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!!!!!

Christmas letter

Well, we had a great time talking with Elder Williams on Wednesday.  It was a little late because they had to got to the church building.  The two sets of Elders had to use an Ipad and Laptop to skype with us, but it worked!!  We also got to quickly see Elder Flores (who stayed another transfer) and then the two new elders, Elder Lines (DL) and Collin's companion.  They all seem like nice guys.  I guess the two new guys are a little "stiff".  They think that Elder Williams is having too much fun with the members and not enough spiritual.  Elder Williams is trying to find a balance with this new addition.  He thinks that this will be his last transfer in Autlan.  He is sad to go, but looking forward to a new adventure. 

"I miss a lot of people here already and knowing that I will be leaving Autlan soon is starting to sink in.   I'm going to do everything I can to make this possibly last transfer here the best it can and carry the momentum to the next area.  I really want to finish strong and I want to look back and not have any regrets on the work I "could have done" and see "I did enough".

"I hope you enjoy your NYE (New Year's Eve) because we can't do anything fun here....  Christmas was fun and we ate a lot!!!!  We had pizza twice in one day and then we had a very yummy "Turkey" dinner with a very yummy fruit salad that I am begging for the recipe.  I loved spending time with some of my favorite families here even though my comp didn't let me joke around with them as much as I would have liked.  He just cut right in to teach a lesson.....  Oh well.  Still trying to find a balance."

"I had to talk last minute yesterday because we had 45 people at church for the rain storm...  It's been raining for 3 days straight.  It's terrible.  I talked about the same thing as the Elder there (in Florida).  Don't be afraid to talk to someone about the church and just do it with a prayer in your heart.  The Spirit and faith will take over the fear."

Elder Williams looks great!  He is definitely a MAN!  He is no longer my little boy or my little young man.  I can't believe how much he has already changed!  He sounds happy and is really enjoying his mission.  He had a hard time talking with us...he kept reverting back into Spanish as he was talking.  Chris laughed at him the whole time!  Our only bad part of the skype was when the rain storm came into Autlan and took out our connection.  We had to type and stutter our way through the last 10 minutes of the call.  And as you can tell from his email, it has been raining ever since Christmas Day.

Well, as we leave the wonderful warmth of Florida and Elder Williams gets to forge through the rain of Autlan, we will see what the new year brings to us all.  We hope you had a very Merry Christmas and a fantastic New Year!!  Elder Williams only has 8 months left!!!!!!

week of 12-16-13

Well, it is only 8 days away before we can skype to Elder Williams!!!!  We are so excited we are about to jump out of our skin!!!!  We will be leaving for Florida on Wednesday...WARMTH!!!!  I don't know if I will have time to do a blog while I am there, but I will try!  I might even include pics of us on the beach just to rub it in!!  :-)

Elder Williams had transfers this week.  He is staying in Autlan again, but Elder Snyder is homeward bound and Elder Barrera got transferred.  So he and Elder Flores are still in Autlan.  They are both getting new companions and they are supposedly having a missionary dinner to all meet.  Sounds like he will get his packages there, too!

Brother Jones, Collin's old YM leader asked me to ask him to send his testimony that he could share with the Priest's quorum.  It is soo wonderful I thought I would put it on this weeks blog!  He also got a wonderful letter from his Mexican "Omi" that shows how wonderfully loved and taken care of he was in Residencial. 

"The mission is the best decision that I could have made.  I have seen so many different people have their lives changed for the better that it has made my testimony of this wonderful gospel grow.  The way that people put their complete trust in us as missionaries and in the Lord is remarkable.  There are so many people that have learned by experience that obedience brings blessings.  Just as President Monson said in his talk in April blessing are brought to pass by obedience to the gospel of Christ.  Just as it says in Mosiah 2:41, we receive all kinds of blessings by living the gospel and keeping the commandments of God.  The saints here in Mexico are so happy to have found the truth and live these standards.  The majority are converts and have told me that they haven't felt this happiness anywhere else.  The Church is true and this is His work.  Being a missionary requires a lot of preparation but it will make things so much easier once you are out in the field.  Study PMG and read the BoM before you head out.  It will give you a wonderful headstart.  Keep yourselves clean and don't have any "addictions" to things or it will be very hard to go "cold turkey" here on the mission.  Make sure you sanctify yourselves and be ready at all times to talk to anyone about the gospel.  Be ready to share this wonderful life changing miracle of the restoration with everyone.  The only way they can receive eternal life and families is through what we teach.  Joseph Smith restored the full truth to the earth by the power of God.  We are privledged to hold this wonderful power but we can only use it if we have the Spirit.  Keep yourselves clean and follow the counsels of your leaders.  The leaders of your mission will be your most trusted friends if you earn their trust and keep it.  The Book of Mormon is the word of God and Another Testament of Jesus Christ.  It contains the answers to all the questions of humanity.  If you read it with the Spirit and a prayer in your heart, you will learn something new EVERYTIME you read.  This is my testimony in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."

