WEEK 40: The Easter Bunny's early arrival to Mexico

Feliz Cumpleaños a ti

Feliz Cumpleaños a ti

Feliz Cumpleaños a MOM and CHLOE BRAY

Feliz Cumpleaños a ti!!

I hope these 2 wonderful women in my life had / have the best birthdays this week!! Thank you Chloe for sending me pasta from Rome :) and mom for the many boxes of easter candy-- my companion was rather confused to see a box full of plastic eggs and chocolate bunnies as they don't do that here haha, but now she understands the pure joy that cadbury eggs bring...also my life is now complete knowing that Easter Bunny Sour Patch Kids exist.  LOVE YOU MOM!

Busy busy week!  So on friday we had a zone activity where we went to a market and contacted people, handing out a bunch of pamphlets and recieving stared glances from every pedestrian haha.  It was lots of fun getting a bunch of directions from people to go and visit and to bond with the other missionaries in my zone (all of the missionaries in our stake).  The elders shined shoes, we gave out free hot coco, and spent a few hours having fascinating conversations with people about their beliefs in God.  People are so interesting.

"...when ye are in the service of your fellow men ye are only in the service of your God" Mosiah 2:17

I just want to take a brief moment and express how much I love Hermana Flores!!  seriously-- so hilarious, crazy fun, and sweet to everyone.  I am so blessed to be serving with her and to watch her take her first baby steps as a missionary :)  I love training and together we are killin'it over here in Miguel Aleman!

A few weekly highlights:

We taught our investigador Eduard (9 years old) about Joseph Smith and El Libro de Mormón, and we did a fun little activity with little paper treasure chests that said ¨La Restauración" and little paper coins that read El Sacerdocio--Priesthood, Los Templos---Temples, El Bautismo y el Don del Espiritu Santo---Baptism and Gift of Holy Ghost, El Libro de Mormon, etc..  We explained how thanks to the restoration of the fullness of the gospel, we have all of these "treasures" in our lives.  It was really sweet because at the end, Eduard offered a prayer and asked "Heavenly Father, help me to know if José Smith was a prophet and that El Libro de Mormon is true".....Everyone of us needs to follow Eduard's example and ask Heavenly Father all of our personal questions, and He will answer.

Another High point was battling a raging rainstorm with a sweet woman in our ward (65 years old) who accompanied us for one of our lessons. The 3 of us went in her car, and as we got out on the street, our feet sank in ankle deep water.  Luckily I had my rainboots but the poor woman--with her dressy black work shoes and all--literally looked like she was skating through the water holding a dish towel above her head, booking it in slow motion towards the front door of our investigador hahaha.  I felt so bad.  Hopefully she will come teach with us again.

So we have a missionary handbook that reads:  "the weekends are ideal opportunities to find families to teach"...well, this statement is false here in Monterrey.  Saturdays and Sundays from 4pm until who knows when....every street has got all the men in their TIGRES soccer jerseys, one hand grillin' the carne asada and the other holdin' a beer, the women whippin' up homemade salsas, and the kids dancing to music.  Hermana Flores and I are a bit offended that we never get invited.  It's pretty funny.  You turn one street corner and you got someone playing Journey, another's got ACDC, later on you heard the traditional mexican bands and pop groups, and to finish the night off we walk back to our hourse boppin' our heads to Rihanna or Maroon 5.  Yes as a missionary it is very difficult living in the world and not of the world.

next week we go to the temple!  Until Thursday!

C O N  A M O R

hermana riches 

Week 39: THE BIG 9

OHHH WE"RE HALFWAY THERE.  Ladies and Gents, Hermana Riches has officially reached the top of the hill and will begin her 9 month journey back to her lovely fam and San Fran.  It's hard to grasp that my mission is halfway over...I have learned an overwhelmingly amount of things and still have oh so much to comprehend.  It makes me want to work even that much harder because I know this time will fly and I don't want to have any regrets or time wasted.  I'm grateful for all that I have experienced these 9 months because I have adapted qualities that have made me a better person and I know SIN DUDA....without a doubt....that this church, this gospel is true, and that God and Jesus Christ live.  Nevertheless, do not worry folks- my personality has not changed, and I am grateful for that because I am still the same old Lindsay Riches :)

