The Weekly Semana‏

December 31, 2012
Queridos padres, hermanos, hermanas, payasos (Braden), changos, amigos, etc.,

How've you all been?

How'd your Christmas go?

Hope that everything went well for you all. For me it was pretty... Normal. Haha we didn't really do much except that on Christmas day we went as a zone to hike a big old mound (I'd call it a mountain, but I'm from Utah, thanks) to get to this giant statue of Christ that I'd been seeing from afar for almost a year now and I'd never seen up close. It was a fun experience. 

After that, we all got back to our areas and back to work, and my companion and I managed to find a couple new people that day, so it was good. =)

Then, from there, the days just went by really fast. Elder Palma and I have been really busy with a lot of investigators right now, nothing to complain about. Every day we were able to find two or three new people, so it went well. 

On Wednesday we did special splits with a couple companionships in the zone. I went with Elder Vazquez and Elder Rodriguez in Pinal, and my companion went with Elder Valtierra and Elder Bran in Ahuateno. 

It was kinda tough and they didn't have very many set appointments, but I helped them stay excited and keep going until the end. We ended up in the last hour in the house of an inactive member, where we were able to get a few referrals and invite them all to go to church, it was a good experience. I was able to give them lots of tips and I hope they felt my love and worry for them as we sacrificed a day in our area to be with them. 

Then, on Sunday we were able to bring a new person to church, who's name is Álvaro. His story is pretty interesting, let me tell it to you all! =D

So, last Sunday night we were going to go with our ward mission leader, Luís, to visit a few of his friends, and he was going to meet us where the combis (I explained that to some of you... They're like mini-van taxi-ish thingies) are at. 

So, we got there a little late and thought that Luís had gone ahead of us to where we were going to visit his friends, so we got in the combi that takes us there. Once we were in, a man that we hadn't met before told us that our friend (Luís) had been waiting for us but that he had gone to call us from a pay phone. In that moment, the combi started to get going, so it was too late to get off, and when he called us we just told him to get in the next one and we'd see him there. 

Anyway though, that same man started talking to us about how he had a nice conversation with Luís about religion and things like that, and right then and there we started to teach him, set up an appointment, and then we were ready to go!

So yeah, then we went to teach him in this week and as we were teaching him the Gospel of Jesus Christ, he accepted everything very well. We committed him to go to church and to be baptized on the 6th of January. After the lesson, to verify, we asked him, ''So, what are you going to do this Sunday?'' And he said, ''I'm going to be baptized!'' And we had to tell him that, although that'd be great, the goal was set for the 6th so that he could go to church a couple times first, to which he replied, ''Oh, sorry, I just got excited!'' Haha so he's really good, we'll see if he's got any big doubts.

As for Sunday, we had three people who were going to be baptized, and all three fell through for very good reasons, but the important part is the lasting conversion, so we're not at all upset with the fact that they'll have to wait a week or two (or more) more before taking the step of baptism.

Aaaand, yeah! This week we have a lot of plans already, we're super excited and happy and ready to go! We'll be doing some more splits on Wednesday I think with some other Elders and then on Friday we've got Zone Leader counsel, so we'll be going to Xalapa and won't get back until a little bit late, but it's all good. 

So, that's about it! I hope you all are having a great holiday season! Merry Christmas to all and a happy New Year! I love y'all.

Elder DeFreese

1. Up by the statue of Christ with Elder Palma.

2. The view from up there! Everything you can see has been or is currently my area. =D

The Weekly ''Meeeeeerry Christmas''!!!‏

December 24, 2012
Dear Family and friends,

Well I hope you're all doing well this Christmas season. Today is Christmas Eve! Who would have that that it would come so fast? Tomorrow is Christmas! Woohoo! 

