week of 1-27-14

Ok, so I forgot to do the blog update last week...Sorry, but we had our HUGE Provo High School Dancesport Festival this week end and I was totally swamped.  So here is the update from last week and this week WITH PICTURES!!!!

"I LOVED EVERYTHING in the packages.  I've been wearing my cardigan every night and morning in the house because our house gets really cold and the dog tags I wear everyday and only take them off to sleep."

"I love the fact that Garrin got to stand up for his faith and I hope that he can break out of his testimony slump and bear it to more people.  I hope that you are setting that example for him and sharing your testimony with anyone you can."

"This week (1-19-14) was kinda chill.  We were in Manzanillo for 2.5 days and I got my packages and we had interviews with Prez.  Very nice to talk with him and to be able to be so open to him about things.  Very amazing man.  I've learned to be very close to him and how to really follow his example in the work and in life.  My next transfer date is February 3rd.  I really have no idea what will happen with this transfer.  I am kinda stunned at how fast this transfer went by.  I haven't been able to buy garments yet but they are starting to stretch back out again and go back to normal size.  There are like two shirts of garments that are still really small.  My white shirts are starting to relax as well.  I should be able to handle that until the next "allowance" just because they are really expensive here in Mexico and I should actually be getting my re-embursments sometime this week so I'll be shopping soon.  I also want to send your Xmas packages too so I'm saving money.  They have been sitting at the house for awhile now and I want to send them now......  We'll see when that happens.  I love you so much and I can't wait to talk to you again. "

"The Book of Mormon is such a powerful tool for the Holy Ghost ot bear testimony in someone.  I know it has in me.  I love to see the living testimonies of the Book of Mormon here in Mexico.  There are so many converts here it's hard to talk to someone that isn't a convert.  I love hearing their stories.  I'm still having experiences like that and I'm remembering them and writing tidbits to remember them til I can get them in my journal. "

Some snippets from Collin's "Mexican Omi" letter:
I will really miss güerito and no one has taken your place as my güero . I'm fond of you as much if you were my grandson. Güerito , you know I love you and you 'll never forget . You're very good boy. You have (been) educated (by) your parents well . And do not forget us my Guerito . Do not lose contact and have my mail , write .Take care of yourself Guerito and you know I 'll be waiting to see you again.
  

Fun Christmas tradition treat.  Looks like churros!

Christmas in Autlan

The treat boxes from home!

If we think they are not getting fed, we should think again!  The saints in Autlan are taking good care of our missionaries!

Christmas dinner!

 I think this is a chicken, jello, veggies and bread?

Lines and Flores with dinner!

New Year's Lunch!

Roast, "wine", potatoes in cream.

Branch President's family!

Sounds like Elder Williams had a great holiday and was well taken care of.  This week he shared a very touching and loving missionary moment:

"I've had a very interesting week.  We had a long conversation with the Sevilla's and the dad is really struggling to come back to church.  He is clashing with his pride and the pride of our Branch President and that is resulting in inactivity.  We talked to him with the Elder's Quorum President and he really opened up to us.  I just tried to sit back and have the DL that was with me on divisions and the Prez talk things over but I just had such a large feeling that I shouldn't stay quiet.  So I jumped in...  I started with reminding him of that wonderful day when he baptized his son.  I told him that I hadn't felt the Spirit as I did that day in a long time.  I then told him that I love them as my own family.  I was just so full of Spirit in that moment I couldn't keep back my tears.  The whole room was just bursting with the Spirit.  I don't think there was a dry eye in the room.  We were just trying to show them how much we love them and how we want their salvation and their eternal happiness.  It was a very wonderful lesson and one I will never ever forget.  I feel such love for them and it hurts me to see them offended and that they are falling away. "

Please keep this wonderful Dad and family in your prayers!  We don't want to lose such a wonderful family from the Gospel.

"New investigators: we have 2.  They are a couple of a part member family.  Their son is inactive but they are wanting to learn more.  We are noticing great interest in the organization of the church, history, etc.  It should be fun."

"I am trying to help the Branch Choir here but the lady who is "in charge" is teaching them how to "vocalize"? wrong.  It's really bad and after you getting after our ward choir about the same thing it is a big difference.  AND I am helping the little primary kids sing I am a Child of God, primary version.  You know, where the kids sing higher than the verse and the melody....  I'm dying!!!!  BUT, the members are very impressed with my ability to belt my falseto.  They are wanting me to do and plan a branch talent show and they are wanting me to sing with Elder Lines playing the piano and singing.  We were trying to figure out what song we could sing in English that almost everyone knows.  We once started singing "Let it be" by the Beatles and the president's wife started singing it in Spanish....  I have NEVER heard it in Spanish and she was trying to teach us...  Not working.  hahahahaha.  We'll see if that happens.  You know, with transfers right around the corner."

