Is it typical to have 'that' guy who cuts missionary's ties?

October 30th, 2017

Hi mom! 

This week president asked us to go on divisions with him after some of the interviews and it went really well so I think he's kinda wanting to do it a lot now. We worked in 6 areas in 3 days haha. It is super hard to keep an area going like that. We have been so blessed though. On Sunday a recent convert brought her friend who really liked it, and we have an appointment with her today, we found a mom and a daughter (9) who speaks 4 languages (the 9 year old), and just now the ZLs called and said they found a really awesome family of 4 that lives in our area that wants to listen, has member friends, and have all started reading the Book Of Mormon. Also we have an investigator who is the only Mexican woman who is a firefighter for Formula 1 races (like nascar stuff!), she has come to church once and has a baptismal date in December!

C got baptised this week, and the whole fam came! Also it was one of the biggest turn outs to a baptism' Ive seen in my mission. They had cake, a special musical number planned and everything! Super spiritual, and he was running around the church before because he was so hyped! On Sunday he sang in the primary presentation and I think the nerves are gone!

Just now we went to Apizaco to play volleyball with some members and other narrys, including the legendary Elder Stones! It was a lot of fun but there's this guy up there named Hermana S who is famous for cutting ties with giant scissors and I happened to be wearing my Canada tie that you sent me :( So if you could send another Canada tie that would be awesome. 

That's about it from me, the time is going by super fast these days and we are super tired but I love it!

Love,

Elder Lethaby

November 6, 2017

Hi MOM!

Gonna start off with a little miracle. Yesterday a less active lady that we were supposed to visit this week but had to cancel came to church and brought her 8 year old grandson. The ward secretary was joking around and went and asked him if he wanted to be baptised TODAY. He was hyped and said its the biggest desire of his heart and didn't understand that the ward secretary was joking. The 3rd hour of church one of the bishops councillors came and pulled us out of our class and was waiting there with the boy (Eric). He was super confused because he was going around telling everyone to come to his baptism after church. Anyway, we went and visited them in the afternoon and grandma is hyped to come back to church, his parents have potential, and he has a baptismal date for this month! He sat us down, offered a glass of water, told us "estan en su casa", real gentleman. He then said "lets talk business, when am I going to get baptised?" hahha pretty rare to have baptisms just fall out of nowhere like that, but we were super grateful, and we are really hoping the whole fam can just be baptised. Only problem is that the grandma on the other side of the fam is a JW. 

This week like 4 big fams in the mission got baptised, one was a family of 5 in Totolac! We already have almost as many baptisms in this month as we did in all of September, after just one week!

The zone conferences went really well, we are going to get more into working with the YSA (young adults) and using FB and stuff to get the youth more engaged. We're thinking of a Christmas scavenger hunt thing that we want to do on the FB page (Mision en linea Puebla Tlaxcala) and get everyone to share their missionary experiences in the comments. 

Who's Ben Barfuss gonna marry because I was talking about that with Elder Barfuss the other day and he hadn't heard anything haha. 

Did I tell you guys that our stake president´s wife passed away a few weeks ago? Super sad, he's a very young stake president (maximum 40 years old) and has young kids. The other day we got to the offices and there was a 70 just waiting outside to interview him and so we could talk to him a bit. This week Elder Valenzuela of the area presidency is gonna come to reorganise the stake presidency and he's gonna stay at President Nelson´s house! Might meet him :)

Glad the weather is still so nice over here hahaha, gotta enjoy that while I can.

Sounds like all is well back home.

Love you guys, love being a missionary.

Elder Lethaby

November 13, 2017

It's Christmas time in Mexico :) (just in our apartment but were hyped)!

You will all have to wait another week just like the rest of the missionaries to know if I will stay another transfer or not haha. 

We had a special stake conference with Elder Valenzuela from the area presidency and Elder Chavez of the seventy. The Mexico city temple president and of course President Nelson were also there. Those seventies understand very well why they are there and do not waste a single moment or word that isn't going to help the stake with what they need. They called a completely new stake presidency (the old one was only there for like 7 months or something). Don't know them yet but seem good. Elder Chavez gave a really, really good talk though about what he saw happening in the stake that needed to change. He talked about the way the Saviour responded to the adulterous woman, that he didn't say "I forgive you" because she still hadn't repented, but he did show that he was willing to forget about it and forgive her once she had done so. He talked about how we need to be willing to forget about the mistakes of others (especially leaders) and not judge. It takes faith to trust that imperfect people are still called of God even when they make mistakes. "if you look for the flaws in the men we have just called, you will find them. If you look at the fact that all 3 of them are even shorter (he's pretty short) than I am, you will find it." We should look for the good in everything, like that Gordon B Hinckley quote you sent mom. Very good and needed talk. Has been a big help looking at the good and not the bad in missionaries while in the process of choosing 22 trainers hahaha.  

