19 Marzo 2012

¿Qué dicen?

This week was about a million times better and more productive than last week. I figured out how to plan the days out a little better with a color coding system in my agenda.  I looked in future investigators, old investigators, and current investigators and we started teaching 12 more people this week.

We had interchanges three times this week. On Wednesday Elder Bodine, who was here in this area right before I came, came to help show me the area and where people live. It helped me out a ton.  I learned a ton too. We practiced being really direct in the contacts and in teaching.  Contacting has become one of my favorite things to do. You never know what you are going to run into in the street or knocking doors.

I also went to an area named Granjas this week with Elder Ferrin in my district. He lived most of his life in Elko.  We had some good lessons together. One of them was with a 13 year old girl. Her mom was telling us how bad she was and how she wouldn´t listen to anybody and asked if we would teach her. She came into the room and really didn´t want to talk and just wanted to go eat. We starting asking about her life and what she likes and found out that she likes art and helping people because it makes her feel good. She obviously couldn´t be that bad. We made an example of the art and taught a whole lesson about the plan of salvation with it. She really liked it and had a completely different attitude afterwards.  It was really cool to see. Sometimes parents just need to explain to their kids why they can´t do something or why they should.

On Saturday Elder Garcia from Colima, Mexico came with me to LV. We were teaching a family that we started teaching last week. The parents are Fabiola and Rodrigo. We were teaching them about eternal families when Fabiola´s mom walked in. She sat down quickly and joined in the lesson which is weird of anybody in Mexico to do. Haha. After we asked if they had some questions for us she said that she did. She wanted to us to explain what it means to be an Elder and she wanted us to explain the Libro de Mormon to Fabiola. Not the normal questions. We found out that she had been talkin to the missionaries in another state and that she and her boyfriend were going to get married and baptized in October. Some things happened and she moved to DF without being baptized. She testified that the church is true and that the Book of Mormon is too. She said she had been talking about going to the temple so she could find the missionaries again when she found us sitting in the living room of her daughter. She is really excited and knows that God loves her and knows what she needs. I do too.

So tomorrow, Elder Gutierrez is going to leave the area and I will get a new companion. I don´t really know who it will be yet but I will let you know next week. Good news from Topilejo is that Esmeralda got baptized yesterday! I wish I could have been there.

I love you all a ton. No sean fritos y echele ganas.

Love,

Elder Hubbard and Elder Gutierrez

12 Marzo 2012

Leandro Valle. Not Topilejo but still gangster´s paradise. Haha. This week was one of the harder ones of the mission. It was easy starting in Topilejo because I didn´t have any responsibilities, just work. Now I am the one who has to plan everything plus worry about two other areas. It´s a little bit more work.  I spent a ton of time planning and looking through the area book for people to go visit this week.  My area is really easy to learn, it is just a square and really organized.  It felt weird on the legs to not be climbing hills the whole week.  I have felt a little lost and unsatisfied but I know it will get better fast. The people seem a lot different here too. In Topilejo a ton of people accepted us when we contacted them in the street but here this week we got rejected a ton. There are not as many catholics but we did teach a Jewish lady this week.  That was interesting. Praying in hebrew always cool. Ha.

In my district I have Elder Herpel who was in the MTC with me. We had interchanges together this week. We got called all sorts of funny names. I had to do a baptismal interview that day too. It was my first one as a district leader. The guy was like 50 years old and has had a pretty rough life. I really liked doing the interview because it was like I was looking at the repentance process through Christ´s eyes.  I felt the love that He feels when he sees us return to Him through the beautiful path of repentance. It was also a good teaching moment for me too. I explained some of the things that he didn´t understand as well. He was able to be baptized on Saturday.

On Saturday we had a stake missionary activity. My stake is called Oriental and there are about 16 missionaries in it. They had been practicing before I came. They did a play about finding our friend that we knew before we came to Earth and sharing the gospel with them. We also sang a few songs that were really cool. It was a great activity. Afterwards we had the baptism of Alexa, Mahonri, Jared, and Hanna. They were all pretty much children but all converts. The water was nice and yellow. The family asked me to baptize the three little kids. The last one I had to do three times because his foot kept coming up. The kid is a little punk though so he deserved it. Haha.

