Divisions with Hermana Ibanez and Hermana Anderson

I had a wonderful experience going on divisions with Hermana Ibanez and Hermana Anderson.

They were so sweet to be with. Once again, what a treasured opportunity it was to be with these dedicated servants of the Lord.

We met them back at the church at 4:00 after our day of interviewing. It was hot and muggy outside and both these young ladies were using their washcloths to wipe their brow and faces as we spent the afternoon together.

We took a taxi from the church to their apartment. They live in a large apartment building on the second floor.  It is just tiny and sparse. I loved that soft orangy-pink sheets were hanging in their front window with a clothespin in the center to keep them closed.  Their windows were wide open, and they had bars on them, of course, and the warm breeze was blowing through the window and blowing those homemade curtains back and forth. I am sorry that the picture I took doesn’t convey that soft orangy color, I just caught the glare from the sun with my camera. 

Their apartment was clean and tidy and organized and I loved seeing it. Their homemade Christmas tree branch that they had found was in one corner with handmade decorations. Pictures of their families, Christmas words, colorful socks, and since Hermana Anderson's Christmas package came yesterday, they now had gifts under the tree. It was very tender.

Their kitchen was clean, but truthfully, so so sparse. The dishes were done up, the laundry caught up, with towels hanging on the line in the next room. Their closets were organized and the shoes lined up…

They are moving next week to a different apartment.

They took me to see their new apartment, just a few streets away. It is upstairs also, and has a large covered patio where there is a washing sink/board and where the water connection is.  It has two square rooms, with a small bathroom off to the side. It has blue floor tile. They were so excited to show me upstairs on the roof where they could hang their clothes on the line and the sun would dry them quickly.

              

standing by their area map

the perfect missionary Christmas tree

laundry room

notice the pink privacy door :)

As we left for the appointments they had scheduled, we walked along the neighborhood.  I am still so amazed at how friendly, and polite people here are. Everyone we pass will say good afternoon, how are you, have a pleasant day... and we passed lots of folks walking by, waiting for buses, out on lawn chairs, sitting together in doorways. We could see into door ways as we passed by and saw older folks, especially, sitting in lawn chairs in dark rooms, away from the heat, visiting and just resting.

We stopped by to see a lady the Hermana's are teaching who is a seamstress, and she wasn't home. As we continued on our way to their next appointment, we stopped and had a prayer together and asked the Lord to guide us to know who we might stop and talk with. The very next person we saw was an older man sitting on a small wall outside his doorway. We stopped to talk with him and he absolutely talked and talked for about 20 minutes. They were diligent as he talked to keep bringing the topic back to our Father in Heaven, the Book of Mormon we were holding in our hands, and the restoration pamphlet they gave to him. They asked if they could leave him with a prayer. This older gentleman, shirtless, wearing only a loose pair of shorts and crocs that were way too big for his feet, immediately stood up, reverently and without shame, bowed his head as Sister Anderson offered a prayer right there standing on the sidewalk, in the doorway to his little home. 

I have learned from our valiant missionaries here in Guadalajara, that it does not matter where we are... that sidewalks, and entryway's becomes holy places as we bow our heads and offer prayers in behalf of these children of God. Our missionaries offer prayers that the countless people they meet will be blessed with faith, to be touched by the holy spirit and desire to know more about what they have briefly been taught. I find myself wanting to peek, to see if we are still standing on the ground... this is the Work of Salvation as the Lord Himself intended it to be. One by one, seeking to touch the hearts of man, if they will have ears to hear.

Continuing along, we arrived at their scheduled appointment, a mother and her 2 daughters. The father was away on a trip and the younger son was outside playing. When we first arrived they seemed to me to be a bit miffed that we were interrupting their TV show. The Hermanas began by reviewing what they had talked about during their last visit, and continuing talking about the introduction to the Book of Mormon. They had them each read a paragraph. They gave them an assignment to finish reading that introduction this next week. Their lesson was short. Their focus was to help them keep their commitment to read from the Book of Mormon.

