Jan 7, 2013 Weekly Challenge

I would invite you all to read the talk called the fourth missionary and see what exactly it means but in short it is a truly consecrated missionary.


I also want you all to read Alma 32 mostly the end where Amulek talks about a seed.

Jan 7, 2013

So I actually get to write you on a Monday, weird. This last week here was freezing cold. Weird I know, luckily I kept my big jacket that I almost sent home, problem was I had no gloves. Won't lie, riding the bike through the humid cold without gloves was a bit difficult at times but the Lord always extends his tender mercies and one of our investigators lent me a pair, I will be buying a cheap pair today. But it was about 40 or below this last week and I know it doesn't sound too cold but with the humidity the cold just penetrates and pwns you. Plus it rained and got muddy and so I had to put the back fender on my bike because the first night out I got soaked all up my back. But it is warm again and I am alive.

We had interviews with president Trayner this week and at first I was worried about them, mostly because most interviews in the past have been like worthiness and advancement interviews where they ask you all sorts of questions but this one was different. In the TMM (Texas McAllen Mission) There is a huge focus on becoming what they call the fourth missionary. I would invite you all to read the talk called the fourth missionary and see what exactly it means but in short it is a truly consecrated missionary. One who does all they can to develop Christ-like attributes, if there is a Preach My Gospel in the house read chapter 6. But it is the difference between the 3rd missionary and the 4th that changes a person. A 3rd Missionary is obedient and has huge success on his mission but for all the wrong reasons, and as a result is left personally unbenefitted from his service. A 4th Missionary finds himself serving for the Lord and knows he can't do it all alone and comes home changed so that was the focus of the interview. President Trayner sat me down and looked over my self evaluation of the Christlike attributes and my goals to improve them and we talked about it. I felt loved, I felt like I can do this, and it helped me push through this week. I am doing my best to truly become that 4th Missionary.

So with our investigators and our work things went a lot better this week. We have been doing more to try to get Members present to our lessons and hit all of our goals and we have seen the fruits of our labors. Our numbers look a lot better but most importantly we are seeing change in our investigators. Well, for the most part.

Juan bailed on our Saturday lesson and then he didn't come to church Sunday so Elder Marble is pretty bummed because Juan is kind of his "White Whale" if I haven't already mentioned that. So really as of right now we aren't sure what it is we are going to do as it pertains to Juan but if he keeps showing us that he has no ganas to progress we are going to have to drop him which is going to be hard because we love him. He knows it too because we told him we love him and that's why we keep coming by. But I will let you know more about Juan probably next week when I know.

Yari, also has been avoiding us. Friday as the rain was pouring we moved our weekly planning back in the day so that we could accomodate her schedule and as we rode through the cold to her house we were excited to teach her. Well, we know she was home because she has a lock that can only be opened and locked from the inside but she didn't answer. We stood outside for like 20 minutes knocking and praying and unfortunately she just didn't ever choose to answer, so I think we may need to give her some time as well.

Now, Norma she came to church!! First time she has come and first time an investigator with a Baptisimal date has come which is so great. She still calls the Book of Mormon the bible but I feel like she is getting closer to being ready. Sunday as I walked into sacrament they told me that for the 2nd hour neither of the Doctrine Principle teachers were going to be there and so they asked me to give the lesson. Well, it happened to be on fasting and luckily for me it went pretty well. Afterwards Norma had a few questions about fasting and how often we can do it and if she can fast for strength. I think she loves the idea of this doctrine and we struck a chord, but it shows that she was paying attention and learned. That means she can be taught and so we are going by tomorrow I believe to have our next lesson. I have a great feeling about her.

The Guerrero family Myra and her children called us at like 12:30 to tell us that their youngest son was sick and that they weren't coming. Well Miracle of the week, they showed, why I dunno, how I dunno, but he got feeling better and they came. That right there increased my testimony of fasting so much because that is one of the things I was fasting for. They came, and although David was just kind of there to be there I feel like Myra as obnoxious as she can be felt the spirit and her kids as well. We have a lesson tonight with them and we are bringing a family that we want to fellowship with them with us to help out. Now we just have to get David, a BD (Baptisimal Date) and we have the whole family. I have a good feeling about them.

Daniel, well we didn't hear from his this week something happened and we hope to get with him soon.

Nele, Now I dunno if I mentioned Nele last week because we had basically given up on her but we stopped by and she told us her husband was in jail now but that she really wanted us to come back so we are hoping this trial will humble her enough to listen to us. Ojala.

Oh and I found a baby Jesus in a Rasca de Reyes, which is a sucky pan dulce and so I have to make tamales or something ridiculous. And I got to try Mole which is not very good.

 If you haven't gotten the chance to take me up on my challenge please do.  I want you all to read Alma 32 mostly the end where Amulek talks about a seed. I promise you guys that this gospel is true and that there are innumerable blessings we can receive by studying it and living it's principles. Keep doing what you need to do my family the things God has asked that we do and I promise that as you give him the only thing that isn't truly his, which is your will, you will be blessed. I am going to try to write a few real letters today but that will depend on time, 6 hours of P-day goes fast. I love you all and miss you all and hope to hear from you all soon. I leave you both my love and my testimony in the name of our savior Jesus Christ. Amen

Elder Bassett

Jan. 2, 2013 Weekly Challenge

My challenge for you this week, for all of you, is to do your best to recognize how it is the Lord is mindful of you.  I would like responses by email or post about your experiences.