Yesterday I had my first sacrament meeting in a church since I left Fallon, Nevada.  It felt pretty good to see a ward with a bishop and everything. We have Priesthood at 9 and sacrament at 11. During sunday school they asked me if I would give a talk in sacrament because the speakers didn´t show up. I guess I can speak spanish now because I did it with no problem. Oh but the word King Nebuchanezr in spanish is really difficult. Haha.

We only have two other people that are close to being baptized so I just got to do work. Esmeralda and Jauna Romero are getting baptized this saturday!

This is a great area with a bunch of people that are willing to accept the gospel. Don´t be nervous for me, Mom. It is really relaxed here. I live right across the street from a huge mall that even has a Wally World. My companion is super quiet and studies his Preach My Gospel in every free time that he has. Yes, Durango is a state in Mexico. This morning I washed my clothes Little House on the Prairy style by hand because we don´t have a good family like Hermana Lulu to take care of us. Which also means that I am going to lose like 100 pounds here too. Haha. I finished the Book of Mormon for the first time in spanish this week and I know that it is true.

I haven´t heard from many of you lately (slackers) but I hope life is good. I love you all! Be happy and choose the right!

Elder Hubbard

 Baptism of Alexa, Mahonri (like the brother of Jared), and Jared

 The water was lemon flavored!

 Elder Gutierrez just dominating his PMG

 The new desk

Doing laundry

6 Marzo 2012

Bueno.

Let the march madness begin! So Elder Perea and I changed are p-day so we could go to the temple today. So at three o´clock yesterday we were walking along with Esmeralda and Hermano Carlos to go teach a lesson when I got a phone call. Elder Carver, the zone leader, said that I had special changes and that I had to be in Taxqueña with all of my things at 6. What?! It was insane. I didn´t even have time to tell almost anybody goodbye. Only Esmeralda and Juana Garcia and her family.  Juana started crying. They told me this week that they want me to baptize them on the 17th! I hope I can go back and do it. Hermana Lulu cried too. It all happened really fast and I feel so weird being in another area not knowing anybody once again.  I am now in Leandro Valle in the zone of Ermita. Part my area is delegacion Iztapalapa and Iztacalco. But Leandro Valle is the name of the area. It is right in the middle of the city. Nothing like the buen Topilejo at all. All of the streets are numbered like in Salt Lake.  I am with Elder Guitierrez from Durango. He only has 8 weeks left on his mission. I am senior companion and district leader too. There are 6 elders in our district.  I am baffled right now. Haha so much for having a p-day today. I´ll go where He wants me to go.

So this was a great week of the mission. I am just going to give you some highlights because I don´t have a ton of time.  We were able to baptize and confirm Brian (9 years old), Eduardo (11 years old), and Fabian (15 years old) this thursday. A ton of people went to the baptism which is always good to see.  Eduardo started crying afterwards becuase he felt so good.  We didn´t have any hot water so they enjoyed a refreshing poler swim.

This week we also had a meeting with President Chávez of two zones. He told us who is going to be our new mission president in July. I don´t remember is name but he is from Puebla. I am going to miss President Chávez.

I am just trying to be a better person here on the mission and serve with all my heart, might, mind, and strength. I am trying to learn a lot of patience and charity too. I am going to need it in these 8 weeks. My area seems like it is super good and I am excited and a little bit scared.  It´s like starting the mission all over again.

It´s a good thing that I know without a doubt that this message is true. Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and He lives. His Church is on the earth today with prophets and apostles.

I love you all and pray for me!

Elder Hubbard

 Baptism of Brian, Eduardo and Fabian

Messed up shoe. I changed the soles this week.

 Exercise in the morning

 Taking the corn off the cob

The Hermana's!

Hey! I am not going to write until tomorrow because we changed our p-day so we can go to the temple to buy a few things. I will write tomorrow! I love you!

