March 1, 2012

Que honda? This has been quite the week. We're finally in the final third of our stay here, and we're definitely feeling excited to actually go out and teach. As for the Visas, no missionaries going to Mexico have recieved theirs in a while. Four districts just got reassigned to various places. One Elder brought 8 short sleeve shirts and is heading to Lansing, Michigan. He might freeze to death. There are a couple who are going to Salt Lake South and Provo, so they'll be teaching my family and friends. The funny thing is that that could very easily be me in three weeks. Apparently when the visas do come, they come in big groups, so I hope that mine will be here relatively soon. But it would be a cool experience to get to teach in two places if it doesn't. Recently we've really realized how amazing our teachers are and how much of a difference that can make. We're finally to the point where the language isn't a problem when teaching (at least to non-native speakers), and I feel like we're finally getting the hang of teaching. One really cool thing that happened this week was that Elder Holland showed up and gave one of the best talks I've ever heard. After telling us how much he loved us he was very blunt and was getting up in our faces about being the best missionaries we can be now, and not trying to not act like a missionary when we get back. It was like his talk he gave in conference a while ago about the Book of Mormon. He was practically yelling at some parts and crying at others. He really is an incredible man and an Apostle of Christ. We are really lucky to have had him visit us again. He really got us going again after we were starting to get a littel tired of doing the same stuff every day. I had another interesting experience with BIble Bashing this week. One of our "investigators" managed to draw us in and get us really arguing bible scriptures, and that never works. We really just had to step back and say, "Look, we can't prove it to you, we can't force you to believe, but we know this is true, and we know that you need to ask God if it is true." I also really am liking keeping a journal, it's a great place to organize your thoughts, and sometimes to just vent. I like how Nephi said in 2 nephi 4:15 (I think), "Upon these plates I write the things of my soul". It's almost like Nephi's journal. I really like in 2 Nephi 4 where Nephi really is having a bad day, (his dad just died, his brothers are murmuring, etc.) and he tells us he is having a bad day, but then tells us the steps he goes through to really be happy again,putting his trust in the Lord. THe Book of Mormon really does help with everything. I've also been reading Jesus the Christ by Talmage. It's got some really cool things in there about Christ, I recommend it if you ever get some free time. Also, the Temple is great. We just came back from the temple again and it really is such a blessing to go and feel the spirit so strong every week and it really lifts your day. Love you all, the Church is true! Hasta luego!

Love Elder West