The Field Is White and Ready to Harvest

Home At Last!

2010-05-15T17:00:00.000-07:00

How do you describe a long awaited (mom was waiting and counting every day!) homecoming? Elder Solomon said "the biggest sacrifice of his mission was coming home." How wonderful that he loved it that much! Welcome home Elder. Well done, thou good and faithful servant!

Final hurrah!

2010-05-13T15:09:00.001-07:00

Elder Solomon concludes his mission and arrives home Saturday, May 15th.

He will report his mission in Sacrament Meeting, Sunday, May 16th at the San Tan Building (20637 East San Tan Boulevard, Queen Creek, Az 85142).

Unprofitable Servant

2010-05-10T17:11:00.000-07:00

OK, well I thought about it a little more and it would be cool to have everyone there when I get home off the plane so invite them all! It’ll be fun! It was great talking to you all and realizing how different I talk. Cuz of the Spanish, I talk a lot faster and thanks to forgetting English the words get all crashed up in my mouth and I stutter and try to remember the word... what a mess. I’m sure you all will have a blast listening to me.

Ok well this week I’m gonna do it right. Go out with honor. I’m gonna work for that title of unprofitable servant. In Spanish they use the word “inutil” which means like useless, I like that translation too. Lately I learned an important lesson from the three Nephites. The ward here and a lot of people I know wanted to throw a farewell party for me and I was thinking, “whatever, that’s cool”. But then in the zone leader council we were reading about Christ’s ministry here in the America’s and I read the parts about the three Nephites. All the 12 disciples were incredibly spiritual and powerful men, in fact when Christ was with them in 3 Nephi 28, he asked them what they wanted of him. Nine said that they wished to serve him to the end of their days and then speedily come to Him in His kingdom. Another important lesson is that desire. They wanted to work till the end of their days. They knew they couldn’t take a relax here in this life. We shouldn’t think that because we’ve been serving the Lord that we can take a break. We have to keep working till the end of our days. Completing a mission doesn’t mean I can take the easy road for a year or so like a lot of Elders here think. Ok, but then he turned to the other 3 asked. And it’s interesting what they did. In verse 5 it says that they sorrowed and durst not speak the thing that they desired. Surely this request they had was not a bad thing. They were not asking for anything wrong or selfish. In fact their request was very unselfish and very sacred. They must have been really humble and faithful men. They loved the Lord and desired to be His true disciples and instruments in His hands. Christ read their thoughts and told them " more blessed are ye" hmm more blessed? Why more blessed? They stuck around to see the works of God here in the earth and are still performing in their very special mission. It seems to me that their request was more of an offer than a request. More of a sacrifice than an easy way out. Look at all the things they went through: thrown in furnaces, and with lions, buried in great pits, stoned and thrown in prison etc. Not easy stuff despite their changed state. They continue to this day. The work continues but one of the most important parts for me is this. In verse 25 Mormon says that he was about to write their names but was forbidden of the Lord. Now why would the Lord forbid that? He has a reason for everything He does so what is it? Maybe it’s easier this way. Why would Mormon write down their names? In the scriptures a lot they write names for geneology but this wasn’t the case, Mormon usually didn’t worry too much about geneology unless they were prophets or chief judges. Writing their names down would be in recognition of what they did and are doing. But the humbleness and nobleness of these men is much more. They don’t need that recognition. It’s the blank face, it’s the mantle, the calling and the message not the individual person. What is the most important part here? Their glory is the glory of God and His success in the Work. I wish I could explain better these thoughts and impressions the Spirit has given me on this subject. Anyway, let us all continue in this great work. I hope we can all become worthy of that great title of unprofitable servant by at least doing what He asks of us. Take care, love you all and will see you soon... in fact Saturday.

-ELDER SOLOMON

Spectacular!

2010-05-03T17:10:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, still here, late but still here. We had a fun day, finally got permission to go to the famous “centro” and check it out. We went to a huge market of artisan stuff and I bought a lot. Got most of my souvenir shopping done. But it was exhausting. In Mexico shopping means battling over the price a lot. Some times they see that you are white and hike the price up. Some of them even got mad today when they realized I speak better Spanish than they and I told them they were just trying to rip me off. Who are the racist ones? But it was fun. After that we went in the big cathedral and saw a bunch of apostasy. It is a super gloomy feeling there, nothing like a chapel or less the temple. We had some fun encounters with drunks and people are starting to get a little crazy when they learn I’m from Arizona. They say, “Oh so your a racist”. I just say practice what you preach. All my white buddies are saying Arizona is gonna start world war 3. Sounds pretty crazy over there, I just hope they don’t cancel any flights!

This last week was hard. On Wednesday and Thursday we had to return to the house so I could take a quick nap and recover energy to keep going and on Thursday I got sick. In fact I threw up at about 11 at night. To my memory, that’s the first on my mission. A half hour later we got a call from a family in the ward to go to the hospital to give a blessing... there is a R[ecent} C[onvert] family in the church that the mom and the daughter got baptized about 9 months ago but the dad was a very intelligent man and fought with the missionaries over doctrine and never really accepted a lot of things. But he was sick, had a lot of serious ills that the doctors never could really take care of. His name was Abdon and when I knew him for the first time he was bed ridden. I only saw him standing once. We always visited with him and did little passbys. On Monday I was informed that he fell in a slight coma and that they had taken him to the Ticoman Hospital. He had become a dear friend but we couldn’t get time to go see him but visited his daughter in their house Thursday. So on Thursday night when they asked us to come to the hospital even though I was sick we went. He was pretty bad, not very responsive but not in a coma. We gave him a quick blessing and his breathing slowed and he seemed more calm. We left and returned to the house to sleep. They then informed us that he passed away at about 3 am. The next day was hard because we had ZL council. The GA[general authority] didn’t show up cuz he was sick too, but it was good anyway. The next day we had a small service for Abdon with some members and took him to his burial place. I learned many many things from Abdon. I will miss him even though I knew him so little time it seemed like. I’m glad we followed those spiritual impressions to visit with him. Today even though it was p-day we visited with his wife and daughter for a while, it was peaceful and rewarding for me. It’s a good thing they have the gospel. They both are ok and calm with a hope that he will accept the gospel on the other side. I told them that he won’t escape Elder Solomon cuz there´s one over there too, not just that... but a Sister Solomon [London]! The good thing was the last people he wanted to see on his deathbed was his family and the Elders.

We are going to marry some people tomorrow so hopefully we will have some baptisms this week. To end one funny story. We were waiting with Elder Vary and his comp to do an interview one morning (him and his whole district baptized by the way) and we were sitting on a curb by a chapel and we saw a huge pile of pigeons going crazy in a group, obviously fighting over some food. There were a lot. So what is the natural reaction of a boy? Me and Elder Tuft took off towards them and they all took off... spectacular. Then we see and hear some one running towards us yelling. A crazy lady was yelling, “How could you do that?! You guys come from the church and you are scaring God’s creation!!” ...Sorry my halo kinda slipped... by the way I hate when they pull out that church crap when it has nothing to do with anything. So we sat there while she yelled some more and I gave some smart alec responses and Tuft tried to explain us out. After we walked back to Elder Vary and Elder Guttierrez they were laughing and we had a good laugh about it for a while. We then decided not to scare birds cuz if you do the pigeon guard will get ya! Anyway 11 days left... can’t believe it. Ok pray hard, see you soon!

Love you all,

-ELDER SOLOMON

Need toothpicks for eyelids...

2010-04-26T12:57:00.000-07:00

Wow, [we've got] quite the plans [for when I get home]. I was hoping to get home and reelax. haha no! I'm glad Jon [Arnett] is waiting for me; I was worried about not having friends but I'll have to make them all over again. It just keeps sinking in to me little by little that I'm really going home and that this is ending. I only have 2 pdays left!! I've even had a little hard time lately going to sleep, not cuz I'm not tired but cuz I've got a million things going through my heart and mind. This last week was as normal work, I've been trying hard to keep my head out of the water but as I keep telling people, 2 years of this is hard. I fall asleep in lessons and my eyelids are always heavy. I keep telling my comp that I haven’t always been this way, that I used to have a lot of energy. We haven’t had the success desired lately in the area and the zone. I have a district that hasn’t even baptized yet! Please pray for them its Elder Vary and District Arbollilo. Poor Elder Vary; it’s his first change as a district leader and he is trying so hard but is a bit frustrated.

This week will be exciting, we have Zone Leader council which, apart from being my last, will be accompanied by President De Hoyos. The 1st counselor of the Presidency of area Mexico. That’s gonna be intense, with a General Authority up close. There are only 20 Zls, the 2 assistentes and the mission president. We'll see how it goes. Hopefully he doesn’t chew us out too bad. I'm excited to hear some sweet doctrine though.

Other than that I'm out of news. I talked on Sunday and talked of charity and a little about humility. I analyzed the verse in Moroni 7:45. It was a sweet talk and the Bishop asked me to give it 5 minutes before sacrament meeting. Now I'm worried about the homecoming. I'm sure Brighton will leave me like a half hour and I can't talk in English anymore! We'll see how it goes. Ok well that’s all I got. Take care and have a nice week. Love ya!!

-ELDER SOLOMON

Always

2010-04-19T11:09:00.000-07:00

What are the plans when I get home and what are we talking about on that Sunday?

Ok. So Elder Lopez finally got his new comp. Its weird seeing newbie’s and thinking about all they have to figure out and go through. But the good thing is the zone is at 100 percent now and we will be going on all gears. I'm praying for a lot of success and my prayers have been heard lately. So when the change started we had very few investigators and the past 2 weeks we have been working pretty hard trying to get some new people. We found some but not the usual golden people I love working with so by the time Sunday came around and we had very few people in sacrament I was a bit out of it, trying to see who we could work on to get baptized at least this next week. I have been praying a lot and pleading for new "Chosen" people but they just weren’t coming around. I've also been praying to be able to work strong to the end and I've been receiving that blessing.

But Sunday, Armando (Brenda’s husband not the other one) and his brother in law Israel came and talked to me and asked what was the plan and the deal with Veronica, Brenda’s mom. She, Veronica, has been coming to church every Sunday since Armando and Brenda got baptized but lives really far away so I never really worked with her. Well, by divine intervention we ate with them. We got there at about 2 and ate with them, Armando, Brenda, Veronica, and Israel and Susana (Veronicas sister and Israel’s wife). So after eating and a cat nap in my chair we started sharing a message and it was all over the place. She asked why we didn’t talk about the virgin and we used that to start talking about what real faith is and went into repentance and baptism and the difference between Catholic baptism and the real baptism. That took us to the message of the restoration. The good thing was that she had been to church so many times she didn’t have a hard time understanding everything. At about 5:30 we were getting ready to wrap it up and Brenda pulled out this precious testimony of all that has happened to her since she got baptized; the prayers that have been answered, etc. It was way cool and then we started talking about some more stuff and Veronica said out of nowhere "I want to gat baptized". It caught me a bit off guard and I started thinking about when. I suggested next Sunday and then Armando and Brenda said the weren’t going to be there and some one suggested the possibility of that same day. After another 5 minutes of " negotiation" it was a done deal. My comp stayed with Armando to do the interview and I ran to the chapel with Israel to start filling the font. The Bishop was a bit bothered but didn’t say anything and we were able to get a few members there. We started at like 9 and I was a simple beautiful service. Elder Tuft and me even sang a special musical number "did you think to pray". He sings really well so it turned out nice. The look on Veronicas face was worth everything as she left. She had been asking for it and so had I.

Sometimes the Lord lets us almost smack right into the wall before saving us. He has such incredible control on everything and really does hear our earnest prayers. He knows exactly what going on. Always. The person that puts his trust in Him will be truly free. I know the Lord was hearing my prayers and her prayers and probably Elder Tufts prayers and her whole family. He waits for the perfect moment to save us, just when he knows we can best learn. I am grateful for His help and to be in His service. There is no greater call and no greater glory than to be at His service. Pray. Trust. Be diligent and patient. That’s my advice. --

-ELDER SOLOMON

Just trucking along

2010-04-12T07:24:00.000-07:00

Hi there everyone. Had a good and super busy week. On Tuesday was the changes, got my new comp Elder Tuft from Utah and then we got to go to the temple for a sealing and then to the mission home to play soccer with all the ZLs. we slept there and had the Zl/DL Council getting home at like 6. The next day, Thursday we got to work and Friday we had Zone conference. So a lot of meetings and not too much time for working in the area. The good thing is that it’s all over and it’s just pure work now on out.

We really don’t have a lot of investigators right now. We are working with family members of recent converts but things are a bit sure they’ll pick up we just have to keep looking and working. I've been really trying to read a lot of the Book of Mormon cuz I have the goal of finishing again before the end of the mission. Sunday was a great day. Catching up from General Conference we had 8 confirmations in the ward and 6 ordinations to the Aaronic priesthood. Along with 2 baby blessings there were like 15 minutes for testimonies, which is fine by me. The less apostasy the better. What was even cooler was seeing a few recent converts get callings In the ward.

We are in a threesome right now. We have 2 elders in the zone waiting for new missionaries to come but they still haven’t gotten here! Sounds familiar... poor elder he is so anxious to get to get to work in his area but cant go alone. We sent him with a priest on Sunday so he could go to his ward and baptize someone. Lets hope they get here soon. Well I really don’t have too much news. Just truckin along. Hope all is well with you. Love you and take care.

-ELDER SOLOMON

You've done a good job, Elder

2010-04-05T09:39:00.000-07:00

The Familia Basilio

Left to Right: Javier, Elder Cardenas, Armand, Antoniao, Margarita, Luis, Martina, & Me.

Olivia

Brenda and Armando with Augustina and Bairon

Veronica and her son Jair

Elder Cardenas y Solomon with Ivan and Luis Manuel

I don’t want the end to come. This is a weird feeling. When people ask me who much time I have left I ask them, for how long did Jesus fast? And that’s it.

Transfers! And the last ones, Cardenas is taking off and I'm receiving another American!! Elder Tuft. I cant believe I have another white comp especially being a ZL its got to be the first one in the history of this mission. Elder Tuft is a really good guy and I'm excited to be with him, they changed the zone limits around so there will be new challenges and problems but we now have the stake Zarahemla, (an older chapel with an indoor wood court, there are only 2 in the mission) so that’ll be fun. This last week was crazy, 6 baptisms, the family Basilio was a reference from a recent convert and we taught the mom then the kid and invited the dad to church later and went. They are super special, especially the dad, Armando. He is one of the most faithfull people I know. I can’t really explain how I feel that way but when he talks and prays just leaves you (as a missionary) impressed. Walking out of the house we always just look at each other and shake our heads. He understands the doctrine so clearly and perfectly. Most people when they receive a baptismal challenge they look for some way out saying, "I need more time" or "I need to know more" but his reply was" I know I don’t know very much but this is something I want to do cuz we really need this and God will bless us" his wife Margarita had to have a special interview with the mission president so they all showed up to the chapel, while we talked to the kids President Fuentes talked with both of them. After a short time I was outside on the phone and the President came out and said ready to go. He then said, "Who taught them?" I said "well us president" he replied "you’ve done a good job elder, they are a solid family and the three kids will all go on missions, congratulations" that doesn’t happen that much. Cardenas and me were walking with our heads high on that day. I'm so grateful to be able to know them and be a part of their lives. I'm hoping to put on the calendar of 2011, "sealing of the family Basilio"

Conference, wow. I had the opportunity to go to every session this time. I don’t know if it’s just for being a missionary or being more mature but I love it! It hurts to see the "fair-weather members" just go to the morning session on Sunday. There were a lot of awesome themes through the whole conference. The first and foremost being the responsibilities and influences of the parents, not excusing sin or disobedience, not lowering standards even when everyone else is etc. I have pages full of notes. I wish I had one of those magic remotes that I could hit pause and rewind. If I every get my ipod fixed I'm downloading the whole thing right away. Elder Holland, wow lets stop cutting at the branches and get to the root. The difference between love and lust, that makes things a lot clearer. President Uchtdorf and the patience, well I didn’t feel near as bad as dad cuz that is pry my strongest attribute right now but I still realized of what I’ve got left, Elder Carlson and the obedience, Elder Oaks and the blessings, I could go on and on I love it. It seemed that they talked directly but exactly how it needs to be said. I realized how very far I have to go as an individual.

Ok, well that’s all I got for this week. Have a great week, strive to be better. I love you all

-ELDER SOLOMON

American Ball!

2010-03-29T22:29:00.000-07:00

Don’t worry everybody I'm here, late but better late than never. Wonderful week last week. We had another baptism of a wonderful older lady named Oliva. She’s a sweet lady and did everything was asked her without fail or complaint. She got excited when we walked her to church. She liked the fact that two handsome young men in suits came to take her out for a while. The success continued in the zone with 10 baptisms. The assistants complimented me and said that Linda Vista is really getting better, in March we ended up number 2 out of the 10 zones losing by one baptism. The success is the Lords, I still don’t know what I'm doing nor ever really will I think. This time our patience, diligence and hope paid off, this week will be good too. We just need to find new investigators and desperately.

Today we played American ball and ended up playing tackle on dry grass so my knees are all scratched up. But everyone was afraid of me hahaha no one had really played before and so when I would go at them and stick my face in their gut and not try to rodeo them they would all go down pretty easy. I was good to relax and get some of that stress off. Changes will be in a week and I'm sure Cardenas will be going, he’s been a good comp, still has a lot to learn but sometimes doesn’t want to learn it, his loss... and I will receive my last comp or my killer as they call it here. I know the end is near but its hard to understand what’s worrying me is in these 7 weeks I've got to get 9 baptisms to get my goal. We have 6 for this week :) God lives and Loves us. He is aware of us and wants our happiness. It’s late and I need to go to bed, gotta start this week with a bang tomorrow.

Love you all so very much.

-ELDER SOLOMON

Bummer one and bummer two

2010-03-22T13:00:00.000-07:00

Finally had a bit of success in the zone, we had 13 baptisms in the zone and 4 in our area. Patience pays off. And hope is knowing that the promises of the Lord come through. The only thing is that you only have a few hours to celebrate the victory cuz Monday night its back to the fight. The people we baptized are awesome, a young couple called Armando and Brenda and their cute two cute little girls. And Agustina with her 13 yr old boy bayron. We had a lot of sweet experiences this week. The spirit was felt and tears were shed. We were also helping the sister missionaries prepare a couple for baptism that had to get married so we spent a lot of time preparing it all and a lot of money in taxi, I'm pretty much out. But they got married Sunday in the afternoon and baptized 30 min later.

I've got a lot more to tell you all about but I had two huge smacks to the face today.

Number 1: I had been saving money Nana had been sending me and had about 120 dollars all protected on my desk. When I looked for them this morning they were nowhere to be found. My comp also had some money disappear a week ago and the only idea we have is that it was the plumber who was fixing our bathroom took a bonus off our desks. The hard part is that it was all protected good. It was a hard hit to take especially cuz that was a lot of savings I had and need it every now and then cuz the monthly money never reaches. I hope he really needs it and uses it for something good.

Number 2: I just connected my ipod to get some pictures off cuz we are gonna print some and it froze for a sec when I plugged it in. then it turned back on blank... with nothing. It says it has no memory so I'm hoping and praying that it just got blocked or something and that everything didn’t get erased. I had moved all my pics and videos on the ipod cuz i thought it would be safer there than on my memory stick and erased a lot off the memory. Oh boy...

Ok well, sorry for the depressive letter but I was all happy and enjoying life when I got blown away from somewhere I never expected. Thanks for your love and support. They say that the last 3 months of your mission everyone starts writing you again. That’s a lie I've got less than 2 left and I'm lucky if mom writes me.

The good thing is we are playing tackle football in the afternoon.

Take care

-ELDER SOLOMON

[In mom's defense - she did write him! That just goes to show how down he is]

Super sweet

2010-03-15T12:11:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, how’s it going? I'm doing good. Thanks for all your prayers. I'm feeling a ton better but now dealing with the heat. It’s pretty hot here, not like in Arizona but because of the elevation and the smog it makes it more intense. We definitely need a fan or something in the house. We had another 2 baptisms on Sunday a mom and son duo called Veronica and Jair. They are super sweet people and it was a beautiful service. A lot were crying. I was planning that Elder Cardenas would baptize them both but at the last sec Veronica wanted me so I threw on one of those big baptismal suits there in the chapel. The bad things were I was walking around commando until we could get back to the house to put on some dry garments.

We keep having a lot of success in the area but little in the zone, which is really killing me. I was expecting a lot more success and I really have no idea what to do... need to spend more time on the roof I guess. Today we went to Camarones and played basketball with some people there, I really don’t like it here, everyone plays really dirty and the rules are retarded, someday I'll tell you. It usual ends up me yelling at someone for slapping the crap out of my arm nowhere near the ball. Patience.

I've been trying to think of the FHE theme I could share with you today but I really can’t think of one. Someone else will have to come up with it. I've got nine weeks left and every day is one less. My whole life has been focused on getting on a mission and now that its ending... its hard to think in the "next life" I know it will all work out though. We had the opportunity to address a couple of priests in a multi stake youth conference and we talked of the preparation for a mission and the blessings received. Read D&C 31 it’s a good one. The blessing is great towards the faithful servants of the Lord. Boys prepare yourself well. There is nothing more important that you can do than get on a mission in this part of your life. Guard your chastity and virtue, that is one of Satan’s greatest tools for destroying youth. Nothing is more important than being pure and clean walking into the MTC. We shouldn’t send boys on a mission to fix things they need to go ready, cuz its hard correcting things here and precious time is wasted. Time that isn’t ours. If you have things to fix. Fix it on your time cuz this is the Lords time. It gives me chills thinking that there are still 3 in our family waiting for their turn. By the time all our mission cycles are over the family will be a bit bigger, mom will have daughters again, (lets hope) haha well the future is bright. God lives and I know it.