27 Febrero 2012

How is everybody?

So we didn´t have our baptism that we were going to have this week. Eduardo´s brother, Fabian decided to quite going to school on sundays so he can be baptized. So he had to go to church one more time before being baptized. We filled out their cédulas this week. I have no idea how to say that in english so just google it. They are going to be baptized this thursday at 5 o´clock with one other little kid named Bryan. He is from a family that we reactivated and come to church now. They live in the middle of nowhere and their house is so humble, it´s sad.

On Wednesday we had our zone conference and President Chávez blew my mind once again. He is such a good teacher. He taught us how to teach better. It starts with learning, understanding, believing, and then applying. We are in charge of helping people learn and understand what they should believe and live.  He taught us how to find doctrine and principles in the scriptures so we can explain them to our investigators. We also talk about connecting the lesson with something that they can relate to like their work. I learned so much and our lessons have already gotten a lot better.  President Chávez was definitely meant to be my mission president and I am so greatful to be able to learn from him.

So one Thursday we practiced some of the teaching skills that President Chávez taught us and the lesson was sweet. We taught Juana and Miguel Garcia. They are my favorite investigators, the ones that took down their huge cross last week.  We started off asking them where they are in the plan of salvation.  They answered that they need to be baptized, confirmed, and keep the commandments. Perfect.  We used an example about electricity to teach them about prayer because Miguel was an electrician his whole life. He really understood it well and prayed at the end of the lesson. They still don´t want to set a baptismal date. 

On Friday I went to Ajusco with Elder Reid. It was so much fun. He is good missionary. We taught a few lessons and contacted some people. 

On Saturday we helped Esmeralda fix her roof. We took off her shingles and cleaned all of the ants and the nests that were inside.  She needs a ton of help in everything. She still is going to be baptized March 10. That night I gave my first blessing in spanish. They asked me to do the sealing so I did. It went really well. I gave it to a little sick baby named Cielo.

Yesterday everything went well. Six people came to church again. It was Fabian, Edaurdo, Bryan, Esmeralda, Juana, and her daughter Marisol.  They all had a really good experience and say that they are going to keep coming back.

I am excited for this week and know that it is going to go by fast once again. We are going to be busy with baptisms and interviews. I am excited. So have a good week and thanks for your letters. I am still trying to hold off to buy new shoes until I have a year on the mission. 

I love you!

Elder Hubbard

Mopping up!

20 Febrero 2012

Hey family!

How´s life? Mine is pretty good. Almost 8 months on the mish and only one left in the km 28 of Topilejo. 

This week could have been the best one of the whole mission. We just tore it up every day. It all started on Monday night. In our district meeting we talked about having a perfect transfer and all made the goal. We were able to invite a ton of people to come unto Christ and 6 or 7 accepted baptismal dates. It was so much fun.  3 of them are in a family. He fixes shoes in Topilejo and we have been friends with him for a long time. When Elder Leyva and I first taught him he cried because he had just promised God to be closer to Him if his daughter lived through an operation. This week we read a lot of Moroni 10 with them and invited them to be baptized on March 10 and accepted. It will be sweet.  Their names are Ramón, Gabriela, and Joselín.  

Then we were teaching a part member family that we found a few weeks ago in Parres. It was Jaquelín, Fabián and Eduardo. Eduardo is 12 years old and is going to be baptized on Thursday if everything works out. And his brother might too, it just depends on if he decides to go to school on sundays.  We are teaching their dad too who is not a member but we have a long way to go with him.  

I went to Ajusco with Elder Malpica this week. While I was there, Elder Perea and my boy Elder Reid were able to invite Esmeralda, the one from England-such a sick accent, to be baptized. She also accepted for March 10. Last week I asked Aaron what chapters from the Book of Mormon that he liked to give investigators to read. He told me Alma 7. So on Tuesday I gave that to her to read and when my companions went she was asking about baptism and how she could do it. Thanks Chavo.  We went to her house on Saturday again and did some more service. We just mobbed some long grass with machetes for about two hours. Haha. 

