meetings and not understanding a thing but now I understand pretty much everything. It's so fun speaking Spanish. I love reading the Book of Mormon too. I always have read it but now I really look forward to it. I think reading it in another language makes you focus more so you learn more. We can go on splits now with youth and I'm just fine teaching without Elder Pérez. We went to Puebla for a meeting this week and we contacted the whole bus on the way there, "Lift up you voice with the sound of a trump" or something. Lots of people here say 'eh' too which is funny, even americans have picked up saying eh at the end of sentances. Idk what else to talk about so sorry.

Love being a missionary,

Elder Lethaby

Questions answered:

What have learned about yourself this week?

This week I learned that I really need to improve my teaching skills. Before I think I thought that if I work really hard success will just come but the quality of the lessons matters a lot. The questions you ask can make or break someones conversion.

Is snoring an issue in your apartment? Heard about one companionship where it was so bad, they got special permission from the President to have separate rooms! Haha!

No snoring, but turns out I talk a lot in my sleep, a few times Elder Pérez has woken up to me speaking Spanish in my sleep saying, "Hola Hermano, ¿como esta?" I practice contacting in my sleep and dream in Spanish. Last night I dreamt that we met President Monson as a family and he really wanted a selfie but I was bummed because the camera on our mission phone is awful. 

New favourite food?

We had some really good tacos with old investigators this week, idk still tacos I think. Really into mango tang too.

Temperature these days?

mmm some days like 25 some like 10, rained a lot this week which was rough, like a lot a lot. 

Are the Mexican’s revving up for Christmas? Lights and trees are going up here.

Not really yet actually, but we did get contacting cards with the christmas message on them "Ilumina el Mundo".

What kind of service have you witnessed this week?

We don't really have planned service projects but we are pretty good about helping people just carry bags of quick stuff like that. 

What’s your favourite thing to teach?

Str8 repentance. And first vision.

Day of the Dead and I don't like P-day!

Treats for Deceased

Path of Flowers for Day of the Dead

Yeeee another week where we were super busy, didn't teach many lessons but still kinda got lots done. 

We went on splits with some priests in the ward on tuesday and Elder Pérez and the priest he was with found this couple - M y M and they are hyped! Well more him than her but still. We taught them 3 times this week and the most recent one he said he feels like these things are filling a whole in his heart that he didn't know was there, almost a direct preach my gospel quote. We hadn't even taught him chastity yet and he was like I think I feel like I need more unity in my home so I wanna get married and his gf was in the room and they hadn't talked about that yet, I don't think. So it was funny but also like super powerful. They didn't make it to church because he couldn't change work but they wanna get tized! 

J is amazing too, we taught him about tithing at church and he was like ok I wanna start paying so he just gave all the money in his pocket and he's like ya I'll pay tithing. Some people are soooo prepared and it makes me feel the need to work hard to find them because I know there are more people waiting. 

Got Shane's letter and Oma's letter this week! Thanks to them a lot :)

Changing the district here a lot, closing one area and putting 2 companionships in another area so that's why we were busy with that stuff this week. We now have 4 hermanas and 2 elders in the district. Crzy!

Overall very hyped, don't really like pday because I just wanna work but we're still lavando por mano so that takes a lot of time. 

I can feel a very succesful week coming, we are gonna work with members ever day so that will help a lot. 

DIOS NOS AMA!

Elder Lethaby

Questions:

Should we have sent rain boots?!
no it has rained like once a week lately so we all good.

Have you had Chiles en Nogada yet? or Cochinita Pivil?
no havent eaten those things but people talk about chiles en nogada a lot soIm hyped for when i do :)

With Elder P being DL…do you get to do any sightseeing at all on P-days? Pyramids? Old churches?
No pyramids, but we see lots and lots of cool churches, I will try to get pics this week.