I asked if I could bear my testimony, and Hermana Anderson translated for me. I testified of the power and spirit of the Book of Mormon that would come into their lives, if they would just read a verse or two each day. That by just making the attempt, they would be blessed.

The Hermanas then asked if they could pray with them. We got on our knees together in that cramped room, and they invited the mom to pray, and after some encouragement, she agreed. She opened her Book of Mormon to the last page, where the Hermana’s had written a pattern for a simple prayer.  This sweet mother prayed using this guide and filling in the blanks as she went along.  It was laborious for her, and we were each quiet and reverent, as were her daughters. I found myself craning my ear, listening to every Spanish word she said, carefully, knowing exactly what she was saying..... even though I didn’t understand her Spanish words. 

I am learning what it means to understand the words you do not know through the spirit of the Lord.

The Hermana’s then surprised me by inviting this family to come to their FHE activity later that night, and also to join them for church tomorrow. We left, saying goodbye and thanking them for making time for their appointment.

Later that night, after I got home from our baptism with the Elders, I got a text from Hermana Ibanez and Hermana Anderson that this mother and daughters not only came to the FHE activity, but were planning on coming to church the next day. I am so happy for this family, and for the Hermana's.

Good for them!

catch up

Here are a few pictures from the past few weeks

I love that we see so many people riding their

 bikes here and there, especially the older folks

 out for a leisurely ride.

on divisions with Hermana Marciano and Hermana Dominguez

Elder Vaifanua and Elder Martinez cleaning the font 

Interview snacks

President Clayton meeting with President Macias
the Santiago District President and a wonderful
young man from the District  who is waiting for
his mission call.

Elder Montan and Elder Barfuss with 

13 year old Christopher Martin Sandoval Corona 

after his baptism

(below) with Christopher's grandmother, mother and
younger brother and sister

President Clayton with Christopher and 

Branch President Artigas in San Blas

As we were interviewing Sunday afternoon,

at the church in Santiago 

 I heard festive music.. trumpets and singing.

I went to look outside, and saw this funeral

procession.  Loved ones walking along, 

slowly following the hearse.

It was quite the celebration.

our picnic during interviews

On the side of the road.  Can you see this sweet little girl
up on the rock?  Her mother is in the middle of traffic
asking for help.

the beautiful countryside

makes me nervous.. very nervous

ok.... this made us laugh for quite a few miles.

Two cows tied by their horns in the back

of this truck.  One had finally laid down

the other was awkwardly standing over him

sort of like he was saying, oh great, now I'm

stuck.  He stretched his rear high in the air and 

finally dropped down right on the belly of

the other cow.  They both looked very, very

uncomfortable

selling fresh fruit

those cobblestone streets

the gas truck making his rounds

and the water truck delivering water jugs

Hermana Fuentes and Hermana Beovide 

finding me an example of a mighty tool

they have used from the Book of Mormon

in their teaching.

this truck was full of little chicks

waiting during interviews

The Miracles We are Seeing Using the Book of Mormon as the Mighty Tool in our Hands

The Book of Mormon teaches in plain and                     unmistakable terms.      Ezra Taft Benson
                                                                                                                           

From our missionaries:

* We are spiritual doctors

* The Lord has given us the power, and left the details up to us.

* The Book of Mormon is our message

*We must first discover the truth for ourselves, prayer is the key

* There is more of an eternal purpose in the Book than worldly and temporal views and answers.  It's more than just a nice book

* It is the key.  Our investigators must get an answer.

Sometimes we don't give enough emphasis to the fact that this book has been prepared by God Himself.  

* It takes great effort to establish a habit with anything.  It is no different to begin reading something even of great importance, it takes effort to establish a habit of reading the Book of Mormon.

* I feel more power in my hand

* I feel like I am carrying the original gold plates, like we are really testifying

* I feel like we have an important message in our hands

* When my new companion arrived, we started to leave the apartment and my companion said, wait, where is your book?  Our first investigator said, why do you have that book in your hand?