So yesterday we had six investigators at church. Easily a record for us. It was so good to see. Esmeralda came and Eduardo. An inactive family also came that we found and invited. We saw a ton of miracles and blessings this week and I felt so much joy to invite them to come unto Christ.  

Last night we talked to an Athiest on the way home. He doesn´t believe in God or anything. Just life, nothing more. I told him that I know that Christ lives. He had a ton of knowledge about the world but at the same time didn´t know anything. We are the most important creation of Our Heavenly Father. We have the potential to become like Him.  This is the time to prepare ourselves to live with Him again. Don´t wait til it´s too late. I know that this work is real and that Christ directs it. I know that Christ lives. I left a Book of Mormon in the back seat of that mans car because I knew he wouldn´t accept it. But through that Book of Mormon, even he can know that God is our loving Heavenly Father and that He loves each and every one of us. This knowledge is priceless to anybody that knows it.

Elder Perea and I loving being companions and it will be good to to another week of work. I love you all and I pray for most of you. Haha. Just kidding. But seriously. Sometimes I forget. Thanks for your letters. Mom, you should send me some pictures of the family soon. Have a good week!

Elder Hubbard

 Elder Perea

 Topilejo! Beautiful Little Heaven!

I killed a scorpion for Hermana Lulú

13 Febrero 2012

How´s it going?
I have now had my mission call for over a year. That could have been the fastet year of my life.  I am so glad I have been able to come to the beautiful clean, relaxed, and peaceful Mexico City for two years.  It´s going by way to fast.
This Wednesday we had a meeting in Taxqueña for the instructors and their companions. Once again, we learned a lot from the legend, President Chávez.  He talked to us about the importance of us recieving revelation, investigators and members too. Without revelation we will never recieve eternal life. We have to have our own testimonies given to us from our Heavenly Father and then we won´t be lost. That is the rock that Peter was instructed to build the church on and it still applies to us.
On Friday Elder Reid came to Topilejo with me for interchanges. It was so much fun. We contacted so many people and got rejected so many times. I almost got my first door slammed in my face! Almost.We just did work. We went to Alvaro and Taide´s house, I don´t know if you remember them. They were about to tell us that they weren´t interested any more but we saved it. We used the Spirit a lot. Taide told us that she was really depressed once and she opened the Book of Mormon and felt a peace and tranquility. I told her that that was the Holy Ghost telling her it was true and that she already knows that it is true. She agreed but says that she is still too shy to come to Church and that one day she will just go without thinking.  It is cool to see the power of the Book of Mormon in conversion. She has recieved some of that revelation that we cannot live without.  Then Elder Reid were contacting at night with no luck. We knew that there was somebody we had to find but didn´t know who. We knocked on every door of the street with no luck. We started going home and saw a couple with umbrellas. We just knew it was them, contacted them, and are going to visit them this week.
On Saturday we went to Esmeralda´s house again for service. She is still reading and progressing. We helped her fix a water container on top of her roof. It was so hard and awkward.  It´s all good though. And our branch president´s family visited her too! Always good to see the members do work.  That night we taught Mauro and his mom. She is going to be baptized but just has to get married first. She is a great friend and I hope she keeps progressing.
On Sunday, Nicolasa came to church! It was sweet. She just showed up there by herself.  She sat with Hermana Lulu and she was asking a ton of questions. Last night we had a meeting with the other district leaders and the zone leaders. I actually didn´t really enjoy it that much and just feel like we talk about numbers too much.  That is one thing I have to do as district leader and I have to take care of the elders in Ajusco. Should be easy. I have to do baptismal interviews and teach the other missionaries every monday night. Tonight is my first one so I hope it goes good.  I am so tired of not baptising and sometimes I feel like I am not making a difference here. I am being obedient and trying my hardest. I will just learn some patience and keep inviting others to come to Christ.
Have a great week and thanks for your letters and your prayers. I love you!
Elder Hubbard