Mar 11, 2013 - Weekly Challenge

Mix up the roles for Family Home Evening.  Have each member of the family take his or her turn to do each assignment and switch off each week.

Mar. 11, 2013

So, first off Transfer news....I am staying here in Mercedes at least for another 6 weeks. That should be my last transfer here and if it isn't well then that means that I will be staying for 5 transfers here because Elder Ellsworth dies next transfer so I would have to stay here for a new companion one after that. I don't know if I can do 5 in Mercedes I will not lie, I love it here but it just really isn't big enough to be here 7 and a half months. Elder Curletti, our District Leader is headed off to Rio Grande where Elder Marble was but Elder Marble is headed up to Corpus Cristi to become a Zone leader. Things will be weird with a new neighbor but, that is the mission.

 The really good part about staying is that means that I get to see Frank and Kayla take two plunges...first marriage, and second baptism. Things with them have been going super good and I can't believe it is already almost time for them to be baptized it feels like forever ago that we were setting their BD and just starting the teaching process. They have changed a ton this last month and a half and I can't begin to tell you how amazing it is to see that process in others. We will keep working with them and I will keep you posted.

 Maria Guerrero came to church again this Sunday, things with her are a bit weird. The reason being she is progressing but hasn't accepted a Baptisimal date (BD) and that is really our focus right now. Without that goal of a date she isn't progressing towards anything tangible we are just really concerned with getting her doubts out into the open so that we can help her through them. Her son told us the other day that he would really like to sit down with us and take the classes as well. The Lord is preparing that home and when they are ready there are 6 members of that family that could all take the steps onto the straight and narrow and that is super awesome.

 We really don't have anyone else that is currently investigating the reason being we had to drop Carlos because he wasn't actually taking any action. It is unpleasant because progressing or not you do learn to care about these people. We will be by him soon to see how he is doing, we just need to give him some time to decide.

Good news though, Josue just got ordained a Deacon on Sunday which is nuts! He has changed a lot since we got to sit outside with him and his Sister back in December. The whole family has, Mayra was late to church Sunday and she admitted to us that she felt bad because it was her fault because she was being "floja y no tenia muchas ganas de ir". But, she came anyway and that is how you know someone is converted. That even when you have reasons not to come, you still do. The Coronado family is doing amazingly well and it is awesome.

I hope you know how proud I am to hear that all of you are doing your best to be better, that is what this life is all about. Changing every day to be better. It doesn't happen at once but it will happen if you are doing all you can to be the best you possible. That is something that the mission has been teaching me. You just have to be moving forward, it isn't a sprint, it is a marathon. I love you all soo very much and can't wait to hear from you.

 

I hope all is going well at home and will keep you all in my prayers. I love you all.

Elder Bassett

Mar 4th, 2013, Weekly Challenge

This week I just want to invite you all to pray together and to pray individually for each other. We talked about going back to the basics and this is the very very basic principle of the Gospel. Prayer is something that needs to be heartfelt, be careful of rote repetitions and empty words. Prayer is your chance to communicate with our God, think about that next time you pray and try to believe that he is truly there listening intently and I promise your prayers will change. 

Mar 4th, 2013

So this is the last week of my second transfer here in the field, it is super weird because it feels like a long time but at the same time it feels like no time. Does that make sense? Oh and yes before I forget I did get the coloring books a while back turns out that all 3 were exactly the same book just with different covers on them. All the pictures inside were the same, so I took one of the books and gave it to a recent converts son for his 3rd birthday then stood there as he took to destroying the pictures with his crayons. I keep one in my backpack to entertain small kids in lessons and it has actually come in handy a few times. As far as white pants probably just size 36 would be fine it is just the ones that I have are huge. I would probably wait to send the package though because I may be getting transferred next Tuesday and if you sent it now it may not get here till after I left and that would be a pain. I suppose you could send it to the mission home but it may be easier to wait for the new address, up to you either way is fine with me. I am super happy to hear that Mamita is doing better and was happy to have received several more emails this week than I was accustomed. That is weird that you got into contact with that family Dad, 8 women would drive me to suicide as well so I guess we both just need to count our blessings. There were several interesting things that happened to me this week.