                              Us with a family in our ward and the Elders

One powerful lesson I have learned this week:  The Book of Mormon has an unexplainable power to mend our heartaches and answer questions of the soul. This week we talked to a man (50 years old) seated out front of his vegetable stand, and he began to tell us about his drug and alcohol addictions he had about 10 years ago.  He mentioned that during this period of his life, he felt the desperate need to pray to God for Strength and Forgiveness, and when he prayed he felt an overwhleming sense of love come over him.  At this moment, I felt inspired to share with him the story of the prophet Enos, in the Book of Mormon, about this prophet's experience recieving forgiveness for his sins:

And I will tell you of the wrestly which I had  before God, before I recieved the remission of my sins...and my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my maker, and I cried unto Him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul...and there came a voice unto me, saying:  Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed...and I said:  Lord, how is it done?  and he said unto me:  Because of thy faith in Chirst" Enos 1:1-8

After reading these exerpts, Ricardo with big eyes said excitedly:  "¡¡¡Lo mismo me pasó a mí!!!" "That Same thing happened to me!!" He wanted to know more about El Libro de Mormón, and we told hinm that He could find many more relateable stories and a source of guidance in this book.  He accepted a baptismal date, and we will see how he progresses.

Yo sé que El Libro de Mormón fue escrito para nuestros tiempos, al darnos la esperanza en nuestro Salvador Jesucristo y para encontrar la paz durante nuestras aflicciones y debilidades.  sé que Jesucristo es misericordioso,  y que realmente tiene el poder de quitar las cargas y los errores en nuestras vidas, si pedimos con fe y verdadera intención.

I know that the Book of Mormon was written for our times, to give us hope in our Savior Jesus Christ and to find peace during our afflictions and weaknesses.  I know that Jesus Christ is merciful, and that he truly has the power to take away the burdens and mistakes in our lives, if we ask with faith and real intentions.

 

          Dana...a sweet girl in my ward

This week was seriously so great as we have found new families who want to listen to us.  The clouds have parted and I can see light here in Miguel Aleman haha!  We have a great number with baptismal dates, and I know that Hermana Flores and I will see miracles here in Miguel Aleman.  We are currently teaching 2 less active families, and their sons (9 years and 11 years old) want to get baptized, so we are reactivating these families as well as preparing these boys for baptism.  It's interesting teaching them because we have been having to teach the gospel in very clear, easy, simple terms, and we have had to think of creative games and activities to do with them so they can understand haha!  

one of the boys...Sedrick

Last night I was writing in my journal and I thought of this phrase that perfectly explains how a missionary feels:

The progress and happiness of those around you is directly relateable to your own personal progress and own personal happiness as a missionary.

                                 us with our investigadora, Rosy

C O N  A M O R

hermana riches

Week 38: A Little Taste of the Outside World

*shout out to all you who have sent me Christmas Cards....2 months later and I have officially received them haha LOVE YOU ALL!!!!*

Well, the title of my post says it all:  This week I got to watch a MOVIE!  Us missionaries got to watch "Conozca a Los Mormones"....."Meet the Mormons".  I believe this movie came out in theaters at home back in October, but here in Mexico it came o ut in theaters this past friday.  We got to watch it in spanish in the mission offices this week, and I have to say that I really enjoyed it!  I loved it because it wasn't "preachy".... it simply shows the world that us "mormons" are perfectly normal with joys, passions, jobs, and trials like everyone else.  I highly recommend that you should all go watch it!  It's amazing what the church is doing nowadays to make its voice heard.

Well I would like to share a testimony to you all:  I know and testify that the weather here in Monterrey is INSANE!  On Sunday I was sweating in a short sleeve blouse, on monday I was bundled up with a scarf and pea coat, on wednesday I got a sunburn, and on thursday I battled a rainstorm.  I've had this nose- throat cold for a month now because the weather is so bipolar!

Week 2 of Hermana Flores' training has been completed here in Miguel Aleman, and between people rejecting us, me sleeptalking in spanish to my companion every night, and homemade tamale deliveries, we seem to be enjoying ourselves.  It's great having a "newbie" as a compañera because she can fill me in on all the "latest news"....such as T Swift's new album that I kind of desperately want to listen to haha!  It's funny/ interesting having a "newbie" as a compañera because it reminds me so much of how I felt as a new missionary.....terrified of contacting people in the street, the weird feeling of being glued to someone's side 24-7, giant toe blisters, being sad when people reject you, thinking every person you teach will get baptized, giving me the blank-terrified look when people ask us intimidating questions....oh how I don't miss my first few weeks haha!

my love for homemade tamales is indescribable

 Hermana Francisca....who dropped off tamales for us 

Here in the area we have a dilemma- we have a married couple who have listened to the missionaries for 20+ years and a boy the age of 17 who has listened to the missionaries for 6+ years, and they do not want to commit to baptism.  It's interesting how the Lord has his timing for everyone, but I just hope that we can be the missionaries that can finally help these 3 people fully commit to baptism.  