Elder Valenzuela talked about some experiences he's had with sharing the Gospel in creative ways. He went to a graveyard with his wife on day of the dead and gave out "My Family" pamphlets. Pretty creative. "We don't need to wait for Salt Lake to tell us before we come up with different ways to share the gospel." Pretty good stuff all around. 

They're gonna get married in August I bet. 

Eric's parents aren't as excited about him getting baptised as he was, but we want to go serve them and I think that way we will be able to get through and help them see the need for the gospel in their lives.  

I think that's it from me, see ya next week! Also if someone could get me Ana's missionary email address that would be good :)

Love 

Elder Lethaby

November 20, 2017

Thanks for the spiritual thought mom, honestly I think that's been one of my biggest weaknesses in my mission, studying well. Kinda surprising because that's all I did before the mish and I did it well, but it's something I need to step up in the mission. Goal for this last stretch will be to learn how to study in a way that I can continue for my whole life :)

Sorry for writing so late in the week, with all the news that arrived on Monday we had to take two days to train them and choose companionships. To answer your question mom, yes we do have a very large part in choosing the trainers, the companionships and everything about the transfers. We go out and do our homework, calling all the leaders in the mission to get reports on every missionary, we bring that information to the transfer meetings, and we work together with President Nelson and the Spirit to make those decisions. This time it was pretty hard to choose 22 trainers in such a small mission. Right now more than half of the mission is either training, or being trained. We now have the zone leaders of 2 zones (Tlaxcala and Tlaxcala Norte) acting as trainers and zone leaders! Huge job for them (Elder A and Stones who arrived with me are two of the 4 that are doing that). 2 zone leaders and 2 news live together and they are pretty much trainers by day, and zone leaders by night haha. Should be good. We have been so blessed with this generation though, our problem was that many of the news already seemed more ready than their trainers! Super prepared, spiritual, smart missionaries. Probably like 6 future APs in the group. Pretty sure Ana met several of them in the MTC because they were all there at the same time. 

President took us to IHop after the transfer day to celebrate and for Elder Stirling's birthday! Pretty weird eating in such an American place. 

Other than that we have just been preparing for more meetings and stuff so far this week. It's going to be more fun to plan the zone conference though because it's the Christmas conference this time :) That was a big part of why I wanted to stay another transfer hahaha. That, and because the mission is doing awesome now. We had 28 baptisms last week which was more than any other week since I've been an assistant! Also in week 3 of the month we already have more than we have in any other month since I got here! We have been very blessed and it's been a lot of big families too :) Love hearing about all the miracles.

Also, the stake president whose wife passed away was called as our ward mission leader on Sunday! So hyped on that one!

Love ya!

Elder Lethaby

Questions answered:

What do you think your strengths are, that you brought to the mission? Ask your companion this too.

Elder Stirling says my huge arms, my testimony, my hair looks nice, and he says I know the scrips well but I think that one isn't that true. Also that I'm really flexible. I think one of my biggest strengths is being constant. I don't think I am the best at teaching, or the language or a lot of other things, but I am constant in working hard even when things don't go my way :)

Why do you think you were called to serve where you are?

I think the Lord had some super specific people and companions he wanted me to meet. I think this mission is a place where I have been able to have a ton of super spiritual experiences, and a lot of success, but also some really hard times that taught me maybe even more. 

What ideas or inspirations have come to your mind since being called as AP?

One big push we are trying to do right now, is changing the way the leaders in the mission motivate the rest. Before, when I arrived, it was very competition based (showing the numbers of all the areas, giving awards for the zones that baptise more, etc...), but now we have changed a few really small things, like the way we present the progress of the mission, so that it is a unity based motivation. We now set goals the come from the bottom up, not from the top down, and when one of us baptises everyone is happier now. 

Favourite person to work with this week…WHY?

Elder B, he's one the new zone leaders and I went on interchanges with him and we just really got along really well, pretty much the same person. Wasn't the best day for the work but it was super fun :)

Tell me a kindness you witnessed today?

The hair dresser opened up early for us so that we could get our hair cut before we had to come to the office :)

Latest P-day activities?

Well last week we went to Apizaco and played volley ball and tie shopping. Right now I think the plan is to go for sushi and next week we are thinking about going to "African Safari" which I think is like a zoo.

What is different going on divisions with the President vs. another missionary?

Well I've only ever had President go on divisions with me once. What we do is go visit a companionship and I go with one and he goes with the other. When he goes though, one big difference is that he has a car and he is a really good teacher. He's kinda like the secret weapon, if someone has an interview with him it's almost 100% chance they'll get baptised. 

Do they have an equivalent to Remembrance Day? That was just this past Saturday here.

I don't think so.

Do you ever think of presents you could bring your mother? You know….like a nice Mexican nativity set for her collection?! ’Tis the season!!!

I will find you a nativity set hahaha

What kind of tree? Fake but beautiful? Charlie Brown?

Fake and like a foot and half tall haha but it looks nice.

What’s with the green iPhones…I heard they were fake?!

No, they are real. President loves us. 