Be good and know I love you.

-ELDER SOLOMON

Speedy fast

2010-03-09T12:05:00.000-08:00

March 9, 2010

Ok, so its Tuesday night at about 10 and I finally got a chance to write, just had things get all stuck together and a lot to do. So this will be a short one cuz I am tired, but not sick anymore. I'm also running out of time! They gave me my flight plans today... May 17 I will be landing in Phoenix Sky Harbor. Wow, but we keep working.

The work keeps on going strong. We had 2 baptisms on Sunday of two teenagers who are super excited about the church and are pretty cool. From sun up to sun down its work work work! Last week we had 27 lessons and 11 new investigators, which is really good, but we are always looking for more. This place just does not run out of people. Today we had the good old zone leader council. It was good and I learned a lot from impressions of the spirit. I only have one of those left which is a relaxing thought cuz I've nearly got a year of those things... this last week was great and I learned a lot. Glad to hear you all are doing well, I always pray that God will bless you and it seems that he does.

Know I'm doing good, workin hard, I'm happy, and a bit anxious about getting home, its gonna be hard I think... the pres finishes one change after me and he was talking about his mission and mentioned how it really hasn’t been a sacrifice because he has received so much more than he should in change for what he has given. I feel the same. In the New Testament it says that if we forsake for a moment all these things, family, house, goods, cars, girlfriends, that God will recompense us with 100 times more and in this life too. Wow, I'm afraid that the blessings will cease in a certain way, that would be the real sacrifice. But it’s all good. It’ll all work out.

Ok well that’s it. I'm going to bed! Take care.

Love you all,

-ELDER SOLOMON

The birds are singing

2010-03-01T09:34:00.000-08:00

What a change of scenery it is here in the casa. In the old one there were always a lot of traffic and people yelling selling gas, tamales and collecting garbage. Here we live on the third floor in a residential area. The hermana has a lot of birds and parrots so they are always chattering and its nice and calm. In fact we always leave the door wide open. I am so happy to be here in Ticoman. The ward is incredible and has grown a lot. In fact they don’t fit in the tiny chapel. There were a few people standing up outside. It’s also great for work. We had 26 lessons this last week and are hoping to have baptisms every week. It will be very possible. I'm also happy to be here in the zone. We’ve got some new missionaries. We are blessed to have two sister missionaries who are training right now and those two areas are leading the zone. Its amazing to see the difference from one sister who has the desire to be here and feels like its a blessing compared to an elder, Melquesidech priesthood holder, who almost has to be forced out of bed to do some basic missionary tasks... I wish I could inject that desire and will into some of the elders. Things would be different.

Wednesday was the leader council and it’s was a bad day... The night before I was up all Night with a temperature and in the morning I didn’t feel too much better but grateful for the sunrise. We left the house at 7 to get to the offices at 8:30. Thanks to construction, bumper to bumper traffic, and some stupid taxi driver who almost took us out of mission limits, we got there at 10. We walked in to scowls from the assistants but whatever. I felt bad cuz I was doing the head nod deal during the whole conference. Afterwards the president just said "animo elder" he’s never talked to me much anyway. But there is nothing some good old knocking doors and giving lessons can’t fix. I had a good week after that.

Saturday, my bday, was a weird day. Everyone wanted to do stuff and eat and party but all I wanted to do was see if we could get a baptism and make sure we had people in the church... It’s weird to think I'm now 21. I’m now in the third stage. Ok well my plan is just keep working and let the Lord do His deal. Sunday I realized that the instrument shouldn’t complain against its user, it just has to be humble and do what it’s supposed to and not get frustrated if there are no results. It should be upset with a fault of performance but not the results. The Lord provides that. I want to be that instrument, so that the Master can use me in the way and with the results that He wants¡ I just gotta give my best.

Well love you all, that’s about it for this week. I love you and am looking forward to see you all in such a short time. Take care

-ELDER SOLOMON

Things I've learned

2010-02-22T21:52:00.000-08:00

OK, so I told you how my comp took off to see his dad. It was pretty bad. He found him in a coma state and couldn't even recognize him. They then spent the next two days running errands and trying to figure out what to do. The dad is in a very expensive hospital where their small insurance isn't covering them. They wanted to move him but in the current state impossible. In a couple days they will check him out and try to move him somewhere that there is a specialist to start therapy. Apparently it was bad... they have seen much improvement since my comp gave him a priesthood blessing. Last night they said he was trying to move and wake up. I was just following around other companionships for three days and feeling useless. (We couldn't hardly do anything in our area) and Mendoza came back Thursday night. He is doing fine. He’s strong and not really shaken up. He’s more worried about what happens next and fixing the things he can and not so much about the things that can’t be fixed.

A number of things were learned here 1) don't drive fast, it ain't worth it. If your gonna be late somewhere, wake up earlier. 2) This one I realized on Saturday during a lesson with a young brilliant couple. They need to get married to be baptized and be able to progress in this life but want a nice cushion of one year... we read the wonderful chapter of Alma 34 together. After finishing reading we usually start analyzing and sharing key point in the chapter, usually about what we want to get our point across. My comp started talking about the verses 31-36. He then told his conversion story. Him, his mom and his siblings accepted the church when the missionaries came but his dad didn’t. Shortly after his dad made some bad decisions and his parents separated. When he came to the mission his dad didn’t want him to but finally accepted it and took him to the MTC. About a year ago, he (my comp, Elder Mendoza) had the opportunity to see his whole family cuz he baptized his little sister when she turned 8. At that time his dad expressed a bit of interest in learning more but just said "when you get back I think things will start changing" well that opportunity to "change things" has been drastically prolonged if not eliminated. If the dad had known he was going to get in such a dramatic accident perhaps he would have started that change a little earlier and not waited until as Amulek puts it "its too late" the good thing is he is still here with us and perhaps will have that second chance for change. But none of us knows if we have tomorrow to change the day of our preparation and salvation is today. Now I know we all need to change and we all need to improve, but with frequency my heart is pricked by those of my own family or those close to me that have strayed from the path, that are living in darkness, living on daily pleasures. There may be justification or excuses but if you do not fix what you are doing and who you are being today, perhaps you will NEVER have that opportunity. I pray that you receive this letter and this story and that you receive my exhortation to change now. Don’t think that there is no way, that is a lie from the devil, there always is a way. Do not procrastinate the day of your repentance, because it may not come. Please I plea with you examine your life, find those things that you need to leave behind, don’t justify your actions, don’t look for excuses, and have the courage to do it. Sure change can hurt. Just like a lifesaving surgery may leave a scar. But if you don’t do it today, you wont be able tomorrow. I speak with that courage because I know the need of doing the necessary today, I speak with the authority of a representative of Jesus Christ, and with that same authority I promise you the peace, comfort, forgiveness, and divine love you will receive as you try and do what He would have you do. God will prepare the way, He always has.

Changes have come and I am leaving Molinito and returning to the zone of Linda Vista where I was born. It’s kind of ironic that I will "die" very close to the area where I was "born." I will be with Elder Cardenas, who I already know pretty good. I’m still gonna be zone leader, going on more than 10 months in that position which sometimes can be quite stressful but rewarding at the same time. Its crazy to me how quick time is flying by, I only have 12 weeks left, in fact I believe they will be giving us our flight plans next week... I hope in this last stretch I can continue giving it my all and continue being "an instrument in His hands" which has been my desire since the beginning. It is incredible letting go of personal interests and selfishness and just letting Him do what needs to be done. Wow, things happen you never think could.

I think I’ve babbled enough; yesterday I got pretty sick and was suffering. I feel a lot better today but still have a slight temperature. Pray so that my weak body can last 3 more months pls.

Love you all and you are in my prayers constantly.

-ELDER SOLOMON

P.S. CHANGE=REPENT

peronal revelations

2010-02-15T13:06:00.000-08:00

Ok, well it’s nearly 7:30 pm of a pretty crazy day; we had a zone activity starting at 9 am with our district meetings and then cooked up some burgers and played some football and soccer. That was pretty fun except my shins are hurting from these wanna be professionals here who go all out and hit me in the leg instead of the ball… We played tackle football on a tiny patch of grass just big enough for 4 on 4 with 4 downs. Good thing we are all out of shape and softies, No one got hurt, just some strawberries. Well, during this all at about 10 the mission president called me and wanted to talk to my comp. They talked for about 5 minutes and then my comp gave me the phone. The president told me that my comp’s dad had got in a serious accident and was hospitalized in Queretaro, a nearby state, and was in really bad condition and that I would need to support my comp a lot during this time. It was quite a shock. While we were playing he went with another elder to a nearby member’s house and called his mom. Apparently his dad has about a day to live and if he lives he will be in really bad shape. Tough stuff. As I was cleaning up the huge hamburger mess he told me he might go to the hospital, (in a different mission) to make a long story short I put him on a bus headed towards his house (about an hour from here) and I’m with another companionship. I dropped of the clothes with one sister so she can wash them and here I am!

Who knows what happens. He’s supposed to return tomorrow afternoon but well see.

This last week I had a few “personal revelations” to call them that way. They were more of the type of revelations the Brother of Jared received when he forgot to pray and the Lord chewed him out for 3 hours. It wasn’t so long and intense but the same kind of deal. Lately we have been a bit down, me and my comp, not having the spirit as I have enjoyed during the majority of my mission. I was pretty sure that it had something to do with me. (I’m starting to find out other stuff about the person I teach with, but they can’t be said here, its just he needs a one on one) but we were walking along and I realized that I have been doing things “my” way. The way I normally do things here in the mission, they've worked before, I realized that my prayers had become monotonous and I wasn’t really asking Him for help, nor for his advice since we had stopped planning to a certain degree. I realized we had to include the Lord much more than we had been doing and let the Holy Ghost be the senior companion as it should be. Well, we planned really well that night and did some repenting. But the next day I didn’t feel much better to tell the truth. Until the night we were walking again and I realized I had been heading downhill ever since New Years. I had my goal to read the Bom before the end of the year which I did but hadn’t started again, I figured I could dive in a little more with the Bible and stuff like that, but in that night I realized the importance of reading the Book of Mormon in my personal life and confirmed the fact that I have to always be praying and reading the Book of Mormon in order to be ok. These last few days that I have done it have been sweet and I feel much better.

Ok, well hopefully we can have a good week and recuperate a bit from the last 2 weeks that have been down in the dumps as far as numbers go. I’m excited and ready to roll. It may be my last week here in this area so I’ve got to give it all and leave it ready for the next one who comes.

I love you all, study and pray hard, and be good.

-ELDER SOLOMON

Buckets

2010-02-08T12:34:00.000-08:00

view from my roof top

view of mujera dormida on a not so smoggy day

Guadallupe's baptism

Martin's baptism

Howdy everyone. It’s windy today, and I finally have some stuff to write about. I'll start with the baptism. OK so this lady's name is Guadalupe, we’ve known her for some time, her son lives in the North mission and sent the reference for Guadalupe's other son Juan Carlos. Well she has wanted to get baptized for some time but wanted to get baptized with her son. Well, we got to their house one day and he declared, “ I'm not getting baptized”, so I just said, “Whatever”. In the lesson Guadalupe said, “I'm getting baptized on Sunday”, kind of like just letting us know. Hahaha! Anyway on Sunday I started filling the font, after about an hour I checked it and it looked like someone dumped a quarter ton of Swiss Miss in the font. It was brown. I emptied it and we got on the roof to look at the tanks and they were dirty too. Crap. We called the elders in another chapel about 20 minutes away and they started filling their font.

So we started inviting everyone again and trying to get members to go. But if they wont stay for an extra 30 minutes in their chapel there is no way they are going to a different chapel. So we finally got to the other chapel at about 1 pm just to find out that the font was about a quarter full... so they all waited outside and us and the 2 elders from that chapel took of our coats, opened the cistern outside and started passing bucketfuls through the window and dumping them into the font. After 15 minutes and a good wetdown, we filled it up with relatively clean but freezing water. So we started getting the room ready and the family walked in and a member from the local ward started throwing a hug fit over that we hadn’t planned it out, I wasn’t in the mood and started saying that you cant plan for dirty water and that if he had any problem that he should talk with the ward mission leader who he doesn’t support and some other stuff. Luckily my comp was in that ward a while back and took him outside and talked it through.

I got dressed and we were waiting for the hermana to get dressed and her daughter walked out and said that the dress we bought her didn’t fit... geez laweez. By luck I found one of those overall suit deals and it fit her. We started and when I walking in the water. Freezing. She even said, “Oh my, this is really cold”, so I did the ordinance, (she was one of those flippers who when they go under have no idea which way is up and start kicking and flailing, so you have to just calmly raise them up and hold on till they get it figured out, it was tough cuz she’s a big lady). But some thing amazing happened. When they shut the doors she said "its not cold anymore, I feel warm" it was true; I wasn’t cold anymore either. Later, after we got all changed I commented what had happened, I said "I don’t know if sins heat up water or if it was just the Saviors love we felt". It was a special spiritual experience for me. I also told one brother that I can go home now; I have filled up a baptismal font with buckets.

Other than that until Friday it was raining like crazy, many parts near here are still flooded, luckily here we are in the hills and it cant flood, but it was a depressing few days, but the sun came out as it always does and now I'm back to the short sleeve, its unpredictable here, and not just the weather.

That’s about all I got this week, we are gonna go bowling right now, see if I've still got it, happy valentines day to you all, may the Lord bless you. 143

-ELDER SOLOMON

Couln't ask for more

2010-02-01T10:11:00.000-08:00

London’s Run sounds like fun. As Elder Wirthlin says, learn to laugh. Sorry you had to do all that work and go through all that stress and still be criticized. It’s hard when someone judges something that they have no idea about isn’t it. But you do, everyone has been shooting daggers at me lately for the whole Haiti earthquake. The US always is the bad guy here, never mind the millions sent to the country, all they see here is the few children traffickers and that "the US is taking over Haiti cuz they wanna rule the world". Whatever. I just say, “Sorry if I offended you in any way for being in your presence. Can you forgive me?” That shuts them up.

Today we played volleyball with the ward in the morning and it started raining and it was coming down! But we kept playing and it was fun. Now I’m sitting here with my socks trying to let them dry.

The work moves on. We had another baptism this week. His name is Martin. His wife got baptized a couple of months ago but never wanted anything until he played soccer for a while with the Bishop and other brothers and recognized that were not really all that weird after all. So he got baptized in a very special service. Every one was crying. After that, to celebrate we went with him and the ward team to get our butts whipped 5-2 at a nearby field, but it was fun to run on some turf under the lights and even with a real referee.

The zone did awesome too. 7 of the 9 companionships baptized resulting in 9 baptisms over all which is a high point in my service as a zone leader, The Lord has been blessing me a lot in that calling as the zone has really begun to prosper. It used to be that I baptized for the zone but now we’ve repented.

What else can I talk about? Oh ya, it’s the first day of February, the month that has my birthday, (I turn 21 on the 27th for all you who have forgotten). I will be able to legally drink in the states. Here age doesn’t matter. All that does is your 20 pesos... And the 14th of this month is a very special day, not because its Valentines, it’s cuz I complete 21 months in the mission! Meaning there are only 3 left. But whose counting anyway! I’m happy where I’m at. I’m working and that makes a missionary happy. I couldn’t ask for more.

I can’t think of any sweet experience story tell from this week so I’ll just leave it like this. Love you all have a great week and study hard!

-ELDER SOLOMON

Trust

2010-01-25T10:10:00.000-08:00

Hey there, London England? Well, there is some important stuff to do there for Brighton. There aren’t any coincidences. Know that the call is from the Lord. Wow, I’m excited for ya!!! You’re are about to embark on the greatest adventure of your life so far and to a certain degree will determine much of who you will be for the rest of your life. Now this time is hard; prepare well, get in the temple as soon as they let you and protect yourself well from all evil influences. In a way you are on hold but not inactive, still participate in activities, church stuff etc. and most importantly with your family because that will become (in 4 months) a huge hole. It was incredible for me to have an incredible memory of a week long trip to Hawaii to lean on. Think about what you wan to do in that week we have together, I suggest a temple tour to Utah and California, that’s what I would like more than anything, imagine, Manti, St. George, Logan, Salt Lake, LA, San Diego. Wow!

Ok, so the work moves on and wont stop!! Things are good here in Molinito, we are looking at a few baptisms, this next week and still recovering from some crazy experiences last week, one of them being me leaving the keys in the house. I called the landlord at 9pm and he said that he could only come in the morning so we spent the night at some members house, and me having to do a special interview on Sunday (everyone who gets baptized has to receive a baptismal interview). And if a person has commited a crime, had an abortion, or a homosexual relationship they have to get a special interview, usually done by the Mission President. Well, he was about 3 hours away, and we couldn’t find a Bishop so he said “Well, you do it Elder”. Thanks! It was definitely a learning experience for me and some Bishop training! It was incredible and I learned a lot about repentance. She had made a lot of bad decisions in her life and was feeling super bad about it all. I wanted to console her but was held back from doing so and led to the scripture in Corinthians. I don’t remember how it goes in English, but talks about Godly sorrow which works for salvation. I explained that she has to feel those feelings for repentance to really work, but its nothing to be ashamed about. Found it, 1 Cor. 7:9-11:

9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.

10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

It took her a while to believe it and soak it in, I read it three times and sat in silence for a while, after a few things I offered a prayer on our knees. When she got baptized, the tearstained face left with a smile, I’m so thankful for being able to be a part of that and that awesome experience.

Last thing I want to comment on and is this scripture: Alma 38:5.

5 And now my son, Shiblon, I would that ye should remember, that as much as ye shall put your trust in God even so much ye shall be delivered out of your trials, and your troubles, and your afflictions, and ye shall be lifted up at the last day.

I’ve had this one on my mind ever since I studied it some months ago. Here I see a direct proportion between trust in ´God and deliverance or freedom. Its incredible, the more we out our trust in God the more free we really are (talking about temporal and spiritual matters). Alma had to have pondered much on his father’s experience. I imagine he was boy when they lived in the city of Helam and were prisoners of the Lamanites. He must have witnessed how the heavy loads became lighter and they could deal with all they were going trough and eventually they were delivered and arrived at Zarahemla. He had to have pondered on that and the experiences he had as a missionary in Ammoniah when he and Amulek were trapped in the jail and after so much suffering they went through they were delivered through the power of God. He also was very familiar with experiences of his companions, the sons of Mosiah, on their 14 year mission to the Lamanites. Also, when his life was spared in battle when he cried out to the Lord “ preserve my life so that I may still be an instrument in thy hands”, which he was. Anyway he knew this principle very well, I am learning it and am very sure will learn it more first hand as the trials of college life and the rest are right around the corner for me. Those who trust in the Lord love him and follow him are the true “freemen”. Satan would have us think that the way of the Lord is restrictive but it just isn’t that way. Going through a hard time? Trust in the Lord, do your best and you will be delivered sooner or later just remember this equation.

Trust in the Lord = Freedom

I love you all. Have a great week,

-ELDER SOLOMON

Pure clean water or stinkin' socks...

2010-01-18T12:25:00.000-08:00

Bishop, Miquel, Me and Elder Mendoza

Me and Miquel

Me, Minquel Dominquez and Elder Garcia, a DL

LOLLIPOPS!

The warmest poncho, ever.

Hello everyone. Well, the first week of the change is over. Always the hardest one. The first couple of days are always hard with a new companion, especially when you’ve been with a good friend for a long time. I think the hardest part was going from living in a house of 4 elders back to 2. But its good I’ve got my new comp to open up a bit and things are going good. We had a good bit of success this week finding a lot of new investigators and taking a lot to the chapel. We had 2 baptisms on Sunday too. They both wanted the Bishop to baptize them, which is awesome for us! That means that they have relationships in the ward. But the Bishop couldn’t [baptize them] until about 5:30 pm, so after the food we went to the church and started filling up the baptismal font at 3:15. It usually takes about 3 hours to fill up the font so we were pushing it. We started filling it and we checked it at about 3:45. It was up to the second step but the water was green! ... so I emptied it super fast and started throwing in hot and cold water to fill it up faster. After another 15 minutes I realized it was still green. I thought to myself "good thing I’m not the one baptizing today!," and kept it going. We kept the doors shut. Even the picture which we usually take in front of the font we took outside. No one said anything. It was cold, green, and not full all the way, but everything went smoothly and I didn’t hear that anyone noticed. How they couldn’t I have no idea, but oh well! It’s the spiritually clean thing that counts right? At least it didn’t smell bad at all.

I’m thinking it may have some thing to do with the weather. It has really turned Snowflake-Taylor style here with some intense high winds. A lot of trees fell down, dragging down power lines, and causing a lot of power outages. Since Saturday, it’s been nice and I’ve been able to leave to work without a sweater. My trick is the double sock theory. I found that if my feet are warm the rest of me is too. Good thing I got so many stinking socks for Christmas!

With the two baptisms yesterday I reached my personal goal for baptisms I set so many months ago. I’m not going to tell you how many that is cuz it’s not really that important. Many of them are incredible people and I am just amazed at how the Lord has blessed me and used me as His instrument in this time of my life. I still have plenty of time left and have a lot to give to the people here and the missionaries I am trying to help as well. Thank you so much for the incredible support group you all have been. It’s overwhelming to think how many are praying for me specifically. I am grateful for so much.

Well, [it] sounds like things are going good there at home. I laughed about dad’s “AJ” story. I wish I could have been there to support you. I’m sure we’ll have plenty of fun there standing on the top bench of the bleachers; the Lord has "loosened my tongue" in a lot of ways! I now know how to talk... and in two languages!

