Letter 44

Hey familia!

Another hectic week in the life of Elder Velazquez!

Elder Webster and I got to go on a trip alongside President Derbez this week. We left early morning Thursday, and headed to Janos, Chihuahua where I did a bunch of immigration forms for all of the new missionaries that arrived a few weeks ago. After Janos, we accompanied President to Buenaventura, Chihuahua to the LeBaron Colonies. 

The LeBaron colony is actually a polygamist colony that is not associated with the Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints. The Church does, however, have a small branch a few minutes away, in Buenaventura. President went to go do some interviews, and we got to meet a few interesting people. We met the Jones family, who are Latter Day Saints. Their family line is all over the place, and rather confusing since a long long time ago someone in their family was part of the polygamist Lebaron family. The current Jones family isn't though, but some of their step cousins are...or something like that. Anyway, it was weird seeing so many blue-eyed blondies ALL over the place. Everyone speaks English. After meeting the Jones family, sister Jones gave us some fresh Pecan pie. Most of the people in that little town work with nogales which are pecan trees. I'm not much of a sweet tooth, or a pie guy, but that pecan pie was delicioso.

After Lebaron, we went to Casas Grandes. We met with a few missionaries and tied up some loose ends. We spent the night at the Hacienda Spa Resort...just keeding, it's just a regular hotel. We visited Colonia Juarez the next day, and a little town called Mata Ortiz. Mata Ortiz is famous for their pots. After a short trip back to Janos, we headed back home.

We just got finished with our baptism service. Connie and Dasha Dominguez were baptized today! Ever since we started teaching Connie and Dasha, they have had many many trials. They have overcome those trials with such great faith, and they are now on the path that will lead them to eternal happiness.

Well, that's about all the time we have today folks. Join us next week for more adventures.

Elder Velazquez

Hotel Chillin'

 

Me, Jennifer (a friend of Dasha), Dasha, Connie, Elder Webster

 The Chapel in LeBaron

Letter 41,42,43: Ketchup Week

For the sake of keeping the numbering solid, I have numbered this letter thrice (3 times).

Hello familia it's been a little while since I've written and I have a lot to catch everyone up on!

So lets go back to the big events from these past few weeks.

Elder Robbins (one of President's assistants) finished his mission and returned home. We had a provisinal "assistant" for 2 weeks, up until the cycle ended. When an Assistant is released, everyone is on their heels to see who the new Assistant is going to be. President is so secretive, that he doesn't tell ANYONE (not even the other assistant) who the new one is going to be. He then tells the whole mission the very day of the new Transfer Cycle. And well, the new Assistant is Elder Leifson. Elder Leifson was in a trio with Elder Webster and I way back in January, and now he's back in the area with us!

Both of the sisters who were in this ward had changes and we have 2 new sisters here in the Pradera Ward, Sister Jimenez and Sister Ostos. They are both from Veracruz.

On Monday, the Mission received the most new missionaries it had ever received. We received 28 new missionaries. They come from all around the world, it is exciting to see how the Lord is hastening his Work.

Well, with 28 new missionaries, coordinating the changes was crazy! On Tuesday, we coordinated over 60 changes and it was so hectic. We finished changing everyone at around 1:30 PM, and had no delays! 

Well that about leads us to this week.

This week, I have been working hard in the office to get all the fun paper work done for all the new missionaries. Aside from that, Elder Webster and I are finishing preparing an investigator for baptism. Connie and Dasha will be getting baptized next weekend! Connie and her daughter have faced some pretty tough trials during the time we've been teaching them, but after a month and a half, they are just about ready for their baptism! 

During the past few weeks, we have really seen a huge growth here in the ward, not only because of the recent converts, but we have really been doing our best to bring the Pradera Ward closer together.

Well, I don't have much more time, so I'm off!

Elder Velazquez