It's worth it in the end

Man, I do not feel like writing this week. I finally had two baptisms this week. We’ve been having some really good success this week. For example last night we taught the first lesson to this lady that contacted us, and her mom and brother. At the end when we ask the people to pray if the message is true the lady said. " I don’t need to pray, the spirit has already told me its true".  Her mom said the same thing. Hmm. Well, I asked them to pray anyway. She just about peed her pants when I told her we’d give her a Book of Mormon for free. 

Anyway. I'm excited to get going this week. There is a new program here called the "Book of Life".  What’s gonna happen is the missionaries will be going to every member on the ward list and clarifying all their data. This includes ALL people on the ward list and there will be no "unknown" on the list.  We have to find them all. This will be a great reactivation tool along with finding. And every week we have a committee to report back to. A bunch of work, but I'm excited to get rolling on it. 

Other than that. I don’t even know what to say about Lorin... my heart goes out to his family and all who are impacted by this loss. God has a plan: just trust Him. it will all be worth it in the end. That’s what I tell myself when things get rough here. 

 THE CURSE CONTINUES. Can’t beat destiny Brighton. Just move on. Hahahah. I'm not happy you lost just laughing at the irony. Although that picture you guys sent me is so sweet!!! 

Well I'm out. Keep sharing the gospel. Even if they don’t need it now someday they will. "The worth of every soul is great in the sight of the Lord" . 

I love you all, take care, 

Elder Solly

No transfer for me

Lookin daper...

That smiley missionary dead center is Preston's best bud Elder John Reed!

Elder Solly and companion Elder Canche, left, bottom

Cool ray!

Well some exciting events this week. The cultural event was really cool. There were missionaries there from like 6 different missions. I got to see Jon Arnett, Derek Buttars,  and John Reed. I didn’t really get to talk to any of them but it was so good to see them. Pres. Monson and Pres. Eyring came and talked at the event. Then there were a lot of dances that the youth have been preparing for a couple months now. It was really good and at the end all the missionaries went out on the field and sang. It was super cool, the stadium is huge.  There were over 100,000 people there. The next day the rededication was really cool too. We went to the second session in the stake center and the spirit was really strong there. I really got some cool impressions. 

 

Well I’m staying in Claveria for at least 6 more weeks with Elder Canche. We are really gonna work our butts off these next couple of weeks to have some solid people to carry us through the holidays.

 Other than that... you shouldn’t have sent me those pictures [of London], mom. I started crying in the Internet cafe. Of course I thought about her on her birthday. To tell you the truth I don’t ask for her to be with me even part of the time. I wouldn’t want her to be here in Mexico. There are better places for her.

 Well that’s exciting about the football team. Do something right and break the curse, k? Hmm, ok, I ran out of stuff to say!  Love you all incredibly and I’m praying for you. 

Let that light shine,

Elder Solly

Joseph Smith's grandson?

Well hey everyone, this has been a really long and really short week at the same time. We spent three days working at the temple open house and that is really tiring. Some of the time I was just a follower for the tours, making sure no one falls behind or tries to wander off in the temple. At other times I was pushing wheelchairs through the tour and then I was at the big tent at the end of the tour where everyone fills out their comment cards and answering questions, that was fun, some of the questions were super funny like one lady that asked me what kind of perfume or stuff we put in the air inside the temple to make people feel peculiar... or another one who asked me if I was Joseph smiths grandson cuz "I look just like him" hahaha they think all white people look the same. Then I talked to this one girl for about an hour about why the temple isn’t open to all people. She didn’t understand anything that was stupid. But then the last day (Saturday) I got stuck in parking till the very end.... we got home at 1130 at night and I just absolutely crashed and I'm not going to lie I took a nap Sunday, in church and at home I was so tired. The open house was really good and I'm sure a lot of good will come from it, but I'm glad its over that’s for sure.

 Ok, now you asked for a typical day schedule witch doesn’t happen a lot but I wake up at 630 my comp at about 730-800 I take a shower eat something, get ready and study till 930/1000 then we go out and contact people, usually in the mornings we go contact people at schools or places where there a lot of people like the tiangies, or movable markets. Some times well set up a table and give away pamphlets and pictures or well just talk to people and that’ll go till we eat at 2 with members, then after that we knock doors for a while and have appointments. Usually we have most our appointments at night but if not the sun goes down at like 630 and we don’t like being out after its dark but usually we get home at 9 or 930 and then go to sleep! Fun! But of course, everyday is really different and your always changing plans. But that’s the mission.

Glad to hear the boys beat Higley and are ranked pretty high, that’s cool. And that puppy is cute! Of course by the time I see it it’ll be pretty darn big. It’s about time we got a lab though. And ya the election... everyone tries to give me crap but they don’t know anything, they just keep trying to get me to say I hate black people. I'm glad I got a year and a half before I go back over there. Which reminds I complete six months this week. That is crazy stuff!!!! It goes fast.