Advice for David Henry: That's a different country , so i don't really know much about it, but with the language, study churchy words a lot like Expiacion, Capilla, Barrio and stuff this week. Anything helps so you dont get rekt too hard

Any bad food yet? Either that tasted bad, or was actually bad and made you sick?!
Mmm not really anything like super bad tasting other than mac and cheese. Mole last week made me a bit sick for like 3 hours but like didn't effect the work or anything so no not really

What kind of service did you offer this week?
Helped a lady carry some dirt :)

Who is someone you really admired this week?
This guy in the bishopric Hermano H, he really got hyped to help us and he's 23 and has a kid and wife and school and work but is still trying to find time to help us.

Pan (bread he buys every day for about 15 cents!)

Joel's Companion

A Lot of Busy-ness Without Getting Much Done and He "cooks"

Yeee lots of catholics here, they usually are so hard core they don't even listen, but the rest, there's actually a lot of people who were baptized at a proper age by immersion so we have to explain the importance of the priesthood a lot. But really if people have faith and a testimony they will just do it. 

This week was pretty weird and hard to work with because Tuesday we had exchanges, Wednesday Elder P had 3 interview pretty far away for baptisms, Thursday we had a zone conference with president in Tlaxcala which is like 2 hours away, Friday and Saturday there were baptisms in the district and we had to go because Elder P is DL, today and yesterday we had to scope out houses because were getting another companionship in the district next week so we gotta find somewhere for them to live. So we only taught like 20 lessons or something this week. We were feeling pretty bummed but then we decided to fast and immediately started finding more people to teach. 

This one guy J is soooo ready I can't handle it. Same guy who we commited to baptism, taught to pray, introduced the BoM and I answered his questions in 10 mins last week. We taught him like 4 times this week, yesterday when we went to pick him up for church he was just waiting at the door ready to go. We taight him Word of Wisdom last night cuz he drinks coffee and we were like do you think it will be hard to give up? And he's like nah I can drink water it's all good. We told him he can drink herbal tea and he was hyped. So happy about that guy. 

Funny language thing I learned this week is that spicy and itchy are the same word so I might come home scratching myself and saying it's spicy. Overal feeling the language improving, after a baptism I was waiting for Elder P in another interview and I just had like a normal conversation with a stranger in the hall for like an hour with very few problems. 

 

Overal good week, wish I had more missionary stuff to report but really was a weird week, not a bad one though just different. 

 

Love being a missionary :)

 

Elder Lethaby

Questions answered:

Ever get a chance to talk/teach about Family History?nahhh only like 3 families in the ward have computors so we dont do anything with fam hist

Do they “celebrate” Halloween where you are? Do you have to be home early like our missionaries?!oh yes they celebrate it like none other. We don't have to be in the house early or anything because its not just one night, it would be like a week at home if we did that. The kids trick or treat but they try to get money not candy (usually still get candy), and they have been doing it every night for like 4 days now, pretty funny, we're in lessons and they knock and ask for money. They go all out too, like everyone has crazy facepaint, keep forgetting my cam though and also might be creepy to take pics. They had this big day of the dead dance happening in the streets with the weirdest masks and stuff going on all week. Pretty sure its like as big as christmas here.

Did you bring the right coat with you? And is it getting cold? Hayden Low is in the mountains and FREEZING!It just started getting cold this week, in the mornings I run with a sweater now and usually during the day too, but still not too bad, probs like 10 degrees but I think it's suposed to get down to like minus 5 pretty soon. Gonna buy another sweater I think.

Can you take picture of the inside of your fridge? Just to compare to Scott's!! Haha!!I will next week, you will be quite impressed by our cereal collection I think. This morning I made French toast and E P had never had it and he wanted without syrup and then he made a ham and cheese sandwich out of it, kinda weird but could be good.

Using the Lord's time and dog fights!

Ok I will get into sunscreen! I don't know... maybe everyone is pink or it was lighting because I haven’t noticed that much . But ya I will! Also I'm sending pics to Austen the same way, not sure what's going on. Don’t have any new ones this week so sorry.

