04-27-2015

Buenas Dias, Tardes, o Noches!!!! (Depending on what time you read this Email)

So wow, was this week awesome!!!!  

Starting on Wednesday. So we have this less active family that we have been working with since we got into the area. They were baptized about 2 years ago, and then after their dad died about a year ago they stopped going to the church. And we have been trying to get them to go back. 

We have been focusing a lot on their two oldest children, an 18 year old girl, and 19 year old boy. Their names are Jesus, and Paula. (Paula is the person who has been posting photos of me on Facebook and Instagram) About five weeks ago Paula was telling us that she didn't believe in God, and only got baptized to make her mom happy. We have been working really hard to work with her slowly to help her find that feeling that she had when she was baptized. And finally this last Wednesday we had a breakthrough with her. We were over talking with them, and we had a feeling to show here a YouTube video. We showed her Glorious by David Archuleta, but in Spanish, and after she said that she recognized the song. She asked where it was from, and we said "Meet the Mormons." She then said she wanted to see it, so we set up a time to go with her whole family to the Visitors Center. At the end of the lesson, we also were able to get her to say the prayer. Before when we asked she would stand up and leave the room. She is progressing a lot!!!! 

So Saturday we went to the Visitors Center, but before we left we were at their house, and a friend was there. His name is Brian, and he is 21 and not a member. He found out that we were going, and said that he would really like to go. So... We took him. After we were done in the movie, both Brian the non member, and Paula, the one who said she didn't believe in God said that they want to go on missions. Brian said that he has felt there has been something that he has been needing to do to serve and help people, and that the mission is what he wants to do. It was really cool!!!!  

So this week we also found out that the two sisters that we are teaching are both going to get married so that they can get baptized. We just have to work now on getting Birth Certificates, and ID's. 

So, now for the craziness of yesterday!!!!

So we were in the church, and all of the stake presidency was there, but we didn't know why. Then, the branch president, relief society president, elders quorum president, second counselor in the branch presidency, and ward mission leader. Why, we had no idea! Then we found out that 12 years ago the Ixtla ward gave the branch about 30 members to help it out. Well they are now taking them back. So as of next week, and tomorrow our area will be split, which will be crazy because it is already not super huge, and there are not many people in the area as is. And our branch will drop in about 35-40 people, and only have about 50 in the branch. We will seriously be a branch again!!!!

Small things that I did like a normal human being this week!!!

Drilled a hole in the ceiling of out house to hang my comps hammock.

And I BOUGHT RUBBER BOOTS FOR THE RAIN!!!!!!

I am now officially prepared for the rainy season to start in about 3 weeks!!!!

We also have changes this week, but luckily neither me or me comp have changes. This will officially be the first area that I will have two cycles with the same comp in the same area!!!!

04-20-2015

I hit 200 days today!!!!

Holy cow! Where did the time go!!!

So this last week was pretty good. We spent most of the week as a district getting ready for our trip to the temple. The trip to the temple was so wonderful! Between the two companionship's we had just over 30 people that we got to take to the temple. It is always really cool to go to the temple because it makes me feel close to home, and realize that the church really is the same in every part of the world!!!!

We also had our interviews with the President, and they were so wonderful. I always really like talking with the President!!!!

Other than this not much has happened this week!!!

Sorry for the short letter this week. I am a little rushed becasue we have a birthday we have to go and celebrate!

I love you all so so much, and hope to hear from you all next week!!!

Love,

Elder Mason Millar

I thought it was funny that they ''wet floor sign was in english!!!! 

04-13-2015

Hola everyone!!!

So to tell you the truth, not much happened this week!!! All of the weeks just seem to be blending together, and I can't tell them apart. 

We honestly do the same things every single week, and I honestly don't know what to write. 

So this week I went on divisions (splits) twice. My comp is the district leader, so he had to go with the other elders in our district to see how they are working. 

The second day of divisions I went to my old area, and worked with one of the elders that is over there. It was really weird, but also really cool. While we were there we did a bunch of contacts, and they were some of the greatest contacts that I have ever done! It is weird how when you don't have anything to do and you listen to where the Lord wants you, he generally has people there that are waiting for you!!!

Today I went to the center with my comp and the other Elders from Peru. They all wanted to go to some Peruvian restaurant, and I tagged along. 

I am so sorry for the short letter this week, and that it was not very eventful, but I will work on a good one for next week!!!

I love you all so so much, and miss you even more!

Con Mucho Amor.

Elder Mason Millar

Happy Easter

Hello All,

So this last week was a little chaotic. Tuesday was a normal day, and we had some really good lessons with a few recent converts, and then a less active family. 

But this is about where the normality of this last week ended. On Wednesday we had to go to the President's house because I had a dentist appt. to get my retainer that I had made because I lost my other one on a taxi. After this we came home, and only had about five hours to work. Then on Thursday we went to the same less active family`s house as on Tuesday because they invited us for breakfast. After we were done here we had to go to the store to stock up for the next day. 

While we were at the store, I found a Red Barron pizza, and figured I would try it to see if it was the same as it is in the states. So I made the decision to spend the 84 pesos to buy it. (We only receive 1500 a month, so 84 is a lot to spend on just one pizza) After we got home we had some awesome lessons with our investigators. 

We got home a little early that night because we got caught out in the pouring rain without any rain gear. So we went home a little early to get dry. While we were there I found a book in a pile of old papers from the other elders. The book is called "Our Search for Happiness" and I had a feeling that I should start it. I read the first two chapters, and then went to bed. 

The next day being Good Friday, or the day that Christ was crucified we were not allowed to work. People in Mexico are so freaking crazy, that they actually crucify someone. Only twice has the person actually died from it, but both times were accidental, so I guess it is ok. But We weren't allowed to work, so I decided that I would read a little in the book I found. And after I started I could not put it down. For those of you who really know me, you know that I absolutely hate reading, and when I¨say I couldn't put this book down, I mean that I ate as fast as I could so that I could get back to my book!!!

It was an absolutely wonderful book, and I challenge, yes CHALLENGE you all to read it. It is not just an invitation, but is a challenge and opportunity to understand a little more of the reason that I am out on this mission in Mexico.  In the beginning chapter it describes that the book is not meant to change the views or beliefs of anyone, but to just give more "understanding" on what we believe as Latter Day Saints, and why we do the things that we do.  

Then came conference. Wow, was that amazing. I was expecting to be watching it in Spanish, but there are a lot of white elders in the zone, and the church has a Smart TV, so we streamed it in English so that the new elders, and all of us could actually understand exactly what they were saying. It was so wonderful!!!

My two favorite talks were by Lindy K. Barton in the Saturday morning session, Larry M. Gibson in the Priesthood session. They both talked about the importance of being a father, and having a family!!! I just loved hearing their talks, and am not in a hurry, but can not wait for the day that I get to become a father and love my kids with all of my heart!!!

So Saturday morning we locked our keys in our house, but this wasn't what made it bad. The bad thing was that our land

lord was out of town, and no one else lives in the building. So we got home on Saturday and tried to get it, but without any luck we ended up having to sleep at a members house. Yup that was fun!!! 

So this is was my eventful week!!!

Hope you all have a wonderful week, and I love you all!!!!

Elder Mason Millar!

And Remember the Challenge!!!