Where I have Felt Most like Christ in my Mission

Thinking about going to DQ in a sec here so thought about you. There's only one in the mish and I haven't gone cuz it's expensive but we're almost at the end of the month and I'm doing fine with money. 

MOM those pix get me HYPED! 

(Sommer is headed to school this January,

Amy is headed to Tokyo, Japan on her mission,

Lance is headed to Toronto on his mission,

and Ana is headed to Mexico on her mission...best friends ever!)

Yeee hearing good news about good ol Caleb. Great news update tbh.

This week was pretty nice, I got to go on exchanges with Elder Stones again, the legend. He's still hyped on the narry (missionary) life. We found a homeless guy named J that told us about his life story in perfect English. He used to live in LA and has a fam and kids there, and had everything he ever wanted. He then started drinking a bit too much, got deported, and found himself living on the streets of Puebla. He had a real desire to change and he had read the BoM before and had a bible in his pocket. We couldn't do much for him in his current state, but we went and got him a haircut and invited him to the self-sufficiency class. We will see what happens, but honestly it was one of the experiences where I have felt most like Christ in my mission. Love Elder Stonez. 

Also the familia S is killin it. C is going to get baptised this week, already passed the interview, and mom is super interested and committed to activate herself again. We have had lessons with members that are really helping her and the whole fam stayed all 3 hours this week at church. Sometimes the most fulfilling experiences aren't the ones that look awesome on paper. That's a lesson that has/is taking me way too long to figure out. I think that's about it from me. We are having a great time as companions too :)

Love Elder Lethaby

Questions Answered:

Did you get birthday cards? Ana was asking.

Mmm don't think so, just the ones that were in the package, hyped that there should be one on the way though!

Do you ever do magic tricks for anyone?

No :( the other day we saw these street magicians though and they were doing tricks at one traffic light when we walked by (pretty good honestly), and then we kept walking and like 2 blocks later they were somehow there again! They teleported! Best trick ever, we gave them our change and then they did a lil private show for us. Also Elder Stirling found the pic of me on Bro Young's website and he made it his planner cover. 

Have you heard from Emma? She bounces through her emails - she is so happy!! (note: Emma just started her mission on Temple Square in SLC)

I think she just sent an email saying "HELLLOOOO!" so I too think she's happy hahaha. 

Want anything else for Christmas? Pants for sure?

The kendama would be awesome, the pants would be awesome, more Maynard's (candy from Canada!), and ties are always great (you've been killing it on the ties you've sent btw) Love you

What are your companionship goals this week?

Write in journal more, study more and better (kinda hard sometimes), and just like never make excuses for not doing something because we were busy with our assignment. 

Do you ever get to ask your mission president good doctrinal questions? Or does he ask you?!

Honestly not really haha, he is super busy and our job is to make his life easier and make it so that he has more time, so we try to talk about the things that will help him. If we ever try to ask deep doctrine questions, he asks, "if I tell you that, is it going to help someone get baptised?" He's got his priorities very straight. 

Nervous if you do get transferred this next round?

No! I think it could go either way depending on the needs of the mission, but I would honestly love the opportunity to go just work really hard in my own area and just focus on that for a while. If that's the case I would probably open a new area and train because we're getting 19 new missionaries. 

Do you use google drive to store photos? It’s part of your lds mail account FYI!!

No but I have most of them backed up on a memory stick.  

How I spent my Birthday

October 9, 2017

For the time, I had to choose between going to see some old investigators from Amalucan get baptized or going to eat with president, so we went to the baptism and it was awesome! After 9 different missionaries, S and R finally got baptised and I was able to go see it for my birthday! They got married and baptised on October 7th and we were able to go eat at their little reception that they had at their house after. SO rewarding to finally see that happen. R changed more than any other convert I have seen in my mission. He went from saying that he felt like God owes him a lot for all that he's put him through, to humbling himself and being baptised. This family will be eternal! :))))) The 6 of us that were able to go sang a special hymn for them and the spirit was so strong. 

So that's how I spent my birthday! Also calling the missionaries to tell them about their transfers. Everything went well. Hard to say goodbye to Elder N and Elder M last night though. Learned a ton from those guys. 

Got an awesome box from Oma, don't think the one from you has arrived yet though. 

Should be a pretty good transfer coming up! The sisters that were serving in our ward closed their area so we now have twice as much area and twice as many investigators, so the work should get going real well. Didn't like sharing a ward because you can't visit some of the members. All good here. 

Love you!
Elder Lethaby

Questions Answered:

What is it like being an office missionary? 

No haha I don't think they tease us much, or at least not to our faces! 

Where are your expectations at now, after a year in the mission? And what are your expectations?

I think my expectations started off as baptising every week and always bringing a ton of people to church and having super spiritual experiences every day. After my first area, I lowered my expectations a ton because it didn't happen like that. But now I think they are back up to that again. I think I have learned how to work so that that can be possible and even though we don't have much time in our area right now we think we will be able to do that this transfer. 

What is the weather like right now? Ever walk in water past your ankles?

Hasn't been raining much at all honestly these last few weeks. Like 20 is pretty normal. 