There is so much power in following the mission president. His big thing is "las botana" (snacks), which means super short lessons especially at the start. Short but powerful. Yesterday we were in a lesson for waayay too long, like over an hour and at the end they were like ya  we will probably come to church. Then we went right after to another guy and in 10 minutes we gave him a book of mormon, answered his questions about the pamphlet which he had read cover to cover and made notes, committed him to come to church, committed him to baptism, and taught him to pray and he said the closing prayer. The contrast between how well we had used the Lord's time in those two lessons really stood out to me. After I had a pretty clear impression that if we stop wasting time in hour long lessons, the Lord will lead us to more people who are ready like him. I think I will stop talking so much about baptisms until we actually start getting some though haha. Lots of people like listening and say they will do stuff but they never come to church. This week we were told we are the first missionaries to bring our own investigators to the ward in almost a year! Crazy.

Overall lots of learning this week, I think the two extremes of sad and happy that you feel on the mission are a testimony of how important this work is! We are very excited still and working hard. I feel myself starting to trust more in God and follow the spirit. I also started memorizing 20 words a day with those flash cards, a measurable goal, and even though I didn't quite do it, I think my language has improved the most this week of my whole mission. Feels good.
Dios nos ama,
Elder Lethaby

Questions answered:

Do you get kissed on the cheeks in greeting everywhere you go?

Nahhh, not really a thing here, I've seen it like twice but only girls.

Do people ask you about your family a lot?

Again not really hahaha, any time we have intercambios the other elders read that book you made me though.

Are you getting use to "personal space" being different?!

Hahaha ya the convi, it's like a 12 seater van hollowed out with up to 30 stranger crammed in there

Do you have any lessons you've learned...no matter how big or small?

Big lesson this week was always get as much info as possible, we went for lunch in this town that the convos don't go to so we had to walk like an hour. Found a lady on the way, taught her, she accepted a baptismal date in 10 minutes of teaching and she was hyped but we didn't get her phone number or home address, just work, so now we have to go back and hope she's there. And also always ask for land marks. Got lost so many times this week haha

What do you drink? What are you allowed (as we saw the coke cans with your names)? …and explain the filtered water bottles!

I drink water and juice and yogurt drink. The filter bottles president doesn't trust so we buy these big jugs that last about 2 weeks and drink from there. We are allowed everything you are pretty much, accept tap water. "red cola" is big here. 

Have you met any creatures? 

Ya this week we were teaching a lessson in the street and two dogs starting fighting in the middle of the circle. Like between us and the investigators. Didn't really bite us though. I don't know... sometimes little spiders and stuff but nothing crazy. Lots of horses too. But mostly just dogs. Like usually you can see about 7 at any given moment.

Describe a normal day…

Wake up, go for a run, eat, study for 4 hours, go contact in the street (we don't knock doors), eat at 2:00 with members every day, then the rest of the day we usualy have lessons, like 6 or so every day. Mostly close to home but some pretty far. Get home at 9, plan, SLEEP. 

Are you in a city area or a rural area right now?

rUUUUral 

Thanks for everything! I got the package from dear elder and from Oma this week and appreciate them so much! Elder P is a big fan of the maple cookies. 

Where he lives

His apartment

Kraft Dinner (and if you know Joel...you know what that means!)

We had exchanges with the zone leaders this week which was a treat because they're white and I got to speak English for a bit! We had a pretty good day, but the others guys back in our area killed it! They found 11 new investigator and the granddaughter and husband of M committed to not only baptism but also marriage so they could be bapttized! Hypd on that. They can help her get to church and read and stuff too because he has a car and good eyes. Good stuff. 

One thing that has been hard though is that every time we go to lunch the members keep us for so long because the food is never ready; please try to have food ready right away when they missionaries come for dinner, I feel pretty guilty of that. Like they should be in and out, including sharing a message in an hour at most. 

I really liked the Gabe Kane quote about how you can't get a testimony without TEST. SO true! 

I ate kraft dinner this week which I'm sure will stir things up over there, DEDICATION.

The other thing I'm really into here is the pan (bread). It's different though, there's all these little bakeries that sell such good fresh donuts, pasteries, and bread and it's like 15 cents Canadian I think so you can eat it for the week for like a buck. SO good though.

Don't really know what else to say but love you all!

Elder Lethaby

Questions answered:

How do you wash your clothes?

Funny you should ask, we normaly wash with a member neaby but today they didnt have electricity so we did it by hand which was exciting.

What meals do you cook?