Everybody be good, if Brighton gets his call this week he is staying in the states. After this week he is going Spanish speaking outside the states. That’s my guess. To the southern states or Mexico... put me in on the betting :)

Love you all so much. Take care keep praying, keep fulfilling priesthood responsibilities, repent of what you have to, and do your best.

-ELDER SOLOMON

BRRRRRR!!

2010-01-11T12:09:00.000-08:00

The newspaper headlines on Sunday read "9 killed by the cold." It ain’t a lie. We’ve had a cold front come through here and its tough. I’ve been in much colder weather, but not lately. It’s been in the low 50s during the day. I leave [home in the morning] with a sweater and a coat. In fact, this last week classes were canceled for "the cold" but they are back in today. The worst part is my feet. They just don’t warm up. On the other side, I love that cold wind on my face! It makes me feel like I’m up at the cabin or something.

Well, changes are here. All last week I was pretty sure I was going. I’ve got 3 changes here and 2 with Elder Roylance. We were doing our brackets" like march madness trying to figure out what all the changes were gonna be. My guess was W was gonna go to Linda Vista where I was born (started the mission). In fact a lot of others [were born there] too. The ZL over there even called and talked to me for a while.

We had a baptism on Saturday. It was a family we found knocking doors and they are sweet, they have their problems like all do but are good people. The family Esquivel, the mom, Hortencia, and her kids, Armando 23, Sandra 22, and Daisy 20. It was funny while we were filling the font all the windows and doors fogged up on that side of the chapel. It was really cold and rainy outside but nice and toasty on the inside from the hot water. [It was] a hectic baptism but it did happen and they were also confirmed on Sunday. The Bishop asked us to speak in sacrament meeting, (as always I was last, that always happens) and in my talk I talked about love and taking care of recent converts (since I’ve got 33 here...) and I mentioned that I might be leaving. Well, everyone took that as a farewell, some sisters cried, blah blah blah. I was feeling a bit sad to leave and Roylance was super happy to stay. Well, then came the night and we waited until 10:30 for the assistant to call me. You guessed it, the irony of God kicked in and I’m staying and Roylance is leaving! And they are taking the other two [Elders] out of our ward... the only one who thought he was going is the only one staying... Well, it was a hard night. Roylance was crying I think, I don’t know. I told the changes to my DLs and threw the covers over my head not talking to anyone even though quite a few called me. But couldn’t sleep until 1:30... Well, I woke up earlier than usual for a p-day, took a shower and got ready and went up on the roof. (All the houses here have flat roofs where they hang their clothes up to dry and have the gas and water tanks, etc.) Up there it is a beautiful view and [I] worked things out and even came up with some new plans for the zone this change. I’m still not excited about facing the whole ward and the stupid obvious question, "weren’t you leaving?" Even though I’m there, they will still ask, ----. But its ok. There is a lot of work and there will be success this change for sure. My new companions name is Elder Mendoza. He’s from our generation but I really don’t know anything bout him. We’ll make the best of it.

Well, I missed your letter from this week I guess. John Reed told me news that Aaron Dees is engaged for May 14, the day I complete 2 years and I come home the 17^th! Someone tell him to postpone one week pls. It’ll be gay he'll just wanna be with his wife the whole time and not want to hang out with the guys... gay. O.K., I’m out. Go Cards! They are still in the playoffs. keep on moving so the cold doesn’t get to you.

Love you all, send a prayer or two my way for the new change, I’ll need them.

-ELDER SOLOMON

That's my goal and I'm sticking to it!

2010-01-04T11:11:00.001-08:00

Good afternoon everyone! How are things there in good ol AZ? Things are good here in Mexico. The work has been a bit slow for all the people going out of town, but I’m expecting it to pick up again since school has started once again. New year’s eve was eventful. Well, not really. We got with the two Elders we live with and wanted to go to dinner. But we didn’t want to go very far considering it gets a little crazy on days like those around here, so we settled for Burger King and went to the house to play Monopoly (I lost again, that put me in a bad mood...). Then we got on top of the house(its a two story) and Roylance and Flores were chucking fireworks (I wasn’t, of course, just watching) and some pretty stupid people went to check them out there in the middle of the street. Pretty funny but one kid got pretty mad. After that we goofed around till twelve and slept. Pretty eventful. We really didn’t have that eventful of a week but it ended up good on Sunday. We had 10 people go to church including two awesome families. It was pretty cool when the Bishop had the investigators stand up and it was a whole row. One hermana we get along with really good, gave me a big thumbs up. Haha!

Well, this is the last week of the transfer and I’m pretty sure I’m out of here. I’ll be focusing a lot on the investigators we have, especially the ones that can be baptized so that I can really end up good here.

New years day after getting ready and all that, I went up to the roof with my journal and did my new years resolutions. Took up a whole page cuz I had "in the mission" and "after the mission." I thought a lot about those things and sure hope that I can fulfill them. It would be really fulfilling to me. There are a few things really important to making goals and completing them. First, you have to make a goal specific and measurable, something reachable but it must make you stretch to reach it. Then you have to write it down. President Monson taught, when performance is measured, performance increases. When it is reported, the rate of the increase accelerates. Well, something like that. It’s in Preach my Gospel. So basically, tell someone your goals so they can help you reach them. Then review those goals every now and then to remind yourself and to make sure you are on track or make changes if necessary. I used to hate the whole goal making thing. I still do when someone else tells me to do it. But it is such an important principle to learn and apply. If we don’t fully apply this principle we will look back after time and realize that we have only reached a small portion of our potential. I’m sure mom made you all do your new years resolutions, so I give you an invitation, read the part of Preach My Gospel chapter 8 where it talks about goals and the last section as well. It will greatly help all of us. I’m sure of that.

Ok, well that’s my message for the day. I’m realizing that I should have studied it out a bit better but that’s what came to my mind as I was writing.

God lives, Elder Roylance has a Christian song we love and all it says is "our God is an Awesome God, He reigns from heaven above" its sweet and true. He loves us and that makes all the difference. I love you all. Take care and be happy.

-ELDER SOLOMON

Do I have an accent?

2009-12-28T10:45:00.000-08:00

Breaking OUT of the chapel! (They locked us in!)

luchadores

The Lopez Family

The Metro...empty!

Silvia, Susana's mom

Wow, it was good talking to you all. You all sound so different; especially Brigg and Sheldon. Do I sound different, like with an accent or anything? I hope you all got home safe and well. It was definitely a memorable Christmas. On Saturday we had the ward party started with a little show, dinner, and then they cleared the floor for the dance! Man, me and E. Roylance were going crazy we wanted to dance so much, some of our converts came up and asked Roylance to dance and he said no puedo, so we just hung out. Man these people know how to dance really good here. Every one dances salsa, and all that other stuff, regatone, they even put a swing dance towards the end, that’s when we had to grab Elder Barrera and throw him around a bit. Before the party we taught and older man, Juventino, and challenged him to get baptized. And he did. It was pretty crazy he just fits in really good in the ward. He showed up to church a couple of weeks ago cuz some members invited him and he went for like three weeks but we could never teach him, just one time. But he accepted baptism and the commandments and had a wonderful baptismal service. I’m starting to feel my time is up in this area. Changes are in 2 weeks and I’m sure I’m going. It stinks cuz I’ve really grown to love the people here in this area.

Well, I’ve only got the book of Moroni to read to finish the Book of Mormon before the end of the year. (in a few days) I’ve enjoyed it so much. I’ve gotten to the point where I love the scriptures in Spanish. They seem just a bit simpler to me. For example I was reading in English in Doctrine and Covenants the other day and could not understand a scripture so I whipped out the Spanish ones and it made sense. I’ve also been marking a lot the BoM. One theme that has been made really clear to me is the role of God and the role of Satan. It talks so much of Satan in the Book of Mormon I never really realized it before, he, like Christ, has many names, one of my favorites is the author of all sin. Like it says in Helaman 6:30And behold, it is he who is the author of all sin. And behold, he doth carry on his works of darkness and secret murder, and doth hand down their plots, and their oaths, and their covenants, and their plans of awful wickedness, from generation to generation according as he can get hold upon the hearts of the children of men. All bad things come from him! When we are fighting with someone, when we aren’t doing something right or aren’t doing something we should its cuz Satan is sticking his little fingers in our lives! And then the part in bold, he does all this stuff according to how much he gets into our hearts. I don’t know if you all have heard of this story but it’s pretty famous here. A man was going across the desert with his camel when a sand storm was coming up. The man set up his tent and the storm hit, but he was safe in the tent. But the camel pleaded with him, “just let me stick in my nose, the sand hurts so and my nose is raw and I can’t breathe.” The man told him no but the camel insisted until he finally let him stick his nose in. after a bit he pleaded again but this time for the whole head, the man gave in and so it went on little by little until half the camel was in the tent. By this time it was really crowded in the tent and the camel tried to get all the way in and shoved the man out of the tent into the storm. Well something like that. But it’s the same satan just sticks in little by little until he has taken control of us. I really liked these verses from Ether when the people began to work in their secret combinations. Ether 8:15-26 but especially 25 and 26:

25 For it cometh to pass that whoso buildeth it up seeketh to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries; and it bringeth to pass the destruction of all people, for it is built up by the devil, who is the father of all lies; even that same liar who beguiled our first parents, yea, even that same liar who hath caused man to commit murder from the beginning; who hath hardened the hearts of men that they have murdered the prophets, and stoned them, and cast them out from the beginning.

26 Wherefore, I, Moroni, am commanded to write these things that evil may be done away, and that the time may come that Satan may have no power upon the hearts of the children of men, but that they may be persuaded to do good continually, that they may come unto the fountain of all righteousness and be saved.

Well, be careful, he’s pretty dang smart, and relentless. We’ve got the advantage with the knowledge we have but all the knowledge in the world doesn’t help if we don’t put it to us. There are only two sides Gods and the devils. God wants us to have faith and fill our lives with light. Satan wants us fearful, out of hope, and grouchy. Doubt and fear are the opposites of faith, just like darkness is the absence of light, cold the absence of heat, fear and doubt are the absence of faith. If we do things for any motive other than faith, hope and love it is through doubt and fear, and we lack faith. If we are rebellious against our leaders and parents we lack faith. If we are disobedient, we lack faith. If we aren’t completing our callings and magnifying the priesthood, we lack faith. Now, we all have need to fortify and cultivate our faith and repent. Those two principles never cease to apply to us. How do we fortify our faith, first by hearing the word of God and secondly by acting upon it, that’s the only way. You can’t run down to Wal-Mart and by a pound of faith. It doesn’t work that way.

I love you all. I’m so glad you are being blessed. Take care and let your light shine… most of all be happy, cuz that’s why we are here.

-Elder Solomon

Who are we going to baptize?

2009-12-21T10:44:00.000-08:00

Well, I was in divisions all week. It was nice to be with my District leaders and learn more about them and instruct a little bit. We had a surprise ZL council on Wednesday, which was a bit of a let down. I thought there was gonna be some new stuff but it was a bit boring. I was also pretty sick so I didn’t want to be there, but I’m better for it!

So, this week me and Roylance were saying, “ who are we going to baptize this week!?!? “ No one has been progressing, and we have been knocking a lot of doors lately. It’s just no one will go to church, which isn’t usually a problem here. But on Saturday, there was a baptism in the chapel. We invited a few people and one family went. This family, Ricardo, Veronica, Fanny, and two little kids, David and the other one I don’t remember his name. They went to church quite a few times and we taught them lesson one but the Landlord got angry and wouldn’t let us in so we tried putting appointments in the chapel but they never showed up. So we kind of gave up on them. But, they went to the baptism and we grabbed them and taught lesson 3 (the gospel of Jesus Christ) and challenged them to baptism. Knocked out a few doubts and they said yes! They asked, “ when”, and we said, “tomorrow”! We taught the rest really fast and the next day, Sunday, I was waiting for something to go wrong but... no! Everything was perfect and smooth. (Except for the food... the hermana was all excited for us to come over and made tacos of… well looked like dog guts all mashed up and cooked in a pot. We all got sick). The service was beautiful and the room was FULL of members which always gives a good environment. The Lord Lives ands loves his servants, that I’m sure of. Well, and everyone else too. My testimony was confirmed this week that God rewards hard work and he is the one in charge.

Susana’s mom also got baptized this week, but Elder Flores and Elder Barrera were teaching her. I love Susana. Her countenance is brilliant! When she walked in to church yesterday Elder Roylance whispered to me, “she looks like a molly mormon”. I laughed cuz it is so true. What an incredible blessing it is to see the Lord’s converts progress especially when you had something to do with it.

Have fun in the snow. It’s like 60 here and I am freezing. The temperature finally dropped this week. Have a wonderful day (London’s gradutation to the next life day). Remember memories are like April flowers in the Decembers of our lives. And there is no field of flowers like the mission field. May the memory of London stir us all to get up and do something more than dream of our heavenly mansion above. Fill the world with light, that’s what she did isn’t it? Without knowing it she was following the Saviors example because that’s what He did isn’t it? I love you all; ill wait your phone call. Thanks for all your prayers and thoughts on my behalf.

-ELDER SOLOMON

The Virgin's Birthday

2009-12-14T12:45:00.001-08:00

Today we complete 19 months! In the words of Elder Roylance “I can’t wait to go home!” This past week was a bit of a tough one. The “Virgin’s Birthday” was Saturday and so that means party and idol worshiping all week long. We had a super hard time getting any one to church cuz even the people that don’t believe in the Virgin wouldn’t pass up and opportunity for all night partying. It sounded like a war field with all the fireworks going off and the usual music loud as can be. They take their hick Banda music and crank it up, or the gay techno stuff. It’s like if your gonna keep me up all night at least put on some good stuff! So we had almost no one in the chapel which means very little chances for a baptism this week… except one old man who showed up to church and is friends with some members. We taught him lesson 1 right there in the chapel and told him. “Well baptism is the door to enter into Gods kingdom, would you be willing to follow His example getting baptized?” yup. So well see how it goes. Not much to report it was a boring week. I knocked a lot more doors than usual. I kind of don’t like doing it because I feel like I condemn them if they don’t accept. I give them so many chances with promises and testimony that they really know what they are rejecting. Oh well, that’s just part of the work.

I set a goal to read the BoM by the end of the year I’m halfway through 3 Nephi. If I stick to my 7 pages a day ill reach it. The weather here is hot. It’s not really Christmas weather.

Wow, I’m out of stuff to say. Love you all take care. Send them Christmas packages;) see you in a bit.

-ELDER SOLOMON

That's all I got

2009-12-07T11:32:00.000-08:00

Hum, k what am I going to write about today? How about the work?

That’s all I got.

Well, with the arrival of another companionship to the area we gave them a handful of our investigators so this last week it was looking for news! We got to do a little knocking doors that I haven’t had time for and some other proselyte activities. We found a lot but not quite the “golden finds” we had been used to. But we keep at it. The new two are new kids with 3 and 5 months in the mission I feel really old compared to them with my almost 19 months. The craziness they have is pretty annoying.

Ok, well the big part of my week was a couple of pure revelations I received. We finally got the conference version of the Liahona and I started right away picking it apart. And right off the bat, Elder Scott. Awesome talk. Pretty tough on the whole pornography thing. They have to and we have to talking strong about that (the most damning influence on earth). Cuz its bad, here it is on every corner and in every home. But the first part of his talk is what helped me a lot. He talked about how to receive revelation and receive the most out of it. I found some steps. 1, create the environment 2, receive the impressions 3, write them down 4, revise the writing to see if all is correct 5, find personal application 6, pray to receive a confirmation of the received impressions 7, ask “is there more I need to know?” Well, I got to try it out. Lately we received the challenge to have every companionship baptize every week. An intimidating challenge to say the least. Well I had my resistances and didn’t want to think about it, but I humbled myself and decided to look for the Lord’s will. I sat down Saturday night to write up a plan and… boom the impressions started. Ideas, I wrote them down as fast as I could then remembered Elder Scotts talk and looked over it quickly and applied the steps. When I prayed a feeling of excitement came over me, then I asked “is there more?” and there was! I repeated the whole process refined the plans and asked again but this time I felt like the Lord saying “that’s enough for now” I am going to present the plan in the zone conference tomorrow. Well see how it goes!

Well, I’ve got stuff to do. Love you all so much. Study the words of the prophets. It’s incredible. If you do it, you will receive personal revelation you will find the exact answers in the exact moment that you need them, and the love of the Lord will reflect in your face. That much I promise you as a representative of Him.

-ELDER SOLOMON

I'm tired!

2009-11-30T11:23:00.000-08:00

Wow, that looks like you guys had a great time at the cabin for Thanksgiving! I’ll tell you about my Thanksgiving in a sec. I don't recognize ANYONE!!!! In the picture where you are cleaning the highway I didn't recognize Porter, Cherish, Calvin.. and... what’s her name?!?! I forgot, Brian’s smallest kid....and everyone else. I am so out of it here. I can’t believe I only have 5 month left... its a sobering thought.

I’ve been trying to make time count cuz its running out but.. I don’t know, maybe I'm trying too hard. I work hard and am having a ton of fruits but my body isn't keeping up. I don’t know if I told you but we had to change houses, we found an ok one a little bit up a hill and planned on moving Saturday cuz the assistants were gonna bring the van to help us. But they never came so I called one sister who has a big van and she said she would help us but not till like 6 in the afternoon. I said ok and she didn't get to the house till 8:30! I asked one of the district leaders Elder Garcia and his comp to help us move we moved all the stuff fast in an hour and a half but we left it all outside while me and Elder Roylance cleaned the whole house from top to bottom. Then we started moving in the stuff. We got it all in and started organizing stuff. I got sick at about 12:30. After being in the bathroom for a while I literally collapsed on my bed and stayed there. Sunday I got the rest organized.

We didn’t have that many lessons this week and I tried to take it more easy but.. we had 8 baptisms this week and... that’s a lot of work. The first one was Esmeralda, she is an incredible lady we met a few weeks ago. She is separated from her husband and her kids live with him. She always has an awesome smile and just as happy as can be, and loves the Elders. She got baptized with Susana Luna and her son Josué. Susana went to an open house a couple weeks ago and put on the reference card that she wanted a visit but we didn’t go for about a week and half. The whole time I knew we had to go see her. When we finally got there she explained how she has been looking for something in her life like this. We filled the need and she progressed, fast. Josue is slightly mentally handicapped and full of energy. They all got baptized on Saturday. On Sunday the Marcos Family got baptized or, as you know them, Juana and her dad. The whole week we were with them. I think we passed by with them every day almost. There were a lot of doubts and indecision. We took Garcia on Saturday and he interviewed everyone (it took forever) and they all felt better. Sunday morning we passed by for them all ready! Juana said she wasn’t gonna get baptized that day (I’m assuming it was that time of the month) we gave her the look like, "you really want to try this?" and she said, "well I think I can." hahaha it was wonderful. The water went out again and we had just barely enough. Good thing they are all short. Afterwards we went to the food appointment and at about 630 I was in my pajamas in bed until 8 when a lot of Elders came over to the house to get their changes. I got to say bye to Elder Acosta over phone. It was sad to know he’s gone. He was one of my best comps but, that’s what happens. The cool part is he gets home one day after his twin brother. Me and Elder Roylance got together again. Even though we are two white guys we’ve had such success together, so they left us together. We had 19 baptisms this transfer cycle or change as we call it, which is phenomenal. I’m so grateful for the success and joy we’ve had lately. We got to 36 baptisms in the zone this month which is awesome too, but I decided I’ve got to start focusing more on the zone and help out the rest more. The two elders that are coming with us are Elder Flores and Elder Barrera both relatively new. This should be fun living all together. Well. I’ve got more to write but I am literally falling asleep over the keyboard. Please pray that I’ll have physical strength, I need it cuz I can’t slow down. Not yet. I love you all and always pray that he will bless you. I’m glad that those prayers are being answered. The gospel is true and love is the motive.

---ELDER SOLOMON

Life as usual

2009-11-23T11:19:00.000-08:00

Ok, well, I guess I’ll respond to your questions first. Me and Roylance are legitimate companions, not just hanging around. There are changes in a week but I think well stay together. I guess we´ll see! We’ve also got more news there. We are going to receive another companionship here in this ward. It’ll be cool but the thing is that we have to change houses, and that’ll be a problem. It won’t be a problem finding another one that fits us; the problem will be getting out of the one we are in. Elder Cruz signed a one-year contract there and we have only been there 3 months. Please help us with your prayers to open the heart of the owner so he will let us change. As I was sitting down to write when Elder John Reed called... of course we talk in English! It’s a bit of a pride thing that when possible, the white guys talk in English. It’s like conserving the traditions.

Oh hey Brighton, how is that job with Jerry? I think I want it. I am focused on the work. It’s like two different lives to tell you the truth. The majority is work, work, and work. But sometimes on Monday I let myself think in other stuff… until the meeting. Congrats to Sheldon and mom, head coach, that’s pretty cool. Brigg and Sheldon I’m sure are going to tear it up in wrestling. Is Workman still there or what’s the whole deal with them? and thanksgiving… I’m hoping to sneak out to Chili’s and see some American football with an American burger in my mouth, but knowing my work ethic lately there won’t be time… Well itsounds like you all are doing awesome, keep it up.

Another 20 lesson week, but this time with one baptism. Her name is Leticia. She is a bigger lady and it took 4 tries to get the gut under the water. The good thing is everyone was laughing, so apart from not being enough water and the lights going out halfway through the baptism, the spirit was there. She was happy, and the investigators were impressed. We just had to explain that this doesn’t usually happen ;) we found her a long time ago. Her mom and son are inactive members but a really nice family. Her mom is super strong willed and bossy as all get out. But Leticia always sides with us ;) we’ve got quite a few people lined up to get wet this week. First and foremost Esmeralda, one of my favorite people in México. She always gives us a little dinner after our lessons and is just ready to go! Juana and her family are good. They are still having a super hard time accepting that the virgin of Guadalupe is idolatry. But they will is just hard for tradition and this time of year is when they really celebrate her. The work is moving forward like never.