Are you in your own apartment near the mission office? Do you go in every day?

We live like 10 minutes away walking. We try to go in as little as possible and it usually ends up being like 4 times a week. 

Did you get a small bubble package from Oma? That is also on it’s way.

Didn't get the lil package from Oma but hyped on that! Elder Barfuss just called and asked how you guys send them so maybe you should hunt down his mom.

Did you get our birthday box?

YES! The pants fit perfect and I might use them every day for the next year so if you don't want me to do that, feel free to send more! Got the size right. Also loved all the cards from Emma and Hoshizaki's and candy and everything. :)

How many families are you teaching right now? How many individuals?

Like 4 fams and like 7 individuals I think, trying to find more fams but it's been hard when we constantly have to cancel appointments. 

What’s your favourite lesson to teach from Preach My Gospel?

I'm a big fan of teaching anything from the Book of Mormon like stories. I like teaching about Nephi's faith in 1Nephi 3 or 17, but really just have had a ton of spiritual experiences using the Book of Mormon. 

​October 16th, 2017

Did I tell you next transfer were getting 22 news (that's new missionaries)? That's the most that have arrived here in like 2 years I think so that will be very crazy and we are already starting to plan for it over a month ahead. 

3 people have now told me that Ana killed it, and she just sent it to me, so I will give it a read and see if that's really true. 

This week we were crazy busy with different meetings and planning for all of them. Went awesome though! We taught how to contact with the Book of Mormon, asked for cups of water and then threw them out the window to get a point across, filmed me playing basketball, and a few other fun things. I will send the video. Just so you know (because it's in Spanish), we were talking about how we need to be willing to drop whatever plans we had of the lesson we were going to teach if the Spirit tells us to do so, or if we find another need of the people we teach. The district leaders got a kick out of it and asked us if they could teach it in their district meetings haha. 

I really liked the get plenty of sunshine part on the example you sent, I think that's the one we need to work on most. (see below for what mum sent)

We also had some really sad news this week as one elder (a very good elder) was found to have cancer and was sent home for treatment. President is organising a fast for us as a mission. I thought about you mom and how I wasn't really old enough to understand what was going on, but how I'm sure now that I think about it that the ward was praying, fasting and serving our family all the way through. In Moroni 6 it talks about that, the church gets together to talk about the well being of its members. We are here for that purpose. We are also here with that purpose as a mission, so keep this Elder in your prayers please! 

I think that's about it from me,

Love you guys, thanks for everything, seriously,

Elder Lethaby

Advice from a pumpkin

Be well-rounded (M. Russell Ballard "I believe that when we focus on a few basic objectives, we are more likely to be able to manage the many demands that life makes on us. Remember, too much of anything in life can throw us off balance. At the same time, too little of the important things can do the same thing. King Benjamin counselled “that all these things [be] done in wisdom and order” (Mosiah 4:27).”)

Get plenty of sunshine (M. RussellBallard - "Many people, including me, have difficulty finding the time for sufficient rest, exercise, and relaxation. We must schedule time on our daily calendars for these activities if we are to enjoy a healthy and balanced life. Good physical appearance enhances our dignity and self-respect."

Give thanks for life’s bounty (Psalms 107:1)

Have thick skin (Psalms 118:6)

Keep Growing (Moroni 7:33)

Be outstanding in your field (1 Nephi 16:29)

Think BIG! (“Don’t let others convince you that you are limited in what you can do. Believe in yourself and then live so as to reach your possibilities.”President Thomas S. Monson (“Living the Abundant Life,” Ensign, Jan. 2012, 5).)

He eats a lot & getting ready to turn 20!

HI MOM!
This week we've really been eating a lot of things as you can probably see in the pics. Got the waffle iron working just great and president treated us to some burgers! We've been working a lot better in our own area this transfer honestly. This week we got an investigator named Y to church for the first time. She's the Bishop's next door neighbour who is like best friend of his wife. We've been teaching her since before I got to the area, but we just never realised that there were awesome members right beside of her that could help her progress. They had an FHE (family home evening) with her, invited her to watch conference in the church and at their house, and offered their home for all the lessons. She's excited to be baptised and was sad that she couldn't take the sacrament this week. 

We have also kept visiting the S fam (daughter getting ready for mish, mom less active, and lil bro nonmember). Mom told us she honestly didn't get baptised for the right reasons years ago, but now wants to be taught as if it was from the beginning. Very spiritual lessons there with big sis sharing her testimony. We showed them the talk from Elder Holland after conference because it talks about hope. We aren't perfect and never will be in this life, but that we can do a lot more than we think sometimes. You should all rewatch that talk!

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2017/10/media/session_1_talk_11/5594207155001?lang=eng

Also the talk from President Eyring in the priesthood sesh. Pretty sad how President Monson couldn't go, but I felt the spirit really strong with all the other shoutouts from the other church leaders. Also Elder Pino who said the prayer in one sesh was here a few months ago and I met him! I'm famous!