First off I gave my very first blessing ever this last Tuesday I think it was to Diego, the less active son of a member in our area. He is confused about what he should do about serving a mission. He is a rapper, and as far as I can tell his raps are a bit explicit considering the CD's he sells come coupled with a Parental Advisory sticker. He isn't sure if he should continue his career or serve the Lord because he truly feels that he can make it somewhere in the Rap industry and has actually received an offer from a local studio to record his new music. We went over and read a chapter with him and then I was asked to be the voice in a blessing of comfort. Never did I think I would be so nervous to give a blessing but I was. After managing to give the blessing I felt great, I just hope it was a help to him because I know he could make a good missionary. We will be trying to meet with him at least once a week to have lessons with him and see if we can't get him active again.

Second off, not only did I give my very first blessing in English this week, I gave my very first blessing in Spanish this week. Not just any blessing however, it was coupled with the ordinance of Confirmation. Josue decided that because Elder Ellsworth baptized him and I had baptized the other 2 that we would switch for the confirmation. I was to confirm Josue a member of the Church. Yupp, just about died of a heart attack there, because not only was I to voice the ordinance correctly but I had to articulate a blessing in front of the whole ward. I was mortified, but the spirit was there to lend a hand as he always is and I was able to make it through without embarrassing myself or destroying the Spanish language. That night because it was Mayra's birthday we went over and had Carne with her and her family. I truly love that family a great deal and can't begin to tell you how much they have taught me. Josue should be receiving the Aaronic priesthood this sunday. I am overjoyed.

 Frank and Kayla both came to church this week and I was so happy to see them there. They are both progressing so well and are now asking eagerly about their baptisms. This last week we were to have a Family Home Evening, but the members that were supposed to accompany us forgot and so we just had a lesson with them. Tonight we are going to officially have that F.H.E and we are so very excited to get that final thing done for them in their progress towards baptism. There isn't a whole ton to report there, they are just doing really well.

 This week I got to learn what it truly means to have to drop someone, Anthony. Unfortunately he expressed to us that he didn't feel that he was really ready to act. He told us that although he likes us coming by he prefers it as more of a "Bible Study" than actual lessons that are coupled with committments. We tried to help him understand that these things were necessary if he were to come to a real knowledge of the truth and he told us that he was just not 100%. We then had to explain to him that as missionaries our time is precious and that we would always be around if he were to change his mind but that we just didn't have the time to Bible study. It was less than pleasant because Anthony is a good kid but someday he was change his mind.

 To answer your questions that I haven't yet it is about 50/50 english to spanish ratio. We teach Mayra and Maria in Spanish for example while Anthony, Norma, and Frank and Kayla are in English it all just depends on who and where. That isn't how it is in the whole mission however, up north it is almost all English while in Laredo it is almost all Espanish. My Spanish is getting better though at times I feel like some of the phrases and such here are less than authentic. It is hard because you can't talk to people in a way that they don't understand and so we have to talk on the level of the people. The Gospel is new to them and as such it is hard to understand as it is, how much worse would it be if we started throwing unfamiliar words at them as well. So, sorry Mom I can't promise that mi Espanol is going to get muy hermoso. My camera is super cool by the way I discovered it's functionality this week and am excited to use it.

This week I just want to invite you all to pray together and to pray individually for eachother. We talked about going back to the basics and this is the very very basic principle of the  Gospel. Prayer is something that needs to be heartfelt, be careful of rote repetitions and empty words. Prayer is your chance to communicate with our God, think about that next time you pray and try to believe that he is truly there listening intently and I promise your prayers will change. As you pray for eachother you will become wary of eachothers needs as well as the things you need to change to bring the spirit of unity into the home. I hope you all know that I love you and miss you, that you are in my prayers and that I know you can go and do the things the Lord has asked. Nephi taught us this lesson over and over again in the Book of Mormon. Be strong my family and remember that the Lord is there y El quiere que sepan que los ama.