* By just opening the book, we are teaching a lesson

* I had an experience we met a man that didn't have a home, we gave the book to him, and he went to church  the following Sunday.  

* When I write down an investigator's address, I ask them to hold the book while I get my notebook and pencil

* I feel like the ancient prophets are with me, testifying along side me

* When we enter our investigators home, we say.. look, we have this book in the 4 finger power hold. Can we tell you why?

* We are looking for those who are prepared to hear our message.

* One sister said that when we first asked our missionaries to carry the Book of Mormon in her hands she said, it's raining...it's going to get wet and dirty.. it will be in the way...

But she said, as she was obedient, she felt as she walked, that she was being protected.  And she said people really do recognize who we are.  They do notice that we are carrying a book in our hands.  

* When I asked one Elder how he and his companion were getting along, he said, we are making things work, and how are you?  I thought, what a great attitude!

* One sister shared a scripture from the Book of Mormon that she recognized as a mighty tool.  Ether 12:4.  She was teaching an investigator who was having a hard time forgiving himself.  As she read this scripture with him, she said, she could actually see his shoulders relax, and hear his sigh of relief.  

* One set of Elders got in a taxi and started talking.  He started telling us about his problems, one problem is that he and his wife have not been able to have children.  He said that he does believe in God, but as he has read the Bible he has not received the answers and comfort that he sought. They introduced the Book of Mormon to him telling him about apostles and prophets, testifying that the words of the prophets are the same as the words of God.  They invited him to read and to pray explaining that he could find peace therein.  He thanked them and did not charge them for the taxi ride, he drove away with the directions to the church and a Book of Mormon in his hand.

* Yesterday two of our Elders decided to change their route as they were walking, and a women saw them and came up to them and asked, what is your religion? I have seen a lot of you missionaries lately, and noticed your churches.

She asked them what was the difference between us and the Christians?

Why are there so many churches here in Tepic?

If there is only one God, why are there so many churches?

She said, she was attending another church, but felt like the church was not teaching her anything to inspire her.  They began to teach her.

They explained that the Book of Mormon and the prophets are the difference.  She accepted a Book of Mormon and the invitation to come to church. She is interested in knowing how she can know what church is right for her.

* We started out with 4 Books of Mormon and gave them all away, and at the end of the day, we met a man, and we had to apologize to him that we had run out of Books of Mormon, but we got his information so we can get one to him.

* Two of our missionaries were teaching a woman who lives by very  humble means.  She has 4-5 kids, and only has one leg because of diabetes.  She has many struggles with her children and a husband who is unfaithful to her.  The Elders came into her home, and her foot was up on a chair, and she said, I'll let you rent it for 7 pesos, then she set her leg down and said, I'm kidding, please sit down.

They taught her about the people in the Book of Mormon whose burdens were made light because of their faith.  God didn't take their problems away, he just strengthened them to be able to endure their trials.

As they got up to leave, they asked again what they could do to help her, and she said, actually, I really could use that 7 pesos to buy a jug of water. My children are thirsty.

The Elders give her 7 pesos and as they walked away, quite emotional, this Elder thought, we are so blessed, I will never know this kind of poverty and struggle that she is going through, but God knows.

As he and his companion walked home, they talked together about what they can do to help her realize how Christ knows everything she is going through perfectly.

He went forth suffering the pains and afflictions of every kind. Alma 7:11-12

* One Elder wrote that he and his companion met a man in the street who said to us that he was investigating many churches, but when he saw the Book of Mormon in our hands he asked about it, and became more excited than I had ever seen anyone get about the Book of Mormon.  He accepted the book and made an appointment for us to come and teach him about it.

* One Elder said, we have ran out of Books of Mormon!  We are desperately contacting the office for more.

* We are getting used to carrying  the Book of Mormon in our hands. We actually found a less active who came up to us and told us he recognized the book and we challenged him to take it and read it and invited him to return to church.  He has come 3 weeks in a row.

