Riding the roller coaster

September 29, 2008

 

Sorry mom, I don’t believe in taking pictures.

 

Well it rained like all week, I wore the jacket I bought every day and it’s been, cold like 50s or 60s.  Today it’s been sunny though. Also, the area is starting to look better. We’re getting new investigators and I'm enjoying myself a lot better. Trying to learn the area good cuz the comp[anion] is going home on Sunday. The language has been suffering a bit, partially because of having the American comp. Pretty sure ill get a mexi next week. We'll see, but hopefully the language will start improving again. Ok- what the crap?  Sounds like college football is crazy as last year... I'm so stinkin jealous. I wish I could get a newspaper or something... oh well, one of the sacrifices I guess. Well not much to report other than its been getting a lot better here. Fitting in to the schedule and all that. I've sure been learning a lot and just trying to hang on to the mission roller coaster. Hope all is well at home.

 

Miss you all and love you all—

Elder Solomon

On the harder side

Hey everyone, well it seems when you just start getting to the top of the mountain the Lord will want to see if you can climb it again. On the harder side... on Tuesday I got called in to separate a companionship and was set as the senior companion even though I only have three weeks here. It’s been a pretty tough week. There are next to no investigators in this area and just everything was a mess. Including the room we live in. no fridge, no microwave no nothing but a tiny bathroom and a room we sleep in. my comp is a good guy but he’s about to go home in two weeks and is as we call it dying and its been a little frustrating. But were working, hopefully this next week turns out a lot better than last week. I felt ashamed to turn in the chaffa numbers last night but at least we’ve got some appointments and starting to find people. Most of our area is pretty fresa, or rich so that makes it harder too. The worst part is that its been wearing on me pretty bad I want to get it all going right now but I guess it takes time. Trying to keep positive and put my trust in the lord. These times either strengthen the testimony or break it down. 

Well love you all and hope all is well

Elder Solomon

 Oh also, what the heck Brighton? Losing to AJ. Ouch that hurts o0h well hope everyone else is well. I got on today and the only one who wrote me was Dave. Well love you all elder pt

Independence Day

Hey its Mexican Independence Day and all the Internet cafes are closing early. We’re gonna try and find another that doesn’t close in five minutes. If not I love you all and am doing good, better and better every day…

 

K, I’ll push it. Things are going good here. Two more elders are getting either sent home or to another zone and that should take care of most of the problem children. Being with the zone leaders I get all the low down on what goes on and I have next to no responsibility!

 

Anyway yesterday just before sacrament the bishop asked me to give a talk on fasting as the last speaker! It was nuts but people pay more attention when you don’t speak very good and it went all right I think. We had a lot of people leave for the weekend, Mexican Independence, so we didn’t have very many people in the church.

 

Not much to report just working hard and its getting easier everyday, I'm liking this place it’s just so crowded all the time and everywhere. It’s hard to forget myself and home and go to work but that too is slowly coming. I'm trying. I know the Lord is blessing me intensely.

 

Love you,

Elder Solomon

First baptism

Well everyone, things are heating up. This area is finally coming alive. I am with the zone leaders so the Mexican comp (companion) Elder Moreno is usually on splits so I'm with Elder Wilson most of the time. After a week of just contacting like crazy were getting the wheels rolling in this area. We had 11 investigators in church yesterday and I got to baptize three kids16,11,10 yesterday as well. They are a really nice family but one of the poorest in the area.

 

The weather is awesome. Towards the night and early in the morning there is a chill in the air and its nice during the day but because of the altitude a lot of the gringos fry. Lucky i just turned into a tan, which is half way up my neck and looks super goofy. We do a lot of stinking walking and it been taking some getting used to. There are a lot of cool people and then some just stupid people too. There are a lot of punk kids and I almost beat some up that were throwing firecrackers at me at the "guero", but yep there you are.

 

The first week really was a super roller coaster of emotion but as soon as I hit the first week mark things have been really getting better. I hate to brag but I really think I'm getting the language. There is a ton of vocab I don’t know but for the most part I can follow conversation and join in. I feel bad cuz there are a few elders in the zone who have been in the mission for a couple months and they are still struggling...

 

Well things here are super cheap except like Gatorade and McDonalds, the prices are kinda random. We get 800 pesos a month, which is the equivalent of 80 bucks... then a bit for travel money. It works out pretty good till the end of the month apparently. Then there are few days of just sliced bread. Luckily we get meals from the members... there have only been two meals that I've had to really fight down to eat. Nothing bad. Just nothing really good yet. Apparently there are some areas that are great for food and others that are pretty plain.