 Elder Bassett

Pics from Feb 25th, 2013

My second Baptism family - Guerrero Family - Josue, Mayra and Regina

Elder Bassett & Elder Ellsworth

First Mercedes District Jan. 2013

Feb 25th, 2013, Weekly Challenge

So the challenge of the week, Word of Wisdom. Fun fact, The fall of Adam and Eve, the event that brought forth sin and mortality and as a result death upon humankind was cause by breaking the Word of Wisdom. God commanded that they abstain from that particular fruit for it would bring about their death and they transgressed it and it brought about the Fall. Doesn't look like such a minor thing now does it. The challenge is to leave something, coffee, arizona tea, Brisk tea I don't care. Leave it don't look back just do it.

Feb 25th, 2013

Okay, so this has been a pretty good week actually, our numbers here are getting to be more rounded out as we have worked really hard on focusing on everything rather than just one thing. The Lord really does move his work in his own time and in his own way and if we just go and do what we know we should he truly does all the work. He demands of us physically, mentally, and spiritually but when I stop and think about the stuff that happens here I don't really do any of the work.

 Let's see, here in El Centro de Mercedes we are becoming more popular I think. More and more people have taken to honking, yelling, waving and such from cars. Of course that means that some of it is good and the rest of it is rude and angry and stuff but people are beginning to recognize who we are and what we do which is good. Being seen plants a seed. It is getting to be pretty hot here and everyone tells me that this is still nothing so I am not really looking forward to what they consider hot. I forget it is February and not the middle of August.

 This week Elder Ellsworth found a name of a less active that lives kind of out of the way of everything and we decided that we needed to go by her and see what was up, and if she even lived there anymore. Once we got to the house we knocked and an older woman opened the door. We talked with her and found out that Anna, the less active, did in fact live there, that she was a member of our church, and that the old woman was a die-hard Catholic and didn't want to hear our noise. So we asked her if we could leave a number that Anna could call and the woman said, "No, I will not facilitate that in my home." So we asked her if we could just swing by a different day and her response was, "No, I hate to be ugly with you but you and your religion bother me and we are a Catholic home and you aren't welcome here." Not really sure what we should say or do at this point we told her that we hoped she had a good day and that it was nice talking to her and we left. As we were getting on the bikes, admittedly a bit discouraged a young man came around from the back of the house. His words were, "Oh, hey Elders." never thought those words would catch me so off-guard. We got to talk to him, his name is Javier and he and his mother were baptized about 2 years ago and he is 20 and going to college. He and his mother don't go to church because his step-father and step-grandmother don't really sanction it in the home. We also found out they may be targets of the Cartel...scary. But we got his number as well as his mothers number and left him with ours and we decided we had best get off the property before grandma came out and called the cops on us or something. As we rode away I realized that had we not talked to Grandma for precisely as long as we had, we would not have met Javier. God used Grandma against herself. No unhallowed hand can stop his work and I just thought I might share that experience.

Frank finally came to church this Sunday, super unexpected, super awesome! First time and I think he loved it, he and Kayla are both progressing very well still. He even brought his Mother to our lesson Monday and she agreed with us in our lesson and it was quite spiritual actually. However, Kayla says that post-lesson she said she isn't sure about the whole "Mormon" thing. But, we will get her, eventually. Tonight Kayla offered to be our dinner appointment and we are going to have an F.H.E with them about Lehi's dream and it is gonna be super awesome and we hope they love it. Now we really just have to make sure they keep progressing for the 24th because they are both going to make Great Mormons as Willy puts it.

 Maria Guerrero, a woman we have been trying to get progressing also came to church yesterday and that means we don't have to drop her. She is a good woman she is just a Valleian and has valley disease and we are trying to cure her of it. If we can get her and her 6 kids to progress we could really help that family grow in the gospel. Other than her coming to church and really putting a few of the Women's complaints to rest because hers are just so much greater, there isn't a ton to report there.