But yeah, I guess I'll get on with the update for the week. =P

So this week I got my new companion on Tuesday night. Elder Palma, I think I mentioned him last week, he's coming straight from the offices after having been secretary and District Leader there, so he's got a lot of good knowledge from having been very close to President Lopez and the Assistants. He's been helping me out a lot to perfect our teaching form so that we can really be Preach My Gospel missionaries, and it's going great with him.

In the zone there are some new missionaries that are a little... Worrysome... They've got kind of a past of disobedience in the mission, but nothing that repentance can't solve! We had a good talk with the zone on Wednesday after district class, and we told them that their past wasn't important to us, because to God it doesn't matter who we were, it matters who we choose to be NOW. So yeah, it looked like they got the point and they have been working hard here in Teziutlán. They're great missionaries, we just all have our weaknesses I think. 

Anyway, on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday we were just searching new people and working with the current ones we have. One that I mentioned a while back is Edgar, or as he likes to be called by his second name, Saíd (I think there's a character on Lost that has the same name, so you can pronounce it!). He's a young man with a lot of desire to change, but has been really busy with his work, so we've been able to see him very little, but bit by bit we've been getting him closer and closer to take the step of baptism. 

Well, this week he came with us to church! Woohoo! He has his baptismal date set for the 30th of December and his cousin, Luís, who gave us the referral, will most likely be... ¿efectuando? (help me, someone that speaks English!) the baptism. 

As well on Sunday our investigator, Julia (don't know if I've mentioned her) was baptized, I'll send a picture next week because another missionary took the picture.

Aaaand what else? Well the week has been generally great! We had more people come to church with us this week, so we're doing well and we're pretty happy about the work we've been doing, we just have to keep going.

Today I was listening to some church music while cleaning the house, and I realized how grateful I am for this mission experience I've had and keep having, I just had to say a big old prayer of thanks because I really have come to learn and know a lot more about my Saviour and Father in this time, and they have blessed me beyond measure, and as it talks about it Alma 5, they've changed my heart. I'm definitely not the same person that I was when I left. I'm not perfect, and I have a LONG way to go, but I feel like I've finally built a testimony that my life can be based on after this time. 

For all those who are reading this, in whatever way that you've had an influence in my life, I hope you know that I'm SUPER thankful for you and your support in my being here. This is something that every person should be able to experience to some degree in their life, and the only way is serving and loving your neighbor. I hope you all can keep influencing the lives of others and help others to come to know the things that I've come to know.

I know that Christmas is really about Christ. The very title states it. Let's please try to distract ourselves of the material at this time, it's fun and great as well, and in some cases very necessary, but NOTHING is more necessary than a true remembrance of the birth, life, atonement, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We must remember that He still guides us in these times, and that we have to do all we can to live according to His spirit, which is the very same Christmas spirit. It's something that makes us want to give everything we've got to those in need, so let's give them the Gospel! It's what will bring true happiness to those who LIVE it. 

I love you all and I hope you have a great Christmas! Remember Him in this season! See you all sooner or later. =D

Elder DeFreese

1. Our zone. The picture was taken with timing on it, so it's not perfect, but 's'all good. =)

2 The stake Christmas party, where they decided to go crazy on some Christmas-ish piñatas. ¡Híjole!

3. Today, after playing basketball in the Stake Center, we went to visit the Bishop at his Pet Vet place. Yeah, that's a Chihuahua! Adam, DON'T SHOW THIS TO BRAVO. Heheh

4. Lookin' fly in a Bratz hat I found. Ahhh yeah.

The Weekly Oops-I-forgot-to-send-the-second-picture-in-that-email!‏

December 17, 2012

The Weekly Semana

December 3, 2012
Dear family and friends,

Firstly, I have to comment on what mom said about the new (she IS new in the ward, right?) sister, Claudia Gonzalez. Woohoo! That makes me super happy and excited, because I am definitely going to need to practice my spanish and eat some good ol' Mexican food! Mmmm..