Well, we will see what happens next Monday.  That will be the next transfer day.  Collin is feeling that he will be the next to go.  Let's see where the Lord wants to send him next. 

week 1-13-14

Well, another short week, but...
Elder Williams is heading to Manzanillo to pick up his 5 packages!!!!  Yeah!!!!  They got to him.  I guess this is a truly "better late than never"!  Because of his trip, he didn't have time to download pictures.  Hopefully next week!

"I'm doing good.  Kinda stressed with all the things that could and are happening.  We are really struggling to get baptisms.  We are getting dates but they aren't progressing.  It's really frustrating.  We are just trying really hard to help these people come to Christ but they aren't putting (doing) their part.  We have a new family that is really excited, supposedly.  We are getting the kids very involved in our lessons and they are very excited to have us come over next time.  My clothes are still yellow and they are shrunken.  They are very frustrating.  All but 2 shirts of mine are shrunken and yellow.  I am really bugged with that.

My companion is doing good.  We are starting to open up to each other and I am really starting to get along with him all though he has somethings that kinda get on my nerves but I'm learning to get over them.  We are getting a lot of things done which is good."

 Well, that is all for this week.  Keep praying that hearts will be opened and softened!

weekly letter 1-6-14

New post of the New Year!  No pictures yet, but promises for some next week.  From the letter of Elder Williams:

In Autlan, we don't do too much (compared to some of his friends that are on missions around the world).  We are always visiting the same people all week and we try to find new investigators.  We have found 2 new families that are accepting a lot of the gospel and even a baptismal date.  We were kinda upset that none of them came to church so they aren't "progressing".  I have no idea where I'll be transferred next change.  I hope to Guad again.  My old area....  hahahaha but I doubt it.  I'm kinda scared to go to Vallarta because it will get grossly hot during the summer....  I really have no idea...  The special families that are here in Autlan are the Galarza's, Sevilla's, the Sister's Martha and Maria, Mitzy's family, and I think those are the ones.  The best thing about my new companion is he is very driven.  He knows how to study well and he is pretty much ready to train.  The most precious memory in this area was when Brother Sevilla baptized his son and was consoling him and his fear of water.  I believe I've already told you and for time's sake I won't go into details.  Just showed the love of a father for his son.  (When we come back to Quad) I would want you to see my converts, my favorite families, my leaders, the places I've been for Pday and the beach that I drive past every time I go to Manzanillo.

For NYE we didn't do anything.  We were in our house at 9 o'clock but the crazy thing here is that the people, even though it's illegal, go outside and shoot their guns in the air.  We stayed up til 12 and we heard so many gunshots.  There was one that sounded like right next to our house.  It was insane!!!!  Really loud and kinda scared me.  My favorite area is Residencial.  That is where I have the most fondest memories. 

We are really having an interesting time finding people.  We have found some but they are either in "unión libre" and or their spouse is abusive.....  Very hard situations that us missionaries really can't do anything about.  That's when we need the members.  We are doing a missionary class every sunday at 7 so that the members can be better trained for when we ask them to accompany us in lessons.  We are really glad that we had 15 people there yesterday.  We hope that this will help us in the long run.  I don't plan on slowing down (with being so close to going home) but somethings after today could make me take smaller strides in real life.  hahahah we played soccer for 3 and a half hours today and I was starting to get cramps in my calfs and hips...  I ran out of water and he in Mexico you can't go drink out of the faucet.  So I was very tired and dehydrated....  Not the smartest thing to keep playing but people wanted me to.  I will be pretty sore for the next few days.  It rained for 8 days straight!!!!!  It's been a very hard week in contacting because no one was outside....  

My testimony of being out here on the mission has grown so much because of the changes I've seen in myself.  I'm getting more knowledge about the things we always go over in church and never pay attention because it's just repeat and repeat.  That's why they repeat.  The way we learn more things is by going over the same doctrine but every time it gets deeper and deeper into the doctrine and through the Spirit, you will understand.  This time of service is so great and it has taught me many things about myself that I didn't realize I had before.  Like patience, determination, willingness to serve and love everyone you meet, connection with people you don't seem like you have things in common, etc.  So many things that have never been brought to my attention before have been thrown at me from all angles and I've had to deal with them.  To know that I've succeeded in those things is a real motivator and a nice self confidence booster.  That is what the mission does for you and has done for me.

(Oh the life of a missionary, and learning how to be flexible!)

I've got some bad news....  We went to the laundromat today and everything was going fine until we took out our white clothes from the dryer and almost everything was either turned completely yellow or has ugly yellow stains....  I have no idea what happened but that includes my garments and my white shirts.  I will try to wash them again but at a members house to air dry this time but I don't know what will happen.

 

Well, we will keep you posted on the outcome of the laundry episode!  Keep Elder Williams in your prayers.  And keep praying that he will get his Christmas package that still hasn't been delivered to him!!!!!