We feel more confortable here in the area- with the members and knowing our way around- but the only hard part is that we are basically working from scratch...there hasn't been a whole lot of progress in the area when we first got here, so we have been having to find all new investigadores and really strengthening the bonds between us and the members- shout out to all you church members- you guys are the key to helping us find people to teach!  I encourage you all this week to go out and teach with the missionaries in your wards and give them references of family members/ friends/ neighbors who you think would enjoy a message from the missionaries.  It helps us more than you know :)

Let me repeat:  MISSIONS ARE HARD!  Physically, mentally, emotionally....but the best experience of anyone's life.  Yesterday we visited a woman who is battling such difficult trials in her life, and when we left, Hermana Flores just burst into tears because she felt so sad for this woman.  Every day we feel immense sadness for people, and the only way we can help them is invite them to have faith in their savior Jesus Christ.  It's really tough, but we just have to remember that every trial we have is for a purpose that only God knows and understands.

I still really miss my old ward Sada Vidrio :( and the old missionaries who were in my zone....but it's good to have a change.  One thing I love about this ward are the adorable primary kids that give me lots of hugs and kisses- it is the sweetest thing and make me feel loved when I am having a stressful day.  The ward members are lovely....the ward is made up of elderly folks,  young folks, those who live in wealthy private gated areas and those who sell homemade tortillas and bread- and are all family to one another.

This afternoon we are making crepes with the missionaries in our zone and then off to teach at 6pm.....Hasta próxima semana!  cuídense mucho y nunca olviden que Dios les ama.

C O N  A M O R

hermana riches

Week 37: Mi Primera Hija

Well here I am with transfer news/ updates!  On Tuesday I found out that I will be training a brand new hermana for these next 12 weeks!! Hermana Flores is 22 years old from Mexico City-- doesn't speak english which I love because I continue to speak epañol 24./7--- it is such a privilege to be able to train as I am the 2nd/ 3rd american sister to train in this mission.  We are here in my new area...MIGUEL ALEMAN... about 20 minutes away from my old area Sada Vidrio.

So I think what I have learned this week is the duty of responsibility and independence: On tuesday I was handed the apartment keys, cell phone, and we arrived at the apartment with all of our luggage only to find notes on our desks of people's addresses and a map haha!  normally one companion stays in the area to teach the new companion the area, people, but since we are BOTH new here I am having to find my around/ the needs of the investigadores AND teach Hermana Flores everything at the same time haha!  Not to mention I have had to call the water heater people to come repair our gas tank so we can have hot showers.....Mom/ Dad you would be proud ;) Man this week has been exhausting, but it is so fun being a trainer.  It's awesome being able to show Hermana Flores the life of a missionary...how we teach, plan, organize all the info-  it's a big responsibility because I am the influence that is helping her instill habits for the rest of her 18 months as a missionary.

Train up a child in the way she should go:  and when she is old, she will not depart from it  Proverbs 22:6

the desperate need for hot showers 

Hermana Flores has such a positive upbeat attitude, with the desire to learn everything.  It's great because every advice, tip I give her, she puts in practice right away.  Every morning we have 1 hour of personal study, 1 hour of companionship study, 1 hour of training, and 1 hour of language study.  Although I am the one training her, I am learning so so much on my end.  I'm grateful for all of the advice I have recieved from my first 2 companions and now I can pass it all down to my hija :) 

