Baptisms

Our newest baptisms here in the Mexico Guadalajara Mission. Welcome! Welcome!
1.

Gustavo, Veronica, and Oscar Vargas are a wonderful family.

Five years ago, they lost an 11-year-old daughter, and their

family suffered a lot of pain. But, upon receiving the missionaries

and seeking for peace and happiness in our Lord Jesus Christ,

they have found a hope they did not have, and now they wait

for the day to be sealed in the temple as an eternal family with

their child who had passed away. Although they still have many

challenges in their lives, they trust that, with the help of God in

their lives, they can persevere to the end to receive the great

reward.

Elder Cruz, Elder Philips, Elder Alvarez, Elder Morales

Gustavo, Verónica, y Oscar Vargas son una familia maravillosa.

Hace cinco años, perdieron una hija de 11 años, y su familia sufrió

mucho dolor. Pero, al recibir los misioneros y buscar por paz y

felicidad en nuestro Señor Jesucristo, ellos han encontrado una

esperanza que no tenían, y ahora esperan por el día de sellarse en

el templo como familia eterna con su niña que ya ha fallecido.

A pesar de que tengan muchos desafíos todavía en su vida, confían

que, con la ayuda de Dios en su vida, pueden perseverar hasta el fin

para recibir el gran galardón.

2.

Hector is a child of a member of the church. It has been difficult

for him to prepare himself for baptism for several things,

including a recent tragedy in the family, but he has been able

to really win and increase his testimony of the restored gospel

of Jesus Christ and move forward to take this important step for

now, and always follow Christ and strengthen his family.

Hermana Clawson, Hermana Cook

Héctor es un niño de una miembro de la iglesia. A él se le ha

hecho algo difícil poder prepararse para el bautismo por varias

cosas, incluso una tragedia reciente en la familia, pero ha podido

realmente ganar y aumentar su testimonio del evangelio restaurado

de Jesucristo y seguir adelante para tomar este paso tan importante

para ahora y siempre seguir a Cristo y también fortalecer a su familia.

3.

Sister Claudia is a person who really listens to the impressions

of the Spirit. Despite many challenges, she was able to understand

the need to follow the example of the Savior and was very excited

to set a goal for her baptism. Always with great diligence she kept

her commitments and she taught us the lessons. She is a perfect

example of sincerity and the true intention to follow Christ.

Elder Bender Y Elder Crismon

La Hermana Claudia es una persona que realmente escucha a las

impresiones del Espíritu. A pesar de muchos desafíos, ella pudo

comprender la necesidad de seguir el ejemplo del salvador y se

emocionó mucho al poner una meta para su bautismo. Siempre

con mucha diligencia guardaba sus compromisos y ella nos enseñaba

las lecciones. Ella es un ejemplo perfecto de la sinceridad y la

verdadera intención de seguir a Cristo.

4.

Brother Francisco began to investigate the Church to understand

his girlfriend better but wasn’t interested in the Church itself,

so he left. After leaving and having several profound experiences,

he decided to come back with a change of heart. It took several pairs

of Elders and Sisters to teach him and answer his doubts and questions,

but he finally decided to be baptized.

He has set his goal on entering the temple and making further promises

with his Heavenly Father.

Elder Anderson, Elder Martindale

Hermano Francisco comenzó a investigar a la Iglesia para entender

mejor a su novia, pero no estaba interesado en la Iglesia en sí, así que se

fue. Después de irse y tener varias experiencias profundas, decidió regresar

con un cambio de corazón. Se necesitaron varios pares de Élderes y

Hermanas para enseñarle y contestar a sus dudas y preguntas, pero

finalmente decidió bautizarse. Él ha establecido su objetivo al

ingresar al templo y hacer más promesas con su Padre Celestial.

Tamazula Branch Conference 1-28-18

Our latter day Nefi.

From my journal entry Sunday, 1-28-18

We have had a most inspirational day. Today was our branch
conference in Tamazula almost two hours away.  We had a
beautiful drive there. The rainy season is almost upon us, and
things are beginning to green up. The colorful bougainvillea’s
were in bloom…. still flowering no matter the shallow and dry
earth they spring up from.

Elder Stubbs and Elder Cruz were standing outside the house
of prayer, waiting for us as we drove up the street. There were
about 20 people there today, not including all of the district folks.

I want to write down what we experienced today, because I do
not want to forget what we saw, heard, and what we felt.

For some time now, we have felt the Lord’s hand upon this little
Puebla of Tamazula. He is making His hand manifest in a
miraculous way.