Jan 2, 2013

So, this week has been pretty Interesting. First of all Happy New Years my family I love you all and hope it was a special one. I didn't get to write you on P-day because it was New years eve and all but we did have what they call a Celestial P-day which is where a P-day falls on a day where you can't be out prostelyting during the night. So we all met up in McAllen or not all of us just the Missionaries that were within reasonable driving distance and we met up and played some sports and got to hang out and have a BBQ. I got to see Elder White, he was sick but was just as funny as always. I also got to see Elder Holley, for the first time since I came home I got to see him and was just stoked. We took a picture on his polaroid so I have it in my journal but I forgot my camera back in Mercedes so I didn't get to take one but no worries I have a few years to get one. After the food we gathered in the gym to watch the rugby movie forever strong and I was super surprised at all the parallels there are in it to missionary work or just to life in general. It took on a whole new meaning I was impressed. Oh and I starting learning crochet so just expect giant  adult sized cocoons for your birthdays...

So, like I said this week has been interesting we have been trying very hard to improve on our finding because we have hit what they call the "Valley of Death" Where the missionaries got so excited about teaching and baptizing the people they had that they forgot to find new ones. So we have been knocking and talking and trying but I gotta say some people are just kind of rude and they have this whole, all churches are true just as long as we talk about God we are all gonna be fine, mentality which drives me nuts because they get offended when we tell them our church is the true church. However through our knocking and such we found a few new people that have invited us back, one family, the guerrero family, is a man and woman (Not married woohoo) and four children two of which are baptisimal age. At first with the Guerrero family we sat down and it seemed like the mother was just trying to play a joke on her children but since then we have been back twice and yesterday we committed Myra (the mother) and her two children Josue and Regina to be baptized on the 24 of February. This is a lot longer than we usually give our investigators for their baptisimal dates but we have to find a time where David (The not father, nor husband) is home from work and commit them not only to marriage but commit him to baptism. I am actually a lot less worried than I was initially because Myra is showing true desires to change their lives. She even referred us to her friends, we are going by them tomorrow.

Second right now is Norma, now Norma last week committed to church this past Sunday but after not being home for our Saturday lesson and a No show to church we were super worried we had been dropped. Turns out she had gone to stay with her mother during New years because her ex-husband keeps sending her pictures of him and his new woman and it is causing her to be depressed. It's really very sad but the book of Mormon brings her peace even though she just calls it the Bible (We are working on that one). She has also accepted a lesson with us at 4 today and we will be bringing a couple of elderly people named the Deans. I believe Norma will be baptized and that we can truly help change her life.

Juan, the Juan that cut his fingers off. He had a bunch of problems with the thought of 1 prophet and one church but we taught him that there are many prophets on the Earth but that only one can be the head of the church. It was funny during that lesson because he kept telling us how Christ's church should function and it just so happens to be the way that the church functions. So we are seriously just about there with Juan, he just needs to man up and get in the water so we can change his whole life them baptize the rest of the family.

Yari, yeah with Yari and Danny we found out that they aren't married either (woohoo) and so that is an obstacle we will be facing but more than that an obstacle we face is just getting time with them. Our first lesson with them since the lesson about her vengeful father is tonight and so we are really gonna try hard to set some expectations and try to help them understand that we can't help them if they don't let us. And...of course we need to get them married. But Danny is 19, it's weird to think that I am teaching a younger guy than me to marry the mother of his child. Anyways that is South Texas, "Why would I get married, we have been together 20 years, if we get married we will get divorced" It's so weird to me.

Miracle of the week, There is a sister we have been working with for referrals because she has been called to work with the Recent converts of the spanish branch her name is Sister Gutierrez. We stop by regularly to talk with her about referrals and she tells us about all the people she has talked to that need the gospel and we have tried to visit those people. Well, last night we went by and there was a young man in her living room and he answered the door. His name is Daniel and he is mentally handicapped I am not sure what he has or what it does but you can just kind of tell that is the case. Well, Daniel told us that he is super excited for the New Year because it means he can start a new chapter of his life and put all the bad behind him. He also shared with us that on New Years eve God gave him the chance to talk with his Grandparents who have both passed away, which is nuts because the spirit was so strong as he told us that I know it is true. So, we shared with him a short Doctrine of Christ lesson which covers faith, repentance, Baptism, Gift of the Holy Ghost and then I invited him to be baptized on the 3rd of Feb and he accepted. His comment after accepting was that he could feel that God was happy with that decision and that he knows God is mindful of him because he sent us to teach him. I know that this is true, God is mindful of all of his children and does all he can to show them his love.

My family I love you all very much and I will write physical letters I just have not had time to do so. My challenge for you this week, for all of you, is to do your best to recognize how it is the Lord is mindful of you. And I want responses by Monday, Jessica that'll be a great chance to get your email in my inbox so I can't lose it like I did. Also, if you put this on the blog I extend this challenge to all those who read this I want responses Justin.Bassett@myldsmail.net or

529 W 3rd street apt #10 Mercedes Texas, 78570.

My time is up, I hope you all know that I love you and miss you. Your prayers carry me through my days and I need them very much. I know this is the true church and that all of us together can help build the Lords kingdom on the Earth. He his hastening his work and he needs you all now more than ever. He is mindful of you and loves you and has provided a way for us to be with him and to be like him. The book of Mormon is true, read it. I leave you my testimony in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen

Elder Bassett