* One companionship challenged the youth in their ward to read the Book of Mormon along with them this month.  They made little gift bags with the Book of Mormon in it and a pass along card and a treat.  The youth in their ward are taking the challenge.

* When I arrived here in this area, there was not a single investigator.

This week we contacted 13 new investigators , 5 with a baptismal date

We know we will continue to see this area grow.

* One Elder shared a story about a man who he and his companion met on the street and gave a Book of Mormon to, well a week later and he is halfway through Alma.  He asked if he could have more books for his family of 5 because they too want to read it.

* One Elder said he is on page 207 and he is hoping to finish this weekend.  I have a long bus ride to one of my areas  and I plan on reading the whole time.  I can't wait.

* Two hermana's shared that they met a man who came up to us and said, how can I get one of those books?  We said we will give you one if you will actually read it.  We will dedicate it to you.  They asked him his name and the name of his wife, and as they handed him the book with his name written in the front, his heart opened and he told us that he and his wife had just lost a 6 month old baby.  Into the Hermana's minds came the words - Plan of Salvation.  He said, give me 1 month to read this book and come visit me after I have had time to read it.  I have a testimony that the Lord is touching the hearts of these people.

* I have never taken the opportunity to read the Book of Mormon quickly.  It will be my first time, and I am excited to feel the power of this book as I read.

* One Elder said he felt like he was carrying the Golden Plates in his hands and that could could feel Moroni walking right beside him.

* In my interview with one sister, I bore my testimony, saying, I know the Book of Mormon is true, I know it is, our eyes were locked and she immediately said, I believe you sister, I know that it is true also. We grabbed hands and squeezed tight.  I love her.

* One companionship met a less active young man.  As they visited with him he told them that he had fallen back on some bad habits, and he was finding it hard to get out of those bad habits and get back on tract.  He said that he had talked to some family members who had commented that doesn't just stink that there are no more angels on earth today.  He looked at the Elders and said, what they don't realize  is that angels don't come with big white wings... they come with little blue books.  

* Another companionship said, we have had amazing experiences carrying the Book of Mormon.  One example is we were walking down the street to an appointment.  A guy started running after us telling us to wait.  We waited and he said to us, I have that book!  What religion are you from?  We then taught him lesson one.  He accepted a baptism date, and he came to church with us three days later.  

* Just yesterday, we were coming home on the bus.  I normally don't sit, so others can sit down, but there was a lady that moved her daughter to her lap and asked that I sit.  As I did so she said, what's that book you have in your hand?  I shared my testimony and  gave the book to her daughter. Her daughter started looking through it and asked me to explain the pictures.  As I did her mom said, I'm going to read this book.  Wow, She wasn't in our area but I got her address to pass along.  This power from the Book of Mormon four finger power hold and reading this month will really change our mission.

* We have seen many miracles this week!  We were looking for a member on our list that we don’t know, but she was not home.  We were not quite sure what to do because we had some time before our next lesson appointment,  I told my companion, let’s give ourselves a challenge.  30 minutes to find 5 new investigators.  We were both really excited and started looking for families.  We walked by a couple sitting on a bench and I didn’t pay much attention but the next thing I knew, my companion was talking with them.  It was amazing.  The man had lived with an aunt 5 years ago who was a member.  Not only that, but the missionaries were living with them too.  He told us he had read a little of the Book of Mormon and frequently attended church.  He lived in another area, so we passed the reference to the office secretaries.

We had found 2 people, but we needed 3 more.  I asked my companion where he wanted to go and he pointed in a direction that I knew would be very hard to find people.  But I remained positive and followed his lead.  I sarcastically told him, I’m sure we’ll find a family of five over there.  As we were walking, we saw a family.  The little boy started running towards us and asked if I use contacts because my eyes are blue.  I said no.  The dad then came running over and told us he has spent the last two years looking for missionaries.  His little daughter followed with her mother who was pushing a stroller with a baby inside.  It was a family of five!!  I was so astonished I was speechless!  The dad explained that he lived in California and has lived here in the city for only two years.  He was going to be baptized in California but abruptly moved here.  He was so happy to see us, and we to see him!