I love the mish mom, and I am learning a ton. Keep working hard and playing hard. 

Love 

Elder Lethaby

Questions Answered:

What were some of the biggest challenges to overcome when arriving on your mission?

I think the hardest thing when I got to the mission was having really high hopes and expectations, but not that great at teaching or Spanish skills. I would get frustrated a lot.

Biggest adjustments you had to make?

Be more humble and work for the right reasons, not so that everyone would see me being a good missionary. I had to do that because if you are working to have high numbers and you don't get it you feel worthless, but if you're working because you love the people you will still feel sad sometimes, but you still know you're doing what you should be and that the Lord is happy with you. 

What is one of the most encouraging thing someone has done for you while a missionary?

I think the fact that my trainer spoke pretty much perfect English but didn't let me see how good his English was so that I would be forced to learn faster. It would have been way easier for him to just speak English all the time. Also when I was with Elder N he taught me a ton about what I was talking about above (being humble), and was super patient with me as I tried to change it. I have had some really awesome companions. 

What are your plans for your birthday?!

Try to convince president to take us out for dinner, light up the Canadian sparklers you sent, and call the whole mission to tell them about their transfers. :)

:)

Waffles

Burgers with President Nelson

Post Earthquake Waffle Ice Cream Sandwiches

Hi mom!

So as I'm sure many have heard, the mission and half of the country was hit by an earthquake this week. It has been very exciting to hear about all that is happening in Mexico and other parts of the country. The members have been very supportive and almost all went to go help out for the day last Saturday. 

We had to change A´s baptismal date to Friday at 8:30 so that everyone could make it. It was a very quick service, the bishop had his phone in his pocket while baptising him, but everything went well! He received the holy ghost and the priesthood on Sunday! He thought that you could only go on a mission if you are 18, like after that you can't go anymore and he is 21, but we taught him otherwise and he's now thinking about it pretty seriously! That is one of my biggest goals for the mission, baptise someone who serves a mission! Both of the secretaries in the picture met the church because of GFs (girlfriends...for the older crowd reading this!) and then were baptised and served missions, so it can happen! 

We also had a miracle on Monday! The bishop invited us to a FHE with a family that has a 23 year old daughter preparing for the mish, a less active mom, and a nonmember little brother! We had a pretty spiritual experience with the bishop and his fam (big fan of this bishop), they went to our baptism on Friday, they went to church on Sunday, and the little bro is gonna get baptised in a few weeks! Good stuff there, just gotta get mom a little more active first. 

We also had a little miracle yesterday at church! A member from another ward brought a friend to church who has been through a bit of depression, an ugly break up and doesn't know his purpose in life, but he was searching so diligently in the classes, like basically the whole class was focused on his questions, and he said he felt like he found some answers he had been looking for. His friend is awesome and got him to go to a YSA activity last night too. He also accepted a baptismal date 3 weeks from now! 

We are seeing a lot of miracles in our own area and the whole mission! And we made waffles today like waffle ice cream sandwiches! 

Love you guys!

Elder Lethaby 

Waffles!

Survived His Second Earthquake

From the Mission President at 2:26 pm:

Estimados Padres y amigos de misioneros de la misión Mexico Puebla Norte. A la 1:15 de la tarde hoy experimentamos un sismo centrado entre Puebla y CDMX que midió 7.1. Perdimos electricidad, servicio celular e internet. Poco a poco se están arreglando. Estamos en el proceso de verificar el estatus de cada misionero. Colocaremos mas noticias en las redes socials y por correo electrónico cuando estén disponibles. Gracias por sus oraciones y fe. - Presidente Nelson

Dear Parents and Friends of missionaries of the Mexico Puebla North mission. At 1:15 this afternoon we experienced a 7.1 earthquake centered between Puebla and Mexico City. We lost electricity, cell service and internet. Little by little it is getting fixed. We are in the process of verifying the status of each missionary. We will add more information to the social networks and by email when it is available. Thank you for your prayers and faith. - President Nelson.

From the Mission President at 4:01pm (wow they are on top of things!):

Estimados papas y amigos de misioneros de la misión Mexico Puebla Norte. Ahorita terminamos verificando con todos los misioneros en la misión y todos están bien! Hemos hablado con cada uno de ellos para asegurar que están bien y que están en un lugar seguro. Cada misionero va a tener la oportunidad de escribir a sus familias mañana cuando todo el poder ha sido restaurado y las calles están mas seguras. Colocaremos cualquier cambio en las redes socials y por correo electrónico. Muchas gracias por sus preocupaciones y oraciones. - Presidente Nelson

Dear parents and friends of missionaries in the Mexico Puebla North mission. We just finished verifying with all of the missionaries in the mission and all are without injury and in a secure place! We have talked with each and every one of them personally to make sure they are okay. Each missionary is going to have the opportunity to write their families tomorrow when every thing has calmed down and all power has been restored. We will add any change to the social media sites and by email. Thank your for your concern and your prayers. - President Nelson

So we´re allowed to write home again because as I'm sure you saw on Facebook and news and stuff there was another earthquake today! It was a 7.1, not sure what that means but it was kinda big I guess. We were in a lesson with a guy who works at a drycleaners, just like at the front desk with him and we started to testify and the ground literally started shaking and I felt like super powerful. We just walked out to the middle of the street to wait it out, and everyone around was running and screaming. The guy we had been teaching ask us, "Why is it that everyone else is freaking out and us three are so calm?" We were able to tell him that we were calm because we are prepared, or at least we are in the process of preparing ourselves. 

