I had never entered a home so lavish my whole mission...

HOLA FAMILIA,

What an AWESOME week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I am walking on clouds and over water; I just feel so happy right now!  We are finding some amazing people to teach.  I ‘m not sure if it is because I am coming to the close of my mission or my capacity to love has grown but I would do anything for the families that we are teaching right now.  I thought I would let you all in on who we are teaching right now:

Francisco and Patricia - They were a member referral.  The first time we went by we were pretty intimidated by how much money this family has.  We walked through a pretty front gate into a huge garden with a fountain and a maid cleaning.  As we walked up the pathway we saw 5 cars such as BMW and Audi. As we got to the doorway the maid invited us to sit down and we sat there waiting a couple minutes until they came down.  I had never entered a home so lavish my whole mission.  HAHA, I’m used to sitting on plastic buckets in concrete rooms that more than one family live in.  They came down the stairs and straight away we could sense a little bit of conflict in the marriage.  We quickly saw that despite the large amount of wealth that they had, they were thinking about divorce and they argued a lot.  However, in the last two weeks of teaching, they have completely changed.  This morning we went by to visit them and they were actually sitting together on the couch, something that they had never done in any appointment before.  The Gospel is changing their lives.  They are excitedly preparing to be baptized this coming Sunday.  Elder McMullin is pretty excited for his first baptism!!  They are so repentant and have such a huge desire to do things the Lord’s way.

Rafael and Alejandra Palma - We found them when they were in the middle of fighting about something. We knocked the door and the wife said, "its the Mormons, don’t you let them in."  However, Rafael opened the door and let us in.  He commented after that first lesson how much better he felt and that he needed the guidance we were giving him.  He loves the Book of Mormon.  When we taught the Book of Mormon he excitedly told us that he had always thought that Christ came to America also.  He came to church without us even passing by and loved the church services.  At the end of services he explained that he would be coming every single Sunday!

We are praying that we find more elect of God.  We are doing everything we can to work by the Spirit so that we can continue to find the people who are ready to accept the Gospel!!!

Elder McMullin is doing great and progressing super fast.  He has started to give larger portions of the lessons.  It is a hard process because he almost doesn’t have any Spanish but the Lord is blessing him a ton. He is spiritual and has a strong testimony!  I am enjoying teaching him everything that I can so that he can be better than I could ever be.

I love you all and hope you see miracles this coming week!

Love,

Elder Janis

A lot of things have changed this last week...

Hola Familia,

A lot of things have changed this last week for me here in Mexico City.  I love the blessing God gave me to train during my last transfer. My new companion and last kid’s name is Elder McMullin.  He is from Redding, California and is super-obedient and ready to learn.  He got here the first day and hardly could say anything in Spanish.  It was hard to see him struggle and so I thought about waking 30 minutes earlier with him and doing a language study together.  He liked the idea and it has been fun working on Spanish together.  It has been great for me to review the grammar too.  I can already see progress and he is starting to take more and more initiative in the lessons. 

I love my new area!  Sadly, the members and other missionaries keep telling me that baptizing here is super hard and that all the people here are hard-hearted and will never accepted the gospel.  Satan is throwing negative thoughts at us from all directions.  However, I am doing everything I can to not let any of those thoughts take root.  The moment they appear in my head I throw them out.  Sometimes when people reject us or it starts pouring rain and no one is home the thoughts come but I do everything I can to not let them linger.  The success we will have here is going to come a lot from the mentality I maintain.  I want to think of this area as if it were any other "gold mine" area in the mission.  I know there are tons of families prepared.  The challenge will be purifying myself so that I am worthy of the Spirit as I find, teach, and pray by the Spirit. The Lord has blessed us with some wonderful people to start teaching.  Here are some of the families we found:

Familia Palma-They let us in and we started teaching the dad and daughter.  They seemed slightly hesitant at first but we taught baptism and the gospel of Christ.  By the end of the lesson they were so drawn in by every word coming out of our mouths.  When we finished the lessons we testified that the change in atmosphere in the house was the Holy Ghost testifying that what we taught was true.  They then explained how grateful they were because right before we arrived, the family had a huge argument and the Spirit had brought peace back to the home.  They then explained that they believed in Christ but had been lacking someone to tell them what they needed to do.  They were so happy that we had come and excitedly accepted another appointment.

Felipe-We knocked his door last night.  When he opened the door I noticed something different about him.  He had a sincere look in his eyes as I testified to him that we were Representatives of Jesus Christ.  He let us in the stairwell of his house that leads up to the house.  We taught him the gospel of Christ and when we invited him to be baptized like Christ he responded, "me encantaría!"  We could really feel he understood the wonderful blessings he would receive and he is excitedly preparing for baptism.

I am loving life and the mission!  I love you all and hope the best week for you!