I’m not really thinking of much to say today. I’m enjoying life. Mom you are right I have grown up. A lot. I feel like I’ve waken up and I know the more I learn the more my eyes will be opened. I just finished Alma this week. My favorite by far lately has been Alma 60. There is so much good stuff there and the way to persuasion! I love this work. I love the Lord, there is no greater work except for the one we do in our own homes. I love you all and wish you a happy Thanksgiving! Have fun at the cabin.

-ELDER SOLOMON

Stupid Dog!

2009-11-16T12:07:00.000-08:00

Goodbye Elder Cruz!

The Jew and his stupid dog

With the family Martinez at Chili's

My english class

With Hermana Martinez

The Zone

Wow, the boys look big! [mom sent pictures of the London's birthday party hike.] All growing up. Brighton looks basically the same. Goofball with his stupid hats. Brigg’s face looks all grown up and as always “se cree mucho”. I hardly recognized Sheldon and Dad… I love you. Roylance looked at the pictures and said “your Dad is a stud!” And as always mom never sends pictures of herself… Well sounds like the football program needs a real nice makeover. It’s sad to see such a tradition drizzle away, I’m sorry that it’s your generation that suffers it Brigg. But learn what you can and don’t worry about it anyway. Soon your Friday “night lights” turn into Sunday morning meetings and losing and winning could mean the salvation of other people (and your own)… that’s a bit worrying. The good thing is that if you do all in your power you will not lose. It doesn’t depend on the o-line.

Um, about the memory drive, mom. Last week I noticed something… I have a usb drive deal that I transfer all my pictures onto. Its 4 gigs so it’s big enough to hold it all. But the beloved virus ridden Mexican computers seemed to have erased all the pictures and flixs I have ever taken. The only ones I have is from when I got to this area (2 months ago) and the ones I’ve sent home… good thing I’ve learned so much about patience and hope cuz that’s a wall puncher if not. I’ve got a Costco in the zone so we go eat every now and then on Mondays. It’s a lot of food and cheap but if you want I’ll send it home. It’s all the same. Ha I’ve got a good story about that card.

So Cruz took off. He had a goodbye party on Saturday and Sunday afternoon we took him to the offices and stayed with him. He’s a really absent minded kid and packed his suitcase like I imagine Brighton would. Shove it all in and try to shut it. We woke up at 330 to take him to the airport. The secretaries and Elder Acosta went with us. When we got there he realized that he couldn’t find his wallet. He convinced them to give him his ticket. But without identification he couldn’t get past security. We looked frantically through his messy suitcase with shirts books and garments all over the place but nothing. It wasn’t in the van and the elder that was in the office said he couldn’t find it either. Then I found his Costco card that has his face on the back. Lucky guy it worked. They let him through and he is now with his family in Tampico. It sucked coming back to sinful Molinito. Here the center is going to burn so bad. I estimate there are about 25 bars within a square mile or less. And I live in the middle of it all without fear. Fetching sinners... ok off track. Cruz was an awesome missionary. He had an intense love for everyone but that didn’t prevent him from saying things how they are. I still struggle with that but he helped me so much. I was hard to see him leave but I was happy for the guy to get on with his life.

We had an awesome week meeting the nation wide goal of 20 lessons a week. And that was with 16 new investigators. We found some pretty incredible families. First, the family Marcos. It was a reference of a girl named Juana. We went looking for the address and ended up going way down into some canyon and while looking for the house number a guy, who was cleaning his little house they put the virgin of Guadalupe and all that stuff, he asked what number are you looking for. We told him and he said, who are you looking for. We told him Juana and he said “come on in!” it was Juana’s dad. We met her mom and two little sisters. One of her little sisters Dolores, 17, has a baby. We found out that she is still living with the guy, but the weird part is that they are married! That never happens here. So they started out asking one of the typical questions. “Why does God permit so much suffering and wickedness” we answered it and shared about the Restoration. When we asked for another appointment the shouted out, “Tomorrow!” So we visited them Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday. The only big bummer is that they didn’t go to church on Sunday cuz they went out of town. On Saturday we talked about the 10 commandments. Well, actually only the first two. They got pretty hung up on the whole virgin deal. Its hard pulling out those roots that run so deep. But we applied love, encouragement, and a lot of conversion process and they half way accepted it. They are an incredible family and I pray they will progress, to the temple.

Another family we found on Saturday. It was another reference and in fact a lady that had been to church a week ago but wouldn’t give us her address cuz she said her husband would get upset and throw us out. When we saw it was her we just asked to present ourselves at the door with him. He finally came out and it was great. “Hermano, como esta!!!??, que dice? Como le ha ido” we hugged him and in those first crucial, crucial 30 seconds we got the confidence enough to get in the home. They have three kids, and he told us right away that he doesn’t really believe in God for the things he’s seen in his life. We just acted like its ok, and started teaching about prayer. After explaining, I asked him what things he could thank God for in his life and he said nothing. So I asked him just to put an example for us, and so he did. After Elder Roylance prayed he started talking about families. After a bit he asked the sister to tell us what her family means to her, and then asked the brother. With moist eyes he described the love for his family and said “I know I don’t say it enough but I love them.” The kids all looked shocked and they also began to feel it. I’m pretty sure that’s the first time out loud he has told his kids that he loves them. His teenage girl also shared her feeling and she also had moist eyes. It was a wonderful short lesson but the thing was getting in the house and gaining confidence with them. We are having a wonderful time and seeing miracles. The body isn’t keeping up as good. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday I had killerheadaches but kept pushing.

One last story, about a month and a half ago a man arrived to the chapel during a weekday and we happened to be there. Everyone looked at him weird cuz he had a beard with out a mustache and one of those little Jewish hats. Cruz immediately said to me, “yes! I wanna baptize another Jew.” We talked to him and it turned out that his wife had just been diagnosed with influenza, the swine flu deal, and he was there looking for spiritual support. So we went into a room and talked a bit and I gave him a priesthood blessing. On Sunday he showed up to church and Cruz interrogated him cuz he said he was a member with the Aaronic priesthood. He even knew his member number! He turns out to be one of the most service giving persons here. He always is cleaning and helping- something only Elders do. Yes, he is weird. With the beard and yamaka (is that how you say it?) and every week he brings more stuff. Suitcasesfull of who knows what. And a couple of weeks ago a little black dog (he ties it up outside during sacrament). Well, he even received the Melchesideck priesthood on Saturday. But before heading off to the stake center he left all his stuff, including the dog in the bishop’s office. In Cruz’s goodbye party we were going to do a little program so me and Roylance opened the office to get hymn books and we scared the dog and it took off. Out the door and out the gate into the street! We took of after it. We ran until we couldn’t run anymore (not that far) and we lost it. I started feeling sick we lost the poor guy’s best friend in the middle of Mexico City!!! After looking for like 20 minutes we returned to the chapel feeling sick to the stomach. When he returned he just laughed and said” ha-ha don’t worry. He’s trained!” sure enough he returned and was there on Sunday. Entering every chance he could into sacrament until the brother finally tied it up… hahaha retards. Everyone had a good laugh about that one.

Well, I think I’ve talked enough. This is a long letter. Please say hi to everyone for me. I love them all. I heard Jenna Stradling is engaged. She was my last hope… it looks like I’ll be opening a new area in 6 months! Oh well. God has greater plans for me. He’s that boss we should pry let him be in charge and not look for advice. If we ask him what to do that means we are going to do it 100 %. Take care, you guys are incredible. Keep on pushing. Brighton make sure you are reading Preach My Gospel. Mostly chapters, 2, 3, 4, and 6. Study the doctrine and know how to explain it in a simple and understandable way. If you want practice teach a 7 year old ;) that’s always a cool experience.

I love you all so much.

-ELDER SOLOMON

PS. WHY DID THE GIRL FALL OFF THE SWING?

CUZ SHE DIDN’T HAVE ANY ARMS!!

Mission Tour

2009-11-09T08:31:00.000-08:00

Baptism of Luci and Liborio

Elder Roylance, Estela, Miguel, Brenda, Cruz, Vania, Rosa, Bayron, and me!

Luci and Liborio's wedding.

It’s cold here too. It feels nice but my feet get cold at night.

[Elder] Cruz is in his last week here in the mission. He has turned into a pig! I’m always cleaning up after him. [Elder] Roylance too. He has been such a great help to me in these last few weeks and a great companion. It’s gonna be hard to see him go.

It was a good work week and a bad one. There was a mission tour this week. Elder Tenorio of the Seventy was with President Fuentes and Roylance had to play piano for all three days. So we had to go drop him off on Tuesday. We went to the tour on Thursday. Friday we took Luci and her husband Liborio to get married so they could get baptized. and all the chores that accompany that. So we had a lot of time in other things; only teaching 9 lessons the whole week. But we still had 7 baptisms. On Saturday the visitor’s center came out to our chapel. They have a little portable cv they drag around and set up. They were there from 10 till 3 having 157 people go through the tour and a massive stack of refrences. It was fun. All we had to do was direct the people inside the chapel and the sisters did the rest. I’m a bit overwhelmed by the work load we now have because we have so many references in our area to check. While we were there at 11 we had the baptism of Estela, Mighuel angel, Brenda, Rosa Rangel and Vania. Estela is the sister of Irma and Miguel and Brenda are her kids. Pedro, the dad is still working there, but wants to get on the right path. Alcoholism is hard to get over. Rosa is one of the most special people I’ve ever taught. She was a hard core Christian but was offended pretty bad and so she left there. My first week in this area she and her kids Vania and Bayron went to our English classes. They left their reference and we started visiting them. She always had a lot of questions and never seemed to believe us. But she read. She read every pamphlet and booklet we have and started the Book of Mormon. About 2 weeks ago she was in Alma 7. After a long thorough investigation she finally decided and knew what she should do. It was my pleasure to baptize her. Things went great on Saturday.

Not quite as well on Sunday. There is a custom here that family members just randomly show up at houses and that means all else is put on hold. So while Estela and them were leaving, some in laws showed up and they didn’t make it for their confirmation. Rosa and Vania showed up though. And we had the baptism of Luci and Liborio after the services, but I was running around in such an impatient rage. Sacrament meeting here is a joke. There is no reverence in the ward and one guy got mad at me for hushing his wild kid while [Elder] Roylance was struggling with another. I talked with the brother afterwards but parenting is under attack. The new excuse is “that’s just how he his, I can’t do anything about it.” Dang right! Smiling at him while he drives the Daytona 500 from one end of the tile wall to another isn’t going to do a thing… ohhhh… it’s ok… patience Elder! Luci and Liborio are awesome. Luci has kids in Yucatan that have entered the temple. It is just that she got caught up on the whole plural marriage deal. We fixed that good and she got married and ready. She basically told us. “here are my papers to get married, baptize me on Sundday and put an appointment in one year for my sealing” Liborio looks like a scary guy with the big ol mustache and is all muscly but he is a really simple, honest man. I gave them one of the new Bibles I had bought a while back and signed it. A lot of success, but the big worry is the low retention rate here. [Elder] Cruz calls this ward a bucket with holes in it… it’s a tough situation.

The tour was sweet. Elder Tenorio talked about a lot of things. Its all in my journal. I’ll try and send some thoughts later, I just cant get my thoughts organized right now. It’s Monday. The part I really remember right now is the part of Prayer. He showed a way to get more blessings and more specific blessings; plan it out, and tell the Lord just what is going to happen, what his part is and plea for him to do specific things. Like the servant of Abraham when he went looking for a wife for Isaac. Read that chapter and I’ll explain more later.

Love you all.

Love you all take care, you are in my prayers.

Elder Roylance has a little sister that is turning 11 on Friday, just like mine.

-ELDER SOLOMON

Baile de nachos

2009-11-02T15:08:00.000-08:00

WELL, HEY THATS AWESOME ABOUT SHELDON. WAY TO GO BUD!! EACH YEAR AND EACH HOLIDAY YOU GUYS ARE MORE AND MORE PARTY POOPERS. BUT IT’S ALL GOOD. THE PEOPLE DOWN HERE ARE REALLY WEIRD. HALOWEEN IS SEEN AS SUCH AN EVIL DEVIL WORSHIPPING HOLIDAY. WE TRIED TO HAVE A HALOWEEN DANCE BUT… it was SHOT DOWN. SO CRUZ CHANGED IT TO THE “NACHO” (REDNECK) DANCE. AND THEY ALLOWED IT, (BUT DIDN’T SUPPORT IT AS ALWAYS). IT GOT RAINED OUT AND ONLY ABOUT 15 PEOPLE WENT ANYWAY..,

THE WEEK STARTED OUT AWESOME. WE WERE TEACHING A LOT BUT Thursday we had a plumbing problem in the house with all the pipes clogged up and the neighbors as well, so we were in the house for about 4 hours doing nothing. I had bought the Mexican version of Monopoly a few days before and so we played that. Then Friday it rained so much. We spent about 3 hours keeping dry and then had to get ready for the dance. Saturday we had to go all the way to the temple so Roylance could practice a special musical number. Wasted a lot of time there as well. I’m pretty sick of wasting time on things that have to be done but…

Things are going good.

We have 5 people with a baptismal date for this week and there might be more. The Lord is definitely blessing me a lot. I hope he is pouring the blessings upon you all as well. You deserve it. Something I learned this week. Perfection is an invitation and a command. It’s also reachable. Maybe not in all aspects right now, but we can be perfect in something. Look for something and be perfect in it.

I love you all so much. Sorry about the lame letter. I’m a bit frustrated with dumb stuff. It happens every now and then. Take care.

-ELDER SOLOMON

Don't go chasing your fears

2009-10-26T14:55:00.000-07:00

Hilda's baptism

My zone

Baptism day of Irma and her daughter Irasema. Brenda is there as well.

A marijuana plant

At the Temple with Elder Cruz

Jussi's baptism

Pamela's baptism

Hey, so I don’t know about the package. The secretaries are in my zone so I’ll talk to them and tell them to just pay any taxes. I’ll figure it out right now. That’s pretty sweet about Sheldon winning the meet. Great job bud. Good luck in state, just live it up. Brigg, sorry bud if you’re losing that bad and Sheldon winning like that…. you have no right to say swimmers are gay. I think he looks pretty manly in that Speedo =)! Nice car, what jealousy… that’s quite the eventful weekend there at the cabin, don’t be stupid and do things the right way. Dad as you always said, “don’t do things half a--“… doing things redneck style is doing things that way.

Mom talking about having to get rid of bad feelings for others, I was reading Miracle of Forgiveness when it mentions that someone who can’t forgive someone else isn’t worthy to partake of the sacrament… he [Spencer W. Kimball] usually goes a bit far with some things but it’s true. Jesus taught, go fix things with your brother then come follow me. (something like that, that’s how the Catholics say it anyway… hahaha such apostasy here). In fact, I had quite the lesson here this week with that. We had a companionship here in the zone that just did not want to let stupid things go. They fought like crazy and no counsel or advice would be taken. One would run from the house and leave his comp alone and it was just bitter, no respect, no love, nothing good. I felt bad because all my attention was directed to them this week and I couldn’t put much attention on the rest of the elders. On Saturday, things got worse, after talking with them for about an hour after English classes they fought again and one of them disappeared. I called the assistants and asked them to stop ignoring the problem, so finally they decided to come and after looking for the elder for a while they found him. That elder would rather go home than be with his companion. Well, we knew that little piece of information beforehand, and in fact, in the zone leader council on Thursday that was a big theme that the president talked about. Laman and Lemuel were in the same situation, they would rather die than continue on in the desert and listening to their brother and father. What a hopeless situation! Giving up is never the answer and never resolves anything. Finally, the elder was convinced to stay and they just had special changes.

Something else I really enjoyed from the council. Running from our fears is going to find them. The president told a story; see if I can translate it good. There once was a man who had an intense fear of death. He couldn’t sleep for the fear of not waking up. He never got married nor had kids because someday he would have to die. Never worked cuz that would increase the risk of death. Basically, he lived a life controlled by this fear. One day a person from the town where he lived told him there would be an old wise person near the town and maybe the wise guy could help him with his problem so he went looking. After a few days he found the old man sitting and meditating. When he ended the fearful man got near him and asked him what he could do to get away from his fear. The old man looked at him and began to tell him a story. He said ‘once there was a man with a servant and he told the servant to go get some food and materials from the market he needed, so the servant left and in the market he found the death all black hooded with his sickle [grim reaper]. The servant became so frightened he dropped all he had bought and ran to his master. He pleaded the master to let him flee to Tarsa because he had seen the death [grim reaper] and was frightened. The master told him to talk his fastest horse and he would arrive before midnight at Tarsa. He left, and the master became angered and went to the market. He found the death [grim reaper] there in the same spot and asked him why he had frightened his servant. The death replied that he had not meant to scare him, in fact, he was surprised to see him there since he was supposed to pick up the servant at midnight in Tarsa.’ “I got it!” said the man who had such a fear of death. “Running from your fears is going to find them. Thank you so much for helping me.” He turned to go away but the old man spoke again. “You have learned but from today, there will be no more tomorrows.” He turned into the death [grim reaper] and there took the fearful man.

This little story tells a good point. I’ve found usually when I’m afraid of getting a bad companion it happens; when I think someone isn’t going to show up to church it’ll happen. If you think you’ll lose you are probably right. We must live our lives as the late Elder Wirthlin said, “come what may and love it.” If we let fear in our lives there is a good chance it may control our lives. Don’t run away from your fears. Look them straight on and ask yourself some questions. Is this something really worth fearing? If it happens will it help me? Can I get over this fear? Is the worry and pressure creating more problems than the actual problem? And a lot of self exam questions. Fight your fears. We are the only ones who put limits. Remember, Satan doesn’t want to scare anyone; his key indicators aren’t how many people killed by heart attack. He wants us to worship him. And worshipping anything except the One True God is worshiping him.

We had a wonderful week in the area. When we were here there was plenty of work. It’s really weird having a white companion, and weird being in a threesome. And we are squeezed into our tiny apartment. We had three baptisms this week. One on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Maria de Jesus, friend of Sister Guadalupe who finally after 6 weeks got baptized. Hilda, sister of a recent convert Eulalia, and Pamela, 9 year old daughter of Paula a less active who has come back to church. It was wonderful having baptisms three days in a row. My favorite was on Sunday, Pamela’s. Me and Penelope, a returned sister missionary, sang the primary song I like to look for rainbows while Elder Roylance played the piano. It was a so cool I love that song and it’s very pretty in Spanish.

Well, congratulate Erin for me. And everyone else. Holy cow… babies all over the place. I decided here I want 7 but we’ll see what the senior companion says when I get married ;)

Thanks for who you are. Don’t wreck the mustang please… walk to school it’ll do you good. Oh, ya, another bit of advice from President Fuentes. A while ago he said to take a cold shower every morning cuz it fortifies the defenses and wakes you up and some other stuff. I only tried it once and every time the gas runs out. But the new advice is a spoonful of pure, raw bee’s honey. It gives all the necessary vitamins and minerals plus energy that lasts all day. Just a spoonful and then eat whatever you want. Me and Roylance have been doing it and it sure helped on Saturday. Hahaha who knows but I like the flavor. I don’t like cold showers.

Love you all so much. Take care. Mom, just send the package to the offices. I’ll leave money with the secretaries and make sure it gets through.

-ELDER SOLOMON

Ps Brighton fill those papers out ya baby.

I think she liked me

2009-10-19T19:21:00.000-07:00

A mustang!?!? I had to drive crap always (well the jeep was cool but I’m still mad). Spencer Denham was right, your parents only start buying cool stuff when you leave like pools, cool cars... enjoy it Brighton, cuz in a few months you’ll be climbing hills, sweating, and smelling poop and mariguana all day, and I’ll be wearing your clothes in your car dating your girls hahahahaha (evil laugh). Well, I gave in today as well. I found a suit store with 70% off and bought a pretty nice one for about 65 bucks (800 pesos) and some new hush puppies (35).

It’s change time again. Luckily I’m staying with Elder Cruz. He added a month to his mission so he’ll be leaving in four weeks, and they gave me another companion. I could not believe who it is… Elder Roylance, my best friend in the mission! We were in the MTC together and have been in the same zone a few times. There will be two white guys walking around Molinito... watch out! I’m ready to really open it up this change and see what I can do.

Irma presented us to her sister and family and we are teaching them. They are an awesome family but the dad gets pretty drunk a lot but he wants to change so it’ll be possible. The absolute best is teaching a whole family. The little 8 year old girl already wants to get baptized! We are teaching another person whose sister is a member and this past week for a huge temper tantrum she (the investigator) got that facial paralysis deal. They all saw it like a huge tragedy but I was fighting back the laughs so hard! She reminded me of Brigg when he got it. Especially when we made her laugh and only half of her face worked... I was laughing so hard... inside. She has a baptismal date for this Saturday so we hope all goes well.

Um what else... hey what’s up with you guys thinking I’m a BSer?? I know I was a really different person before my mission but I really don’t even tell the half that goes on here. Obviously I’ve had good comps lately. (except Contreras, he got moved down to DL for being so lazy) but trust me, I’m giving it my all and I really feel good about what I’m doing. Not a conformist by any means. I cant tell you how many times I’ve gotten late to the house mad cuz we only had 3 lessons that day, anyway...