Cereal mostly, members feed us a lot every day so its all good. Today we made BLTs though

Do you have any adventures?

Every time you get in a convi its an adventure, you squeeze in and stand but you have to duck and its exciting. Cant really think of any aventures at the moment.

Where do you use the computer to write home?

There are little internet places all over, have gone to a differet one every time

How are your shoes holding up?

Good, cleaned them today and they look almost new again

Any chance of iPads in your mission? Or would you be too big a target then?

hahahha no chance

Birthday, tacos and family

This week was awesome, saw a lot more success. We found 15 new investigators this week and they all are families which is even better, and most of them live super close. Hermana M was my first baptismal date acceptor and she is this cute little old lady that can't walk so baptizing her might be interesting but she like starts crying every time she prays and she is always so happy to hear our message even though she forgets it like every time. Such a nice birthday treat. She is like SUPER old and can't read either so we were having a hard time giving her commitments but on Saturday her grandaughter's husband was home for the first time in our lessons and he was super interested, going to teach them right after this. We didn't even teach him a full lesson but he made it to church yesterday and I'm hyped cuz he and his wife can help her progress. Great fam. 

Another family we found is huge and never have men home so we have only been able to teach one of 4 lessons in the house, but they get me hyped too. Didn't make it to church but accepted baptismal dates too. Pretty funny, we always teach with the door open, us sitting outside, them sitting at the entrance. 

There are a few more families like that too. We are really excitd about them all. 

So happy to hear about all the boys leaving and getting mission calls; too hyped about Connor's! 

I got the box from home and really love the picture of all my friends; it's sitting at home right beside my pic of the fam on my desk. The tacos and guac are funny. Ate the microwave cake but we didn't have a mug so had to go buy one today haha, we have 2 cups, 2 plates, 2 spoons and 2 knives hahha, not much there. The weather here is dreamy, sometimes it rains a lot but mostly just like low 20s every day. Everything is cheap too! 

With the members we have been sharing the family proclamation a lot this week, and challenging them to put a copy on the wall somewhere special in there home where people will see it and read it and get the chance to share the gospel. There is power in that proclamation. I would like to challenge you ( amily and everyone in the world) to do the same. It's bold and powerful and shows your love for your beliefs and your family. 

Here is the link: https://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation?lang=eng

I feel like there's more I wanted to say so maybe I will send another but who knows :)

Love missionary livin,

Love Elder Lethaby

QUESTIONS:

Any other Canadians in your mission?

First Canadian ever to enter Puebla North mission so no hahha

Where did all your money go last week?
Took it all out and hid it under the matress because literally nowhere takes cards haha

Birthday box arrive? Actually…one is from home, and one from the mission thingy in Mexico (we didn’t want you to go without!).
The one from home with the fake tacos came hahahah everyone was making fun of you in the offices so sorry

New favourite food?
Real tacos haha had them for the first time the other day, they don't have anything but meat but still are way better. Elder P said those weren't even good ones that I tried.

Favourite moment this week?
My favorite moment was when I got my first investigator to commit to baptism! Maria, I will talk about that more in big email

Are you writing in your journal?
Most nights but sometimes I don't if we are in a lesson till 9 30, probs 80% though

Are you as happy as you sound? Even in your discouragement with language, etc., you still sound happy. How is that possible?!
Last week not really, honestly. haha it was rough, but this week we saw so much success that I was just like jumping up and down after a few lessons so yeee pre happy.

NO TIME (or money!)

Happy Birthday today to Elder Lethaby!

Please write him...address on the right. Or email a short email to joel.lethaby@myledsmail.net

Elder Lethaby and mission president and wife.

Note from mum....he was really out of time...please excuse the typos, spelling and general disregard for grammar and punctuation!! Haha!!