Carlos, is a man we got from a referral and that we went by and sat down with on Saturday. He is a nice man, he is very old and has no teeth and has had a rough life to say the least. He does have a good foundation of faith and does want to follow Christ and after our first little lesson he accepted a BD. The biggest issue, is that he doesn't know how to read. Not at all. So, we told him that we were going to teach him how to read because we know that reading the Scriptures is a commandment and that it will bless him. He told us that would be wonderful because when things get rough he wishes he could open his Bible and find peace in it but he can't. Carlos was another miracle, and just proved to me that we aren't all the same and reminded me that our investigators are all individuals and have problems of their own.

The most amazing thing about this week is definitely the Baptism we had Yesterday, of the Guerrero er, the Coronado family. Mayra, Josue, and Regina all took the step to baptism and it has been a long time coming. I look back on the last 2 months with Mayra and how she went from trying to bail on us and avoid us to texting us for advice and making covenants with our Heavenly Father. She is not the same woman I met, and that is precisely the purpose of the Gospel. To change us, to help us to repent and to leave behind, little by little the natural man and become more like Jesus Christ our Savior and Redeemer. The kids are still young, they are punks but they too have changed and Josue has been asking a lot of questions about missions. He is 12 so he has a ways to go but 6 years goes fast. I got to personally Baptize Mayra and Regina and Elder Ellsworth, Josue. Mayra's was the first baptism I have ever personally perform in my life. What an experience that was, being able to stand having the authority of Christ and to bring someone into the covenant. It was truly special. Oh, and by the way those pants are way way to big, and that white tie is silk....so yeah almost lost my pants in the font that would have been fun.

 I have left a picture of The baptism, of Elder Ellsworth and I and a picture of my very first district before Elder Marble left.

So the challenge of the week, Word of Wisdom. Fun fact, The fall of Adam and Eve, the event that brought forth sin and mortality and as a result death upon humankind was cause by breaking the Word of Wisdom. God commanded that they abstain from that particular fruit for it would bring about their death and they transgressed it and it brought about the Fall. Doesn't look like such a minor thing now does it. The challenge is to leave something, coffee, arizona tea, Brisk tea I don't care. Leave it don't look back just do it. I know it is possible because Mayra left smoking, drinking, coffee, AND tea. Cold turkey, it can be done you just need faith. I know that we all can do better in that department even if it is just eating healthier my challenge is that. Find something that is harming your health and get rid of it. Eat your fruits and veggies, that is what I am doing to be better is incorporating those things into my diet so don't think I am perfect. I just know it is so so important that we take care of the bodies God gave us.

I love you all and miss you all,

Elder Bassett

Feb 19th, 2013, Weekly Challenge

This weeks challenge is to have a Family Home evening. The mission is putting an emphasis on going back to the basics.

Feb 19th, 2013

Hello mi familia, yes Dad the library was closed yesterday and that is the reason I wasn't able to write. I also have some pictures but I forgot the camera at the apartment, I don't really like having it on me because I don't want anything to happen to it. This last week was an interesting one but some great things have happened.  I did get to go to the outlet mall yesterday, that is like the only reason anyone knows what Mercedes is and I bought a white Adidas jacket for really cheap and Elder Guillette told me that it makes me look super Mexican...so yeah.

Anyways, it has been 10 weeks since I got to Mercedes, that is kind of crazy to think about. I can't believe Tanner got his mission call and didn't write me a letter...I hope he is learning a language no one mentioned that to me so I am curious. That right there is an answer to my prayers, that he stayed strong and decided to go and serve the Lord, tell him I love him will you? Girls, you need to behave and such. Okay so, last week there was a 3 day leadership training in McAllen. Elder Curletti is our District Leader so he went, and Elder Ellsworth is finishing my training so he went. So guess who got to work both areas for 3 days...yupp the verdecitos. The worst part was that Elder Guillette and I can't drive because I guess they don't have my driving record and he has driving tickets, so we had to bike everywhere. Now, in my area it is normal I do that everyday but their area covers a lot more ground so it was like 40 minutes to appointments and such and it being February of course it had to be super hot. But, we survived, barely and we did find a house with a professional sized wrestling ring in the back. The people here can't afford cars or basic living expenses but they can afford giant wrestling rings...interesting.