Oh, one more story, I had a self-esteem booster this week. We were walking down a street at about 4 pm on Friday and we walked by a big group of teenagers starting with the Cerveza, (here they sell to whoever has money, [no matter their age]). As we walked by all the girls whistled and the guys shouted stuff, but we just walked by as always, and about a half a block from there two of the guys ran up to us and started talking to us. They asked us what we do why we don’t drink and stuff like that. After like 5 minutes my comp(he is super blunt) said, “Ok, why did you really want to talk to us?” The one kid smiled and just said, “Oh she just wanted to talk to the guero (white guy)”. Sure enough a few more came up to us and we kept talking and one girl came up and started stepping softly on my foot and brushing my arm. The little greenie warning alarm went off and I stood on the other side of my comp. We left them there and kept on working but it was a little funny story for me!

Oh ya, Acosta the Argentino, is the new assistant so I’m sure well be getting along just fine. He was my comp for 3 months and we are good friends.

Stop partying too much... na, I lied keep on partying ;) love you all so much thank you for being the best family ever.

-ELDER SOLOMON

50th baptism!

2009-10-12T21:37:00.000-07:00

You hope I’m a solid missionary? Hello,… where is the confidence? Count me down as one of the best.;) No but, I’m really giving it my all right now and trying hard. I had a land mark week this week personally in that I have now reached 50 baptisms in my mission. All of them special people with special stories.

The latest two: Irma and her daughter. I’ll tell you about in a second.

Another cool thing. Guess who plays piano in sacrament meeting? That’s right me! I only play right hand cuz I mess up a lot with right hand alone (never mind left hand too!) but its better than nothing.

The iPod don’t worry. Yes I have the old one kept away safe. I have what I need to get the job done. Go ahead and send me a book, I usually read about three at a time but… you know, it’s according to the mood. Sometimes I can’t stand seeing letters and sometimes I like it.

Well, I’ve got a nice story; remember the black Rockport shoes I set out on the mission with? Well about 6 months ago I had the soles rebuilt and this last week the new soles had worn down so much on the outside of the heel that when I walked it pushed the little nails [into my foot] more until… you guessed it. They got to the foot. I walked around a whole day with those dang things sticking in me and at night I took of my socks to find some holes in my heel and some tender skin. Good thing for calluses. So the shoes paid for that and they aren’t getting worn anymore!

We had a cool activity in the zone today. We decided to have the district meeting a bit earlier at 9 am and afterward we all played basketball, football and fried up some carne asada.

Ok, so Irma. The lady that got baptized this week. She is a really quiet lady. Small and dark, from Oaxaca. She has a little girl Irasema, 11, and a baby called Dulce. One day with my comp we were walking down a street and he said, “Hey we taught a lady here once but she saw stuff on the internet and didn’t want anything. Lets see if she’s home.” Well, he doesn’t have that good of a memory so he didn’t remember exactly which apartment it was or what her name was, but on the second try Irma came out and said that she had listened to the missionaries before. She let us in and it turned out that her husband had just died a couple weeks before. We taught her the plan of Salvation and were able to help her a lot that way, in fact I even blessed her house (the first I’ve ever done that). She continued receiving the lessons and surprised us by showing up to church that Sunday all on her own, and she even brought a family member. She accepted the baptismal date with ease and it was a beautiful service (Saturday). On Sunday she was confirmed and her daughter. Then before the talks, the Bishop asked if there were any baby blessings. I don’t know who told her too, but she just stood up and the Bishop blessed her little girl. Irma doesn’t talk a whole lot. The most I’ve ever heard her is when I filled out the new member form. But that little lady lets her acts speak a lot louder than her mouth. She is an incredible example of listening to the Lords voice and responding. She has been and will be blessed for her quiet faithful obedience.

We had the best week. We’ve all had changes in the zone this week. The change is eminent in the missionaries. Their love for the work has changed, they see it (me included) really as the work of the Lord and not just another daily job that a lot seem to see it as. The work is real but has to be seen with the spiritual eye.

Well, love you all portense bien. Take care of each other. Please send my regards to the Larsen family. My prayers will be with them. Do what you can and leave the rest to Him.

-ELDER SOLOMON

Fluent in Chilango

2009-10-08T16:41:00.000-07:00

October 6, 2009

Ok well. I didn’t write yesterday because we changed P-day to today so we could go to the temple today. We had a good work day yesterday and I’m grateful for not slacking it that day like a lot of missionaries do. Is Calvin really 8??? I knew about Kayla (I’ve had constant contact with John Reed, good thing he’s getting lost in the mission as well;) the last I heard about Jalin was that she was getting married and that’s what she told me before I left. Someone tell her her good ol buddy hasn’t heard a thing a lot more than a year! I want to know more about missionaries who are out in the field that I never hear about. Justin Kelley, Dayton, Derek, Jon Arnett… I never hear about them I’m sure Rhonda lee keeps everyone within ears reach updated ;) here we replaced the rain with the heat again. It sucks; the heat just drains my energy and even more so climbing hills all day… I’ve been taking showers in the night for the heat and being all sweaty. Oh ya I got the dearelder package a long time ago but that’s the only one. Yes I am fluid but they talk in accents in all parts it’s really different in the North than here. I know how to talk Chilango.

The work has been good to us… in our area. We’ve had baptisms every week the past 3 weeks, the frustrating is that it’s only one every week. What a problem right?! We’ve got a good week lined up as well. The main headache in my life is the zone… the senior zone leader seems to be everyone’s enemy and they just don’t work! We have awesome areas here but all the elders have over a year and they trust that they know how to work and with finding one person they can baptize that month and they are good! But that is such apostasy and when they are told their attitude changes to “ok then I just don’t care, I’m going home soon anyway” what a frustration. A few have opened their eyes but we still need a lot of help.

Yes General Conference. The worst part was I missed the afternoon session and priesthood on Saturday cut I was working. The older I get the more I just love it and suck it up. Probably my favorite talk was the prophet’s talk on Sunday about the acts of kindness. I felt the Spirit really tenderly. Hearing things such as “my grandma was sick and I held her hand” incredible what acts of kindness really are, like he said we can all do something for somebody.” There were many themes I picked up in Conference but the main was Christ like Love and lifting up the fallen hands and strengthening the trembling knees. I believe that may be a remedy to face the economic problems. Forgetting ourselves and serving others, even in the simplest ways. What did you do for someone today? Awesome. I can’t wait to download the talks on the iPod and start the study don’t know if I told you but I’m going for another language, Portuguese. It’s so similar to Spanish that I figured it would be easy. The secretaries ordered me a book of Mormon and I’ve got other ideas. To keep the mind learning and moving…

What else… well I better get going it’s getting late and we’ve got to get to the District meeting. Take care I love you all so much.

-ELDER SOLOMON

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

2009-10-08T16:20:00.000-07:00

Hey slackers!

Still not sure but I might need a new suit. Last night I had the opportunity to go back to the Cuautepec stake center. Fernando and Ricardo Diego got the Melquesidec priesthood and I ordained Ricardo. It was nerve wracking; I had never ordained the priesthood before. My hands were shaking like crazy. We ended at about 8:30 and it was absolutely pouring… we tried to look for a taxi to get home. The main street was a flowing river and even the big diesel busses weren’t passing. So we went back to the chapel and waited. It was getting late so we went back got on a bus just to go about a quarter mile to get on another that took us about a half mile and stopped. After a long time we got off and stopped. Crossing a little bridge the water was about four feet high… we had no idea what to do. We went to the sister missionaries’ house that was really close, but turns out they were stuck on the other side of the flood. We just sat there for a long time with no idea of what to do. We walked “upstream” up the hill where we started walking sometimes the water got up to almost the knees. Suit and everything. Then we got to the place where the busses that head to our area are and nothing… we ended up walking all the way over a freaking mountain being like 3 miles that we walked in the pouring rain. Got home at like 11 and stripped it all off. Put the fan on my clothes and they were all dry, (except my shoes) in the morning but who knows if they shrunk or something like that. At least we didn’t get sick. Or drown… we got caught in the rain a lot this week. I hope that old saying about working in the rain makes your future wife hotter…

Well after a short 6 weeks here in Santa Cecilia they are kicking me out already… I’m getting changed to an area called Molinito. Apparently it’s pretty similar to Cuautepec. Thousands of people, poorer and baptisms like crazy. Also really dangerous. I’m also getting moved up again to Zone leader senior comp with an elder who has little time left called Elder Cruz. Hope all goes well there, I’m nervous about the responsibility but am grateful Heavenly Father can trust in me.

Rain every afternoon, getting ready to stay for a long time and now I’m going oh well! Love you all. I’m growing progressing and enjoying the time that is quickly flying by. Love one another. Love can truly break any barrier. Don’t be afraid to stick up for the truth. This truly is the work of God, I know it. There is no other church on the earth designed to take us to the Celestial Kingdom and Exaltation. What other one can take you to the Terrestrial or Telestial, in fact you don’t need to do much to get to the last one. Our whole goal should be focused on exaltation. If not, well we’ve failed. London is there, will we reach her. Only depends on each and every one of us. Christ has done our part. Let us show Him our love.

Love you all, take care!

-ELDER SOLOMON

My Christmas Wish List

2009-09-28T16:20:00.000-07:00

I knew it wasn’t my fault you weren’t getting letters! No , I don’t want a portable dvd player I’m a good missionary. It would be nice but with 10 peso pirate dvds on every corner its way too much of a temptation. I haven’t gotten any package yet. How long ago did you send it? I’ll see the secretaries today so I’ll ask them. Christmas list? I’m still in that stage of not really wanting much. Ibought the new LDS version of the Bible that finally came out in Spanish. I love it the Bible isn’t as much apostasy as before since we were using a Christian Bible, I actually read it and use it in my study! I’ve become "hungry" for learning new stuff. My last comp lent me the book "the Great Apostasy" by Talmage and I read it in about a week. and I’m reading "A Marvelous Work and a Wonder" by LeGrand Richards. I’ve already read the Miracle of Forgiveness and Jesus the Christ. I’ve got a big booklist of books i want... but... books are heavy. I’m already carrying around too much stuff. So for a Christmas list... a sweater, normal like a hoodie. Other things that are on my mind is... ok a long time I bought a 30G ipod from another missionary at a good price, but now its being lame sauce. It only works hooked into the speaker deal, so I want to take that to get fixed and... um... a new suit. a motorcycle, a toy train, an x-box with flat screen tv or a projector, legos, a vacation out of this city and a pony. deal? Oh and a girlfriend…I’m tired of being with a man all day ;)

See how close you can get.

No, look I don’t want to leave stuff here and I don’t want to pay a bunch to drag it home. Send me some baptisms and missionaries that want to work… that’s all I want.

Bad week, the zone pretty much did horribly. The whole mission is just in a huge nose dive... the culture of work has been overridden by an attitude of "the numbers don’t matter" and pure laziness. It’s such a frustration. Then I don’t want to talk bad about my leaders but every time the assistants call me its "you need to do this" and "you have to do this" if i haven’t been in the refiners fire for a long time I would be in the pits of depression right now. But tomorrow comes. We had a good leaders meeting last night searching for solutions. Today we are going to have a zone council like a roundtable to get to see what is going on from the point of view of everyone and look for solutions and what we can to. The key not is focusing on how the things can’t be done but finding a way that they can. Then we have Zone Conference on Wednesday.

It was a cloudy week, a bit depressing with low numbers in our area but we had 1 baptism and 2 confirmations with 11 investigators in sacrament meeting. Sunday always comes. its the day of refreshment, a day of delight for me. I love Sunday even though it still is work.

Oh ya, I’m now famous. I’m in the Liahona in Mexico. In the news part for an activity we did. I’ll try and steal a copy.

I love seeing your faces thanks for the pics. I love you all so much. Take care of each other. Be united.

-ELDER SOLOMON

First Priesthood Ordination

2009-09-07T21:55:00.000-07:00

Hey slackers!

Still not sure but I might need a new suit. Last night I had the opportunity to go back to the Cuautepec stake center. Fernando and Ricardo Diego got the Melchesidek priesthood and I ordained Ricardo. It was nerve wracking; I had never ordained the priesthood before. My hands were shaking like crazy. We ended at about 8:30 and it was absolutely pouring… we tried to look for a taxi to get home. The main street was a flowing river and even the big diesel busses weren’t passing. So we went back to the chapel and waited. It was getting late so we went back got on a bus just to go about a quarter mile to get on another that took us about a half mile and stopped. After a long time we got off and stopped. Crossing a little bridge the water was about four feet high… we had no idea what to do. We went to the sister missionaries’ house that was really close, but turns out they were stuck on the other side of the flood. We just sat there for a long time with no idea of what to do. We walked “upstream” up the hill where we started walking sometimes the water got up to almost the knees. Suit and everything. Then we got to the place where the busses that head to our area are and nothing… we ended up walking all the way over a freaking mountain being like 3 miles that we walked in the pouring rain. Got home at like 11 and stripped it all off. Put the fan on my clothes and they were all dry, (except my shoes) in the morning but who knows if they shrunk or something like that. At least we didn’t get sick. Or drown… we got caught in the rain a lot this week. I hope that old saying about working in the rain makes your future wife hotter…

Love you all, take care!

-ELDER SOLOMON

Will you help us out?

2009-08-24T16:16:00.000-07:00

Itzel's baptism

WENDY'S finally!

Wow! That’s quite a bunch of news coming there from the home front. New ward, (not gonna lie that’s a pretty gay name... hi I’m from Pegasus ward hu hu hu... even merlot ward is better, ill deal with it though). That’s sounds like a blast over there on the dive team, I can’t believe that they are already doing scrimmages already and even more that Brigg is a junior... Brighton 2 classes and one on internet? What are they? Ball room dancing and star wars 101? hahahah jk glad you’re doing something.

I never heard about grandma, why didn’t anyone tell me? I know she’s tough but she needs support still the same. Tell here I say hi and will be praying for her. So Jared Larson is Obispo? Wow that’s crazy. I can already tell you your callings. Mom, relief society pres or primary pres. Dad is going with the deacons or 11 year olds for sure. Tell him hi for me, I’ll sure miss Bishop carpenter... those boundaries sound so small to me... um... oh ya the Kelley’s moved back? That’s so awesome, where are they living? I have no idea who the kings are...

Ok, well, enough about you guys I wanna talk about ME! No not really I just thought it sounded funny. We had a decent work week some good new investigators and a sweet open house activity Saturday. The ward is so awesome all we had to do was greet the people they brought and jot down an appointment at the end! There is one recent convert that has about 5 months. His name is Ray Ramirez. He and his family are so awesome; he is executive secretary and baptized one of his friends and his whole family a while ago. Now we are teaching the mom of this friend (called Daniel Sanchez) and she’ll probably get baptized this week. And at the open house Ray brought his mom’s sister and her whole family and his kids godparents. A lot of other members brought friends and neighbors as well. It was a neat event cuz it opened up a lot of questions from the people and I love answering questions. As our President says" Mexico is a culture of don’t ask questions, since a baby parents teach their kids, don’t ask questions, if you do your stupid" and that’s the way it is! So I absolutely love it when people ask instead of saying no it’s all clear. (Just so all you kids know asking questions doesn’t make you stupid it makes you smart). Then Sunday we had ward conference. It was pretty good. I (and everyone else) didn’t understand what the Bishop was trying to say in his talk but it’s all good. The choir was made up the young single adults. And since there are more girls than guys they asked us to help them out. No one knows how to carry a tune and it’s frustrating as heck. Then the piano player just plays the same chord on left hand even when it doesn’t go (isn’t the right key). But it doesn’t seem to bother anyone else, so me neither.

I want to talk a bit more about those young single adults. 5 of them are our ward missionaries and do an awesome job at that but every time a general authority or area seventy talks he just chews out all the single adults. The bishops and stake presidents are all proud but there is a serious problem here in that no one is getting married!! The majority of sealing done is converts. It’s quite a worrying problem here in Mexico. Me and Contreras play around with that a lot reading the scriptures of "ministering angels" and stuff like that. There’s even one sister who is waiting for her visa to go on a mission and has been waiting a long time, My comp straight out told her that God is saying she needs to get married hahaha, the good thing is they are all good sports and take it. At least we have an excuse hahaha.

Well as for the zone... it’s not a zone with high expectations. Bad. In these 4 weeks of august there are only 10 baptisms in the whole zone, We’ve got one week left and I put the goal of reaching 20 for the month. Its reachable cuz we have 6 people with a baptismal date for this week but we are gonna need some faith and miracles to reach it. Will you all help us out?

Today we played basketball in the morning; I’ve gotten a lot better. I’ve learned how to shoot but I am fetching tired! It was fun.

Well I’ve got 38 weeks left in the mission and I’ve been studying one of the 42 principles of doctrine every week. #38 is Eternal Families, last week was #39 Temples and family History Work and I had some pretty good experiences studying the principle. I downloaded the conference addresses and studied three of the talks. I listen to them while reading the Liahona and marked it and make comments. The temple is such an incredible awesome place. Gathering the wheat into the garners as the scriptures say. There is so much protection, and peace found there and in the covenants done. Dad wrote me about the difficulties the saints passed even after Joseph Smith died. What gave most of them the strength and power to move on was the hope and faith they received from being endowed and sealed in the Holy Temple. They knew what they had done, they knew they were keeping the commandments of the Father and had a deep understanding of the Plan of Salvation. That knowledge gives way to the faith which converts itself into the firm anchor that makes us always pressing forward no matter what. And that can also be a powerful blessing to us as well. It doesn’t come free or even at a small cost. The price to prepare, enter and return to the temple is great not to mention the cost of learning and progressing! May we all live worthy to enter the Holy Temple. Even those that still need to wait. Live worthily of a recommend that way when it is time you will be ready. That’s how you prepare. And that will make sure that our lives are in order. And we can receive the desired help from the Lord to really do and receive whatever we need.

May God bless you all. Do the best you can and don’t wear yourself out doing it. There are time and resources for everything the key is diligence. I love you all, take care.

-ELDER SOLOMON

The Lord is Boss

2009-08-17T16:15:00.000-07:00

Hi there,

Awesome pictures, just nough to make me trunky. I didn’t even listen to the videos, your voices will make me trunky ill wait till Christmas, see if you all can understand me:) I’ve been teaching my comp English and I’, thinking about signing up for the class too!

Well, last week was (I think) the fastest week in my life. Let me tell you. Monday p-day, Tuesday was the DL council, the first half was boring for me, but the after getting back from dinner we got into some interesting stuff and we ended up setting a record: 9 in the morning to 9 at night, 12 hours of council! We all left with a super cool spirit, it was awesome! The best part was we had to come back to Tlalnepantla because there are only so many beds in the offices and we didn’t want to share. So we got home at 11 ish (disobedient I know;). The next day we had to get some stuff ready for the Zone Conference, and went to the visitors center with some investigators which ended up taking about 5 hours to do went to bed. The next morning we left the house early for the conference. I thought it went fairly well. Our zone numbers wise is really small so we had it in the high council room. We talked about diligence, patience, references, CAAR, ( CAAR is a program down here that is a committee from the ward that assigns the missionaries, in-actives, new converts, etc. to visit and then also made plans to help these people.) I talked about English and the importance of learning it, the blessings, and how to do it. It was really good. I realized how much I’ve learned on the subject by my own experience. Then my comp spoke on working with the members. Of course President talks the whole time, throwing in his comments. We never give him a set part in the program cuz we know he’ll just jump in wherever he wants. He is an awesome man. He had us al crying in the DL council and just made us all sit in awe in the conference and does a good job of exciting us to be obedient, work hard, etc., without really telling us directly. He also showed us some stats on the mission. Basically we are no. 1 in Mexico (not to brag, we are also very humble about it) but the best part is the progress the mission in the last trimester grew 5% overall. Basically that’s incredible a 1 or 2 percent increase is expected annually. I’m grateful to be here. Well Friday and Saturday blew by. We didn’t really have that successful of a workweek. Good thing we talk so much about patience and hope or else I would’ve... well gotten down and angry. The Lord is boss.

In the council there was some thing that really stuck to me. The President talked about the Lord calling people as leaders and prophets some old and some young and we looked at a case of one of these young ones. Mormon, at only 10 years old he was charged by Ammaron to take care of the plates. How many of us would trust a 10 year old with our car much less the sacred records of thousands of years? But there were two characteristics that separated Mormon from the rest. It says he was a serious boy and quick to observe. By talking about serious it means reverent. I imagine he knew when it was time to play around time to be quiet: time and a place right? Of course this doesn’t mean all the time boring and serious. Yesterday the elders quorum president walked home with us and basically told us we need to be happy and enjoy the mission, I told him that the only time he sees us is a time to be reverent (in sacrament meeting and in classes), in fact I told him I’m the happiest I’ve ever been in my life! I really am, but that doesn’t mean I’m gonna be dancing and singing in elders quorum!!! The second was the ability to observe. We have one investigator that goes crazy crazy when we walk in her house cuz I am always looking around and examining things. She says I have wondering eyes but that’s how I learn. I learn so much about a person by seeing how they live, their pictures, their beliefs, etc. Many times I learn more by looking than by listen to them babble on. However, that too can be a good way to observe. When I started the mission I prayed a lot for the gift of discernment and the ability to observe. It’s so useful being able to really know people, why they do the things they do and how to help them. I hope we all can work towards developing these talents.

God bless you all, don’t get too tan! Brighton enjoy being big buff guy cuz two months in the MTC puts a beating on that and its super hard to get back. I’ve been working out and it feels really good but its just with limited resources. Oh ya, get those girls ready cuz I want a date with them all ¿va? Hahaha

I love you all take care. Do the possible and leave the impossible to God.

-ELDER SOLOMON

Life here is good.

2009-08-10T23:10:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, happy August 10th.

