Visiting Estipac and it's neighboring city Cocula

We visited Estipac for church today and had a chance to worship with the wonderful members there. Here we are with our two diligent missionaries Elder McDonald and Elder Santos.

Estipac is one of our 3 mission branches that is not attached to a stake or district, but part of the mission, and under President Clayton’s stewardship.  There were 22 saints in sacrament meeting, six were children, two were YSA age.  The first sister spoke on the sanctity of marriage, and the second sister referenced one of Elder Oaks talks highlighting 3 great truths, the nature of God, the purpose of life, and continuing revelation.  Seriously.  They were spot on.  And as I sat among these faithful sweethearts, the spirit bore witness to my soul once again, that our Father in Heaven knows each and every one of us.  I testify that He is blessing all people everywhere with the light and truth of the gospel.  I am confident, that their goodness and humble efforts are not only noted, they are grand and holy in His eyes. 

It is honestly still pretty difficult to describe, sitting in a small chapel deep in the heart of Mexico, a place that is hardly on a map, in a very small branch, and hearing God’s divine truths being taught, understood and lived in such humble ways.

There were 6 of us in Relief Society, as the young YSA sister (to my left)  lead the discussion of the second Gordon B. Hinckley lesson.  Their discussion of our responsibility to be a light, and a standard to others in the world was so tender.  These sisters spoke of lifting our sights, and seeking to be better, of the glorious days ahead, and of doing our part.  I just don’t know how to put into words my feelings as I sat there and listened as the translated words were spoken quietly in my ear.  They are Godly women. They are truly seeking for all that is right and good.  They are doing their part.  

This is the paragraph that they ended with.  It is the one they brainstormed together how they could most apply to their lives each day.

After church we took a drive to visit Cocula just 15 or so minutes away.  The Branch President, President Cordova and his family live there.  We fell in love with this little city.  I couldn't stop taking pictures of all the things we saw.  Here are my favorites!

ok, check this rooster out.  He was going to town 

welcoming in the new day!  

Isn't he a beauty!

Couldn't resist!

Interesting and very tidy home on the corner.

This man was so friendly, waving at every single 

person that went by.

I loved this basket shop and all the 

bird cages.

ok, I took pictures of doors and more doors.

They are all so interesting,

and so rustic.

I love them.

I loved that old bike 

I loved that the wall was build right 

up to and around that old tree.

Favorite picture of the day.

This old gal snuck out and found the

sweeter, greener grass across the 

road from where she was suppose to be.

She had her head carefully in between

the barbwire's as she reached and stretched

for the fresh green grass.

She got found out, paddled and escorted back

 to where she should have been.

Poor old dear.

Prettiest picture of the day.

Saddest picture of the day.

The meat market.

This picture made us homesick for 

our old Kodiak.

What a memorable day in Estipac and in Cocula.

Baptisms this past week!

January 14, 2017

We attended Ricardo's baptism on Saturday.  We are so proud of him and were so thankful to be able to join the Arandas group family with Elder Christensen and Elder Jones to witness this sacred event.
What a wonderful evening.  Ricardo is 24.  He and Viviana Salas have been dating for many years. It was Viviana who introduced him to the church. He has been an earnest investigator for quite some time. He has read the Book of Mormon and is attending church regularly. This important decision, making his first covenant with his Heavenly Father has been well thought out and confirmed to him through the spirit of the Holy Ghost.  What a day!

Brother Salas baptized Ricardo

Elder Christensen confirmed Ricardo with the

Gift of the Holy Ghost

The Salas family with Elder Christensen and Elder Jones

with President Clayton

We are so thankful to have joined them for this special day.

Two more additional baptisms this past week!

Baptism of Iran

Brother Iran is fifteen years old and

like his sister Maria, made the decision

to follow Christ and fill his life with blessings.
He is well aware of the blessings they have

already received from Heavenly Father in the

situation of his family and he is now preparing

to go on a mission and help many people.