So sorry but we ran out of money so we had to walk and now I have like 10 seconds to write because pday ends at 6 and its 5:55. We take convis everywhere (I hope i spelled that right), but ya these little hollowed out vans and its pretty cheap. Ugh I feel so bad because I want to write everyopne but ya hoping the answers were eenough to tide you over and I will write more next week. OveraL I understand why everyone says the mission is so hard. I am always falling asleep, never understand anything and feel very stressed. I want to help so much but I really feel useless. The thing that gets me through it though is 1. that it can only get better from here and 2. that the Saviour has felt this before. The food is really good, pretty much every meal is soup but like good soup. Members have fed us every day. One day the soup had this thing in it that looked like a donut but was meat and I have no idea what it was but I ate it and it was really chewy but like the hermana gave like all she could to make it for us so you gotta! Some houses are pretty nice, like ours is just fine but some are dirt floors. Overall though doing good, healthy, growing, being pushed more than ever but thats what its all about. Sorry to everyone I couldnt write, I will next week maybe! 

Love you all!

Elder Lethaby

Questions answered:

Did you get to watch conference? In what language?

Yes I watched 10 hours of conference in Spanish, couldnt even figure out subtitles haha but I understood most of it so its ok

How are you and your companion doing?

Elder P is the most hard working guy I know, he really wants to get stuff done which is good but sometimes makes me feel a bit bad about myself because Im trying but i dont think he understands how hard it is to go a week without knowing how to say what you want all the time. Overall though I am learning lots from him with language, habits and hard work. He also speaks better english than i do spanish I think so tyhats nice

Favourite person this week?

Theres this little boy in the ward named B who is so funny and cute and I cant understyand a word he says but I love him, he always stomps on my feet really hard and we see him most days because he lives near by and his dad is in the bishopric

Favourite moment this week?

We had a really good lesson yesterday with a newly baptized family and I understood almost all of it and taught like half the lesson which was awesome, probably tht.

Has your Spanish vocabulary doubled this week?!

Spanish vocab has not doubled because I have only had time to study language once so far because we have meeting like every day since elder p is the DL. But ya learning way faster than in the ccm because now I have no choice, he could speak english but he never does. 

He's in the mission field...for real! Complete with real Spanish!

I made it to the mission home! Waiting for my interview with president right now, he seems like a really good guy - like relaxed but real spiritual. His wife is nice too. The drive to Puebla was so pretty, like super green and saw the volcano and it's snowy which is awesome. So far all of the Elders I've talked to are really happy and positive. Can't talk much right now but my pday will be Monday so I will talk to you then. Sorry that I can't read any of your mail right now. HYPED though!


Hey so I met my trainer, Elder P from Monterrey, good guy. He's been a member for two years, one of which was on his mission and he's 26! Kinda crazy cuz like 8 year difference but he has been really helpful so far. He speaks a bit of English but I'think he'knows more than he's telling me. Our area is Teotlaltzingo Puebla area, there's a volcano near by which is cool. So far we took a bus to our casa where I talked to an Hermano D and we are gonna teach him and'his family on Sunday I think. Then we went to get groceries which was exciting, got brown bread for you mom. Our area isn't in the big city but there's still lots of people to talk to outside and the people seem very friendly. I'm excited to be here even though it is harder than expected to understand what people are saying. I think my vocab is pretty much only good for teaching lessons but I will learn. Our house is clean and we have hot water to shower with. It's in this cute little gated off community where like 3 year olds are walking around alone so I think we're safe here. Lots of dogs everywhere. 

I had some really good talks with President Nelson and other elders in our mission and I am pretty excited about it all. I could really feel the spirit when he taught and I feel like he knows exactly what he's doing here. My travel was all good except my alarm stops after 1 minute and I had to'get up at 4 so I didn't even notice it and we almost missed the bus this morn! I got ready and finished packing in 7 minutes. It's been a long day but I feel like my Spanish is already getting better quicker than it was in the mtc. 

I'm healthy, happy, safe, got a good trainer, what more could I ask for? I feel like I will have to rely on the Lord more than ever for these first few weeks because he's literally the only one who understands me right now for the most part - haha. Elder P said my Spanish is better than the other white guy he trained though. 

Hyped overall. 

Love you all,

Elder Lethaby

Righteous Anger

That's right, I made it to the 6th week, it's kinda like making it to grade 12, lots of social hierarchy in here. I got my filter bottle (first sign that your almost leaving and you're going to a cool mission) and tomorrow we have infield orientation which idk what that means but you get a sticker on your tag that means your almost out of here. So excited.