Well, I thought this was going to be the first week I didn’t get a mail from anyone but Wayne saved you all. Your ppbably all busy and sleep all day Sunday, so ill give you a break. But only one.

Life here is good. We got a lot more busy here this week. We started passing around a list like the food list but it’s a list for Family home evenings. At first the members didn’t really like it, but yesterday a lot more signed up and those are taking up our evening and its awesome.

On Saturday we went back to Cuautepec for a baptism in the morning then our own baptism in the afternoon and 2 family home evenings after that! A long, long day. In fact, my companion got sick on Sunday but its all good. A nice little p-day to get some rest. Gosh, I don’t have anything to write!!! Ok well… I’m just working, new people just come out of nowhere and the members are awesome. We had 12 new investigators last week and didn’t knock a single door. I’m finding it’s the best way to work. I’m sorry but I’m not in the typing mood. I’ll try for a better letter next week. Love you all.

-ELDER SOLOMON

20 Questions

2009-08-03T23:09:00.000-07:00

So, what are we playing 20 questions or what or what or what? Hey, well I’m glad your interested in my life. Let’s see. Santa Cecilia is awesome, a dream come true. Me and Elder Contreras get along super good and are sharing the load pretty equally. Let me explain how the whole leadership deal is. There are District leaders who have normal junior comps and then the Zone leaders are always the companionship but there are ZL senior comp and ZL junior comp. They have similar responsibilities. For example I was DL with Elder Valdez. Then he left and Acosta came. I was then ZL junior comp and he was ZL senior comp. As junior comp I am still in charge of a district just like a DL in addition to my ZL chores. The senior comp is the one that gets the most blame for the zone ;) ok, so with Contreras its the same. He’s the senior comp.

Ok, family Rico does have a dad, but they have a rough economic situation right now and he sells clothing he makes in the market and if he doesn’t sell on Sunday... he is a super cool guy but has to wait for the change of season when he starts selling blankets and it’ll be easier.

And the truth is they don’t really have a "cool" conversion story, all was super calm, tranquilo.

Well, it seems every other week I’m telling you about a leadership council but here we are again. ZL council was stupendous. We are now going to be teaching our companions English like Preach My Gospel says and they are really expressing work with members. And as always, the President with his awesome sermons/rants. One that hit me super hard was when he talked bout our bodies and how they were made from the dust. It was incredible how we subject ourselves so much to just a little pile of dust. We think we are so great and intelligent but we are whooped by... dust. He took off his suit coat and said this is like our bodies. While it’s on it moves and lives, but when its not, it doesn’t do anything. He threw it on the floor and said some stuff like "get up coat, talk coat, do something" and obviously it did nothing. We are from the dust but we are not dust we are children of a Loving Heavenly Father and as such we all have divine qualities and abilities. I wish I could remember more but I just remember how I felt as he gave us that lesson. Talking about the uselessness of worldly things: he pulled out 100 peso bill from his wallet, he talked about how people kill, commit crime and even prostitute for paper that doesn’t mean anything, then he ripped the bill in half then in fourths. How foolish we are sometimes. Sacrifice family time to pay the debt on the car… "its for the family" we say, but we lose what’s most important.

Another part I loved was talking about the patience. It’s true, there are trials, setbacks, disappointments, etc. In life and it’s part of life. Ask Job if righteous living means you wont suffer. All too often we forget the heavenly virtue of patience. There is no need to panic. We think that the house, the car, the pictures, the dog is all going up in flames when in 20 minutes we find out that nothing is wrong. Patience, patience, patience.

Then... at the end a certain matter came up about the changes. Why certain people were getting favored over many other while they might not necessarily merit the position but they get it on a basis of time (who has the most time in he mission). Well, the Pres laid that one out pretty hard core too. Chewed us out on humility... someday well be judged not on the positions we’ve held but on how we completed what were assigned. Everyone pushes from where they stand. That was quite and illuminating discussion.

Well, we’ve got on person with a baptismal date for this week. I’m still getting used to the area and being grateful for learning the happy routine in the mission. My old comp elder Hoyt hasn’t found it out yet. He is in this zone and for the bad decisions and more than anything the lies he’s told, he is pretty miserable. I really hope I can help him out this change. It hurts seeing a brother hurt.

I hope this letter is long enough cuz my mind just went blank. I love you all. You sound so blessed. The awesome part is I get to enjoy the blessings (like you all) for 6 years after I get home plus the ones I’m hopefully racking up now. The work is awesome and I am working like a you-know-what just so you know. Take care.

-ELDER SOLOMON

2009-07-27T22:30:00.000-07:00

Smashing Elder Escobar's head in his birthday cake!

Me and Acosta

Tortas (sandwiches), coake and grease!

On a bus

Elder Escobar's birthday party.

Killing two birds with one stone?

Hey everyone,

Well its time for changes. I found out yesterday that I’m going over to the other side of the hill called Santa Cecilia. From what I’ve heard it’s an awesome ward so I’m super excited. It’s the mission's example in work with the members. I know my companion, his name is Elder Contreras, he was my Zone Leader once and we didn’t really get along cuz he’s bossy but I’m gonna do my very best to make it work. That zone (tlanepantla) needs a lot of help...

Yesterday we had 5 baptisms. After last week’s experience I was hoping and praying and doing dad’s tap the forehead thing that everything would be a lot calmer with the baptisms. And luckily, they did! It was part of a family, the family Rico, the mom Graciela, daughter Yazmin, and kid Jose. Then a lady we were going to baptize a long time ago, named Josefina and her boy Armando. Everything went so well. There were tons of members in the service and I got to swim in the font for a while cuz we started and had to wait for someone to come... then I was so happy just to hear the US lost to Mexico in soccer in an embarrassing 5-0 loss.... then I realized and that put me in a bad mood because they ALL rub it in [when the US loses]. And now just packing my bags!

It brings me a lot of joy to hear about you all. I can’t believe school is starting again. You guys are awesome, keep it up. I downloaded all the conference talks and have been studying them. I’ve learned a lot. I’ve been able to get a lot more out of the modern day teachings by slowing it all down reading and marking everything. I’ve learned a lot about my patriarchal blessing and other stuff. Study the teaching of modern day prophets. When I say study, I mean sit down and mark up your copy of the Ensign just like you would your own Book of Mormon. Remember in all thing hope. Faith is the belief, hope is the attitude, optimism, patience, enthusiasm, calmness. God lives. Reflect his love. I love you all take care.

-ELDER SOLOMON

A pretty hard week

2009-07-20T21:43:00.000-07:00

Elder Escobar's Birthday Party

Can you see the temple?

Up high in Mexico City with Elder Roylance and who know who that kid is!

District Leader conference with Roylance, Pope, Sanchez, and Allan

The Banda at Wicho's baptism...Milton baptized him.

The Zone at Cuautepec

Hey everyone what’s going on? Well, if you’re gonna tell me all about the new pool at least send me some pictures so I can see what it looks like! Football camp is at home well that sucks… not enough money or what’s up with that?

Anyway, A pretty hard week for me and I still don’t know why. Yesterday we baptized a complete family and I’ve learned that when that happens Old Scratch throws a fit and the missionary receives most of the blow. We went to the temple on Tuesday and that was really good cuz I haven’t gone in a few months. The rest of the week was nuts. We started something new here that is visiting all the 4s (for those who don’t know the 13 steps of planning from Preach My Gospel, that’s the investigators who go to church) so between interviewing all from my district, the district leaders and having them interview ours, it was nuts. But the results were very pleasing we were able to improve very much so in the zone. And in our own area, we had 4 baptisms and one that fell for this week.

Now we had a big activity planned. Teaching the message of the Restoration but through songs. We called it a musical. It so happened that I was the director. So we practiced a lot and it was tough cuz a lot of elders are worse than the primary kids I once taught! So Saturday was going to be the activity. No one came… we had two investigators come and we put them in a baptism that was going on… lame I was down. I thought, “16 missionaries and we can’t bring anyone to a stinkin activity???” Acosta shared his vision of the activity with me. It was more focused on the Elders than the investigators. For one, we united the zone like none other, we saw who could be a leader, who takes seriously their responsibility and some other things, so I calmed down.

Then Sunday: the baptism. First it was ward conference. Then I went out of sacrament meeting to fill the font and …. No water………………………………………………………………………….

I called the elders of the nearest chapel and told them to fill their font… then after gospel principles class I tried again and water came out! For a half hour……… after services the Relief Society brought a bunch of food and everyone ate. We tried to get members to go with us to do the baptism, but service isn’t a word or action that exists here, so the best they did was drop us off at the other chapel… only one sister and her daughter went. But the service was special. Small but sweet. I was soooooo uptight but after I could relax and coasted out the rest of the day.

Well, I really don’t have much more to say. The word of my week was righteous. What an awesome word. It means so much. Straight unmovable, just, holy, virtuous, honest. I want to be a righteous person.

Love you all and your in my prayers I thank God for the best family ever.

Keep it up with DJ and Airom. You’re the only ones that can give them what they need. Don’t be afraid of anything, except sin, cuz Christ conquered the rest and gives us the opportunity to conquer sin.

-ELDER SOLOMON

Winner's Attitude

2009-07-13T18:25:00.000-07:00

What’s up fam? How’s life? Things are going good here, another week flown by. I went on divisions with Roylance twice this week, which was fun. Tuesday we had our zone conference, that’s why my letter was so crappy. But it turned out being a really good conference. We arrived at 7:50 to find out the president had started early and without us. In all our meetings now we start by reading a chapter in the Book of Mormon and have a discussion about the lecture. We read Mosiah 5. It was amazing the things we could pull out of there and the wisdom of the president. We talked about a change of heart, the power and security in covenants, the taking on of the name of Christ and not being "asnos" (v. 14). Then i had the part of companionships and it turned really good.

The only bad part about the whole thing was Elder Cortes. He’s about to go home in two weeks and he’s been a problem his whole mission. We really tried to help him a lot he just has a crappy attitude about everything. Lately he won’t go to the district meetings and we wouldn’t even report his numbers. So in the interview with the pres, he told me and Acosta to give him a choice to either go home right then or change some stuff and see it through. We talked to him afterwards with the assistants and he decided to stay but told us "I'm sorry I'm Not going to change my attitude, I'm just this way." I wanted to just tell him yes, you could change, you just don’t want to. We always have the choice to be who and how we want to be.

Did I ever tell you about the "banda"? Its a group of teenagers future missionaries we’ve been teaching and baptizing. It started with Christian bringing Milton to play at the chapel; Milton is just powerful and got baptized in two weeks. Then Milton and Christian taught a cousin Luis who didn’t want anything to do with us and wanted to get baptized at the second visit. Milton got confirmed, received the priesthood, and baptized Luis all in the same day. And we are going to teach another friend Alberto today who is Jehovah Witness (TJ) they are just a solid group of young men who have launched the ward into action. It’s awesome to see the chain they have and their excitement to bring their most precious friends into the gospel (we even taught Melton’s girlfriend a lesson). They do it valiantly. They have a winner’s attitude; there is no "no" in their vocabulary. They don’t think of "what if" they think of "because I have been given much I too must give" and "I want to be the one who baptizes him" incredible examples.

Family, Share the Gospel!!!! Valiantly and with a winner’s attitude, if you think they will say no then they probably will. If you think" ill drop this pass" you probably will! No one can say no to you, no one.

God lives and loves us. An interesting thought, there are some of us that he misses as well. He misses us and wishes we would return to him. We all miss London. Imagine that feeling and even more for those have gone astray... Even in our own family. God misses you.

I love you all so much. There is nothing better than my family. Take care.

-ELDER SOLOMON

I feel like a real missionary!

2009-07-06T18:37:00.000-07:00

HEY EVERYONE!

WELL, ITS 9 AT NIGHT. WE WERE RUNNING LIKE CRAZY ALL DAY AND WE HAVE ZONE CONFERENCE AT 8 AM TOMMORROW. AAAAHHHHH. IT’LL BE ALL GOOD, BUT FORGIVE ME FOR THE SHORT LETTER... I'VE GOT A LOT OF STUFF TO PREPARE STILL... CRAZY WEEK. TUESDAY, DISTRICT LEADER COUNCIL, WEDNESDAY, WENT TO TOLUCA FOR A BAPTISM. TOLUCA IS THE CITY WAY OUT THERE AND I FELL IN LOVE. IT’S GOT A SMALL TOWN FEELING BUT NOT TOO SMALL AND THE LANDSCAPE... INCREDIBLE. ABSOLOUTLY GREEN. MY COMP AND ME WENT AROUND FOR A WHILE VISITING PEOPLE ON BIKES! I FELT LIKE A REAL MISSIONNARY ON A BIKE. WALKING IS JUST TOO SLOW. THURSDAY EARLY HEADED BACK TO CUAUTEPEC TO SAVE A BIT OF THE WEEK. WE DIDN’T HAVE TOO MUCH WORK. ONE BAPTISM BUT... THE ZONE DID REALLY BAD... I WAS A BIT DOWN FOR THAT BUT, HOPEFULLY THE CONFERENCE TOMORROW WILL HELPS US...

LOVE YOU ALL BE CAREFUL AND HAPPY.

-ELDER SOLOMON

Hide and Seek

2009-06-29T21:04:00.000-07:00

Well, what’s going on Queen Creekers? (I almost said Queen Creecians but that’s a bit sophisticated). hahahza enjoying the heat? At least its clean air. Come visit me and you’ll be thrilled to return :) Sounds like the summer break is going good, calm. They still haven’t left on summer break here even though examine were two weeks ago. Everything is so corrupt here. Elections are next week and there is so much propaganda everywhere but when you ask someone they all say, "No I'm not voting. Their all corrupt" but one of the ladies on one of the parties is pretty cute so me and Elder Acosta don’t complain:) The work is going all right. Not as fast as I want but we’ll have 5 baptisms this week. We’ve been doing a ton of visits to inactive. We’ve had some good experiences but it takes up a lot of time. They also feed us a lot... last night my comp was laughing at me because of the (temporary) gut I've got. I told him to look in the mirror. This week I passed a lot of days a bit frustrated... with him. He only has 5 months left and keeps saying, "it seems like I leave tomorrow” I say it seems like he left yesterday.

Anyway, doing the best I can right? Do you remember Toño? The gay kid we baptized? Well the drama continues... the other day he left a letter in our house about how offended he is because we don’t go and play with him and that we never answer the door when he knocks (never mind that we are never home) and that he’s not going to go to church anymore... drama queen crap. So we said that’s fine. He just couldn’t manage to miss the opportunity to miss seeing Acosta and showed up to church... later that night we passed by our neighbors house (members) late for a bit of dinner and all of the sudden he walks out of their bedroom! My comp jumped and said he thought he saw a ghost. And he did not go home! About 11 they took him home and we went to bed. (I slept super good we opened the window and it rained all night.) I woke up in the morning and my comp was angry. I guess that about 1 in the morning Toño showed up at our house and knocked the door like crazy. My comp woke up and saw him and ignored him but then he started banging on the bedroom window! Acosta was about to let him in when he slipped a note under the door and left. It said that his mom kicked him out for getting home late (we found out that was a lie) and he went and took advantage of the neighbors... in the morning we snuck out and played basketball. For all I know he’s waiting on the curb for us... my comp calls him a "pesadilla" look it up.

Changing the subject now…

They asked me to talk in sacrament meeting a week ago and I forgot until they announced my name in the program... I didn’t even have my scriptures. Luckily I was last on the program. I was so nervous but I received a lot of help. I shared about Zion. And talked about being united in heart and will. Forgiving one another, not doing anything to hurt anyone. I remembered about a talk President Hinkley gave about kindness and I love the questions he asked. Why do any of us have to be so mean and unkind to others? Why can't all of us reach out in friendship to everyone about us? Why is there so much bitterness and animosity? It is not a part of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We all need to reach out to those among us. Do you want to be happy? Forget yourself and get lost in this great cause. Lend your efforts to helping people. Stand higher, lift those with feeble knees, and hold up the arms of those that hang down. Live the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Love one another… serving one another with true desire and intentions bring real happiness

Love you all; I rejoice that you are well. Have a good week.

-ELDER SOLOMON

P.S. when am I gonna get a package!?!?

Ay, papanwa!

2009-06-22T21:06:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,

How is life Queen Creek!? Hope good. Sounds like it. I laughed about the boys getting dinner ready. Mom always made me prepare dinner so I would be ready for the mission. Haha… all I needed to know was egg sandwiches and cereal... And Dad taught me both of those!!!! Anyway its good for them to do it and to give mom a break as well;) Someone tell Dad to cool down and not work so long of days. There is plenty of time for everything. Remember Mosiah 4:27. And mom, do your part! Don’t be so picky ;)

OK, well here in Cuautepec everything is good. We had very little time to work in the area this week. Tuesday we had the transfers, which took up half the day. Wednesday a meeting with the zone which lasted till about 12, later, at about 6 took off to the offices for the zl council. Started at 9 am Thursday and ended the same day at 9 pm. We had to stay there over night again. And after traveling home in the morning, we only had the rest of the day and Saturday to work. The rainy season started up again. It rains every afternoon. And hard! All week long we had luck of being in a house when it started. Friday we didn’t have luck... We were about 20 minutes away from our destination when it started. We hid for about 2 minutes and said, oh well... We got soaked to the bone. Got to the house and the sister opened the door with two towels... We taught the lesson (luckily our scriptures didn’t get wet.) Got to our house, changed fast and, lets go... Luckily we didn’t get sick... I was fully expecting it. Well, that and Wednesday night in the offices we played basketball in the freezing rain for like 2 hours (out of pride.)

Ok, well, on to the spiritual part of the lesson (I'm tired of writing....) The council was super good. The President started by reading in 2 Nephi 1. He always reads in the scriptures and explains everything to us. But we got to verse 21 and talked for hours about being men and being united. One of the main focuses was about unity in the companionship. But the part I loved best was talking about the hope. How it is much more than trusting God will fulfill his promises. In “Preach My Gospel” it talks about how it is shown or manifest by tranquility, optimism, excitement and patient endurance. As missionaries it’s not necessary that we go crazy trying to do it all and wearing out our bodies. There is time for everything. There are so many who knock doors and contact people all day long all month long and get so frustrated because they can’t baptize. There has to be more relax. Visit inactives, visit old investigators, sit down and plan, sit down and plan out stuff. I'm having a hard time explaining it but we have to be calm and optimistic. That is true hope. Everything has its order. The true success is found in the PROCESS. If there is a problem in the results one must focus on the process and not result. Eliminate the problems right when they come up. With better processes come better results.

I love you all so much. Take care.

-ELDER SOLOMON

No pasa nada!

2009-06-08T17:07:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, well another week in the mission. They just fly by faster and faster. This last week was pretty calm. It was pretty hot and didn’t hardly rain at all. I'm sure its nothing compared to the AZ heat but still saps the energy. We had 2 more baptisms last week, one a 13 yr old kid and another guy. He’s got a pretty cool story. His name is Juan Carlos, and he has met with the missionaries for about a year and half. He never really got interested or wanted to get baptized. We decided to give him another chance. But when we went all we did was read from the Book of Mormon. When we taught something we read it from the BOM and maybe explained a little more it and that’s it. In two weeks he quit smoking decided to live the law of chastity, had a ton of spiritual experiences,... And got baptized. He’s a pretty big guy... Haha, when I baptized him a lot of water splashed out of the font and I had quite a time getting him up. Me and my comp learned some[thing]valuable about the Book of Mormon. The prophets off the BoM teach a lot better than we do and they are a lot more blunt. We usually beat around the bush promising blessings and whatever while they say, “Do it or you’ll go to hell!” …the cold hard facts.

Other than that my comps been driving me a little crazy. He’s become obsessed with basketball and he wants to go play every night even if it means canceling appointments... and for those of you who don’t know, I get pretty angry when I play basketball so I haven’t been enjoying that too much. Everything is good here. We are working and baptizing and having fun while doing it.

Changes are coming up. I sure hope I can stay here a little while longer. Cuautepec is like the missionary paradise. And miracle!: The Bishop is starting to really get to work. We’ve developed some confidence and in the first meeting we’ve had with him (yesterday) he got 10 ward missionaries, a committee to update the records, and made a new theme, ( “It is a pleasure to work(in the vineyard of the Lord)) so things are going good here.

It looks like [it’s good] over there too. I cant believe the hole in the backyard! Thats incredible! Do you guys have a cow or anything still? Or just pure farmers now? The green grass and wide open spaces. I forgot there are places in the world like that. :) The picture of Zack gave me chills, I still remember how scared I was. Now I feel I don’t get scared of anything. I’ve seen it all here. Group of thugs? No pasa nada. We’ll see what happens when I get home.... well I love you all so much take care. There are so many reasons to be sad. You must look for the good and live for it.

adios, ¡cuidense!

Elder Solomon

2 Week record for RM marriage!

2009-06-01T16:59:00.000-07:00

So Zack took off [cousin Zack Manis to the Rio de Janero Mission: www.eldermanis.clogspot.com]. Well at least you guys don’t stop writing! Mom you’ve been slacking lately, Well all of you. jk it’s all good. [Internet problems and the letters don’t get there for 3 weeks….]

Well, after last week we had a relatively calm week. Except Friday. We went to the sealing of an elder who was assistant here. A record. He went home and got sealed in 2 weeks, 2 weeks! It was good, a ton of Elders went. It was just weird seeing him holding hands with a girl! And then he overdid it and almost slipped the tongue, noises and everything over the altar! Imagine what 20 elders would do. A lot of snickering in the background. Then did it again outside!

Later that evening we had our big activity we’ve been planning all month and... Well it didn’t go all that well. Oh well. I've learned that here you have to shoot really high to get something... its better to shoot for the stars and miss than shoot for the mud and hit. This much is true. We’ve got zone conference tomorrow so there are a lot of preparations to do.