30 I tell you these things because of your prayers; wherefore, treasure up wisdom in your bosoms, lest the wickedness of men reveal these things unto you by their wickedness, in a manner which shall speak in your ears with a voice louder than that which shall shake the earth; but if ye are prepared ye shall not fear. D&C 38:30

Super powerful experience honestly, the Spirit was very strong. 

The church in the picture was totally fine when we were on the way to the lesson, and when we walked back it was like that! (D&C 29:21)

I felt the Spirit many times tell me that the time is very soon, much sooner than we are thinking. Have a good rest of the week, but please prepare yourselves and everyone else. 

The whole mission is fine, just a bit of damage in a few houses (including the mission home :(  ), I don't feel scared at all.

All is well in Zion.

Love you guys,
Elder Lethaby

Waffle Iron as the latest purchase - missionary tool?

September 18, 2017

Hi Mom! 

I think I will be writing earlier, but not always, it just depends on our pday plans now haha. Elder S says hi and we think you should make friends with his mom - send her a request on FB. 

This week was awesome, really saw some miracles. Our investigator A, is 20 years olds, has a member gf, has like 8 months investigating the church, and is finally going to be baptised this week! He was working but now he quit and can have more time to be active in the church. Great guy, trying to decide between mission and marriage but I'm telling him to mish it because his soon to be bro in law is the Elders quorum pres, his soon to be father in law is the old bishop, and because its a commandment (mostly because of that). Ive been learning to be more bold and not be afraid of just inviting everyone to do what God wants them to do. 

We had some great zone conferences this week where we got everyone to do a trust fall line and then we talked about how if even just one of us isn't committed to reach our missions goal (100 baptisms in a month), the rest of us cant do it either. We are a team! The whole church is a team! 

Last week we bought a waffle iron, and today we took it to the test with a member and his nonmember fam and they turned out just great! We will be having better breakfasts now I guess but please send more syrup. I got the package with the Canadian froot loops and all that! Great work mom, big fan! You're the best mom in the world! What's the latest on the pants situation though? Trying to decide if I should go buy some or wait for a package because I only really have two pairs right now. And Elder M still wants beef jerky!

Sounds like everyones doing great! 

Love you!
Elder Lethaby

First Earthquake

September 11, 2017

Hi mom! 
We had a very eventful week that went by really quick. We took an Elder who went home to the airport in Mexico city, we went to Tlaxcala, we planned a zone conference, we survived an earthquake, we lost a companion (Elder M who went with the companion of the Elder who went home), and we still squeezed in a little bit of time to see some miracles. A, an "eternal investigator", quit his job, and will now have time to go to church and see us a bit more often. He went to church yesterday and wants to get baptised. His girlfriend is a member who invited him, but he is super sincere and has a strong testimony. Should be baptised in two weeks! We also had been praying to find someone who had also been praying to find us. The next day when we were heading back home, a woman was backing in to her driveway in front of where we were walking and stopped, rolled down the window, and told us she needed a verse of scripture or something to help her out right now because she was going through problems with her husband. We were able to give her the family proclamation and testify that it will get better. Very simple but powerful experience. We also found a part member family of 4 siblings between the ages of like 25 and 35 who all live together and only one brother is a member, but he's awesome and went on a mission and we started teaching his family yesterday. One of his brothers was super closed, but he has a sister whose children are baptised and she was talking about how she wants them to keep going to church but just doesn't trust herself to be "perfect enough" to be a member. That's what the atonement is for though! So many people think it's just for our sins, but it's for our weaknesses too! We told her she doesn't have to be perfect, that we aren't perfect, and at the end she told us we are the first (of many) missionaries who have come and told her that. She said she felt like we were being real with her, that we were there to help her and not just baptise her to count it on a list.I feel like that has been a big change in me in the mission and it was a great experience. 
Love you all
Elder Lethaby

What does his badge mean to him?

September 4, 2017,

Shane's living the dream! 

I love magnum bars too, they're kinda expensive for missionaries, but I love them so sometimes I treat myself. Sounds like an awesome trip though. 

This week we had a ton of meetings again, almost all went very well, and it looks like there's some good stuff going on in the mission. In one of them I realised there were only 3 missionaries out of like 30 with more time than me in the mission which was very weird, the mission is super young now. Feeling inspired to work harder ever day. We are literally preparing the way for the second coming so we gotta get going! A bit stressed with some little problems though but don't worry about it, got great companions to work with. Elder S is funny in the same way as Jake Maller like he just says things sometimes that don't make sense but he's also really smart and has a lot of ideas and thoughts about how we can help the mission. Elder M might leave us this week, still haven't decided, but hes doing good too, the last few days with a sudden burst of energy because the secretaries bought his plane ticket. 