Letter from Sister Zaldivar (google translated)
My guerito so far I got your mail. and with all the gusto I'm

writing eperando find yourself really well, we're

well but, yo. I've missed you so much I wrote you a letter if you do not

would come, the elders come to eat with us, and always remember you

much, and you were my grandson comes to want much my guerito and your

be happy, I do not forget alberto sends you greetings, I command all

my baby, please take care much, and do not forget we love you very much.

greetings to your beautiful family,,,

Sister Zaldivar

Have a super fantastic Holiday!!!!  We will be basking in the sunshine!!!!

week 12-9-13

After such a fun week during Thanksgiving, Elder Williams has settled back down again.  The best gift that a parent can receive is the wonderful testimony of their children.  Here is Elder Williams wonderful testimony:

The plan of salvation is a wonderful thing and a marvelous gift to all mankind.  It gives us meaning in life and an answer to the many questions about birth, life, and death.  I know that God is always wanting the best for us and that He is looking down at us hoping and praying we will use our agency wisely and for the right path.  God loves us so much to give us His son to give us a chance to return.  He knew we couldn't do this without the sacrifice of Jesus the Christ. I've seen many people become touched by this knowledge that we have of the Great Plan of Salvation of our Father.  I'm grateful to know that so I don't have to be so sad when our loved ones die.  We have a young woman who was a widow at 24 and at her husband's funeral she had no tear in her eye because she knew the plan God prepared for them would allow her to see him again.  What a testimony!!

And seconded by his own wonderful testimony!

Here are a few more pics that were sent a few days later from a ranch right outside of Autlan.

Snyder, Barrera, Flores, Williams

Names, country flags, sport numbers and nicknames

The Manzanillo Zone

Rock Jumping!  If you can't jump in the water, why not try the rocks??

Elder Snyder protecting Elder Williams from the crashing boulders?

Corn on a stick!  Almost like at home or is that from Nacho Libre?

 














Have a great week!

week of 12-1-13

Well, between Thanksgiving and trying to get Christmas packages off, we finally got a letter from Elder Williams.  He had a day to go get his Visa renewed and then Thanksgiving and then he got an extra P-day because of all that.  Wow! I even got an email conversation with him on my birthday!  It was the best Birthday present ever!!!  This week's blog is full of pics and vids, so ENJOY!

The three muskateers reunited!  Elders Williams, Farmer, Eagan.  Elder Farmer was his MTC companion and Elder Eagan was the one that almost broke his finger playing basketball!  They look GREAT!

Elder Snyder replaces Elder Sanders at the transfers.  He happens to be a PHS alumni just like Collin!  The world just keeps getting smaller with two PHS boys not only serving in the same mission, but in the same district!!!!

Frog Eye Salad for Thanksgiving!

Chef Williams' improvising with ingredients.

Collin wanted Frog Eye Salad sooooo badly this year that he asked for the recipe and made it himself.  The biggest problem was getting the correct pasta...with no way of getting Acini de Pepe Chef Williams improvises with cutting up spaghetti!!!!  Way to go Chef!!!

Speaking of cooking... these two dishes are polar opposites...

Barbocoa Tacos...Yummy!

I have no idea who the chef was on this one...YUK?!

According to Elder Williams it is biscuits and gravy over pancakes!!!!  Go ahead, I dare you to try it!

Now for the P-day fun (as if the cooking fun wasn't fun enough!)!

Elder Snyder as his "pit crew".

Go-Kart (push cart) racing...

Now for the Action Video of the races...  Snyder VS. Flores... you time them!

Then there is the beauty of living in the tropics!  While we are weathering one of the worst storms in Utah, Elder Williams is out running through the rocks and streams on a beautiful summer day! Just doesn't seem fair, does it...

Well, it seems the Elders are keeping themselves busy with less actives and part member families.  This family with the push cart is a part member family.  The older girl, Mitzi, is a member, and they are hoping for the mother to get baptized soon.  Keep them in your prayers!

The last thing that Elder Williams said before he signed off was, "I am sick!"  Oh, boy!  I hope it is something quick.  He hasn't been sick hardly at all this mission, so hopefully this will pass and all will be feeling better.  We may be in for a little more info tomorrow, but we know we will be skyping in about 20 days!!!!!!  I love Christmas!!!!!


See you next week for the continuing Williams saga...