* I just wanted to share an experience that we had last week.  We were in a taxi and started talking to the taxi driver.  I feel like so many missionaries when they get in the taxis think they can relax and rest a bit and end up never talking with the driver at all.  This driver has taken missionaries before and we asked him what he thought about the church and he said that the missionaries he had driven had never said a word to him about what they did.  We were shocked!  We started talking to him and turns out he was super prepared.  His neighbors were members, he had a sister in law that was a member, and he lives a block from the church!  We felt impressed to talk about the Book of Mormon and share our testimonies with him.  We got his information and now the missionaries in his area just need to visit him.

* I testify that the Lord is preparing people for us to find and teach, we just have to open our mouths.  Throughout the week we have had similar experiences, and have felt a great difference in our enthusiasm to share the gospel.

Mission Council - The Book of Mormon

                               The Book of Mormon!

Our Commitment. Our Purpose. Our Message.
The Book of Mormon!
It is the mighty tool in our hands!

Last month we challenged our missionaries to:

*D&C 43:8-10 Bind yourself in all holiness to act...

 *Our challenge for that week ! (10-13-15)

  1- carry the Book of Mormon with you

in your hands everywhere you go.  

      2-  pray for more power as you teach from

 the Book of Mormon

      3- teach, relate, and  link all we teach to the

 Book of Mormon

*Note each of us is holding the Book of Mormon

in the 4 finger power hold! 

highlighting the title of the Book of Mormon.

This week we began our 30 day Book of Mormon Challenge (11-1-15)

Here is the letter we sent our missionaries on 10-31-15

Beloved Elders and Sisters of our Mexico Guadalajara Mission,

During the month of November, we will be having a mission wide, 30 day reading of the Book of Mormon.

Our theme for this entire month, and for our reading  will be - I Have Learned for Myself.

Our purpose as we read the Book of Mormon this month, is to strengthen our testimonies of its power, as the mighty tool in our hands.

“I have learned for myself” were five simple words spoken by the Prophet Joseph Smith to his mother after he experienced the First Vision (Joseph Smith—History 1:20). These words contain a powerful lesson for us today. As President Thomas S. Monson has taught: “Whether you are 12 or 112—or anywhere in between—you can know for yourself that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true.”

Our challenge this month is for each of us to read consistently and rapidly the Book of Mormon.  A quick reading of the Book of Mormon will allow the story line to stay fresh in our minds, and will fill us with the spirit of this book, that can come as we completely immerse ourselves in reading it.  

Our desire is for the words on these pages to be in your mind and in your heart in a powerful, forceful way as you connect with Nephi, Alma, Amulek, Ammon, King Mosiah, Helaman, Mormon, and Captain Moroni.  Read their stories, and feel their testimonies through your missionary eyes.

When an angel of the Lord asked Nephi: “What beholdest thou?” (1 Nephi 11:14), he was  prompted to evaluate and ponder what he had learned.  We pray that you too will evaluate and ponder what you are reading  within the pages of  this  mighty  tool, so that you too may say,

... I have learned for myself.

I Have Learned For Myself.             Mexico Guadalajara Mission.             November 2015

-President and Sister Clayton

Here is the power point picture our assistants started with today. 

 here are just a few pictures from today's mission council

Presidents object lesson, when we are busily engaged and 

consecrating on something good, we don't have time to 

worry about or do things that don't matter.

The majority of our Mission Council today was, our Mission Council.

President Clayton had each zone leader and STL report on, and

give an accounting of the missionaries under their stewardship,

their concerns, struggles, and questions.  President gave council,

and taught, but mostly he listened.  

We made a list on the board.  

There is much to ponder, and pray about.