Love,

Elder Janis

WOW, I am starting my last change in the mission

Hola Familia,

WOW, I am starting my last change in the mission...I don't know what to think or say only that I am so excited for this coming change.  I talked to President yesterday and he asked me to train my last change.  He explained to me that Elder Lubiano, who was my second kid that I trained a year ago and is a Zone Leader in another zone, wanted me to be his ZL companion to end the mission.  Jokingly he told me that he would never let something like that happen because he could never put Batman and Superman together.  He also told me that he wanted a "little Janis" and asked if I would like to accept this opportunity to train instead.  He then assigned me to one of the richest areas in the mission which are thought of to be the hardest areas in which to baptize.  Santa Monica is the name of the ward and I am so excited to be here.  I have the chance to help the Lord change the mentality of the missionaries.  It doesn't matter where you are or who you are with you will have success if you do the work the way the Lord wants.  I am going to make that my main focus in this sprinting run to the finish.  I am going to strive to be and do what the Lord needs and wants.  What a blessing and I can't wait to receive my new kid tomorrow and teach him everything I have learned so that he can be 10 times better than I will ever be!

Milagro!!!!!!  This last week Elder Barajas and I had been trying to help all the progressing investigators that we had to want to be baptized this last week but no one wanted to.  We had a possible who we thought was going to be the miracle convert for the week.  I went with another Elder down to a river canal to their house in the most dangerous part of my area on Saturday night at 8:30pm!  BTW, now that I am not there anymore...El Molinito isn't one of the most dangerous areas in the mission, it IS the most dangerous.  I am not there anymore but man do I have some crazy stories to tell you guys when we get back...HAHA.  Anyways, I was super hesitant to go down to the river canal and I wasn't sure what was going to happen.  We made it to the house of the possible and seeing as I had only taught her one time, I did the interview.  Sadly, despite the scary sacrifice we had made she was not ready to obey some of the commandments.  We left and surprisingly nothing happened to us...no one even took notice of us! 

However, this wasn't the miracle but you could say it was the recipe for the coming miracle.  We went to church and were greeting all the people coming in when an older lady comes walking in with a HUGE smile on her face.  She then explains that she had had visits from the missionaries before who had taught her the lessons.  In her last visit with the missionaries they had given her a blessing of health with oil and everything.  The missionaries had invited her to be baptized and in the moment she had not accepted.  However, this last week she felt that she had to do it.  Even though she hadn't met with missionaries in months she came to church ready to be baptized.  We got her the interview which she passed and even remembered everything really well that the missionaries had taught.  After talking to her a bit, Isabel was baptized and came up crying she was so happy.  She was crying as the ward congratulated her on her decision.  It was such a beautiful experience.  I don't feel worthy of such a HUGE miracle but I will never forget how merciful the Lord is.  I took a sweet picture of her but seeing that my memory has a virus I will not be able to send the pictures.  I will have to show you all afterwards.

I am so ready to make the most of this last change.  I am going to a training for the trainers tomorrow and I am so excited to learn from President.  I have the assignment to BAPTIZE, BAPTIZE, and BAPTIZE.  There is no other greater way to end a mission.  I love you all!!

Love,

Elder Janis

I Am Happy and Healthy

Hola Familia,

We had another incredible week here in Culturas! We were blessed with more miracles and I enjoyed helping our converts prepare for their confirmations.  I love them so much and it was so beautiful to see them WANT to do what the Lord asks.  They already have brighter eyes and happier faces.  HAHA, that sounded a bit cheesy but there is definitely a huge difference.

So I don't really have any time this week to write...I AM SO SORRY!!  I feel like I do this to you every week.  We are going to run to another area in the zone to get a head start on the interviews for this week.  I am happy and healthy.  I love you all tons and you are in my prayers!

Love,

Elder Janis 

We Were Bautizona for the Month

Hola Familia,

Miracles, miracles, miracles.  This was an amazing week here in the Culturas Zone.  I am feeling pretty exhausted but it was an amazing week.  It is not about the number of people we baptized or that we were Bautizona for the month (the zone that lead the mission in baptisms) that made the week/month awesome.  It was the obedience, dilligence, and conversion that are behind those numbers.  I have never felt anything more satisfying than seeing a noticeable difference for the better in the missionaries in the zone.  The spirituallity of the zone is improving and we (Elder Barajas and I) are praying to know what will help keep this progress going.  We saw the amazing amount of 21 souls saved this week in the promised land of Culturas.  What a blessing!

We also had the miracle of helping the Martinez Ortiz Family, the Mendoza Family, and a humble guy named Justino be baptized this last Sunday in our area.  I love these people so much and it was so sacred to have the  opportunity to help them accomplish this step.  A little about these families:

Martinez Ortiz Family:  We found them walking down the street when we felt we should talk to the young mother of a pouty kid.  Juana is the mother and the pouty kid is Hugo.  Hugo was mad that his mom didn't buy him a lollipop and this gave us an opportunity to cheer him up and gain more confidence of Juana.  She invited us to come to her house that next evening.  When we stopped by that first lesson she would not take her eyes off the person that was speaking.  She seemed to be trying to not miss a word.  We quickly learned that the Lord had prepared the family when she accepted everything we taught without any doubts.  Her husband, as named Hugo,  was equally as prepared.  Here in Mexico, finding a man as spiritual as Hugo is not very frequent.  He also accepted everything with trust in the Lord and in his promises.  They got married this last week, something that they were so excited to do in order to obey God's commandments they told us.  Then on Sunday we had their beautiful baptismal service.  They were so happy and there is definitely a huge difference in their  countanances.  I wanted to send a picture but the virus on my memory card didn't let me.