 Well, that’s about it from me, just working and trying to do what I can, the Lord will take care of the rest, I know he will.

 Love you all,

Elder Solomon   

 P.S. If you can someone send me a big bag of sunflower seeds, the only sunflower seeds they have here are in birdseed

 

hola papito!

Well everyone, sounds like a cool game last Friday and this Friday. Briggly I cant believe your lifting that much. Sure beat me right now. I'm a weak little sucker.

 Good week but frustrating as well the golden investigator we were gonna baptize had to work.... we’ve got a 22 year old guy lined up for this week but I think he’s just trying to get in with a girl in the ward. We’ll let the dl [district leader] figure it out.

 Other than that froze my butt off some days and sunburn the others. The weather is really strange here. And we never know what its gonna be like. Mom don’t worry about me starving- I can hold up I just try and make my money last the whole month and the meals are so stupid here. We eat at like 10, then 2 (with members) then most people eat again right before bed. It’s kind of dumb. Ya I'm still without fridge microwave kitchen, the only sink is the one in the bathroom. So I've been finding other ways. We went to Costco today and I bought some stuff. The food is good here I don’t worry about eating with members at all. Just lately they don’t feed us a whole lot cuz my tiny comp don’t eat a whole lot! But its all good.  I've got other stuff on the mind like filling my blank planner and finding ways to get people to church still. They just don’t take me serious when I tell them get your butt to church!!!!

 Funny thing the other day. The girls here are a lot more outgoing and whistle and stuff (especially when I do my hair) but the other day we were walking down the street when this girl put her head out the window and said "hola papito" which means like “hi little daddy”. Me and my comp were laughing forever.

 Anyway, ya, if your gonna send me anything for Christmas get it in the mail. Canche probably wont even be with me by Christmas. Changes are Nov. 18 and I’m pretty sure one of us will be taking off somewhere else. We’ll see you never know here. Well don’t have much more to report. Glad all is well at home enjoy it there! I miss that place that dad always hates coming home to=) Be safe boys, especially in the decisions that matter. Mom and Dad love you like crazy. And the rest of the fam. 

Elder Solly

Christmas packages...

Are you considering sending Elder Solomon a Christmas package?  There are many customs restrictions and risks to consider, and it may take weeks.  We have discovered a service based out of Texas that specifically services missionaries that expedites the process and personally walks the packages through customs and allows you to send items that you otherwise would not be able to send (anything with sugar).  It even has ready made packages!    Check it out: www.carepackageMEXpress.com

Packages should be sent to the mission home address (do not send to pouch address).

Thanks for thinking of Preston!

Heather

602-206-7276

Please be smart bro's

Ok, well, everyone turned down the steam this week justa notch. I've been a lot less stressed and things are moving: hoping to have 6 baptisms in Nov. I’m learning to work a lot more with the members and less actives and they’ve got people ready! Also looking up old investigators and reaping what the others have sown. Lot more to knocking doors which really doesn’t do a whole lot of anything in this area, (which is pretty rich). It’s more of a pastime when we've got 30 min to burn. Me and the comp are getting along great. Went to the open house of the Mexico City temple w/ an investigator and it is beautiful!!!!! Absolutely incredible and huge. The pictures don’t do justice. Felt good to be back in the temple again. Other than that I gave a fifteen-minute talk on the Book of Mormon yesterday. Yes fifteen minutes! There is something about hiding behind a black name tag. One of the recent converts told me he wants to develop a testimony like mine. I felt really good after that.

Well, I can’t believe football is winding down already. I haven’t even made it to a single game! Briggly- get your butt out on a date. Before you know it girls will be strictly off limits and you will miss dating a lot. But be smart please. please, please. I bought the “Miracle of Forgiveness” in Spanish and boy that’s intense stuff but 100% essential. Be grateful for a blunt dad that tries his best to help you out. Always follow his counsel on these matters, believe me i'm now there in the "been there, done that" stage ok? Now you got two (three w/mom) testimonies on this. This applies to ALL you boys ok? Deal.

Dad don’t worry about the glasses. By the time I come back ill pry be joining you. My eyes hurt all the time here and they get fogged up a lot. This is a rough rough city. However an American Elder and I went to iIhop today and I just about died. I can’t believe how different my life is now. Instead of the big Friday or Saturday nights, I go home. If i'm lucky to eat an orange for dinner and go to sleep. But it’s good. I'm a lot better person than I used to be. A thousand stories and its still the first quarter. Love you all so much. Never realized how truly blessed I was and am still. Be strong and remember "there is a God in Israel"! 

Elder Solomon