This week I was seriously thinking about how in the world I would be able to live without fresh made tortillas, beans, and especially my new favorite chile pepper, chiltepín. Alright, so it isn't a new favorite, but it IS a new obsession. Before, I liked it. Now I ask for it every time we eat. They say it's really spicy and hardly eat it themselves and they're all shocked that I eat so much of it, but I do like it quite a bit. Sooo good.

Anyway though, now I'll be able to live in peace knowing that Sister Gonzalez can teach me how to make all of that stuff up there in La Casa! Woohoo! =D

Alright, but moving on into the week...

So this week was pretty good, pretty normal and all, but good. 

On Tuesday we had our normal District Class, the only difference being that we had to have both districts of Teziutlán in the stake center (our chapel) because the Assistants came up to do a little training with our District Leaders. Each of the Assistants took one of the classes and taught the majority of it, focusing on our calling as missionaries and the power and authority that we have, or that we SHOULD have, if we just trust and believe in that. It was a really cool topic, and I enjoyed it quite a bit. 

Then we got some practices done and they gave us all a few pointers as we went over a few teaching principles. It was good. 

After that, each of the assistants accompanied one of the District Leaders and another companionship to go to their teaching appointments and such. They didn't come with us, but the Elders said that it went well for them. 

Hmm, what else... Oh yeah! I got my package, thanks mom! 'Twas nice to get that super early this year. =P Now I've just put it under my bed so that it doesn't tempt me having to wait until Christmas. My companion keeps telling me to open it so that I can share american candy with him, seeing as how he's going home the 18th of December. He's the first companion that I've ''killed'' as they say here, seeing as how going home is ''dying'', so that's kind of a weird experience seeing how his attitude and habits change bit by bit. He's still working hard though, so it's all good. Sometimes the missionaries get pretty lazy when they're finishing up. I'm of the opinion that doing such is like starting a 25 mile marathon or something, and on the last mile, being in first place and still having energy to go, you just decide to walk until you get there, letting others pass you by. 

In other words, I think it's stupid, to be frank*. Haha, but I'm making sure that doesn't happen to my comp, and I won't let it happen to me either. =D

What else??? Well, this week was a bit of a roller coaster as for the progress of investigators, seeing as how we've had a drop a couple and such. But I can definitely testify that if we're LOOKING for God's guidance, and we're WILLING to change our plans to fit with His, He'll guide us quite a bit. 

This week their were various moments where we were going to one appointment or plan and one or the other felt to check someone else instead, and from that we found really great people to teach. One of those experiences was that we were going to visit some old investigators that we haven't seen for a while to check up on them and see if we can get them going again, but as we were on our way, I remembered this referral of a young guy in our ward named Luís, I'll explain a bit more about him in a sec... But anyway, I remembered that he had mentioned how his cousin wanted to go to church because he'd seen a lot of good changes in Luís, and wanted to change his life too. The only problem was that Luís wasn't sure when his cousin would be working and when he'd be home, but I felt to check that referral. So, as we were already close to where Luís works, we went and asked him for the address, and we searched his cousin, Edgar. 

We got to the house miraculously quickly (only people who've tried to search addresses in Mexico will understand me, I'm afraid...=P), and Edgar answered the door. We went in and introduced ourselves and he just opened himself up and let us know all of his trials and problems, family issues, etc. and how he has such a desire to change who HE is to be able to help those around him as well. He talked to us for a good while and we gave him an introduction to the gospel, talking a bit about the atonement of Jesus Christ. The spirit was pretty strong.

Then we taught him about prayer, and asked him to say the closing prayer. He said he didn't feel ready, but I explained to him about how Satan tries to make us feel that the farther we are from God, the harder it is for him to hear us as we pray, but that Jesus came to earth for the sinners, not for the just, and that the moment that we feel less worthy to pray is when we have more need to do so. So, we testified to him of that and re-commited him to say the prayer, which he did.

It was one of the best prayers I've heard in the mission, filled with emotion and real intent. I felt the spirit super strong as he prayed and we know that he'll progress and be able to make those changes that he wants so bad.