Yesterday at church was a bit weird being in a new chapel!  I really miss my old ward....especially the delicious meals everyday....but I know this ward will be great too.  The chapel here is a lot bigger....with pews inside and a nice piano...and in total there are 2 elders and us here in the ward.  There are about 80 active members.  Just like in Sada Vidrio, I am the first american sister to be here in the ward haha so it's fun :)  all the primary kids kept wanting to touch my hair hahaha it was reallly cute. All the people casually stare at my in the street too as they haven't seen an american girl for quite a while.... I also recieved an official ward calling....WARD PIANIST haha!  So I officially play the hymns in sacrament meeting now.  It's interesting to feel/ see the different dynamics in the ward/ area compared to Sada Vidrio.... Miguel Aleman has a lot more younger people/ families, and here in monterrey there is a clear difference between wealth status (Miguel Aleman is one of the wealthiest area in the mission).  My area is pretty sweet-- the biggest, nicest mcdonalds I have ever seen haha, a GIANT walmart, other american stores/ food places.... I'M SET.  And our apartment isn't above a sketchy food shop!  #score

Well we are working super hard here and I know we will see many miracles.

LOVE YOU ALL

Shout out to the only other blonde sista in the mish!!

                           

Week 36: Bittersweet

Well Folks, my 30 week reign here in Sada Vidrio is officially coming to a close. Last night I recieved the call that I am being transferred.Tomorrow I will get my new companion and new area! Words can't describe how I am currently feeling.  Words can't describe how many people here have touched my life, how many stories have opened my eyes, and how grateful I am for having served here.  I have had 2 companions teach me qualities that have strengthened me as a person and a missionary, and I have witnessed the personal conversions of 3 people (Dana, Patricio, Victor) and their baptisms.  I have seen weak church members regain their strong testimonies, the ward grow in numbers, more excitement from ward members about missionary work, and more than anything else the humility and gratitude the people have for every single blessing God has given them in life.  When I first arrived here in July, it was a really hard transition for me...completely lost in the language, different lifestyle, but here is where I have learned to lean on the Lord during every moment of loneliness.

I know that everything happens for a reason.  I know that I have learned what I needed to learn here in Sada Vidrio and that now the Lord needs me somewhere else with someone else!  I have completed the first chapter of my mission, and it's really sad to realize that I will probably never see some of these people ever again as you rarely return back to your old areas..... but their stories will always stay with me.

Well Hermana Mendoza and I have had an awesome 4 months together, and although we are completely different, we made up for each other's weaknesses.  hahaha we have had lots of crazy times.  

I am going to miss these people so much

I'm super excited for tomorrow!!! It will also be great because I will get to see a lot of my friends here share their last testimonies before heading home...it's actually super sad when your friends start to return home.  I'll fill you all in on the deets next week.  As hard as it is to accept "change" in life, we need change in order to progress and learn as human beings.  So whatever changes you guys are going through, accept them and learn to enjoy them and put your trust in the Lord that there is always a reason behind everything.

SADA VIDRIO MEMORIES:

freezing apartment....huddled around our heater every morning to study

and this is a SHOUT OUT TO CHLOE BRAY....I feel your pain gurl.  The natural ombre look wasn't workin' out for me either, so I had to spice things up by going to a hair stylist who has never done blonde high lights before:

a sister missionary's biggest fear is when a man suddenly touches her shoulder hahaha

"the past is behind:  learn from it.

the future is ahead:  prepare for it.

the present is here.  Live in it!"  Pres Monson

C O N  A M O R

hermana riches

Week 35: Victor Manuel Rodriguez Moreno

These past 8 months I have witnessed many miracles, and yesterday was one of them as we watched Victor be baptized!  Here is a little background on how we found him/ his backstory:

Early December Hermana Mendoza and I decided to pray and fast with a specific desire:  "Padre Celestial, ayúdanos a encontrar alguien que pueda ser un futuro misionero" "Heavenly Father, help us find someone who can be a future missionary".  A few weeks passed and walking down a street we found Victor sitting out front with a friend.  We presented ourselves, and He went in and got his mom, who accepted a visit for the following week.  When we visited, we learned that Victor and RosaMaria live solo- aunts and uncles visiting everyday- but that Victor has never known his father.  The only income they recieve is from the tacos/ tamales that Rosamaria sells, earning enough to only let Victor recieve education up until the 8th grade.  Victor has a passion for futbol, but injured his foot leading him to use a cane every once in a while.  Victor is 18 years old, very obedient to his mom, courteous, and since day 1 has gone to church with us each sundayand done all his "homeworks" we have given him.  Him and His mom have been raised catholic but never went to mass, leading them to believe in God but wanting to really know that God's plan is for each of us.  Victor accepted the first baptismal date, and his mom loves to listen to us but does not have a desire to be baptized.  Yesterday was the first time she went to church which was HUGE so we will continue to pray really hard for her :)