This week we didn't see any live talks from apostles but we watched old ones from Elder Bednar and Elder Holland on Sunday which were both awesome. 

The big thing from Elder Bednar was to "turn out", to stop thinking about yourself and purely just serve others like Christ did. I hope that by the end of my mission I will have the words "me" and "I" out of my vocab. It is hard but I just don't want to let my internal circumstances effect my external actions because that could be the difference between someones salvation. He also taught a new definition of conversion that I hadn't considered before: Your ability to stay true to the testimony you have gained or the things you know. It makes sense too that if we want to be effective teachers, we have to be converted, meaning that we live every single thing we teach. We need to be examples of what we know - hopefully that makes sense. 

Elder C was a great example of that to me this week. It was his birthday on Monday and he didn't tell anyone it was his birthday because he couldn't handle making a day be focused on him rather than the work of preparing to teach. So humble! Elder M remembered his bday though and so we did end up getting him a card and some treats and singing to him. Some elders in the district got pretty distracted by this and kinda stopped studying and were all fooling around. I was pretty frustrated because our goal of Christlike attribute this week was dilligence AND we had all had a very spiritual experience with Elder Bednar less than 24 hours before. It was getting really bad, like nobody would listen to me and they were like climbing on chairs and stuff so I finally got up and threw down. I experienced righteous anger for the first time in my life, I yelled at my district and it brought the spirit, SO WEIRD! I felt like Elder Holland! I pretty much asked them why they were on their missions if this is what they're gonna do with the Lord's time and reminded them of the conversations we had had the days before. At first I felt kinda bad for it, but then almost every single person in the district individually thanked me for it later on. They said that they could feel the power of the spirit working with me as I was doing that as well, it was a super cool experience. It is ok and very necessary to call people to repentance if you're doing it in the right spirit. They need to know you love them and that you are doing it for their benefit. It is rare to yell at people and then have them thank you, but I am so grateful to have been the means whereby the spirit could work on the hearts of my district in that moment. It was very powerful. I hope that didn't come across as prideful at all but it was a very cool experience for me. 

We have a great district, I will miss them all so much, and learn so much from them every day. Wish I had time to talk about them more. I will be in Puebla 4 days from now - can not wait. 

So grateful to be here and to be on the Lords errand

Dios nos ama,

Elder Lethaby

Classic!!!

Almost done at the Mexican MTC (CCM) - pics

First things first, next week my pday is THURSDAY so if you want to send email do it before then. That's a sign that I'm almost out of here; I've been out a month now. 

Yesterday or today (I think kinda both) are independance day here and it is such a big deal. The whole CCM is decorated for it, like flags and stuff everywhere and the meals were very traditional this week. Turns out Horchata is really good if it's not at costa vida. Last night when we went to bed the fireworks were literal nonstop, just a constant stream for hours. Slept pretty good though still cuz always tired. The CCM presidency hooked up big time though for independance day though! They got this dance troup thing to come perform for us last night and it was awesome. They built this HUGE stage in the gym and we filled the rest and they had like spot lights and live meriachi and everything you could want. It was very loud and I almost felt like I shouldn't be there as a missionary but I guess that's the only way to truly show the Mexican ways! The Latinos were so hyped, like singing so loud and starting the wave and stuff. It was awesome. Weirdly enough I still felt the spirit during all the excitment though because I was learning about MY people through the traditional dances and costumes and stuff. I LOVE THEM!!! 

Today we got to go to the temple again which was nice, met a guy in there who was there for the first time and he's from Puebla and he's coming to the CCM on Tuesday. 

SPIRITUAL

We heard from two more apostles this week, such a dang treat.

Elder Ballard

He was talking a lot about how we need to simply smile more, we need to RADIATE, and if we do that, we will have no trouble at all finding people to teach. That should be a very small part of our work. He was talking about how he wishes he could serve again as a young man and he said, "I would be absolute dynamite!" He was very funny, but also really inspired me to be more Christlike in my feelings I give off to others because the first impression you make on people can completely change their view of the church. 