So that was a great experience.

I know that God loves us all and really desires to guide us in our lives, if we just humble ourselves and accept that guidance that He wants to give us. Let's all be a little more attentive to the spiritual promptings we receive, because we ALL receive them. I know God will guide you all as well, and you'll be really glad that you follow that guidance, because you'll have more peace of mind and more happiness as you go about your every day lives.

I hope you all know I love you a ton! I liked Jared's ''dying words'' from Korea. Love is definitely key in this work.

Until next week,

Elder DeFreese

1. Mmm, chayote, or herizo, or whatever you want to call it! (the name changes everywhere I go =P)

2. Elder Villegas and I on splits last week. Him being the classic Mexican apparently, and me being the ''greenie'' American.

The Weekly Semana

November 26, 2012
Dear family and friends,

Well this week has been cool and such! 

Starting with last monday after writing I don't even remember what we did... Hmm... I think we were running to get started with the work-day right at 6, but anyway, we were able to find a few people to teach there and talk with a few people that were getting ready for their baptisms, such as Angel, Bryan and Max. 

I don't remember if I mentioned them yet, but their a few little jovencitos that we're working with right now of the ages of 12, 10, and 8. We've also been working with their inactive moms (in both cases the moms beeing single mothers) to activate them and the others in their families that have become less active as well. I will get to the good part soon, but honestly I must say that it is a very satisfying thing to be able to help inactive members come back to the gospel and to help their family members take the step of baptism at the same time. It's really a good feeling and the parents are always very supportive.

Anyway though, from there I think I forgot to mention the crazy phone call that we got last Monday. As you all should know, Today is the last day of this transfer (another bites the dust!), but last monday we got a call from the assistants. My companion answered and I only heard his side of the conversation, which went something like this...

''When will they be leaving?''

...

''Tomorrow!? ...Okay... And who's coming in their place?''

...

''...Until when?''

And that's about where the conversation ended. Yep, the sisters that were in Altotonga (remember? That was my area for two whole days! =P) had to be changed in some pretty weird transfers! They went to Papantla (about 5 or 6 hours away), and now the area went back to the way it was when I was in San Juan Xiutetelco, and the elders there will be covering both wards again. We don't know when they'll be sending missionaries again, but we hope that it'll be soon enough.

Anyway from there on Tuesday we had our district class which was weird being just with Elder Villegas, Elder Beckert, my comp. and I. 

'Twas good though.

From there, let's see... Well, a couple Elders in the zone without saying names were having some companionship problems, so we did special splits with them on Friday, and kept searching out new people to teach and stuff. There are a LOT of inactive members here. It's a little crazy, but it's all good. 

What else, what else... I can never remember stuff when I'm writing! Haha

From there though we just got ready for the baptisms on Sunday, which went really well! We got everything ready and it was all a great experience with a few investigators there in the baptism as well. Yola has gotten a little discouraged by her parents but she says she knows it's the right thing to do, she just wants more time to get more knowlege before baptism. We've taught her that baptism is the door by which we enter into the way (2 Nefi 31:17 I believe), and that ''faith is not a perfect knowlege of things'' (paraphrasing Alma 32:21 here, pardon my lack of english scripture skill), but she just says she wants to learn more, so I guess we'll see when she decides that she's ready to go.

Anyway, I guess that's all for now!

Oh yeah, Thanksgiving... It was interesting. Haha we ate at a stand in the market place where one of my converts works. Ironically, she works with someone I used to teach about a year ago who is now a recent convert. We ate empanadas, chayoteste capeado (ask Adam, we'll see if he knows), it's like a... Fried potato. More or less. It's good though. And a few other things. It was good, but I felt bad if we ate a lot, seeing as how the food there was for customers as well, so I didn't fill myself to the Thanksgiving limit, but it was good anyway.

And I guess that's really all for now. I love you all, things are good! Keep up the good work all of you!