Elder Palenque & Elder Cangas

Bautismo de Irán

el hermanito Irán tiene quince años

y al igual que su hermanita Maria tomó

la decisión de seguir a Cristo y llenar

de bendiciones su vida.

Él está muy consciente de las bendiciones

que recibió del Padre Celestial por la situación

de su familia y hoy en día se prepara para

salir a una misión y ayudar a muchas personas.

Elder Palenque & Elder Cangas

Karen's baptism
Sister Karen is the girlfriend of a member.
She has about 5 months listening to the
missionaries. She was always very open and
willing to do things that we left her to do. She never

stopped reading the Book of Mormon and praying.
A month ago she chose January 7 to be

her target date and she prepare for this date!

She knows that this is the true church
and has the desire to be faithful and to share
the gospel with her own family.
Sister Herrera & Sister Acor

El bautismo de Karen
Hermana Karen es la novia de un miembro.
Ella tiene cerca de 5 meses escuchando el
Misioneros. Ella siempre ha estado muy abierta

y dispuesta a hacer cosas que nos dejaron.

Ella nunca dejó de leer el Libro de Mormón y de orar.
Hace un mes escogió el 7 de enero para
Ser su fecha objetivo y ella se ha preparado para

esta fecha! Ella sabe que esta es la verdadera

iglesia y tiene el deseo de ser fieles y compartir

el evangelio con su propia familia.

Hermana Herrera y Hermana Acor

Saying goodbye to a faithful Hermana

Hermana Ruiz has had an unexpected accident and fallen, damaging her ankle and foot.  She had to have emergency surgery just 5 weeks before completing her mission and now must return home to recover.  We are heartbroken with this sudden need for her to return home to heal.  So is she.  She is returning home faithful and with honor.  We will miss her!

Hermand Ruiz.

January Mission Council

                 It's 2017!!!!!
We started the year off right with our Mission Council.
We invited each of our District Leaders to join us.
Here we are 60 strong, with our Zone Leaders,
District Leaders, and Sister Training Leaders.

President Clayton introduced our new theme for this year:

Teaching Repentance and Baptizing Converts

President Clayton unfolding the 

Doctrine of Christ found in 3 Nephi chapter 11.

* The Doctrine of Christ comes from the Father.

It is His plan - outlining the one and only way for us

to return back to our Father to live with Him, forever.

 

* 3 Nephi 11:32  teaches that the Father and the Son

bear testimony of each other, concerning this doctrine.

Additionally the Holy Ghost adds His convincing

witness of these truths with great power.

* The Savior invites us to have faith in Him, to believe on Him,

to follow Him, and repenting of our sins,

choosing to follow His example and be baptized.

* Receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost bestows upon us

untold blessings, that as we remain worthy of its

guidance, include marvelous light and knowledge;

helping us to endure all things unto the end.

We are asking our missionaries 

To Awake, and Arise! To Rise up and be Better!

We are not asking our missionaries to do more.  

There is much to do, it is true. 

We are asking that they do, 

what they have been asked to do, 

Better!

*We must know our message,

so that we can bear witness of it's truths 

with sincerity, from our own hearts.  

*We must seek for, 

and be worthy of the Holy Ghost to

accompany our message. 

It is the Holy Ghost's 

convincing power that will manifest

the truth of all things.

*Understanding how to teach from the Book of Mormon

comes as we study with PMG.  

We must drink from this manual and thirst for 

it's help and guidance.

Taking a minute to repair a suit coat seam...

President Clayton with our two assistants,

Elder Uribe and Elder Contreras.

They are honorable, beyond compare.

Practices. 

Genuine effort.

Honestly seeking the Holy Ghost to aid us

in unfolding our message.

It takes much, much practice, and 

sincerity of heart to invite others

to come unto Christ, 

and to teach of His message

in these challenging days.

Here are our warriors, our valiant servants

of the Lord striving to become better...

as they practice and practice.

I love them.

A bite of lunch

Breakout session with the sister training leaders.

:)