Circumstances were such that the former branch president was
released, and for quite some time this branch has had a temporary
young man (a returned missionary) serving as branch president.
Actually, there was another man before him from neighboring Guzman,
who served for several months and then he moved to another city.
It has been a worry on both president Alcaraz and president Clayton’s
minds to find a faithful man in Tamazula to serve as branch president.

Several weeks ago, in Veracruz Mexico, a young man by the name of
Nefi Bueno, woke up early in the morning, and then drifted back to sleep.
During his early morning sleep, he had a dream about a place called
Tamazula. The dream was clear and unmistakable. He woke up with
the strong, distinct and undeniable impression that he was to take his
little family and move to Tamazula. He didn’t even know where
Tamazula was.

That morning, as he told his wife of his dream and of the impression
that came to him, they looked up Tamazula on the map. They prayed
together, and then, they made the necessary arrangements, and within
the coming week, they moved to Tamazula. They found a small home,
and he secured a job at a greenhouse/nursery.

On the day they arrived in Tamazula... on that very first day, he found
the number for the district President, President Alcaraz and called him.
He told him the story of his dream and how he felt that the Lord had
called him to come to Tamazula. President Alcaraz called
President Clayton and said, the Lord has sent us our branch president.

As I met and visited with Nefi and his wife Ney, and their precious little
2-year-old boy, Nefi junior, after Sacrament meeting, and they told me
their story, I felt like I was looking at Nephi of old...I really did. I was
absolutely struck by this young man’s faith and courage to obey the
prompting that came to him.

(As a side note, we have met many missionaries and other men here in
Mexico, whose parents have named them after Book of Mormon prophets.  
We have had here in our mission several Moroni’s, Nefi’s, Helaman’s,
Abinadi’s, and Ammon’s.)

Today, in this very small house of prayer, as I listened to Nefi’s story,
his faith was so very evident.  I was able to liken the scripture of another
man named Nephi who had faith and courage to obey the Lord as well,
and to also obey Him with exactness. I knew that this Nefi had read and
believed the words of his namesake, the ancient prophet Nephi, had
learned from him and had sought faith to become like him.

This house of prayer in Tamazula is on the second floor off a very busy
street. Often the windows are left open to help cool down the small room.
One of the first things I learned from worshiping here in Tamazula is that
the world outside can be very busy and noisy… but inside that small upper
room, sacred and important things are being carried forth. These sweet
saints do not even bat an eye, when a truck or a motorcycle zooms by
during the sacrament service… and neither do I.

I have learned that the world can march along to its own beat.. and we
will march forward as well; blocking out and quieting ourselves to hear
the voice of the spirit during our meetings. It was a special day.

Tamazula is not a small Puebla, there are maybe 30,000 people who live
there. There is a University, a Technical Training school, there is a huge
sugar cane processing plant, and, there is a bustling and busy downtown
market. The Catholic Church is also in full force here. In fact, right as we
were ending sacrament meeting, and I was taking a picture of the group
for our mission history, we heard an actual marching band marching past
the busy street below. I said, what is going on... and the members assured
me that it was just one of the many celebrations of the virgin Guadalupe.

We stepped outside the upstairs balcony and saw the marching band, the
clowns, the trailer carrying the statue of Guadalupe, the mariachi band, and
the long lines of followers carrying wine and grain to offer the virgin.

We stood there and watched in amazement for a bit and then we went back
in, to begin our Sunday school.

One last memory… it has always touched our hearts that often, in these
small groups and branches they will bring pound cake for the sacrament
bread, because they want to make their meeting special for us. Today,
they served pancakes for the sacrament bread. I felt President Clayton’s
elbow gently nudge me as we partook of it.

We are in love with these saints.

What a day it has been!

Much love to all,

Sister Clayton

Branch Conference in Tamazula. We had a beautiful drive there.

Here are some pictures of our trip there and back..

Nefi, Nefi junior, and Ney Bueno

With Elder Cruz and Elder Stubbs

serving in Tamazula

parade celebrating the virgin Guadalupe

Tamazula

on the way home.

Sugar cane trucks filled to the brim..

and then some..

Just gorgeous!

Feburary Mission Council 1-30-18

Great day with our leaders in mission council.
We focused on:
*The Holy Ghost and the Light of Christ
*The Mighty Prophet Joseph Smith
*Importance of teaching the doctrine in the first three lessons
   What do we study? What do we teach?
We had powerful instructions. 
It was a marvelous day!

Baptisms!

Here we are again.  Welcome welcome to our newest members
of the Lord's church here on earth-
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
1.