I want a picture of Breanne pregnant! And more pictures of the family please, if you can send some!

Love,

Elder DeFreese

Pictures!

1. Me making a tortilla for some delicious empanadas. Mmmm

2. Pretending to have done a great job at making this sauce with what's called a molcajete. I think I'll buy one here to make salsa up there!

3. With the Román family together with Sister Rosa, the recently activated mother of Bryan and Max, as well in the picture.

4. The baptism of Angel, Bryan, and Max. =D

The Weekly Semana

November 19, 2012
Alright,

So this week I have to write faaaast.

It's been good though, we've been going with lots of inactive families to help them get back to church and we've found lots of success in that. Including the fact that this week we have baptisms set for various children of the intactive members who still haven't taken that super important step of baptism. 

This week we had lots of people in church which was really cool because it was the primary program! There was a 5 year old boy directing the children's songs which was super hilarious (and spiritual of course!), and... Yeah!

Good times, good times. 

Yolanda (the niece of Sister Lupita) didn't get baptized this week because she went to visit her parents in the far away ranch where they live (which surprisingly is still our area). Aaaand...

Well we've been having a good time here. Last night I whipped out my english Book of Mormon after not having opened it for a long time and opened up to a random page and read a scripture that's been going through my mind since. I like it a lot. Alma 7:22-24. It's really good. =D

Anyway though, I sure love you all and I'll be writing more next week!

Elder DeFreese

The Weekly Semana‏

November 12, 2012

Let's get into the week!

This week was pretty interesting, we've been learning to speak some pretty interesting languages of love and such. Haha, it's all going well in the zone. 

This week we started out on Tuesday with a meeting with the stake presidency and with President Lopez, where we had a few subjects and ideas prepared to improve the missionary work and our relationship with the members here, which went pretty well.

We're all on the same page and getting things going here, so it's all good! 

Then we had our district class, which went well, afterward we got to work with everything going normal!

A little bit into the week, we were having some difficulties and we didn't really know what to do about it, so we were just working our hardest and seeing what would happen. Then, on Friday we did splits with Elder Beckert (the new gringo here) and his comp., Elder Villegas. So that day we talked about a lot of things and prayed hard (Elder Beckert and I) to have success and to find people to teach that day.

So, we went to this place named Huehueymico that's just a little farming town type of place about 20 minutes away in car, and we searched out a couple of the referrals we had there. We had some amount of success with them and everything was looking well, but we still didn't have anybody that was really really ready to accept the gospel. Then, as we were heading out of Huehueymico, we passed by a member's house. As I was passing, I was looking at the house to see if Sister Lupita was home to wave to her as I passed, but didn't see anyone. 

''Oh well! Later I'll say hi'', I thought, continuing the walk about a half-block past her house. Then, I felt that we should visit her. I didn't know why, but I checked my watch, and seeing that we had about an hour until we had to be back in Teziutlán (well, really Chignaulingo, but it's part of Teziutlán...), we went back to her house and knocked. Some young woman that I hadn't met answered the door, and after asking if Sister Lupita was home and doing a little investigating, I found out that she was Sister Lupita's niece, who happened to have moved in with her recently, who had gone to church and liked it before, and who had a very big question for us... ''Why are there so many religions, shouldn't there be just one, if there's only one God?''.

Well, I just love that question, because it sets up everything for the restoration. So we taught her right then and there and commited her for baptism for the 18th of this month. She went to church yesterday and enjoyed it and is getting prepared for this Sunday. 

So yeah, it was a really cool experience.

Anyway though, I'm running low on time so I have to go, I love you all!

Elder DeFreese

1. Elder Villegas with some feet problems gets checked out by Sister Lopez before the district class. (they came to talk with the stake presidency with my comp. and I about the missionary work here in Teziutlán)

2. The view from our balcony here in Teziutlán. The graveyard there looks pretty crazy when there's fog!