 

Boys I loved hearing about the football games, I'm so stinkin jealous and hope you guys do awesome. Brighton give it all you got, there is a pretty good chance that this is the last time you’ll wear a helmet like your older brother... oh mom, as part of me coming into the mission solo I really didn’t have any training at all on rules or anything so I'm just learning off the comps. Yes the Mission President is awesome he’s very solid very smart and very rich. He’s trying to get rid of the cell phones from the missionaries who shouldn’t have them. He's following the example of Nephi and the brass plates, asking for them, offering to buy them and then… just going to take them. He’s awesome and doesn’t know English.

 

Well that’s it for now, hope all is well in the home front.

 

Love you all,

Elder Solomon

Hola Mexico

My MTC companion, Elder Hoyt

Waz up?

How do they do that?

Elder's heroes?

My  favorite place.

Please let us go, we'll be good...promise!

My fascinating cubicle in the Referral Center....

flippin!  I get to go to Ogden!

?????  getting stir crazy in the MTC????

Elder Kelley! 

A very excited Elder called our home early Friday morning en route to Mexico City.  After weeks of delay, he could hardly believe he was on his way!  It was wonderful to talk to him.  Here are a few pictures he finally sent home.

Ma Solomon

I think in Spanish and English

Yes still here! And according to Elder Hoyt, I need to ask to stay here. He sent a disturbing email telling me to stay here. I told him to suck it up. The world is evil - we know that, that is why we are going out!!! But while I'm here I’ll give it what I got. This Saturday got a baptism and one next Saturday too! 

It’s flippin hot! Hitting 100 everyday. I thought it didn’t do that in Utah? Anyway... football… I need Wun Devil and Bulldog updates please.  Sheldon... what in the world?!!?!?! Flippin stick your nose in and go crazy! Now that I'm retired I wish I would have done that. Seriously what is the worst that can happen? Get a headache? Come on... if your not gonna tackle get off the field and go put on a skirt. However I am glad that you are getting a better heart. Not as much trouble at school that’s good. I'd rather hear stories of you helping Jensen and others like that than you football stories anyway. 

Just so you know I woke up early this morning just so I could write Brigg and Dad. I’ll try and catch the rest next week and I'm gonna send a cd with my pics on it pretty soon. Mom, if you need to tell jack to get a move on don’t be afraid to tell her I said so. I wont be settling for second best when I get home, why would I? When should we ever settle for second best in things that really matter? I'm not talking about buying the expensive brand of bread I'm talking about cutting ourselves short. Why would we not include the Lord, the Creator of All in every aspect of our lives? Why would we compromise our standards and why would we ever ever ever strive for anything less than that of celestial quality??? If there is something that is not celestial why would we include it? Don’t ever cut yourself short than the very best. Oh Sheldon happy bday. Hope it is celestial quality:) 

But seriously I've been measuring everything on a scale of "celestial" terrestrial and telestial. Kind of puts a nice incentive on things. Find ways to fit that in. i.e. a celestial son is home at least 5 min early and his parents know exactly where and who he is with and he’s completely honest about everything when he sits on the parents bed and reviews the wholesome evening with them. A terrestrial son is within the time limit or maybe just a second or two late and gave a rough outline of the plans beforehand, pounds on the door, says I'm home and jumps in bed. Telestial... well imagine, lies about who- what –where- is late, really late and doens’t even wake the parents up. Just an example but you get what I'm saying? 

Good New era, the article by Jon Bytheway on the five scriptures. Read it! Good one. 

Anywho, I cannot express to you the importance of being independent for the good. The scripture has taken on new meaning to me "work out your salvation" doesn’t say "have your mom work out your salvation" or "if salvation isn’t given to you blame someone" you’ve got two feet (most people) stand on them!!!! If you don’t like the way things are going- change them!! If you’re in the right, you’ve always got some one to help you along. You’re not alone but you do have to make the first step! Elijah stepped onto the flaming chariot all by himself. That’s a rough example, but I'm telling you it’s not going to be given you. Life isn’t a drive through. I'm on a bit of a rant but man; I've realized just what is possible. What I am- what I can be. Who I can help. The gospel changes people. In the short three weeks I've seen it! Dirty houses become clean. Dark people become full of light and despair turns into the wonderful blossom of hope. I know Christ lives. "Come unto me" I know this is the one true way to eternal happiness and the true gospel. If you’ve felt the spirit and are denying the blessings of living the gospel in its fullness, or in other words, experiencing the power of the atonement... I challenge you to do it; a step of faith will take you to a higher way of life. Let Him in and you will succeed, don’t and you will live an eternity of regrets. 

Love you all soooo much and I pray for you---

Elder Solomon