Not a whole lot of news lately. Just same ol. Hope all is well there at home. Be smart with your summer time. I'm sure proud of all of you. Love you!

Take care. Elder Solomon

P.S. Send me the email of Zack when you get it, thx

It's all about love

2009-05-25T23:28:00.000-07:00

Hermano Tom making corn dogs, but with cheese and pineapple.. its' good!

Me and Elder Acosta high on the mountain top

Elder Roylance and Elder Weston (from Mesa, Az) at Chili's celebrating my ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY!

Goliath found and open door while we were filling the font!

Baptism of Guadalupe and Daniel

Iguana!

Dia Del Nino fun!

Steaming tamales

Elias, son of Tom

Elvira and 3 of her kids

Everyone in a big baptism service

Well, let me tell you about my week... another long one. Tuesday we had the district leader council. It was super good, as always and they took us out to eat at a Brazilian restaurant. I sat by the President and talked to him a lot and got stuffed full of meat. It was really good but I think I liked the Argentine restaurant better. We got home at about 11:30 from that. The next day we traveled to Tlalnepantla, my comps old area for a baptism, and ended up staying in the zl´s house there because it was late. We’ve got into the rainy season, which means it just comes down every afternoon. And all the mud and crap with it. But anyway. The off thrown schedule lately and the gym we’ve been going too had really worn me down so I got sick. Saturday afternoon we had to stay in the house while I slept it off. I hated that because we couldn’t go to a lot of appointments... that night we played basketball in the freezing rain. (What an idiot, I know.) I felt better on Sunday. It was stake conference and we were going to baptize a family of 5 a lady and her 4 sons of 15, 10, 9, and 8. The last three are every missionary’s dream come true. But... the 8 year old didn’t wake up on time so he didn’t go! We had the baptism there in the stake center with another ward so it was pretty packed... 8 baptisms. So we decided to baptize the 8 yr old later that night in our own chapel. So about 4 o clock we started to fill the font. In the font here you have to put a little plastic cover over the drain, so the water doesn’t drain. And while I was bent over doing that my smart a comp turned on the water valve all the way and shut it. Obviously scaring the snot out of me and by standing up so fast I pulled a stinking muscle in my lower back!! For hours it hurt so stinking bad I had to sit stand or lay down. It still hurts, but not near as bad. Ok, well we were back in the house waiting and 7:00 came and went. And the family never came. So we started getting ready to report the numbers and go to bed. About 8:15 they finally came. But without their mom... and we realized we needed another witness... what a mess. Lamest baptismal service probably ever. Only by chance the 2nd counselor in the bishopric passed by the house and went with us. Whatever. Pray - hymn - baptism with clothing so big it was falling off the kid. Got all changed and it was about 9 o clock so we took them all home. Story doesn’t end here. Coming back home we saw a lot of weird stuff. One kid so stinking hi off plumbing glue. A drunk picking up bottles of the street and drinking out of them, just a lot of weird stuff and turning the corner by our house two men ran up to us. At first I had no idea what was going on. They demanded my companions cell phone (it was a crappy one from the mission), and mine too (not so crappy) and his watch and searched us for our wallets. (Which we never have) I wasn’t about to give up my phone but one of them had a pistol in his hand. I'm still not sure if it was real but for the sake of the doubt I gave it up. Really bad robbers these guys. One took my agenda out of my back pocket and while they were running away he dropped it and tried to pick it up but couldn’t. Through all this, my heartbeat never got excited I never got scared or anxious. It was rather weird. My comp actually said "I'm a real missionary now! " We walked to some member’s house to call the assistants and report the numbers. And went to bed. I thought of something dad told me. If they are going to the extent to steal. They must need it worse than I do. The Lord protects His servants. Well, that’s about it. I slept in till 8 today trying to recuperate from the week. I’m not sure I’ll be able too. But anyway. Pray for my health. I'm praying for you all. Be safe and love each other. Oh ya, I forgot. That family that got baptized has had a lot of problems between themselves. About Wednesday when we visited them we were going to talk about baptism. But they were fighting so much and just pointing fingers. We decided to sing a duo of I am a child of God to invite the spirit and in the prayer I received the impression to do an activity I used to hate. I shared a scripture about charity and love and we all went around and said good things about the rest. It was a bit hard for them to only say "nice things" but it was so good. The atmosphere changed and the result was a greater dedication to say 1 nice thing about someone every day. And a baptismal date=) . Mom I know I’ve got a long ways to go on developing a more pure love but thank you for what you’ve taught and are teaching me. I'm trying. Love you all ---Elder Solomon

Eventful week

2009-05-18T20:02:00.000-07:00

Well, it was an eventful week! The only bad part is I lent my camera to someone so I can’t send all the pictures... next week. To start the week it went a little slow. We had a really hard time finding new investigators, but we had a baptism. Her name is Guadalupe. I found her my first week here with Elder Valdez. She is such an incredible lady with a ton of faith. When we first started she wasn’t able to get off work Sunday at all. So we continued visiting her and teaching. Finally, she got a day off then came the influenza. She decided to get baptized this last Friday with her son. It was a super spiritual experience even though we didn’t have very much support from the ward... =( I was fully expecting her not to go to church for her confirmation because she couldn’t get off, but she showed up. It was a good day. Thursday to celebrate my 1 year mark (and to obey my mother) we got together with Elder Roy lance, Elder Weston, and their comps and went to Chili's. It was really good and a good time. I spent a lot because my comp is a manipulator. Saturday was an eventful day. Elder Rodriguez, one of the Elders in my district, asked me to do some baptismal interviews for him, so we went to their chapel early and what was “a couple”, was 5! I did the interviews and they got baptized right away. It was a god experience and the best part about being a leader is that their successes feel like mine too. After that we went to see a doctor for my comp. Since about Tuesday something was bothering him in his side. It looked like a rash or allergic reaction that kept growing. Turns out it is herpes, gross. The conclusion, not a sexual transmission. The covers on his bed don’t stay on too well and from direct contact all night with a dirty mattress... that’s what happened. Well, now its better. They gave him some cream and pills and we disinfected the -blank- out of that mattress. Poor guy! Then we did another interview for one of the district leaders. And went to the dia del niño (kids day) celebration. It’s a holiday they have here, as if birthdays Christmas, dia de los reyes (celebrated in January when supposedly the kings visited baby Jesus), Halloween, dia de los muertos, and all the other holidays aren’t enough! Anyway, there were a couple of skits and we helped the Elder’s quorum dance to "the lion sleeps tonight". It was really funny and I’ll have to send you the pictures. Plus, the activity was a really good opportunity for the investigators to talk and be with the members while their children played. I played basketball till about 10. They play really dirty and I'm sure it’s worn off on me. So you all better watch out! Sunday, well, my comp did his call home. Well, he did it on Skye and they had the Internet camera deal. It was funny to me to listen to how the Argentines talk. It was pretty funny. Ok well, I ran out of stories. Mom I really hope you are saving all my letters home cuz they will pry be better than my wimpy journal I've got. Who is that girl Brighton went to prom with? She’s a piña, like they say here. Tell her to wait for me =) Love you all more than words can describe. Let God teach you. Don’t ever let yourselves be beaten by anyone. Take care. ---Elder Solomon P.S. I sure hope that package gets here this week... oh, and dad’s pictures made me laugh out loud!

Best Mission in the WORLD!

2009-05-11T18:49:00.000-07:00

Well, I talked to you all yesterday! It was so good for me to talk to you it helped me a lot. Everything is back to normal. Working with all we got. So I'm back to normal. The swine flu deal turned out to be a very minor thing blown up huge for political distractions and motives. (They passed a law legalizing the transport of drugs...) according to the Mission President, the only reason we stopped working is to be obedient to the law.

Thursday we had the zone leader council, it was so good and we talked for nearly 10 hours on the Book of Mormon. Holy cow I've always had a strong testimony of the Book of Mormon but I learned so much and the spirit was so strong.

I apologize to all the other missionaries but very soon in where it says, "best mission in the world" it will say "Mexico City West". We’ve found the keys of success. We call it the system. We’ve already dethroned the Eastie beasties ;) sorry Elder Reed. The President is so incredibly directed. Every now and then he’ll say "last night I dreamed a dream"· Maybe someday I’ll have time to explain it all, actually doubt it. But let it be known that we are moving forward and not backward, upward and not down. I love the work I am the happiest I've ever been in my life .

Yesterday I realized something. My family is the most important thing in my whole life. After hanging up I wanted to run, scream, cry, shout "hurrah for Israel" the Lord has been good to us and mostly me. It’s amazing what happens when you try to live the gospel how it should be. The Lord is great, he is good. I love Him.

I love you all too.

Elder Solomon

Zone Leader time

2009-05-04T21:41:00.000-07:00

Well, after such a short run with Elder Valdez they are going to move him out. They are splitting the zone I'm in right now, and my new comp will be Elder Acosta from Argentina. And we’ll be the zone leaders so, yes, I got moved up again. I still feel I wasn’t that great of a district leader and now zone leader... oh well. Everything is good.

We are super limited as to what we can do. We can only leave the house to go to set appointments with people that we already know and for food. So we are still a lot of time in the house. Thursday and Friday I stated getting a bit depressed not being able to work full out, but Friday night a thought came to me – “how did Joseph Smith survive liberty jail?” Well, I decided to count my blessings instead. My life aint so bad. In fact, I got to say it’s been pretty ideal. Other than that we can’t bring people to the church because there are no services so they cant get baptized! Hoping that everything cools down by next week.

Well, I don’t know what else to say. I have received so much spiritual knowledge thanks to the long hours of study. I love that part. Ok I love you all.

Take care,

Elder Solomon

Swine Flu: don't worry, just pray

2009-04-28T20:55:00.000-07:00

This is Golaith, our next door neighbor. He loves the missionaries...especially those previous ones who let him sleep on their beds! He's huge... no one messes with Goliath!

The cute new addition to the Missionary Apparel!

Hey just so you all know. This swine flu is pretty bad here. There are a lot of people sick and dying, and as lot more of fear. It seems like the world is ending, there was even a small earthquake the other day. But the Lord protects His missionaries if they are obedient. We are pretty much on lock down and cant leave the houses. They even canceled sacrament meeting. If we leave we have to go with the masks on. We are returning from the store and buying Clorox, mops cleaning stuff. Partly to make the house super clean and partly because I'm super bored... I hate sitting in the house! I’d much rather knock doors the truth be known, but I know it’s for my protection.

I finished the Bible the other day. I started when I entered the MTC. So one year - not too bad. Ok, well I better go. Don’t worry just pray.

I love you all, take care.

Elder Solomon

Pay Off!

2009-04-20T20:26:00.000-07:00

Cuautepec by night

The cell phone was no match for my disappointment in no-show baptisms.

The family Santiago

My humble home.

Notice anything wrong with the street? Great engineering to put a pole in the middle of the street!

Hey everyone, well the hard work finally is paying off! We baptized 3 kids yesterday and they are super sweet. After they got baptized and the doors were shut, they jumped back in the font and started swimming! I was laughing pretty hard. And there are definitely more to come. I'm glad you all had a good Easter; mine was quite different. There at home it’s a peaceful calm time, here it’s all super sad and gloomy. All over the place they have reenactments of the crucifixion. They seem to forget that He resurrected!

But anyway. Tuesday we had zone conference, which was super good, and afterwards my comp got sick just like I was! So I had to stay inside all afternoon. Got some good study in! The more and more I study the more and more I realize how much I need. The Lord taught me a lot of lessons in humility this week. We were going to have a baptism on Friday, so we went Thursday for the interview and the sister told me that none of her family wanted her to get baptized. So we did the interview and I talked to the daughter (the main pain in the ---) and felt pretty good about myself like "yaw I handled the situation" so the next day we were there, the font full, members and other investigators waiting and the didn’t show up so I called and the sister said they weren’t coming because she wanted more time and the family acted up right after we left. Thus the picture of the broken cell phone….it happened after I hung up. I humbled myself; actually, the Lord humbled me. It has been a theme on my mind a lot lately. It’s not really a good theme to lecture on nor give a talk on. Its one of those things that has to be experienced between someone and the Lord, that’s the only way to know what it is. After a humbling day Saturday the Lord truly blessed us. One investigator showed up with her two little girls and her husband who we have never seen before, he had a super good experience in Elders quorum talking about Joseph Smith in Liberty jail and we haven’t even taught him the first lesson! I’ve had a few other tender mercies, including the baptism of the boys. I'm glad to hear you are all so well. I deal with so many people every day who don’t have the light of Christ in their lives and I want them to have what we all have, I hope we don’t overlook what we have. Ok well let me know if there is ever anything I can do for anyone! Ill do the best I can (which might be a letter cuz that the best I can;)) take care and love the Lord, D and C 82:3 has been the scripture of the week.

Love you all!

Elder Solomon

Cool beans!

2009-04-13T08:35:00.000-07:00

Celebration day at IHOP

I really wanted pancakes....but they made me eat this!

Well, good prediction mom… after another all out 30 lessons week my body couldn’t hold it up anymore. About midday on Friday it started with a headache moving to fever, chills, stomachache you name it. By the time I woke up Sunday I was SICK. We went to church, went to eat and I slept until the meeting at 6. I think it was a combination of heat, exhaustion and stress (my district is not doing too good...) I feel a little better but it comes an goes, I couldn’t lay down last night cuz my back just kills... anyway I'm tired, BUT we should finally have a few baptisms this week. One lady that has been an investigator for a couple of months and for the last few weeks we have been reading a lot out of the book of Mormon, so last week I asked her if she knew it was the word of God and she said, “yes”, so I asked here what is keeping her back from being baptized and she told us "well, nothing". Cool beans!

There are a few other really cool investigators we’ve got. Just hoping they keep progressing. There are a few who want to baptize their kids but don’t seem to realize that it’s for them too! Oh well. Just gotta keep on working.

That’s really funny to hear about your April fools jokes. I kinda forgot about that. The only days I remember here is the 14 of every month which is tomorrow, which means tomorrow I will complete 11 months in the mission, almost a year, wow the time just goes faster and faster. I just hope when I get back in a year and a month there is a pool in the backyard to jump in:)

Ok, well not much more to report, I love you all.

Take care,

Elder Solomon

Formula for Success

2009-04-06T11:51:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone. Hope you watched and enjoyed general conference and were inspired half as much as I was, I don’t know if its just the stage I am at in life but there was so much there that just penetrated me so intensely. This last week has also been unique. Everyday [I’m] on the brink of physical collapse, just so tired. But I have never received so much spiritual insight either. The scriptures came alive, random thoughts and then listening to GC wow... so much stuff. Anyway part of the exhaustion has been because it’s really got pretty hot here. The people always say. You’re from Arizona! This should be nothing for you” the difference is air conditioning, which doesn’t exist except in Walmart. And on top of that I'm climbing and going down hills with a 45-degree incline. Obviously I’ll get tired... but the work goes on. We were excited to bring a lot of people to general conference, but not a single one went... that was a stab but oh well what can you do? Just keep on trucking along.

I want to share something I found in my personal study on Saturday that was so cool to me. I was reading about Ammon and his mission to the Lamanites and what he did for his success. Among many other things obviously and I call this my formula for successful leadership, and leadership in whatever part of our lives, with other missionaries, investigators, children, coworkers, church callings, sport teams you name it. Ok the first part was from the beginning when he went before king Lemhi, he first EXPRESSED LOVE: he said he desired to stay with them and be their servant maybe until the day he died. Second, when the flocks were scattered and the servants frightened he MOTIVATED them and CHEERED them on. Saying, “My beloved brethren (expressed love), be of good cheer. Then thirdly, and the most important, he put the EXAMPLE. He didn’t say, " Go get the sheep you" he said we, he even did some things for them that they weren’t capable or willing to do such as chopping off arms. Then in a few verses latter we find the result. It says they followed him. If we go the second mile, the ones we have in our responsibility are likely to follow. Expressing love plus motivation, times example equals successful leadership. Apply the attributes of Christ found in Preach MY Gospel and bam! Anyway, if anyone gets a chance to put it in practice let me know how it goes. I've gotten super excited about this all. My heart is full of joy, I cannot wait for the day to put off this limiting mortal body and put on the perfect glorified one with endless possibilities. I can’t wait to stand spotless before my Savior and tell Him I did all that I could and hug Him in inexpressible gratitude for his love for me. And then walk in the Celestial Kingdom and see you all there.

I love you all,

Elder Solomon

Peace, finally

2009-03-30T11:58:00.000-07:00

Well an exhausting week... my new area is the end of a gulley - valley type thing that opens up into the main valley where the city is. Its just hills. Up and down. I feel like I'm climbing mount baldy everyday. They build their little concrete houses anywhere they can. It’s amazing. But I like it a lot. Even though every square inch is covered in concrete I feel like I'm out of the city a bit. It’s high up so the smog doesn’t affect us too much. Its humble people so all the cars are slug bugs and the busses. No McDonalds no Walmart, no atms, none of that stuff. The people are also a lot more willing to listen too. We taught 33 lessons this week but only 1 went to church... they love to listen but don’t like to act... its a little frustrating because I am go-go-go and they live a bit more relaxed… its my next lesson.

My companion is a good kid; he has 3 months in the mish and is still pretty green. He's from Sonora so we get along good cuz we are "neighbors" he just doesn’t really teach good.

This week I have found something that I haven’t felt my whole mission. Peace. There is something incredible about working the whole day, my mind never wandered home, I never worried about the future. It was awesome and I'm hoping to keep it up. The satisfaction... I've also been reading in “Teachings of the Prophet Spencer W Kimball.” It’s really good about why we are here on earth. I can’t remember it all but he said something about Christ becoming the Christ because he had absolute control over his body and that is part of our task here, to become absolute master of our bodies. I can’t remember what else but a lot of things struck me in that first chapter. Look it over in FHE.

Anyway, being up high the sun has burnt me a bit, I've got a lovely tan line on my neck and my hair is turning goldish, I bath out of a bucket because there is no hot water... but its all good. "Thy trials and afflictions shall be but for a short time, and then if thou endureth well thou shalt be exalted on high". I'm glad to hear you all are doing well. Keep it up. I can only do as good as my family does. Dad, you are right, fear and doubt are enemies to faith. We can have questions but not doubts. The faith is made up of two parts, believe and do. If it misses one part it is dead.

I love you and pray for you.

Elder Solomon

Transfer...finally!

2009-03-23T20:46:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone, well I'm finally getting a change. Leaving Claveria after 7 months. I'm going to Ponderosa Cuautepec (see if anyone can pronounce that!). Apparently its a super sweet area, tons of sisters who give you breakfast lunch and dinner, wash the clothes, give you new ones, what ever you want! It’s also really good for the work. Its in the Zone Tenayo which is sometimes called the "little Utah" because there are so many members and the work is incredible. I've been wanting to go my whole time here. I'm going to be district leader still, they almost moved me up to zone leader but decided to let me get some more experience first. I'm glad for that. Other than that not a whole lot going on. I'm jealous of your cabin trip. I would love a little fresh air for once.

Well love you all take care,

Elder Solomon

chill pill

2009-03-16T13:33:00.000-07:00

Screwed again by the stupid church email [he wrote an email then it was erased before he could send it...a common occurance and source of frustration]... I’ll see if I can write it all again.

Well Brigg and Sheldon in handcuffs…, imagine that! [Brigg and Sheldon we detained by the Sheriff for shooting bb guns at rabbits too close to a house whose residents were scared...hmmmm]. At least I almost made it till the mission. A bath? good one mom, tell me again in14 months. [Mom suggested taking a hot bath to calm an achy back]

Well things have calmed down here a lot. The ward took a chill pill cuz it was stake conference. The visiting seventy chewed out the single adults pretty bad that they need to be married. And the family Campos came in suit and dress. The sister took another job. Their faith is awesome. The brother is around Alma in the Book of Mormon. I’ve been really impressed and studied a lot the parable of the sower from the perspective of a missionary. Obviously I want all the seeds placed in good ground, some ground needs breaking up and other needs weeding. I think of my converts in this ward and there are all 4 types. The kinds who fell by the wayside and were eaten by the birds because of their hardness of heart and/or lack of effort by the Sower (the missionary), the kind who sprung up quickly but because of the shallowness of the root when the sun, trials and tribulations come, he withers away, the other type who grows in good ground but the weeds (cares and vanities of the world) make it so no good fruit is produced. Then those who grow in good ground, are nourished and bring up good fruit fulfilling the "measure of its creation" . This applies to us: we need to be constantly tilling up, nurturing and weeding our own ground. And also it applies to our responsibility to help the others as far as our responsibility stretches. As Christ says, "He who has ears for hearing, let him hear".

All is good in Claveria, My mind wants to die and not work but my body and spirit wont let it. I talked to the President and he said "Dont worry Elder, there is a reason there are changes in the mission, just hang on". I just want to find some investigators for Elder Villegas.

Lift the feeble hands that hang down there is not a more noble calling that we can have. I watched the biography on President Monson and it was incredible. He said the no matter what, if the Lord needs a hand he wants Him to know that Tom Monson is willing. We should be the same, in our family even more so. Remember the family Campos: there is no room in our lives for judgment and we can never do enough, remember the talk from Elder Holland, the Lord answers prayers by means of angels, be worthy and willing to be the Lords angels and to be able to receive and act upon promptings. Let the strong lift up the weak. Anyway, stay out of trouble.

Love you all,

Elder Solomon

baptism drama

2009-03-10T13:36:00.000-07:00

Wiped out!