Elder Cook

Miracles come when we can be trusted, but they also come only when they are needed. I have not had any crazy experiences with suddenly knowing the language or anything like that, but that is because my Heavenly Father knows that I will work hard enough to learn the language on my own. I do feel like I am taking the lead in most of our lessons now and it is very exciting. Elder M used to do almost all of the talking and now its really switched. Not that his Spanish or scripture knowledge is bad, I just think I am getting way more confidence now. After Elder Cooks devotional we were talking and I shared the idea that we are not the only people in the world trying to follow the Saviours comandment to feed his sheep, but the other people who are trying to feed his sheep are giving them people food, the food of man. They are trying to do something good, but we have the food (priesthood authority, and revelation and the B o M) that they really need. Thought that was pretty cool. 

Anyway, ya this week started off kinda rough cuz I think Elder Mayer was a bit cranky but the last few days have been great and Im just really happy and excited all the time. 

I keep having super awesome experiences with very visible answers to prayers and I know that God hears and loves every one of us. I feel closer to Jesus Christ than I ever have, and my understanding of His atonement is growing very quickly, I was able to teach that a lot this week. We teach about 4 lessons a day now but Hermana Aguirre (my teacher) said in my mission it will probably be about 10 a day and that some people in that mission baptize every week! So that is something to look forward to. 

I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!

DIOS NOS AMA!

Elder Lethaby 

P.S. Get more people like Velazquezs and caleb and stuff to write me please!

Visitor's Centre - Mexico City Temple

 Elder Lethaby's Home away from Home - Yellow dorms on the left

Someone's Companion loves Mexico!

Sorry to all of Elder Lethaby's fanbase

Note from mum: As I manage this blog, and we had difficulty accessing google while away, the blog is a bit behind. Sorry! Prepare to be overloaded!! Also...his birthday is October 7...cards and letters would be appreciated!

Hi mom and everyone!

Today we broke the wall yet again and went to take care of some imigration stuff where they fingerprinted us and stuff. It was pretty cool because we went downtwown and it's actually super modern looking and clean down there. Very cool arcitecture. Very excited about all the family travels! And yes I really am falling in love with the culture here; it's so awesome how carefree they are and happy most people are kinda. Haven't been writing Scott but if you would send me via dear elder thing his weekly updates, and Ben's too, that would be great! Miss those guys. Hope Scott's not getting destroyed by the language too much. 

Yesterday we got to teach nonmembers kinda. There are these construction worker guys that are probably my age all over and our teacher told us to go teach them and try to get a referal, but turns out I still don't speak spanish :( getting there though, we had a solo español day earlier this week and nobody really did it except me, classic our district, but I lasted until around 3:00 without any English :) I think once I'm in the field I will start learning way faster so I really just wanna get out there. Pretty ready for that even though I don't speak the language too well yet. 

This week our devotional was a broadcast from Provo mtc of Elder Christofferson which was really, really good. The quote that stuck out the most was a David O McKay quote that said, "It is greater to be trusted than loved." At first I was super confused, like doesn't that go against everything our church teaches? But then he explained it - God loves every single person, but does not trust every single person. In fact he trusts very few people. So pretty much if He trusts you, you are killing it. I am trying so hard to be the missionary that he knows will never compromise the rules, who will never slack off and who will always be willing to, and humble enough to listen to the spirit and teach by its power. I know that as I strive to be trusted, I will be blessed with so many more oportunities to teach people because God knows I can handle it. Another quote, "You carry in your hands the kingdom of Heaven." So extreme! Love the guys and I think this week we get to hear from 2 more apostles! 

The Mexican independance day celebrations are already starting here even though it's not untill the 15th! On the weekends there is always mariachi concerts blasting from the mountain behind the ccm all night long which is really fun. We also fall asleep to the sounds of fireworks a lot (we tell ourselves it's fireworks). The food is sometimes amazing, sometimes awful but overall it gets the job done. 

I think Elder Muirhead (idk how to spell) sent a picture of him and I the other day; try to track down his mom for that, but that's the guy you met in the temple. Good guy but don't see him much. Also I seem to have misplaced my camera cord so no pics this weeks but I'm sure it will turn up soon. 

