SIN SACRIFICIO NO HAY VICTORIA

MOM! It's my last week! 

This week I put in practice the phrase above. I believe it comes from a Transformers movie that was playing on the bus that some elders in our zone took. "Without sacrifice, there is no victory." I think it would be translated kinda like that. Even though it is from a transformers movie, that's a big gospel truth! 

We put it in practice this week and decided to wake up early enough to do all of our studies before leaving the house even on the days where we had meetings and interviews and exchanges (most days). That meant waking up as early as 4:30 some days but I have felt the need to give it all in these last few weeks like a runner at the end of the race! We saw miracles! This week we found more new people to teach that I have in like 6 months! One of the new people we found, JL, accepted to be baptised, came to church, and even gave us ties! I know that the Lord blesses us when we sacrifice. Like you said in your email, promptings of the spirit are never convenient to follow but they are always going to help us! Honestly I felt the spirit a lot this week. 

I had an interview this week with our new mission president, Presidente Barron, which was a very weird interview because he mostly just asked me for advice hahaha. I also learned a lot from that. He's my leader, but he is humble enough to ask me for advice and recognise my strengths and my experience in the mission. He is starting to make some changes in the mission that I really feel are inspired. 

I guess the rest of what's happened recently I will save for next week when I see you all! But I just want to finish with my testimony since it will be my last email home as a missionary.

I know that this is the true and restored gospel and church of Jesus Christ. When we truly show faith, when we do everything we possibly can to repent and be changed by the atonement, when we come to the waters of baptism with the intention of never turning back, and we live all of the other principles and ordinances of the gospel, our lives will be changed here, and our lives will be changed in eternity. My mission has been a very simple one, I have not learned all of the deep doctrine, I have not learned where all the scripture are in the bible that I can use to "defend " myself against other religions, but I have learned these, the most important principles that there are and I have a strong testimony of them. The doctrine that really saves. Jesus Christ lives and loves us! In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

See you on Tuesday,

Love Elder Lethaby

QUESTIONS ANSWERED

Favourite thing about being a missionary?

Favourite thing in the narrie life would have to be seeing real conversion. When you see someone completely change their life and give up everything to follow Christ. There have been few experiences where that's happened, like where I know with no doubt that they will serve in the church until the day they die, but those experiences have made it all worth it.

How do you deal with stress?

I think I have gotten a lot better about dealing with stress in the mission, not really sure if I changed anything but I guess it would just be putting on a smile and accepting things how they are.

#1 Thing you learned as a missionary 1) for your self 2) for those you teach?

1) That if I don't humble myself, or if I give excuses, I will not be happy and I will not grow. 2) If they aren't willing to make sacrifices, their lives can't change. 

How do you keep yourself in the mindset where you're ready to learn and ready to feel the spirit?

Sometimes I feel frustrated with other missionaries or other people which I think is the thing that stops me from feeling it personally. When that happens I try to think about myself and what I could do better instead of trying to blame others. That's something President Nelson taught me a lot. 

Last minute feelings?

I feel really good honestly, excited about the area, about my future, about the changes I've seen in my mission. I thought I would get more sentimental but honestly I'm just feeling ready to keep going with life and take on what comes next and go strengthen the church wherever life takes me :)

Any TIPS?

TIPS! If you're preparing for a mission you will need to get really good at repenting, also if you aren't preparing for a mission you should do it :)

Elder Lethaby went on Tour + lots of pics (9 days left)

July 9

Hi mom! We´re on tour! 

After some biggish problems last week we prayed and felt the need to go work in some areas that are the furthest areas from the offices in the whole mission! We wanted to take advantage so we came up this morning to be tourists cuz it's super pretty and in a little while we are going to work with the missionaries here until Wednesday! 

Thought you would be happy to know that right now I'm writing from Zacatlan, one of the prettiest parts of the mission. I always wanted to come see and it's pretty cool. The town/city is built on the side of this huge valley kinda thing and it's all like misty and magical looking. Pretty cool :) It's far away so were going to stay the night here with the Elders and sleep on the floor and do divisions with them, and then interchanges tomorrow with Chignauapan. Some of the few parts of the mission that I had never seen. 

This week was pretty good/weird in our area. J couldn't go to church cuz her mom is not supportive but we still have hope, I have never had someone so hyped to get baptised! Not even sure why she wants to so bad! Not giving up!

Also yesterday at church a young lady showed up that I had seen before in other wards who said she hasn't been baptised but has come to church many times and wants to get baptised ASAP! Could be this Saturday but she seems kinda crazy, doesn't have a phone, doesn't know her address and got lost when we tried to get her to take us to her house. We put an appointment with her in the chapel, hoping she gets there! Not much else we can do...

In general we are killing it! I've been pretty focused still honestly, way too busy not to be :)

Love

Elder Lethaby


July 16th

MOM!

So in the last transfer in the mission we have to work on a "plan de saliente" which is like plans for our lives. One of the first things I thought of that I want to do is ask the bishop for some kind of calling or assignment with the young men because I have been worried about them and want to see them all in the mish! 

J is getting pretty powerful even though she couldn't come to church again, and we saw a little miracle, they hired someone else at her work so she might just be able to sneak out to go to church on Sunday's now.

This week was a lot of travelling again, but on Saturday we decided to work in Tule/Totolac mode (the areas where we both just worked super hard and gave everything) so we walked super fast and talked to everyone and we saw a ton of success, one guy that we contacted came to church the next day, and we found a bunch of people who were super interested. 