This week we had a miracle too! A__ (20), an old investigator who almost got baptised but then started working way too much so he couldn't go to church called us and told us he was going to enter university and would not have to work much and wants to prepare himself for baptism and he wants to go to institute! So hyped on him! Please pray that he can have the strength to overcome the temptations that come his way. Great guy, also talked about going on a mission. 

I know this is the same work Christ would do if he were here, we just have to try harder to do it in His way.

Love ya!

Elder Lethaby

Questions Answered: 

What does your badge mean to you? How is it different than an employee badge?

It means that we've gotta be alert at all times because we represent the church, the fam and most importantly the Savior. Big deal. We talk a lot about how if we didn't have the badge, would they still recognize us as representatives of Jesus Christ? 

How will you teach people and/or missionaries this week the way the Saviour taught? How will you teach like the Master?

We have been talking a lot about the need to "clean up the mission" again because of a few things that have happened, and so I think it would have to be teaching them to be obedient, visiting those who need help, but not just to get mad at them but to honestly help them become like Christ. 

Who has served you this week, and who have you served?

Today N, a recent RM from our ward took us to McDons which is a big trt cuz it's expensive for us and it was the first time I've gone in my mish so that counts as service, big fan of him. I served Elder S with his new role as AP to understand all of his new jobs.

When I knew it Was True....

August 28, 2017

HEY I'M HYPED!

We're in a trio now! Elder S from Arizona is gonna be with us. He's a real good guy who's really good at swimming (swam with Micheal Phelps and once beat him so he's probs gonna go to the Olympics when he gets home). I have wanted to be his companion for a long time so couldn't be happier. He was just in Amalucan with Elder A too which is kinda cool. 

Yesterday we received 6 new missionaries (all great), and said goodbye to 10 (we keep losing more). Also another secretary (Elder A) got here so well be 6 in the offices now. 

Sounds like you are all doing great and enjoying the vacations. Keep me posted. Would love to go see Spain some time. 

Wrote lots in my answers to the questions, so I already talked about everything else I wanted to say haha. 

Love you all, I'm excited right now!!
Elder Lethaby

Questions Answered:

Can you pinpoint when you knew the church was true? 

I think the first time I felt the spirit like really strong was the first time I went to the temple when I was 12 and I was waiting to do baptisms sitting with Scotty K, and his grandma had just passed away and he was pretty sad but I just remember I felt the spirit really strong when we talked about eternal families. That night I read the book of Mormon by myself when I got home for the first time even though it was like 1:00am just because I wanted to. Also lots of EFY/Youth conferences helped me along the way. THE ACTIVITIES FOR THE YM/YW ARE IMPORTANT! NEVER MISS THEM!

What doctrine are you studying right now?

We have been studying as a mission in the BoM about the promises that father Lehi made with his children and posterity. We have found some pretty cool examples, and then we highlight in another colour what we can do to make sure those promises are fulfilled. 2 Nefi 29 has some trts. 

https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/29.3

How do you study? Compare scriptures, and read talks on a specific topic? Discuss?

Also as a mission we are studying 44 principles. Basically what that is, is a binder president gave us where there are several sheets (44) and a bunch of questions and ways of applying every principle. The 44 principles are the principles that come in the lessons in chapter 3 of PMG (Preach My Gospel). So we basically just make mini lesson plans of every little topic so that when we are called upon we can be ready to explain it is a powerful, clear way and use scriptures, experiences and examples to back it up. 

How was the fancy dinner with the president? Try anything new?

We went to Pampas, a Brazilian buffet. It was very good. They have people that come around with different kinds of meat and you can just tell them yes or no. I said yes a little too much :) One thing I tried was like roasted pineapple with cinnamon. V good. Not much new other than that. 

What have you learned about a companionship that you want to take with you into a marriage?

I have learned to accept that my ideas aren't always better than my companions ideas. Even though sometimes he still doesn't convince me that his ideas are better, I just give in and sometimes he proves me wrong and I like it because I let myself learn more. 

See any new sights this week?

Mmm that one not really. Just that we moved around the furniture and cleaned the house a lot to make way for our new companion so the house is a new sight haha.

One Year Down-Learning to be a Grown-up

August 21, 2017

Hi mom,

We had a pretty interesting week, lots of different experiences. 

I got to go on divisions with President Nelson Tuesday, the transfer meeting on Wednesday, interchanges on Thursday, and a little more time in our area on Friday and Saturday. On Sunday our ward finally got a bishop! They called a brother who's about 30 years old as the bishop, and his two councillors are younger than him! The three of them were very shocked with their callings, but I think they will do a good job to make a change in the ward. Kinda scary though!