Oh also tell Shane I met an Elder Francis who was Spencer Miller''s mission companions brother and his brother was at the wedding too. Good guy also. 

I found some socks at the tienda here so I should be good without but if you sent some already thats even better! 

My challenge to everyone this week is to read Alma 26, really felt inspired by it this week. 

DIOS NOS AMA!

Elder Lethaby 

He broke out twice!

Hello!

What a week, broke out TWICE! The first one is a pretty funny story. Elder M can not stay awake to save his life, like over an hour a day spent sleeping in class despite me pouring water in his ears when he does so. SO Hermana A, our teacher said he should get checked in the infermeria so we went there and the doc couldn't find anything wrong with him. So he said come back tomorrow at 7 30 with some tests and well figure it out. So he had to pee (amongst other things) in a cup, highlite of the week! (you can choose whether or not to include that). But when we came back in the morning, they said we had to go to the hospital, which I think was lost in translation. So we went for like 5 hours, but it was awesome because we got to go to crispy cream and go to the mall because the bus driver was feeling it, and got to see a bit of the city which is crazy traffic, stop signs exist but nobody notices them I guess. Anyway I, think he's doing a bit better now,  but it was exciting!

 First trip out....

On the way to the temple...

Which brings me to the next point, the temple today! Its much much bigger than Calgary which makes sense, but ya it's super pretty and amazing! They don't let you go without a translater because they doubt our abilities but I was glad I had it. Very cool to be there with all the other missionaries though, especially when you hear them pray for the missionaries and think about how everyone around the world is praying for you every single day! I think I said that last week but seriously love being on the other side of those prayers.

"Loved seeing those words on the temple in Spanish" (Holiness to the Lord: The House of the Lord."

The most spiritual experience I had this week I think was when we sang EFY medley in spanish as a choir! Same as my farewell but even more meaningful and more than half of the mtc is in the choir so it's very loud and powerful! I love it so much! I saw Elder Low walk in for the first time right before we sang and I just got chills from how excited I was for him to be here and start this work with me! So many people were brought to tears by it. 

This week has been all about showing faith for me. Like just constantly looking for ways to show faith whether it's going to choir, fasting, asking for or giving blessings, praying nonstop, and setting goals. Goals are so important. As I've started following specific ones I've seen a lot of progress. I've been trying to memorize a scripture every day and have done so mostly since then. Spiritual experiences are coming way more often as I humble myself and give thanks for everything. One quote from this week that isn't exact but hit me hard was something like, If you have the spirit, your language skills do not matter at all as long as you can still show them your pure love and service, they are just as likely to listen to you and be converted. Gives me lots of hope :)

I also met this Elder from Calgary that knows Tyler Steele and Morgan Hodder and Danni Carter and he said he did sealings with you (mum) in the temple a few months ago, can't remember the name right now but cool guy (Elder Muirhead). We played his district in soccer the other day. We won. The Velazquezs will be happy to hear I have started playing almost every day, and I think I'll buy shoes for it in the field. I'm not as bad as I thought either!

Another experience this week was with an elder in our district who said he was thinking about going home! He has a huge testimony and always is funny and seems happy but the language is just destroying him. Like he is sooo far behind even though he tries. Just feeling so discouraged that he doesnt know if he can handle it, so he said he's leaving on Wednesday if things don't turn around. I am praying and fasting for him so hard today for him. Last night he asked me for a blessing and that was actually the most spiritual experience of the week, I lied before. It was incredible to feel how much God loves him and as I gave it I felt of the people on the other side of the veil praying for him and hoping for the best. There are so many people in his mission just waiting for him specifically to come to them. We ended the blessing with the whole room in tears and it was so awesome. That is one thing I'm learning, just how to love people. 

My prayers are about 4 times as long now as they used to be and almost entirely in Spanish. I pray for so many people back home by name every night. There's been a bit of disobedience in our district which stresses me out because it's my job to help them with that but then other times we just have such spiritual times together like today in the Celestial room of the Temple. It is so awesome here and I can't believe I'm almost half way through! 

Dios nos ama,

Elder Lethaby