Donají is an 11-year-old girl, she got to know the Church when

her mother, after a long time, came back.  She loved it and she

wanted to be baptized from the first time she attended. She

has a lot of faith and wishes to be a full-time missionary and

follow the example of the Savior.

Hermana Gálvez, Hermana Montiel

Donají es una niña de 11 años ella conoció la Iglesia cuando

su madre después de mucho tiempo regresó a la Iglesia y a
ella le encantó y quiso bautizarse desde la primera vez que 

asistió, ella tiene mucha fe y desea llegar a ser una misioner

a de tiempo completo y seguir el ejemplo del Salvador.

2.

Brother Antonio was a reference, he was taught for some

time. Some adversities were presented, but he decided

to listen again to the missionaries, then he made the

decision to be baptized, despite the challenges. He

concluded this great step that has allowed him to

change his life. His goal is to continue persevering. He

knows that the gospel is good, and he wants to know

more about it to remain firm in his agreement.

Elder Mendez, Elder Rodriguez

]El hermano Antonio fue una referencia,

él se le enseño por algún tiempo, algunas adversidades se

presentaron, pero el decidió escuchar nuevamente a los

misioneros, tomo la decisión de bautizarse a pesar de los

desafíos el concluyo este gran paso que ha permitido

cambiar su vida su meta es seguir perseverando, sabe

que el evangelio es bueno y desea saber más sobre el

para seguir firme en su convenio.

3.

Brother Sergio is an old investigator, but his day arrived, now

he is happy to have taken a baptism.Through trials, he kept

attending and decided to be baptized, now it's still coming to

the chapel and wants a place in the kingdom of God.

Elder Acosta, Elder Palenque 

Hermano Sergio es un antiguo investigador, pero llego su día,

ahora él está feliz de haber tomado un bautismo. A través de

pruebas, mantuvo asistiendo y decidió bautizarse. Ahora sigue

viniendo a la capilla y quiere un lugar en el reino de Dios.

4.

Arcenio is a golden investigator and son-in-law of President Rafael

Betancourth. He is one of the chosen ones of our Heavenly Father.

Before his baptism he visited the temple and after that experience

he had, he said that one of his goals is to be sealed in the temple

with his wife. We know that he will be a good leader and an example

to follow for his family and the people around him.

Hermana Arcaya, Hermana Aguila

Arcenio es un investigador de oro y es el yerno de presidente

Rafael Betancourth. Él es uno de los escogidos de nuestro Padre

Celestial. Antes de su bautismo él visito el templo y después

de esa experiencia que tuvo al ir al templo él dijo que una de

sus metas es sellarse en el templo con su esposa sabemos

que el será un buen líder y un ejemplo para seguir para su

amilia y las personas que están a su alrededor.
5.

Alondra is a young woman who really wants to change her life.
She is 15 years old and her goal is to be able to serve the
mission full time because she was able to see with her family
the blessings they received thanks to the gospel. And she also
wishes to share it with other people. She wants to be an example
for her family and so her mom can be baptized. She has great
potential and we encourage her to move forward.

Hermana Arcaya, Hermana Aguila

Alondra es una joven que realmente quiere cambiar su vida.

Ella tiene 15 años y su meta es poder servir la misión de

tiemplo completo porque ella pudo ver, junto con su familia,

las bendiciones que recibieron, gracias al evangelio. Ella desea

también compartirlo con las demás personas. Ella desea ser un

ejemplo para su familia y así también su mamá pueda bautizarse.  

Ella tiene un gran potencial y ánimo para seguir adelante.

Zone Conferences!

We began our zone conferences with the Union and Guzman Zones combined on 1-12-18.
We are jump.. jump.. jumping with excitement to begin this new year!!

Our next zone conferences were with the Lomas 

and Independencia Zones on 1-16-18

Manzanillo and Colima were next

1-19-18

And finally our zone conference with 

the Vallarta and Nayarit zones. 

We focused on:

   * Eight Fundamentals

       *The Doctrine of Christ 

     *Early Morning Studies

      *How to Begin Teaching

*Effective Planning

Union Stake Conference 1-21-18

What a lovely weekend we have had for the Union Stake Conference.  Both the Saturday and Sunday evening sessions were wonderful.  We sure love our Union Zone missionaries. Thank you to Elder Martindale for translating for me for both sessions.
Here we are Sunday afternoon. It was such a gorgeous day.. blue sky and perfect temperature... and look at the smiles on these outstanding missionaries! After all my reminding to not hold your Book of Mormon upside down.. looks like I got caught!! Oh well... :)