ONE DOWN . . .

It cannot be that one year has already passed — but it has. Loco.

August 3, 2015

One down

Oooooooh crap. Here we are. The half-way. Starting Thursday, I will have more time here than what I will have left. afpowe4iansdvsasfoduihj. That’s kinda what I’m feeling.

So we had exchange with the Zone Leaders this week, and while we were walking, a plump woman of about 40 came and asked us, through broken English and 9 teeth, if we would pray for her. “Of course”, we said, “What’s your name?” “Teresa”, she informed us. We invited her to church, and she said, still in English, “You’re really nice. Are you single?” 

Shoot, Teresa. I’m afraid I’m not. I’m not single. Don’t ask me how, or whom I’m dating, but I’m really really not single. I hope she finds what she’s looking for.

Also, I got to make tortillas yesterday! That was fun.

Yesterday the Lord blessed us with a fantastic lesson. We ate outside, under the shade of a huge tree with Eduardo and his family (all members). He had made a deal with God that if He granted Lalo his visa, he would get baptized. Well, as you already know, he got his visa. He has a baptismal date for August 15th. We’re really excited for him. His son turned 8 a few weeks ago and got baptized by his father-in-law, and they have loose plans to be sealed as a family for time and all eternity. Pretty cool.

I love this Gospel. It just makes sense. Live it and learn to love it too. It makes things better. Not easy, but do-able (doeable? How do you spell that? Freakin English...)

Élder Webb

July 27, 2015

Spanglish

So I don’t speak English anymore. We were at the hospital this week (I’m ok!) and some members from the US came and introduced themselves. They were very friendly and said “Hey Elders! How are you? Is somebody sick?” and between my ears and my mouth there was a rather large gap. I wanted to speak English, but I had forgotten how to introduce myself and have a conversation. In response to the question “Is somebody sick?” All I could muster was a feeble “me.” I think I appeared a lot worse-off than I really was.

So if that’s with almost one year on the mission, imagine how dumb I’m going to be in another year! It’s actually stressing me out a little. I guess there’s no refund on the Gift of Tongues.

A quick story: there’s a hairstylist in our área (actually there are like 30, but the story only involves one), Marcos, and he likes my companion. I haven’t met the infamous Marcos yet, but I’ve heard stories. He doesn’t charge him for haircuts, but he does to every other missionary. So a member went to cut his hair there and he asked Marcos if he knew the missionaries. Marcos got really excited and said “Oh yeah! They used to come and teach me. Especially my little Yucateco (my companion is from Yucatán).” They got to talking, and Marcos told our member friend, “The Elder was trying to get me to go to church, but it’s more likely that I convert him, than that he convert me.”

Yeah. So we’ll be looking for another salon to visit.

I sent a picture last week of me with a bunch of niños. Well, this week, we got to baptize three of them and their dad! It was awesome. The Hernandez Huerta family has lots of problems, and God put us in their path at the perfect time. We  are doing what we can to help them, but they need your prayers. They need the Gospel and the joy it brings.

I am trying to learn to love my trials. It’s something I had heard is possible, so I thought I’d give it a try. It’s really humbling to try to thank the Lord for a problem. I had to tell Him that I wasn’t really grateful, but that I wanted to be. Trusting in the promise of Alma 32, that will be enough for now. If let that desire grow in me, I know that the Lord will bless me and allow me to really enjoy my trials. I know life won’t be easy after the mission, but now I know it will be possible. I’ve survived almost a year as a missionary on the Mexican border. What can’t God do? I, and you, have nothing to fear. God can do it, and He will, if we ask.

I love you all. Let love be the motivation for your service. Love makes everything easier.

Elder Webb