Monday, September 7, 2015

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HOOOOLAAAA FAMILIA!!!

Aqui con el Elder SOTO! El es de... ARIZONA??????????? [Here with Elder Soto! He is from ... Arizona??]

Sorry I really don't realize I'm writing in Spanish that much. Elder Soto is from a Mexican family, but he learned Spanish here in the mission! He has 4 months here in the field. He got baptized at age 9 but only recently became an active member again, 2 years ago. His family didn't go to church for like 8 years. He has a lot to learn but is very loving and always happy. He's been a great support for me, and we're going to give it all we've got, and then some!!! 

Hard week this week, no one came to church, including the investigator that had his baptism scheduled for the thirteenth. This coming Sunday is going to be the re-dedication of the Mexico City Temple, so I can't bring investigators to the church. Sad cats :(.

Monday, August 31, 2015

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Hi guys

Sorry to hear it's been kind of rough these last few weeks Dad, I know what that can be like. Glad to hear that you're still happy at work Mom, and that you're doing your visiting teaching, I'm sure you'll be a prima ballerina again in a few more weeks. Poor Wilson, hope he can recover [Aunt's dog was attacked by coyotes]. Just explain to him that God gives us all trials so that we can learn and grow, haha. That poor grapefruit tree, it's like a part of my childhood that's dying. Side note, the exclamation mark on this keyboard doesn't work, and I'm realizing that I always use a ton of those, haha.

Changes came in last night, and..... I'm going to be with my fourth different companion here in Tuxpan. Halfway through his training they're stealing Elder Hernandez from me. Sometime tomorrow Elder Soto will be arriving here, and I'll be with him for the next 6 weeks. That will put me at 6 months here in Tuxpan and at that point it's basically a rule that they'll change me to another area. I'm going to miss Elder Hernandez, but I'm glad I'm going to have the opportunity to keep working here in Tuxpan a little bit longer.

I've been thinking a lot about what I can do to be a more consecrated missionary, to be 100% committed to doing what the Lord wants, every hour of every day. It's a tall order, but it's what I want. That's a start, right?

Oh, and assuming there wasn't a clerical error again, I'm going to be the district leader this change. Woo paperwork and phone calls, haha.

I'd send you guys some videos, we had a ward talent night this week and I sang with my companion, I bought a ukulele a while back with some American dollars I changed for pesos and we sang A Child's Prayer in Spanish and English. I can't really play anymore and my companion can't really sing, but we got through it, haha. Guess you'll just have to see it with the rest of my videos when I get home.

Love you guys, And take care,

Elder Wadman

Elder Christofferson

Trails in Tuxpan

​So This is me celebrating my year in the mission... I bought spicy popcorn and filled the bag with extra spicy salsa and ate all of it by myself.....

​GUESS WHICH ONE I ATE

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

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Hola!!!

Leave it to Colin, right? [His cousin Colin grew out his hair longer than Susan's]  Glad to hear that Mom is back to dancing, and that I'm not the only one who spends his time breaking power tools. [Susan started ballet again, and a landscaper we hired broke his chainsaw on a tree we had removed]   It was a great day yesterday hearing from an Apostle and really being able to see the changes I need to make in the way that I work as a missionary to really teach the people the way they need to be taught. I think that will take most of my life to learn how to do right.

Realizing that the mission has changed my personality quite a bit. Never thought of myself as overly analytical, goal oriented, and organized, but it's kind of happening slowly. Haha blessings! God didn't want to leave me as the same confused and forgetful kid I was when he sent me. 

We're teaching some really great people that we found in some really strange ways. One of my investigators who has gone to church twice now we found because he was at a quinceñera drinking with some friends. He´s 51 and has some family problems and really likes what we´re teaching. Other people that I just felt impressed to talk to are now reading in Mosiah in the Book of Mormon after 3 weeks or so. The Lord really knows what he´s doing out here! I don´t, but that comes with time I guess??

Monday, August 17, 2015

3 MONTHS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ANGEL ACCEPTED THE GOSPEL!!!!

​Well I´m in a good Mood!!!!!

We got some other people to church.The biggest challenge we have is people who need to divorce from previous spouses so they can get married. This was a pretty good week though, we found some people who really want the gospel in their life, who really need some help. I´m learning a lot, finished the Book of Mormon for the 7th time, and I´m revamping my lesson plans looking forward to a 2nd year full of hard work and progress, and a lot more special people and moments. Hope you guys are happy at home, sounds like there´s a lot of work to do. Same here haha!!! Changes are in two weeks and We´re going to see Elder Christofferson in 8 days. I hope I can stick around here in my area a little longer!! It´s gonna be a wild ride!!! Love you guys!!

Elder Wadman

Monday, August 10, 2015

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Elder Hernandez is a good guy. He works hard, sometimes only because I demand it of him, but we have a lot of fun together. 

It's been a challenge. The people just aren't coming to church. We have a ton of people that came once and like it but then start having a bunch of pretexts for Sunday legitimate or otherwise. That's been the most discouraging challenge. I've been battling a bit with a feeling of incompetence, I'm working hard but things just aren't happening the way I wish they would. Can't do much more than try and be better though! It's definitely been a roller coaster, and nothing close to easy breezy. I've gotten lazy about writing in my journal the last 4 weeks or so though, so I'd better get back on the boat with that one!

​Elder Rodriguez left this in my agenda as a parting gift. There's kind of a thing in the mission about my butt...

​2 de los sencillos de la tierra, alistándose para confundir a los sabios. [2 of the simple things of the land, getting ready to confound the wise.]

OH AND IN TWO WEEKS ELDER CHRISTOFFERSON [of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles] IS COMING TO THE MISSION AND ITS GOING TO CHANGE MY LIFE!! Well that's the plan at least. Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ and all that...

Love you guys and IM TRYING!!!

Monday, August 3, 2015

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Hay Fam!!!

I'm still alive and still working hard!!!

ANGEL FINALLY ACCEPTED BAPTISM!!! He's getting baptized on the 16th, which means he'll have eight assistances [attendances] at church by the time he gets baptized, but that's ok it still happened!!! I found this guy in May!!! He talked to the bishop today and already has his plans to go to the temple worked out! Let me get some pictures up here!!

​Rollin out in style!!!

​I'm not the greenie in this photo!!!!

We got a new family to church, got a baptism set up, and have the chance to get some of these people who have only gone a couple of times excited and progressing. Ready to have a great week over here, and I'm wishing you guys the same!!

Monday, July 3, 2015

Thanks for the advice!! It's true that I need to work harder in helping my investigators in identifying the spirit. It's weird because all the things I do here are very compartmentalized in my mind, and don't connect with many of the things I learned about missionary work while I was still at home. 

Not one of my investigators came to church this week. It's been a pretty dry spell but I feel like I'm learning a lot. I really have to get over my pride. Seeing my old companion who never really paid much attention to the work, and was always just passing the time with members and other missionaries with two or three families being baptized the same week made me all jealous and feel bad, but I think it's very important that I learn that I'm not doing this to prove something to them, and should just be happy for their success. I just wish I could learn how to do this the right way. But we'll get there at some point!!!

Pictures keep not working out for some reason, sorry about that!! Love you guys, sometime you'll see my new companion!!