Ultra Mini Letter 27

This one is going to be an ultra short one.

We have our investigator's baptism like 2 hours, and we are helping with another baptism in the ward (a little 8 year old). 

Rafael "Miyagi" Palacios is getting baptised today! He is a miracle, because he's been in the hospital (IMSS) for the past week! He had small dehydration problem and was hospitalized. We kept working with him in the hospital, and it all paid off, thanks to some help from the ward, and a little prayer!

I am sorry this is so short, but we have to book it. I am making the programs for the baptism, finishing a small speech, and finalizing some office work. That's life right now. 

Side note: I saw a girl who was in Grandma's stake (Villa de las Flores) at church last Sunday. I swear, I am always going to find people from Villa my whole life! 

Elder Velazqyuez

Livin' on the edge (of Texas and Mexico)

Last week's baptism: Humberto and our Bishop, Bishop Corral

Letter 26

Hello familia!

A lot has been going on this past week, but first let me catch everyone up on our baptism last week. Last Saturday we baptised Fernando Rodriguez, it was an incredible experience! Well, right before the baptism, Elder Webster and I were writing our letters and checking our email. So we left the font running. Since it usually takes 4 hours to fill up, we didn't pay much attention to it. When we finally finished writing and eating and whatnot, Elder Webster and I decided to go check out the font. THERE WAS WATER EVERYWHERE. We quickly grabbed a couple mops and brooms and started pushing the water out of the church building. It was around 5:00 when we started with the flood damage and it took us a little over an hour to get everything all dried up. Thankfully, we had the help of the sister missionaries to wipe everything down. Back to the baptism, I got to baptise Fernando, and right before I did, something very special happened.
As we were about to enter the font, Fernando expressed to me that he wanted to say a prayer before being baptised. Then, Fernando began praying and expressing his gratitude to God. He mentioned in his prayer that he was sorry to God for having been so stubborn and rebellious in his youth, and he thanked him for the opportunity he had to start again. Then he asked Heavenly Father for help in being able to find some way to help his father and his brother also find peace now that they are dead. Fernando has always expressed his need to help his dad and brother in the next life, and this was a big factor that played out in his conversion. Elder Webster and I feel privileged to have been able to find Fernando Rodriguez, and I know that he will remain a faithful member of the Church.
This week, we also had a great ward home evening. We organized a movie night and invited a bunch of less actives and investigators to come. With help from the ward, we were able to have over 40 people at our activity. We had a good amount of less active members and 4 investigators there. For the movie, Elder Webster and I played a new movie. We wanted a movie that not many members had seen, so that we could motivate them and the less actives to show up. The ward council had expressed how every time they had a movie night from the missionaries, it was always the same movies. So Elder Webster and I made sure we played one they hadn't seen. How? Well, we made one (sorta). I downloaded all of the new bible videos that the Church has been releasing via mormonchannel on YouTube then cut, edited, and burned a movie. It was made up of all those videos which portray the ministry of Jesus Christ. We titled it The Ministry and played it for the ward. It lasted a little over an hour, and it wasn't too shabby. The new videos that the Church made are beautifully made and produced (of course), and not a lot of people have seen them. The ward loved the movie, and the Spirit was definitely felt.
Well, this P-Day we had a little more time on our hands, but we are still in a bit of a hurry (I'm starting to gain some infamy among the missionaries for always running around frantically). We have Humberto Z´s baptism tomorrow and are finishing up some loos ends. His interview is today in an hour! I will tell all of you about it next week. Also we have to go help a sister move houses,
Elder Velazquez

Letter 25 (mini letter)

I know, I write a LOT of mini letters, but that's because Elder Webster and I are crazy busy right now. We had changes this week, and we have been taking care of business (and working overtime). We had the changes on Tuesday and I think we did a pretty good job. We transferred about 100 missionaries from various areas in Juarez and Casas Grandes, Chihuahua. After changes it was back to normal for Elder Webster and I. We worked hard this week to prepare Fernando Rodriguez for his baptism this week, and visited a few more newer investigators as well.

RIght now we are currently filling the font, because we are Fernando's baptism in an hour. We are so excited and feel so incredibly happy that he has finally taken this step to get that much closer to our Saviour. It wasn't easy, but after about 6 months of investigating the church, Fernando is finally ready to make his first covenant with our Lord. I can't express how happy I feel, and I can't imagine how happy our Lord must feel that he has finally taken a baptism. 

That's about all the time I have for right now, I should have some more next week. It was great seeing you all on Sunday (shout out to The Websters). 

Elder Velazquez

Our baptism last week of Luis Manuel Dominguez.

The secretaries getting their grub on during changes

Mother's Day Skype Call 2014!

Elder Velazquez meeting youngest sister Olivia Kai  for the first time!

Letter 24

I think I've been out for more than 24 weeks, but to be honest, I've lost track by now.

This week has been exciting, as the mission offices prepare to receive 18 new missionaries on Monday. Out of those 18 missionaries, 12 of them are sisters and only 6 are Elders! It's so crazy to see how fast the mission is growing, and how the Work Of Salvation really is hastening.

Well, this week (today) we are having Luis Manuel´s baptism, because it was postponed last weekend. When we were about to leave for the baptism, we get a call from Luis Manuel's dad, telling us that the baptism would have to be postponed because all of the family coming to see the baptism was not going to make it.

This week, the font is finally fixed, and ready for baptisms! We are working very hard this month, and are hoping for another baptism really soon.

Elder Webster and I are in charge of changes now (the Assistants used to be in charge) so we have been organizing and planning changes like crazy this past week. I never realized how hard it was to plan out changes! Since there are a lot of missionaries coming to the field, and only 2 leaving, a TON of changes where made. There are 7 areas opening, and new leadership positions all around the mission. We have to figure out bus schedules, taxis, new housing, old housing, hotels, visas, and food for everyone involved in changes. No wonder all the ex-secretaries have had so much hair loss.

Well, I am very excited to see the whole family tomorrow!

See you guys soon!

Elder Velazquez

Week 23

Hey familia,

Oh man today is nuts. We have a baptism today at six and it's going to be a close one! Today we are baptising a young man named Luis Manuel. He is 20 years old and has autism. He is the son of a (fairly) recent convert, Luis Enrique. So when we showed up to church to fill the font this morning, the maintenance people were fixing the main water line of our church. We started to fill up the font, and the smallestchorito of water came out. We made like 10,000 phone calls, when we were finally advised that we would have to go somewhere else to baptise. Well, we have finally found a font where we can baptise and are getting everything ready.

This week we had Elder Imlay (the elder from Las Vegas) stay with us again because he got another infection, this time on his toe.

Well, that's about all the time I have right now. We have to start heading to the church, and it's a little far. I will catch everyone up soon along with some fotos.

Elder Velazquez