Norma is killing me. I want to drop-kick her old pastor but I don't think Christ would do that so neither can I. He has been hammering down on her and she hasn't been to church for 2 weeks. What I don't understand is that she knows God told her to get baptized into our church and that he told her the church itself was true so I just don't really know what else to tell her. My words can't be more convincing than a spiritual witness from God himself. We are working really hard with her to get her to see that by not coming to church and by regressing to her old church she is bringing a huge condemnation over her head, but we have to do it lovingly and that is the hardest part. More on Norma next week hopefully.

 Mayra finally got her interview and now we just have to wait for President to come down this Saturday to give us the okay, we are cutting it super close however because Sunday is her baptisimal date and due to the things in her past she may or may not be okay to go down that day. I have faith though, I know that she has repented of her sins and that she is truly trying to come to an understanding of the Gospel and she is trying to do so much better. Thus far she has stopped smoking, drinking beer or as the locals call it cerveza, she has given up tea and coffee, renounced the saints, come to church faithfully, and gotten married so that she can live the law of Chastity. Mayra is a wonderful expample of change, that nothing is impossible with the Lord and I know that he is going to bless her and her family so so much. This Friday we got to have her very first Family Home Evening which was just awesome. Sister Martinez agreed to let us have it at her house and she gave the lesson. It was on Forever families and it was just such a spiritual experience. The kids even behaved, I was like , " What?" and the spirit was like , " That's right." Josue even wants to serve a mission. He is concerned that he may not be able to because he has had a few "problems" with girls but we told him all is possible through repentance and so he is good again. This family has taught me so many things I wish I could number them all to you but I have such a strong testimony of this gospel and it's power to bless and change and refine and teach.

Frank and Kayla have marriage dates and they are officially gonna get married the 22nd of March and baptized the 24th. That is two marriages the Lord has helped us get in Mercedes. There are missionaries that never get to see a couple actually agree to marriage so we have been blessed tremendously. Frank is softening up it is super funny to see him go from big scary angry Frank to the Frank we have now. The only issue we have is getting work off on Sunday. He needs to come to church and so we are working super hard to pray and help him get it off. The good news is, they want to bring other people to our lessons, including Franks mom who is super skeptical and fiesty apparently so he has warned us about her. We should be meeting her tonight. Kayla already considers herself a Mormon so it goes without saying that she is doing well.

 Anthony, may be the coolest kid I have met since being here. He is just super interesting to teach. Problem is that he has cancelled the last two lessons, however he actually called us to tell us which no one else does and it is a good sign that he hasn't succumb to the valley sickness and it's treachery. We are trying to get the chance to really teach his whole family but he doesn't seem comfortable with that and that may be in part to the fact that his mother is super Christian and a bit strange. But, she is a daughter of God and needs the truth just like him.

This Sunday we had stake conference, you know that day that you have a meeting but it is really just a day off from church? Yeah, wrong. It was so great, even though I had to sit through it twice I learned a ton and the talks were powerful. Richard G. Scott talked about the sanctity of womanhood and how Priesthood holders should always remind the women in their lives of the importance of truly charishing the divinity of womanhood. Girls, I love you a lot. I just want you to know I worry about you and think about you a lot. I can't help it being in the valley where no one respects women. Girls here are pregnant at 12 and it makes me sad and I am just going to beg you right now to take care of yourselves. Never, ever, ever let anyone demean you or take advantage of you. You are the literal Daughters of God and as Elder Scott put it, "His Supreme creation. It wasn't until woman was created that the work was pronounced finished and good" 

This weeks challenge is to have a Family Home evening. The mission is putting an emphasis on going back to the basics. I got to witness the power of the spirit in a Family Home Evening this last week and it was a new experience for me. I promise you all, everyone that if you can manage a F.H.E once a week you will see the spirit in your homes. I know that some of you are in school away from your families, but do it anyway. With folks from your wards and stuff, just do it. That is really all the time I have this week and I hope you all know I love and miss you.