Family Campos

AWESOME! hehehe

Well, quite the week! 5 baptisms and a lot of drama. Tuesday through Friday, knocking doors all day and the people aren’t there when you go back. We taught lesson 1 twice last week... Saturday was crazy. A lot of baptismal interviews and the baptism of the family Campos was a riot.

The ten year old, the fat one, has such an intense fear of water I could not get him in at all. After about 20 minutes, we had him laying down, one brother holding his legs, another his back and me with one arm under his back, I did the prayer quickly and we just dunked him. He came out cussing swearing throwing a fit and didn’t want to leave the water! The dad was pretty mad because he hadn’t been baptized yet and wanted to be baptized! They all went in to the same room to change and came out with tears in their eyes, not because of shame like I thought but because of the intense spiritual calm they felt. The boy cooled down back to normal. The next day they were confirmed and it was a really nice experience as well. But we ran into some problems, the ward, especially, the ward council criticized the ward mission leader and me... a lot. They judged without knowing and they even told the brother that he needs to wear a suit to church and his wife has to wear a dress. It’s hard for me because the ward judged so hard and criticized so hard. The ward mission leader wants to quit. And they have no idea of the conversion process of this family. (Probably because they refuse to help us in our work). Sunday after church we baptized Rodrigo… luckily the baptism was really calm. The only thing now is we don’t have any investigators! We have one more family and that’s it! We lost a lot last week and baptized a few. That’s whats stressing me out more than anything.

We went to the temple today. (That’s why we have pday today) it was really nice but I still just feel all up tight. My back has been hurting as well. Ok, well now im just complaining, I really am happy but it’s hot in here.

Love you all take care,

Elder Solomon

Happy 20th Birthday

2009-03-02T07:49:00.000-08:00

Pretty dang crazy week here. Everyone in panic mode about the crisis, besides that they are wrapping up some drug wars in the north. Crazy stuff, the drug gangs had been taking over whole cities in the north and even one police chief quit he said it was a decision over life and death. But the arm was sent in and it’s pretty much taken care of.

A good work week and Friday (my birthday) we had a leaders council of the mission, started at 9 in the morning and ended... at 8 at night and we only got through half of the program! I wouldn’t have time to tell you about the new system we have but the President has an inspired system and the results are breathtaking: even the worst of companionships have just taken off. In our zone alone we baptized 11 last week and have 19 for sure with baptismal date for this week, which means it could be more. Its so incredible. I don’t even know how to describe the change, but after the council I went to the offices to pick p some materials and there was a nice little package sitting there for me so ya… it came on my birthday! Thank you so much, I love the shirts and cds. I almost peed my pants when I put in one and heard William Joseph... anyway after getting home late I woke up the next morning with the flu and one of the craziest days I've had, baptismal interviews, special interviews, 8 baptisms from one companionship (Elder Roylance, I was in the mtc with him) -So I was running like crazy even though my throat hurt like crazy- and putting a baptismal date with a complete family of four. They are the family Campos, mom dad and two boys of 10 and 8 years old. We found them three weeks ago contacting in a park at 8 in the morning, they had studied with Jehovah witnesses before so had a lot of questions, in our second visit the brother asked me if there is life after death and we taught the plan of salvation. His next question was "how can we get baptized?" We hadn’t even taught about baptism before. They will be baptized this Saturday.

It’s true that we don’t need to know everything but God gives us just what we need to know. Now imagine if we wouldn’t have left the house at 8 that one day, we would have probably never found them. Now Sunday after church the members pulled a surprise. They had a little party for my birthday! A lot brought food and cake and we had a good meal and get together. It was so cool. As Elder Villegas said, "When is the last time they’ve thrown a birthday party for an Elder?" I'm going to really miss the area, the very coolest part was seeing people the I baptized there, eating talking with members and having a good time, I really almost cried seeing that Hector Rodriguez is now a home teacher. Seeing them pay tithing is something I could never replace. Then I feel sad for those that have already gone inactive... our efforts and the wards efforts are all in vain and I wonder what happened to that spirit when the were baptized and confirmed? At the end of the day we all our agency and we understand that, what we don’t understand sometimes is that other people have their agency. I've really understood what Moroni says when he says charity is suffered; we really suffer when others make wrong decisions because we love them.

Well I love you all, congrats on the accomplishments, you guys are awesome, pray read and be of faith, the kind that takes you places.

Love you all,

Elder Solomon

Just grateful

2009-02-23T21:21:00.000-08:00

-well brigg as darth vader says "impressive" thats an incredible achievement. im proud of you.

-thanks for the pictures

-roller coaster week. hot, cold, rain, hail "yes hail", northern arizona wind.

-we found one new person all week.

-incredibly spritual zone conference.

-15 people in an open house weve been planning for months because of a rain storm.

-7 investigators in the sacrement meeting. some arrive solos

--sister give a chew out talk on tithing nearly shouting "pay it!!"-

-2 investigators leaving almost running

-a golden family of 4 leaving scared/suprised by the talk

-1 incredibly faithful soul baptized, Evangelina, 62 years old, takes care of her 100 year old mom, E villegas found her knocking doors 3 weeks

ago

-awesome numbers in the district but my areas were the lowest...

-suprised that friday is my 20 birthday

-more suprised that i have 9 months in the mission.

-grateful for the love i have felt this whole week.

-more grateful for the One who payed a price so a much less than perfect person can be forgiven of his sins

-grateful that conversion is a process that requires tears, time, blood and sweat

-grateful that someday i can be who i want to be, and that you can too

-i know what im doing in this world -just have to figure out how to do it

-grateful to hear from my friends and their successes in their missions

-glad that a dear friend of mine is on the staight and narrow and progressing just like me

-glad i have the best family ever

- trying to focus on the good and fix the bad

-loving and missing you all

-elder solomon

Comps are not valentines

2009-02-16T18:06:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm spoiled by bad Internet again. [He tried to send pics and it didn't work.]

Valentine’s day does exist here, but it’s a lame day as a missionary. The only one not with someone else. (Companions don’t count).

I don’t feel like writing my letter again sorry. In few words. The mission President is inspired. The mission is changing so much for the better. I now leave to work at 8 in the morning and sometimes don’t get back till 10 pm. Hard work but the results are incredible. Pray so that we can have a baptism this week so we don’t blank out this month. The spirit has just absolutely come out in the mission and we now know how to obtain, maintain and use it.

Glad to hear you all are doing good. Send me a pic of the rooster, I can’t stop laughing. And some other pictures.

Love you all, take care,

Elder Solo

No transfer for me

2009-02-09T18:05:00.000-08:00

Ok, so the rooster story made me laugh out loud here in the Internet cafe and I couldn’t stop for about 3 minutes. Southern Virginia who? 11000? Is that dollars or pesos. Holy cow. It’s less for a 2-year mission. That’s so exciting about zack. The church is amazing in Brazil. He will baptize a LOT the only bad thing is Portuguese. Its like speaking Spanish with rocks in your mouth. Brigg good job in wrestling. That’s awesome. You guys had a lot of good stories this week. I love that.

Well, no changes again. Staying with Elder Villegas in Claveria. Its ok. We’ve got a lot of stuff going on here and a lot of new stuff too. The ward thinks I'm some sort of legend compared with missionaries that were here before but... I've got 6 months here and want to get out of the city. Oh well, guess I've got some unfinished business here. One of the Elders in my district got a kid so I spent a few hours training him. In the district we have an Elders with 9 months (me), 6 months, 23 months, 2 months, 2months and the newbie. Really young, but ready to work which is the main fight. Now we’ve just got to teach them how to teach! We were gonna have two baptisms this last week but as the lady said. "Satan didn’t want us baptized" they both got sick Saturday night.

Well, not much to report. Hope you are all well. Keep close to the Lord and he’ll keep close to you.

Elder Solomon

Just trying

2009-02-02T18:04:00.000-08:00

Not too much to report this week. Heart breaking Cardinal Super Bowl loss. And one of the hardest working weeks I’ve had! We taught lesson 1 9 times which is sweet. I got home every night just beat and my comp was still wanting to go more. That kid has a bunch of energy and love for the work. He just needs more help teaching and getting people to live the gospel. Despite our efforts this week we had no one in the chapel on Sunday. I almost cried. 6 people sick and two that hurt themselves. How is that possible all at once? The slightest change in temperature and every one is bed ridden. It’s kinda pathetic. But oh well. What more could I have done? I’m just trying to live worthy of the Lords blessings. Hope you are too.

With love—

Elder Solomon

An Incredible Peace

2009-01-26T18:04:00.000-08:00

Well you’ll have to send me some of the cookies. I've also got a birthday wish list this year. Music. I'm so stinking sick of that ipod I've got. I've got every song memorized. Just some cds like EFY stuff, Kenneth Kope, maybe some easy listening stuff like Hawaiian, classical, just good stuff. Please, gracias. Oh also and little book for learning English easy. I'm struggling in my English classes. Ok I also got that new debit card. Do I have to call to activate it or can you? I don’t want to its a pain in the butt.

Ok, well I had a really good experience with the sacrament this week. During the sacrament meeting some business came up and I had to leave when I got back they had locked the doors and I couldn’t get in. I felt so bad that I didn’t get to partake and a gloomy spirit came over me. Later that night in our meeting another elder didn’t take the sacrament either. So we asked permission from a bishop and we were able to take it there at 8:30 in the night. When I took it I felt such a load lifted and a refreshing feeling. It was real. If never really realized the importance of the sacrament. Those of us that are in the "endure to the end" phase are living a weekly cycle. We sin, exercise faith and repent all in the week and then we get the opportunity to wash the sins away just like we did at baptism. If you miss one step you are not enduring to the end. Well I did a lot of divisions with my district and we were able to get a few baptisms out of them to end the month. I've been feeling a lot of pressure lately but we went to the temple on Tuesday and I left with such an incredible peace that has kept me calm in those moments of alarm. Something super cool. My companion is Elder Villegas who I am training. His companion in the mtc was Elder Lechuga who went to the east mission and his trainer just happens to be Elder John Reed. Wowser! That’s so cool. Any who I'm gonna go I've got a lot of stuff to do today. Love you all take care and good luck at London’s run. I want a shirt, a cool one. The church is true.

Elder Solomon

P.S. go cards!

January 19, 2009

2009-01-25T15:29:00.000-08:00

enough said.....

Yvonne and her family. These are the ones I helped get married.

Family Rodriguez. Hector and Oscar got baptized.

Well, guess what? I got a package from November 16. And with that and the package from Aimee, and Sis. Leopard I've got enough stinkin sunflower seeds to last till the millennium. (Maybe a little more) and thank you SO much for the spice of life stuff. I'm a fan. Overnight here it turned just so stinkin cold and it really got me sick, but that magic potion makes me feel like a new man. Send more. I'm also a fan of mi cardenales, like they’re called here. A little Arizona pride. I love how all the papers are lit up with the emblem here. Good luck with London’s Run. You will be blessed for you charity.

Three more baptisms last Saturday and I've completed the 5 goal for this month. You guys prayed too hard thanks! Now I need help with the other companionships in my district. I'm gonna go work with them a lot now. This week I had some of the best numbers of my mission and I have been so stinkin tired and a little sick.... but satisfied. I feel I'm moving into the next stage in my mission. That of accepting what and who I am and what can be done. It’s liberating. The best part is the revelation that just flows, it’s so real. I've had ideas that would never happen before. One of my companionships has been having a lot of problems, they went with the zone leaders and the mission president but nothing. This week something happened and they called the Pres. and he said, “I'm busy call your district leader”... well, I talked with them and did divisions the rest of the day, and talked to them again, and haven’t heard of a problem since then. THE LORD IS IN CHARGE, LET HIM WORK THROUGH YOU AND YOU WILL BE MUCH MORE THAN YOU CAN BE BY YOURSELF. It’s true what they say. To see those who won’t let the Lord in and won’t exercise just a seed of faith just fills me with sadness. Then I think of those of my own family who are straying and it is grief just intense. I feel like crying. Just come home....

However, those who are holding on even through the mists of darkness make me want to shout. "Hurrah for Israel!!!" God lives and he loves us. I know it. Just trust him. I feel like I have so much to say right now. The gospel is simple: live the law and receive the blessings. Repentance normally isn’t big changes. Its just little ones. I love you all. I know God lives the proof is in everything and He is talking to us. We just have to listen.

Elder Solomon

I love being a trainer!

2009-01-20T06:51:00.001-08:00

Hey dad, well the truth about the visa gift card I sent you, is that it was one Bridgett gave me before I left. It doesn’t work here so I sent it home. Now that I think about it [already being expired] I laughed out loud. Whoops!

I can’t believe the cardinals won. The first thing I did this morning when we left the house was run to the paper stand, (ignore the porn) and check out who won. That’s so cool.

Well, I met my goal of 5 baptisms already this month. We're going to keep trying to help some more but I'm gonna spend a lot more time with the other elders in my district. The only baptisms are my own. It stinks because they know what to do they just aren't doing it. I'm enjoying my "kid" as we call it. It’s so much better with a greenie. They’re willing and think that you know every thing. Everyone tries to be a zone leader here. If I am a trainer the rest of my mission, I would be more than happy. Anyway, next time you see Zack tell him your proud of him for me k? He’s developing a lot of faith right now. Well just work, work, work.

Love you dad, take care,

Elder Solomon

BAM!

2009-01-12T21:05:00.001-08:00

My new greenie

Well I’ll start with the good and then move on to the rest of the stuff that went on this week. The good is we had 2 baptisms on Sunday and we have 4 more programmed for this week. The bad is none of the four went to church Sunday. Someone spread a rumor that all the bishops had a special meeting so there wasn’t going to be services on Sunday and a lot of people didn’t go... gimme a break. The area is really running except its hard to find new investigators...

Ok story time. After English classes Saturday we were taking the girl home that just got baptized and she stopped at this rotisserie chicken stand and bought some stuff and offered me some. They looked like chicken legs so I ate them and they were really good so I had four. I got to investigate and the bones weren’t set up like legs. Did a little more investigating and sure enough... chicken neck. Didn’t have another. Well I also spend my monthly allowance this week as well. Some investigators finally decided to get married and they don’t have jobs right now. So I paid for it and they’re gonna pay me back. Its worth it, no?

Now the scary story, mom you pry [probably] don’t want to read this one. There is this one part of our area where it is a railroad yard and there are a lot of people that live in boxcars and have just built on to them. It’s kind of cool but obviously really poor. Anyway I contacted a lady that lives there and we went to visit. She’s really cool and said she was going to church with us but as we were trying to leave we passed a group of pretty drugged up guys about my age. Well, they surrounded my helpless greenie and me and the “boss” walked up to me and asked me if I was going to invite him to a beer. I told him I didn’t have any beer and he told me to go to the store and buy him some. The lady then came running and the group left except the boss who got really close to me and I really thought he was going to hit me or stab me or something. I then took out twenty pesos and threw it at him and he left... I told the lady we will teach her in the chapel... close call. What;s interesting is earlier that day I found that twenty-peso bill in the street earlier that day. God always gives the way out, right? My poor greenie peed his pants I think... hahaha. He’s doing good, just kind of clueless and can’t do anything on his own. My only stress is the district now. The zl´s [zone leaders] really push like crazy and it’s a lot of pressure. I just have to figure out how to motivate them [my missionaries].

Ok, I’ve babbled enough. Having a good time and working like crazy. Glad to hear the boys are doing so good in wrestling, Keep it up. I’m sick that the one year im gone and can’t watch football the Cardinals are doing so good... oh, well. Love you all. Be safe and stay away from boxcars.

---Elder Solomon

Come what may...enjoy!

2009-01-12T20:45:00.000-08:00

December 30, 2008

Ok, here are pictures of some pretty sloppy English, us (me and Elder Canche) at the temple, breaking the piñata Christmas eve and how big those things are, our two baptisms Sat (Dec 27, the only two of the week in the zone), and my new comp, Elder Villegas.

Ok, well, when it rains it snows. I didn’t sleep a wink last night because I’m now a trainer AND the district leader... wow… at least im staying in the same area. The standards are really rising. Our last district leader got "fired" because he only had 2 baptisms last month. At least he is staying in the district so he can help me. My "kid" is Elder Villegas from Puebla where Elder Derek Buttars is. He seems pretty cool. But super young and super greenie. At least he is willing to work. The most stressful about all of this is the district leaders are the ones who do the baptismal interviews, which are really intimidating. I always would tell my investigators " there is a special elder who is capable of telling if you are ready for baptism and can answer whatever question you have"... now that’s me, oh boy! Pray for me k? I”m just gonna let it all be the Lord and give it all I’ve got. Do your part and He will do His.

I really loved Elder Wirthlin’s last conference talk. It has had such an impact on me lately. I don’t even know what his phrase is in English but its “venga lo que venga disfrutalo” in Spanish, which by my interpretation is, come what may, enjoy,. Very uplifting happy stuff. I challenge you all to read it and really put it into your lives. I really am trying to be " the missionary you mom thinks you are" and hopefully a little better... it doesn’t come all at once. Line upon line, precept upon precept right?

I loved talking to you all Christmas. It lifted me up so much, I’m so grateful I have one of the greatest families ever. I love you all so much and I know the Lord is blessing you. Ok, time to take advantage of the greenie and meet my goal of 5 baptisms this next month. Help me reach it k? John 16:33 - fear not.

Dad your comments about an empty family got me thinking a lot. I came to the conclusion that it will not happen in this life, don’t let it bother you. The goal is there. According to the Lords time. 40 of our years is about 57 minutes in His. D&c 58:3-4. See how that can apply to you. I love you. Love you all take care and happy new years.

Elder Solomon

Happy Forever Family Day

2008-12-19T20:47:00.000-08:00

Ok, well this week we learn laziness doesn’t pay off. I’m just going to say I’m ready for a companion exchange... got a package from Nana and opened it up all at once. Couldn’t wait. But it was really good to get it-I was so happy! I’m still getting letters sent to the MTC or Ogden mission. The fastest way is to send it to the mission home here in Mexico or to the pouch address. We had a baptism of Enrique. A guy I’ve been teaching for a long time. His wife got baptized a year ago and she was so happy that he finally got baptized. Other than that... nothing.

I’m jealous about your snowboarding trip you're gonna take. That sounds like fun. I really miss traveling. Being able to getout of this tiny area. I’m in the biggest city in the world and feel shut in. That’s cool to hear about the weather changing. It’s still the same here. I wear a thin jacket I bought sometimes-just cusp it looks cool. There is an old inactive sister in this ward we always visit. Someone told me she has cancer and I don’t think she knows, The other night they had a High Priest dinner and the Stake President had me take some left overs to her but the bag wasn’t sealed too good and it got all over my pants ... but she was really happy to get the food!

Thanks for the support and letters. I sure appreciate it all. We've got a special day coming up this Sunday, I've penned it Forever Family Day, and I don’t know what you call it.[London passed away on Dec. 21, 2005]. Remember the gift Christ gave us. What can we give back? All we have that isn't his is our agency, something to think about. Well. Not much more to say. I love you all sorry I don’t report very good but I am writing in my journal. and brushing my teeth, making my bed...

---Elder Solly

Testimony building week

2008-12-10T14:48:00.000-08:00

Well everyone, still here pushing along. Quite the learning week. Started off all ready to go. Set some high goals. Walked the line obedience wise and worked like crazy and... nothing. No one wanted anything. No one was home... nothing all week. Then Saturday. Nothing. Went home pretty depressed. Come Sunday. we ended up having 8 people (investigators) in the chapel. We left church early for an appointment and that afternoon found 9 new investigators. Do your job and the Lord will do His. Was a good testimony builder.

Had a few cool experiences this week as well. One of the families we are trying to teach, well they have a little girl and little boy about 3 years old. They are soo cool. Every time I walk in the little girl runs ang hugs my knees just like London did and is always sitting on my lap. One time she said "Salomon te quiero" means I love you. They all call me Salomon. It’s easier than Solomon I guess. And the little boy calls us tios. Uncles. It funny the things the kids call us. Some their kids call us the twins. Strange because we look nothing alike.

Brighton get a fetching job lazy bum. It doesn’t matter if it sucks and they don’t pay you anything as long as you’re doing something. Don’t be idle. Glad to hear the rest of you are well. Enjoy your time in whatever your doing whatever it is because you never get it back. Dad I would kill to be able to help you with a little construction. I want to build something so bad. I get frustrated at the construction here. Their practices are so horrible. But, ya, that’s something I miss. Well hope all is well with you all. Be happy!

Love you all,

Elder Solly

Unofficially senior companion

2008-12-10T14:46:00.000-08:00

Well, I hear you about the gratitude thing mom, it was hard not getting down that im not there at home, so instead I really tried focusing on what I have. Not really the best of weeks. Got rejected a lot and I’m sure it’ll only get worse as we get closer to Christmas. There were a couple of nights where I just tried to name the things im grateful for.

But, ya, not a whole lot to report this week. Just the same ol. We finally had quite the "chat" this week between me and my comp. We got things worked out. He gave me the keys and said "your senior comp, ill do whatever you want to, if we are super lazy or work like crazy ill do it with you" well thanks... with all his other companions they hardly left before the comida which is about 2 in the afternoon... I feel bad if we leave after 10. Anyway, just trying to keep from getting discouraged. This Christmas season I’m just gonna focus on doing my best if the people accept or not.

Ok, well, believe it or not I’m happy. I’m having a lot of good times. I’m sure glad to hear about your Thanksgiving. I’m so lucky to have such an awesome family. Hahaha! I found a cool scripture the other day its duet. 21:18-21 it’s pretty funny. Well don’t have very much to say love you all.

Take care,

Elder Solomon

It's worth it in the end

2008-11-25T19:58:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-19T18:49:00.001-08:00

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?

2008-11-11T08:46:00.001-08:00

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