I enjoyed the transfer meeting a lot! We went to president's house from like 9:30-2:30 and still didn't finish! Lots of work. There's a white board with a card of every missionary, their picture, their areas they've had, their old companions, their assignments, and a few other details. We prayed and then talked a lot about every one of them. Not all of the changes we decided to make are what we had thought would happen, sometimes president knows other things that are going on with certain missionaries, and sometimes the spirit just tells us to change something.  

We also set some goals that Sister Nelson is gonna be checking with us about the work in our area. We set the goal to be there working for 40 hours a week which doesn't sound like much but was pretty hard to reach this week. 

Hey send pics next week though! That's my rule if you're gonna go on vacation without me you gotta send pics! Can't really think about what else happened this week but I just went and bought some new shoes so that's kinda cool. They're gonna be my Sunday/conference/nice event shoes because even though my other ones are still hanging in there, they don't look too good anymore. I think they were the equivalent of like $60 though and they're Flexi brand which I think is supposed to be pretty good. 

Learning lots here about being a grown up hahah, like I can't just ask someone else whenever I have a problem, I have to figure it out and have the confidence in myself that it's the right answer (with mission rules and special permissions and stuff like that). Also just always being prepared without having to be asked for everything. I feel like I didn't know how to think for myself before the mission. 

One year down now, have loved it a lot up to this point and am very excited to keep progressing and drawing closer to Heavenly Father every day. Even though some days I have been working so hard without seeing any results, I look back now and honestly feel very proud of what I have been able to do. Love being a missionary. 

Have fun in Iceland and Spain and stuff!

Love,

Elder Lethaby 

Questions Answered:

Can you describe the city a bit?

The city has a lot of parts that are really "fresa" or like fancy nice, and other parts that are a bit poor. You get around in combi (little van that's like the public transportation). Everyone speaks Spanish but in this ward a bit more English. Idk what else to say haha.

Best memory of the week?

The transfer meeting! Very cool experience to see how it's done and see the concern president has for the missionaries when we are planning. Even the disobedient missionaries are very important to him and we tried to plan to help them change. 

Are you close to a Costco? One just opened in Iceland in May! What?!

I think so because the secretaries always go but I've never been!

Favourite scripture this week.

Jacob 5. Didn't get it at all before the mish and now I get it a little. https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/jacob/5?lang=eng

When you learn that this 88 year old walks slow...

August 14th

Hi Mom!

We had a really good week with the zone conferences. The best part was when President talked about charity, and showed this talk (please listen AND watch): https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2007/10/the-great-commandment?lang=eng 

He talked about how if even just one of us has the idea in our mind that the mission is about receiving recognition for assignments or how many baptisms you have, the whole mission will go down. He used an example of just putting a little drop of food colouring in a big jar of water, but quickly it spread through all the water (the mission). We can choose if we want it to be a drop of charity or pride. One Elder told me after it was one of the most spiritual experiences of his (23.5 month) mission. We also talked about specific things we can do to work better with the members. 

Before I forget, my companion wants me to ask you to send beef jerky hahaha, an old companion got it once and he LOVED it but hasn't found it here. Also if you find that there's a bit of money missing from my account don't worry, I think I'm gonna buy some new shoes and a suit next week so it's for that. 

Sounds like all is well there in the YYC, Katelyn looks really happy! Send pics of her husband! Also the overpass looks handsome. 

Got to work with Elder Stones for a day this week too, which was a treat, I think he probably sent a pic to his family of the ice cream we bought, there's like 10 places to buy it in our area and it's all so good. He's doing really good and is a lot more confident now!

This week we are already going to have the first meeting to plan the transfers of the mission which I think will be a very very cool experience, super excited for that.

Have fun in Iceland and send lots of pics! Wish I could be there with you guys, but I am so happy to be where I am right now. I know the people, the place, the experiences, and everything around me is part of Heavenly Fathers plan so that I can become who I need to be. 

Love you all!

Elder Lethaby

Questions Answered:

How did zone conference go?
The zone conferences went really well! We were able to get everything ready and even with the hurricane that came by on Thursday it all went really well!

What lessons did you learn about organising an event like this?

We shouldn't just assume that the missionaries understand what they have to do. The zone leaders and sister training leaders are given the chance to train in the zone conferences, but we realised almost all of them are new, and they haven't had much experience training and that was probably the worst part of the conference, but not because they aren't good missionaries, because we didn't teach them. 

Ever play any good practical jokes, or have any done to you?

Were really into sneaking into the offices really quietly and waiting to see how long it takes for the secretaries to realise we´re there, but other than that not much since the MTC. 

Where will you spend FHE tonight? Do you mostly go to members?

We are gonna go with a little old lady and her less active fam!

Did you learn anything on the Sabbath Day…yesterday?

Yes! We passed by for an 88 year old recent convert who lives like 2 blocks away from the church so we thought we could get there in like 5 minutes, but he walked really slow, like way slower than we thought, and I was frustrated and ashamed to get to church late, but then I realised it was more important that he could get there, than just thinking about myself. Also they asked me to speak when I got there.