Con Carino,

Elder Bassett

Feb 11th, 2013, Weekly Challenge

Find a talk by Brad Wilcox that is called "His Grace is sufficient" and read it.

Feb 11th, 2013

So, I don't have a ton of time I had a few emails to respond to. I am happy to hear things are going well at home and that time is moving forward sometimes I forget that it hasn't just stopped and that going home will mean going to a great deal of new things. Dad I love the bull thing it is sweet, and no I haven't gotten the coloring books yet but they will come I am sure. This Email is gonna have to be a bit short. I am sorry about that.

Elder Ellsworth is my new companion and we are getting along pretty well, he and I haven't fought the biggest issue is that he doesn't wash his dishes but I will just deal with that no big deal. That is kind of the mission life, getting over the faults of others and trying only to better yuorself instead of tear them down. Elder Curletti, our neighbor is our District Leader now so that means I have to follow up which is kinda sucky. It is super hot here, not pleasant hot, like super humid uncomfortable hot and windy.

The area is doing well for being so small, sometimes I feel like I have been everywhere and knocked every house in Mercedes but I know that can't be true. We have kept teaching the Guerrero family and this last week Mayra and David got married!! That is huge, apparently most missionaries never get people to do that but the Lord worked really hard on that family and we were blessed to be part of it. Unfortunately due to some complications Mayra is going to need to be interviewed by President Trayner but she is not giving up and neither are we. The other day she invited us over for her wedding party and when we got there we were a few hours late because we had appointments and the only people there were people that I had taught and that had blown me off...awkward, for them because I thought it was hilarious to go to their table and call them by name and make them uncomfortable. Her kids and her just need solid testimonies because if not then baptism is really just a curse upon there heads.

Which leads me to my next point, Norma...She got baptized and confirmed but her old church is just bothering her and it's confusing her. We had a lesson this last week and she told us that God had told her that our church was true and that she needed to be baptized but that she still wasn't sure if she was gonna keep coming or go back to the other church. I don't know what to do because if God's word isn't enough then I doubt mine will be. I can't help but feel responsible, like maybe she hadn't been taught well enough or maybe we rushed her...It is really hard. But we won't give up.

Anthony is this 17 year old kid we met and have run into like 8 times, finally we got the chance to sit down with him and set a Baptisimal Date with him. He is really chill and so far has liked to book of Mormon and so we are stoked for him.

Kayla loves church and Frank hasn't come but he is trying to get work off so that he can join us. There are just so many forces working to keep him from going. A man at his job just quit which lowered the likelihood and I am just praying for a miracle. He isn't going to get left behind, we can't leave him behind. We committed them to marriage and I am going to do all I can to make sure all goes well. Kayla already calls herself a Mormon and so I am not worried about her.

So real quick Jessica happy birthday Albino I love you lots and lots. I want to hear how Papito is doing,  no one has said anything since the lab internship thing. Tell him and Mamita I love them and miss them tons. Also, it is easier and cheaper for you guys to just put a few bucks in my account rather than ship stuff here. I know sometimes it is more fun for you to ship it but for the most part just a deposit will work best.

My challenge is this, I want you to find a talk by Brad Wilcox that is called "His Grace is sufficient" and read it. Changed my perspective on a lot of stuff. I know that will help you with last weeks challenge as well. I love you all a lot I am sorry this one is short but I didn't have a ton of time.