If there's anything else that anyone wants me to bring them let me know because next week is kinda the last chance! 

Right now I'm in Tlaxcallan visiting some converts and members and it's great to see them all again! 

Wish I had more to talk about hahaha but it was a pretty administery week. 

Hyped to see you all real soon, it's going to be super weird but awesome!

Love,

Elder Lethaby

Questions Answered:

Getting any emails or letters from home?

hahah ya lots lately, Elder Stirling, a few other sisters that returned from the mission already, Ana, Scott, Emma, the whole crew. 

Did you try anything new this week? Food? Approach? 

Right now were trying something new! Were kinda going on tour right now! One of the districts here is really having a hard time so we are going to leave our area for the first 3 days of this week and just go help out the missionaries out here. There are some really new ones who don't know how to work, and some really old ones who don't want to work. Had never left my area for so long but we prayed and felt the need to do it! 

When were you the most homesick on your mission?

I think last transfer. I was in the middle of the city with an American comp, felt a lot like home, started getting a lot of notices about stuff back home, it was kinda hard.

The temple is closed starting August 13 to August 27. Want to actually plan some trips before it closes?

Yes! I set a goal to attend the temple 4 times in August so we better get on that

We have always told the Elders how we write to you (2 letters). They seem to love the idea of one with just questions because they really don't know what to write home about. Have you liked the format? We have!!!

I like it too! 

It's a small world...Shout out to the Velazquez Fam & Maller clan

June 25th

Hard week but pretty rewarding! 

I went to Mexico city once, and Puebla twice this week for a ton of meetings, plus we are opening the new area and I was in the temple all day on Tuesday, so we really only had like 2 days in our area.

Last night though, we had a meeting for the people being taught in the zone and the recent converts so I got to see A and K that we baptised in Tlaxcallan! Such good news there!!!!! THEY BOTH TOLD ME THEY ARE FOR SURE GOING ON MISSIONS!!!! That was a goal of mine since I got to the mission! Also A's brother got baptised last week, and her mom is going to be baptised this Saturday! K's parents who were both VERY against the church have now both gone to church at least as well! AND another member of the S family that we had been teaching got baptised on Saturday! SO happy! 

Also I had some very small world moments this week! One of Ana´s companions from the mission got home on the same day as we opened the area and she is a member of our ward and shared her testimony on Sunday! Also I was showing my companion some pics of the boiz and he saw a pic of Jake Maller and it turns out they were in the same room in the MTC! I'm freaking out!

The ward mission leader here is amazing and so is the bishop! Such a strong ward honestly. They are both just working super hard. Living the law of consecration. Hermano S (ward mission leader) still hasn't cut any of my ties this week! 

Man just loving life right now even though it takes us like an hour to find our own house cuz we are super lost opening a new area. 

Have a good week everyone! 

Love ya!

Elder Lethaby

July 2nd

MOM! How are ya!?

Awesome week over here in Apiznice! Got some fresh meat in the people we teach pool. Member ref from Morelos ward named J coming in hot with the triple threat (that's what I call it when we find them, put a baptismal date with them, and bring them to church all in the same week). Big hope there and Hermana P (Ana's comp) is going to help us out there. 

Today I went to go visit Totolac and say goodbye, wanted to see more people, but got to see the old Bishop and his fam. One of the men I have learned most from in mymish. BUT HE NEEDS PRAYERS! His wife G, has cancer as of like a year ago and it's super bad now. She has lost a TON of weight and couldn't even get out of bed to come say hi :( We fasted for her as a mission on Saturday but some extra prayers could help. Love this family to death and the spirit and energy in their home was very different when I went today that in was a year and a half ago. 

On a brighter note, I got to see the baptism of A's mom! She talked about how it was hard for her to accept because like 2 years ago she got baptised in the Christian church, but when she heard her 11 year old son say "Mom, this is the true church." She felt the spirit super strong and realized that it is all true. That's what it's all about :)

They are going to move to another state at the end of this year to be with dad and big sis and baptise them too! SO HYPED! 

Overall doing really well, good comp, we laugh a lot together and he's kinda good at English. Also were planning a ward activity where were going to get all the RMs from the ward to make a traditional dish from where they served and bring it and share it. We have like 20 people on board with full support from a great bishop! 

Also we got a new president of the mission and the country but I don't know much about either one of them so stay tuned. 

Love

Elder Lethaby

Questions Answered:

How is the new Mission president?

Haven't met him yet, not until Thursday but I guess he's super nice and makes a lot of jokes :) 

Who are you teaching right now?

We don't have a lot, the other elders closed the area for a reason I think :( but we found a young lady named J this week who came to church and has a baptismal date! Also the ward mission leader has been helping a ton and we have an appointment with a referral of his who also seems promising! 

Walking everywhere still?

Most places, our area is huge!

You mentioned that having someone go serve a mission that you baptised was a goal. What other goals did/do you have?

Baptise an eternal family! Super cool actually because this week I went to the baptism of A's mom! So in that family 3/5 are baptised, the other 2 live in another state but she said when she shared her testimony in the baptism that they are planning on moving there to convert them too!

Did your Home Teaching experience before your mission teach you anything you could use on your mission?

Yes! I think I learned a lot about ministering as the Velazquez´s home teacher. I remember taking David and Jacob out to movies with us, or driving Enoc to the airport at 3am. Things like that teach a lot about service and I always felt really good doing it.