Yesterday's baptismal service was perfect.  Hot summer weather, and the room was filled with members supporting him- seriously so great to see.  Ezekiel Gomez, who baptized Victor, got baptized exactly a year ago on Feb 8th so that was really special as well (Dad....he is the one with the meat business and the house we skyped at for christmas :) )  us and the elders sang "Divina Luz"....Lead Kindly Light.....which was gorgeous, but the best part of the service was listening to the testimony of Hermano Victor.  You could tell he was pretty nervous haha but seriously his testimonio was so genuine and humble.....explaining this grand change and pure joy he has felt thanks to "two angels that came into his life" hahah Hermana Mendoza and I wanted to cry....!  He bore truth of the Book of Mormon, and how he knows he has to share these truths with all those he comes in contact with.  It was pretty incredible sitting there, with my arm around his mom, listening to him, knowing that the fast and prayer we offered in December really had been answered:  Victor is a the future missionary that the Lord placed in our path.

"Remember, the worth of souls is great in the sight of God...Wherefore you are called to cry repentance unto this pepole.  And if it so be that you should labor all your days...and bring save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of the my Father!" DyC 18: 10-15

all the kids my age in the ward, and the bishop

Well...next sunday we get transfer news!  I have been here in Sada Vidrio since July...So it may be my last week here but who knows.  I seriously love the ward members here sooo much...I have had so many incredible memories and really hope I don't get transferred, but we will soon see!

  us with our ward mission leader #thecrew

C O N  A M O R

hermana riches

Tender Mercies (Week 34)

Us at the temple this morning!

So I just want to begin by saying that we have seen the hand of the Lord so much this week!  We have seen lots of tender mercies and answered prayers.

Sundays:  The craziest day of the week.  In the morning we are crazily running around knocking on doors getting our investigadores to go to church with us, and to make us even more stressed out, this past sunday we found Pres. Bird sittin' smack dab in the middle of the congregation as we walked in 5 min late...luckily with 2 investigadores hahaah (the mission presidente makes his casual visits to all the wards).  This past sunday was probably one of the best sundays I have had here....so many members got up to bear powerful testimonies (many of which were about missionary work) and a miracle was witnessed as right in the middle of the meeting in walked a family I had taught back in september by complete surprise!  They weren't really progressing so we stopped teaching them, but now we will see if they are more interested.  I swear...the Lord has his timing for every individual....as missionaries we are solely instruments and He directs us and prepares those in our paths.

This past monday our golden investigador, Victor Manuel, had his baptismal inverview, and he is set to be baptized this sunday!  On monday I will write in my email more of his background story, but he really has been progressing so well and the driving influence has been one crucial aspect:  the support of the members.  Las Familias Gomez and Sanchez have invited him over for dinners, each week he goes to institute class with the other young single adults,  and one couple even bought him his own leather set of scriptures that we are going to give him this sunday.  I am so so greatful for the love and support of the members because this will help Victor stay an active, converted member of this church.

My ZoneThis week we also found a woman who got baptized 4 years ago but is now inactive.  We entered her home, sang a hymn, and with tears in her eyes she told us she has not felt this warm spirit in her home for so long and that she has greatly missed it.  I can't begin to explain how powerful the spirit is each time we teach...the spirit is the teacher and the converter- not us missionaries.  This message really is so true, and even when people reject us, they can't deny the powerful presence of the spirit.

A quote I read this week that I love:

None of us likes to admit when we are drifting off the right course.  Often we try to avoid looking deeply into our souls and confronting our weaknesses, limitations, and fears.  Consequently, when we do examine our lives, we look through the filter of biases, excuses, and stories we tell ourselves inorder to justify unworthy thoughts and actions.  But being able to see ourselves clearly is essential to our spiritual growth and well-being.  If our weaknesses and short comings remain obscured in the shadows, then the redeeming power of the Savior cannot heal them and make them strengths.  Ironically, our blindness toward our human weaknesses will also make us blind to the divine potential that Heavenly Father yearns to nurture within each of us.  Pres Uchtdorf

  Our friend Elder Bautista goes home in a week *missionary air hug* hahaha

Classic Missionary Selfies:

C O N  A M O R

hermana riches