Elder Bassett

Feb 4th, 2013, Weekly Challenge

Prepare for and visit the Temple regularly

Feb 4th, 2013

So, interesting week. Number 7 in the Field which is one longer than an ordinary transfer which is 6 weeks. It is due to the Holiday season or something and the transfer before I arrived was only 5 or something. Anyways, Friday we received the call for transfers and Elder Marble is leaving Mercedes...It's weird because normally one companion helps you with your first 2 transfers because you have what they call the 12 week program to finish. Now I get a stepdad in the mission and he will finish my training. That makes me a bit sad because I love Elder Marble and his goofy self. What's worse is that now I have to work the area as the one who knows it. Meaning, my new companion doesn't know anyone or anything about El Centro and so he will be depending on me as his Jr. companion to show him what's going on and all that stuff. As you all probably know, I have the worst time with directions and here in south Texas there are no mountains which makes it even worse. I feel like I can mostly get us around but at times I am still completely lost as to where I am. So this next week is going to be a long and hard one.

 

Also, the last few days we have been going around so that Elder Marble can say goodbye to all those he baptized here in Mercedes since July and all the members he has grown to love and it made me realize that some of them don't seem to have a lot of Faith in me. This was expecially expressed through Mayra Guerrero these last few days as she seems to grow more and more concerned at the news of Marbles departure. She doesn't think I have enough experience to help her as much as Elder Marble has and her daughter Regina brought the point home with a comment of, "Oh now you are going to have to talk more.". It's put me to think a lot about this last transfer and how I was getting a bit complacent with Elder Marble taking the lead in our lessons. This seems natural to me as I am the very Jr. companion and have a lot of learning to do about being a good Missionary but I guess it has come back to bite me. I am nervous at the prospect of showing my companion the ropes in the area and I realize how little faith I have in myself. Last night as I was laying in bed thinking about this I thought to myself, my faith should never ever be in myself, faith in myself will get me nowhere. My faith needs to be in the Lord because as we learn in the scriptures, "All things are done in the wisdom of he". He knows what he is doing and so I just need to trust in him and that is a very hard thing at times because I don't like walking up to doors of strangers to try to convince them to let me into their homes to share with them what they think they already know. I am not a great spanish speaker and so it is hard to get points accrossed as I would like them to. But God and his son both know what is best for me and if I will surrender myself to them I will be guided and helped.

 

This last week not a ton has happened with many of our investigators. Juan is super Happy Christian but I won't give up on him. Norma did receive the Holy Ghost yesterday as she was confirmed and so now she is truly counted among our family in the church and that brought me great joy. The Guerreros have been progressing very well except for Josue who has not come to church for 3 weeks. We truly need to help him in particular understand that he can't be baptized with his family unless he himself does everything required. We did find out however that Mayra has had a few "problems" that may impede the baptisimal process and so we need to try and get them sorted out soon. Her and her husband David did raise the money necessary to get married and are just waiting the 72 hours required by Texas law to sign their marriage certificate. I have great faith in that family and that they will be soon entering into the covenant with our Lord. We are trying very hard to find new investigators but many people have given themselves to the "Valley" sickness. "There is only one God, it doesn't matter where you go. God is in the trees and the grass and my bed. I am part of Gods church, so are you and you. I don't need to worship him in a church because I have accepted him and as long as I talk about him and believe in Christ I will be fine." False...False...False it is rough at times here to shake them of this viciously false doctrine and many times people don't let words escape our mouths before they have slammed the door in our faces. But, we have begun finding five miracles a day and writing them down and that has helped lift our spirits.

 

Before I go I wanted to share a few comical experiences we have had. One a run-in with a very drunk man we have crossed paths with many times named Jesse. Or at least we thought that was his name. The other night in his drunken stupor he explained to us that he was in fact the archeangel Gabriel and that he was going to teach us the gospel. Also, we have found out that Mexican women love Elder Marbles nose as one of the women in the Spanish Branch admitted to him that it had been the subject of conversation among the Women of the Relief society and the Young Women...weird but super funny to hear her tell him it was beautiful and that she wished she had one like his. Finally and possibly the most comical experience was the night we told Mayra to pray about Thomas Monson and that night she had a dream that she was Married to Elder Marble...Awesome.

Elder Bassett