The purpose of this blog is to highlight the beautiful city of Guadalajara; the faithful members, the valiant missionaries who serve here, as well as the people, culture, and food.

Monday, March 27, 2017

Baptisms last week 3-20-17


Maria Guadalupe´s Baptism!
We found Maria six weeks ago calling previous investigators whose phone numbers were in our phone. After we had called many, we called Maria and she was very excited and accepted an appointment to visit her. Little by little she has had stronger and stronger desires to learn about the gospel. She had a baptismal goal for April, but felt that she should be baptised sooner. So she prepared for her new goal! She has made much progress and desires to bring more of her family to church!
Hermana Acor y Hermana Herrera

Encontramos a Maria hace 6 semanas llamando a antiguos investigadores que tuvimos en nuestro teléfono. Después de marcar muchos, marcamos a Maria y estaba súper emocionada y acepto una cita! Poco a poco ella tenía más y más deseos de aprender sobre el evangelio. Ella tenía una fecha meta para Abril pero sintió que debe bautizarse más temprano y se preparó para su nueva fecha! Ha progresado mucho y quiere traer aún más personas de su familia a la capilla!





Víctor´s Baptism!
This is Víctor, we met him through his mother who was the first investigator. One day she set up an appointment for us to teach just him. Even though he did not consider himself a very religious young man, from the beginning he was very interested to know more about the gospel. Two months ago he began to have a gradual conversion. He has made many changes to bring his life in accord with God´s will.

Hermana Osumi & Hermana Ramirez 

Él es Víctor a él le conocimos por medio de su Mamá quien era la principal investigadora. Un Día ella nos citó solo para hablar con él. A pesar de que no se consideraba un joven muy religioso desde el primer momento él estuvo muy interesado en conocer más sobre el evangelio, hace 2 meses el empezó a tener una conversión gradual. Él ha hecho muchos cambios para vivir de acuerdo con la voluntad de Dios.








Claudia´s Baptism!
Sister Claudia was a Street contact. She told us that at the beginning she was embarrassed to have us visit, and she would hide from the missionaries. Yet with time she began to feel the Spirit. Now she has no doubt that the gospel is true, and she is going to strive to have an eternal family.  
- Hna. Marquez & Hna. Rodriguez 
Sayula Cd. Guzmán

Bautismo de Claudia!
Hna. Claudia fue un contacto en la calle. Ella comenta que al principio le daba pena que le visitara, incluso se escondía de las misioneras. Pero con el tiempo comenzó a sentir el espíritu. Ahora no tiene ninguna duda de que el evangelio es verdadero y quiere esforzarse para tener su familia eterna. 







Gabriel´s Baptism!
Brother Gabriel was a reference. He was not living a very good life, and he was not happy with his past, he found himself looking for God and forgiveness of his Heavenly Father. With time he began to understand the gospel and that Heavenly Father had not forgotten him. In his testimony he said “Before I was a soldier of Satan, now I am a soldier of Jesus Christ.” Brother Gabriel is a miracle, He is personal evidence of what people can come to do.  

- Hna. Marquez & Hna. Rodriguez 
Sayula Cd. Guzmán

Hno. Gabriel fue una referencia. El Hno. Gabriel no llevaba una vida muy buena, a él no le agrada su pasado, él se encontraba en busca de Dios y el perdón de su Padre Celestial. Con el tiempo el comenzó a entender más del evangelio y comprendió que el padre no le había olvidado. En su testimonio comento "Antes era soldado de satanás, ahora soy soldado de Jesucristo." Hno. Gabriel es un milagro, es evidencia propia de lo que puede llegar hacer las personas. 




Thursday, March 23, 2017

Welcoming our one solo missionary

We would like to welcome Elder Arguello with us here in the mission.
He arrived solo yesterday afternoon coming in from Argentina.
We are thrilled his visa finally arrived allowing him to travel here to Mexico.
Welcome welcome!!!



Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Our new missionary's first full day of training!

It's been a wonderful day of training.
We love these new missionaries already!
We can feel their spirit and excitement to begin this marvelous work.
They stayed with us all day long and were engaged and prepared for all that we taught them.
What a delight it has been today.

Here are some highlights from our day together !
We began this morning in the mission home with a big breakfast and introductions.  I told them I was going to take a quick picture before we started our training, and they all raced to their bags, to grab their Books of Mormon for the picture.  Don't they look fabulous!!!


I began our training by introducing missionary apartments,
missionary health, their daily missionary schedule, 
and learning English.  We are encouraging every 
missionary who does not speak English
to set specific goals here in the mission to learn all 
they can while they are here and have the resources
and help to learn to speak the English language.


There is much to focus on and prepare for. 


A quick peek in on President Clayton
as he gets ready to interview these
new missionaries for the first time.  


One more picture at the mission home.


On our way to the Union Building by the Temple.


They started so wide awake, and our
40 minute drive lulled them into a 
quick nap.  Good for them!


President Clayton greeting the trainers and office staff,
who have been waiting for us to arrive.


Pizza for lunch


All the various ways to eat fruit by the roll!


We love these office Elders!
We could not do all we do without 
their help!


Ready for the training to continue


President Clayton's teaching-
The three pillars of this mission
*Worthiness
*Obedience
*We teach the Doctrine of Christ 
by teaching repentance unto baptism




Elder Hutching's financial training 


The assistants training on
security, traveling to and from areas, 
answering the phone correctly,
dignified missionary behavior 
 and many, many other things.




Getting ready to meet their trainers!
Here are our fabulous trainers
ready and prepared.


And here are our new missionaries 
anxious to meet their first companions.


The wait is over!!
All is well! :)



We headed outside to take some pictures
by the Temple

looks like I'm leading the choir :)



Here is a closer look at these new companionship's

Trainer Elder Sime with Elder Vargas



Elder Gomez with trainer Elder Martinez



Elder Sevilla with trainer Elder Pacheco

    

Elder Shehee with trainer Elder Martinez



Trainer Elder Sanchez with Elder Ascencio



Elder Scoville with trainer Elder Powley



Final two pictures before we sent them 
on their way.



We love our missionaries!

Monday, March 20, 2017

Welcoming in our six new missionaries!

What a beautiful day it is here in Guadalajara to welcome our six newest missionaries!  We will be receiving one additional Elder on Wednesday coming in from Argentina now that his visa has finally arrived.

Let us introduce these six new missionaries joining us today.
Coming straight out of the airport doors


From left to right
Elder Ascencio from Peru 
     Elder Vargas from Costa Rica
Elder Gomez from Boliva
Elder Sevilla from Mexico
Elder Shehee from Florida
        Elder  Scoville from Las Vegas 

A quick picture outside the airport doors.


Inside the airport van


A warm welcome by President Clayton



A quick muffin and juice - taking a break 
outside for a few minutes.


After a short introduction from the assistants,
and handing them their initial materials
for their first day,
here we are on the steps of 
the Guadalajara Temple ...
holding our most powerful message,
The Book of Mormon in our hands...
in the four finger power hold.


Here are our fabulous seasoned missionaries
ready to spend the day with our newest missionaries.


And here are our six newest missionaries
excited to meet their companions for 
their first day in the mission.


Here they are, ready to head out for 
their first day in the mission. 


We begin our first full day of training tomorrow!
More to come!