Justino:  We found him knocking doors.  He suffered a stroke and his whole left side of his body was left without movement.  The stroke was caused by a huge scare he had when two men stole his van at gun point.  The scare of the assault caused him to have the stroke.  He is recently regaining the movement of his legs and walks slowly.  We had so much joy teaching him and see his face light up at the promises the Lord offers to those who obey his commandments.  He wanted to be baptized the same day we taught the first lesson.  However, we explained that he needed to wait and prepare himself for the commitment he would make.  He was so happy to submit himself to the will of the Lord.  His baptism was one of the most spiritual baptisms ever!!

I would have written more but I ran out of time!!  I love you and hope you all have a wonderful week!!

Love,

Elder Janis

As a Zone We Brought 35 New Investigators to Church for the First Time!

Buenas Tardes Familia,

 

HA HA, I thought I would start with something a little different.  WOW, so Chad is already in the MTC!  I am so happy for him and look forward to hearing about how things are going for him.  He is going to love the experience the Lord has ready for him!

 

Elaine, you are going in this coming Wednesday!   What an adventure you have got in front of you!  I am so excited for you too.  I saw the picture of the spider you sent me and that is pretty sick... :)  You are going to have to smash one too and put in plastic like that to bring it home.  HA HA!

 

So this last week we saw TONS of miracles as a Zone!  We were going to baptized a pretty average amount on Sunday but my companion and I felt that we should be able to do more.  Saturday we did about 13 more interviews and saw tons more baptisms.  We are so amazed by the miracles the Lord is giving us.  We aren't sure why the Lord is blessing us so much but we are excited for the coming week because as a Zone we brought 35 new investigators to church for the first time!  We have our sights set on a high goal for this coming week and I am sure the Lord is planning something huge.  I am looking forward to a week of learning and one that will change even more lives!  I have found a ton of joy out of helping the other missionaries have success not only so that they have numbers but really because they are converted in the process.  I can't be more grateful for the opportunity to serve that the Lord has given me!

 

Elder Barajas and I were working all week trying to find a miracle baptism for this last Sunday.  However, nothing was happening.  We weren't having any success with the people we already had because they weren't progressing.  However, at 9 pm Saturday night we went by to check on a a guy we helped to get baptized two weeks ago.  We were going to do a quick stop by to make sure everything was ready for his confirmation and we got the chance to meet his kids.  One of them happened to be 12 years old!  We taught her baptism and the other things necessary for baptism and she excitedly accepted a baptismal date for the next day!  What a blessing.  The Lord definitely is merciful.  We are going to keep stopping by to help her learn and retain the lessons and even start teaching the wife.

 

So, I am looking forward to what I know will be an amazing week.  I love all of you and am already excited to report to you all the success of the coming week!

 

Love,

Elder Janis

Voy a echar muchas ganas esta semana! (I'm going to work really hard this week)

Hola Familia,

Aquí hay más español en mi carta en vez de solamente "hola familia"!  (Here is some more Spanish in my letter instead of just Hola Familia).  HAHA,  I really, really enjoyed the Skype that we had Sunday night.  Wow, it was so special to see all of you there, hear your voices, see Grandma Janis, and meet Rebecca (i.e., Derek's girlfriend).  Every time I talk to you guys I get an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for the blessings that the Lord is showering over every single one of you guys at home.  I can't wait for Chad and Elaine to leave on your missions!  You guys have so much to look forward to!

I thought I would let you all know about another miracle that I saw this last week!  They never get old!

This last Sunday, a young single adult brought her best friend to church that really wanted to get to know the church and get baptized.  We went by every day this last week and she accepted everything that we taught.  She would then do everything that we left as invitations; to pray or to read.  She loves the Book of Mormon and got a specific answer to prayer to be baptized this last Sunday.  We also had the opportunity put her into an interview with President's first counselor.  She came out so excited and SO ready for Sunday.  When Sunday came along she had insisted coming to church on her own.  We walked into church and she wasn't there...We tried calling and she didn't answer.  We left the church to go to her house and see what had happened when she came running toward the church.  She was so worried because she had woken up late and came running to church.  She looked so relieved as we told her that everything was ok and that it would all work out!  She got baptized and came out of the water with a huge smile on her face!!

Well, I am looking forward to a great week with a Zone Conference and many, many interviews and interchanges!  Les amo y les agradezco por las oraciones y amor que me evian.  Voy a echar muchas ganas esta semana!  (I love you and appreciate the prayers and love you send me.  I am going to work really hard this week!).

Love,
Elder Janis