Tomatoes and Dogs

Que pasa mi familia!!! :) Wow! So this week was pretty awesome! Not so much that more people listened to us or anything. But I read this article in the Liahona. It is called Becoming Perfected in Christ. It was so super duper amazing! I learned a ton from it and it helped me a lot! Those first few weeks, I would get pretty frustrated with myself, and I didn´t know why! But then I read this article. And I realized that my expectations of what I should be able to do were unrealistic. So basically I decided to just enjoy being new, and just enjoy everything about it. So ya! This week was a lot better! :) This week I got to go on splits with Elder Keenan, a zone leader. And their area is really big and really flat. So they have bikes. And it was so fun! In the morning it had just rained and the streets are really dirty. So I hit this mud puddle on accident, so I was a muddy missionary for the rest of the time! Haha Oh and the funniest thing ever! So we were just riding along and a bunch of dogs started chasing us! As usual. But dogs in Mexico actually bite, not just bark, and so I was just riding trying to ignore them when one huge dog started nipping at my heels :) then Elder Keenan just totally plows this dog... ran it right over. And this dog is huge! And mean! And it just walked away all ashamed. Oh my goodness! I wish you guys could comprehend how hilarious this was! haha. Good times. Totally wish that I had a Go Pro right then haha So I actually really like the food now! For a while it was just to survive. But now I love it! Even the spicy stuff. And the other day. The Hermana served a big Tomato on my plate! And I was like... shoot! (well in my mind) But then I ate it and it wasn´t even bad! Haha I was like, WOW! Welp, I love the mission. I am learning a ton! And having some great experiences! I just can´t wait till I don´t have to think about what I need to say in Spanish, and just be able to teach! Just teach and focus on the Gospel. So my whole life, I thought I knew the gospel, but now the more I learn, the less I know. It is crazy! I am really starting to understand! Like really understand! There is so much more to this than I thought! So much more to understand, not just know, but understand. And this week was amazing because we had a zone conference, and President Swapp gave a lesson, and used...... Running... :D Just like Coachie! It was amazing! He showed us that video of the girl that falls and then gets back up and wins. And applied it to the gospel! It was so crazy! I told him, that is just like my coach! haha. Welp, it sound like all is well back there! I love you guys so much! See you next week!

July 21, 2014

How is it going! Life sounds super good and busy back there haha! It is awesome that the Steadmans found Kaylen! I bet that was super duper cool for them! And How the Horrocks and Walls found Riley! That is so cool! I saw a picture of Ivy! Standing all by herself! Haha So exciting! :D Welp, not gonna lie. This week was not the best week. My super awesome companion is having problems sleeping. Like he can´t sleep. So he is always super duper tired. And we go out and work. But he is just so tired and a little bit unmotivated. But he is still doing a really good job! :) But anyways, this week I tried to do more than I have been. And I would talk and ask something, and then they would say something really fast, and then I just look at my companion. Because I don´t understand a lot. Actually when we are in lessons I can understand what is going on most the time and I put in a little bit of input. But when someone is talking to me directly... Really fast, with other sounds around, I just kind of nod... Haha :) Story of my life. But anyways, we had to drop a lot more investigators that decided to stop progressing. :( Man and the thing is that I heard that this area was like a really good area! Haha with a lot of success! But, it hasn´t been so far. haha. But, one thing I have heard is that everybody that doesn´t accept our message, is one person closer to the person that will. :) So I am trying not to get discouraged. Because discouragment weakens faith. But no worries! I am still happy and going strong! :) This work is so great! And so important! And I love it a lot! :) Oh one other thing that I find interesting. Some people here have big stereos that are probably worth more than their house haha :) But they blast it for the whole Colony to hear. And the other night until 1 in the morning, my neighbors were blasting Green Day. Like what the beans! I could feel it vibrating my bed! That wasn´t the best sleep I have had in my life. haha :) I find it funny that a lot of the music here is American. Haha :) But ya! Life is good! Welp I am gonna put on some pictures now! Some will be from the MTC and some from here. :) I love you guys! Have a great week! Nevermind... I can´t because these computers don´t have the hardware for my camera I guess... Man I will find a way one of these days! haha I am sorry bout that! On the bright side, you can see them in two years :) haha love you guys! :)

July 14, 2014

Hola! Wow! So this week has been so interesting! It has been so great! I feel like I am really catching the vision all the way! Like I thought I had it. But now, I really have it! This work is just making me so happy! And a lot of the times it is super hard. But still so great! So the goal for the mission is baptize every week! Because I guess mexico is a high baptizing place haha. So it was going great! At one point this last week. We had like 4 people commit to a baptism date. And like 6 commit to come to church with us. They were even excited! I was also suppose to do my first baptism yesterday. But everything went south. On saturday we went to do the final interview with Benito, who was the person I was suppose to baptize yesterday. And he came out and smelled like alcohol... So that fell through. Then I was like. Hey at least we got these others coming to church, and excited for baptism. Then the next day. Not a single one of our investigators came to church. Earlier this week we had this amazing lesson with this 21 year old guy. And it was so so spiritual. Then he asked for a priesthood blessing because we had just told him about the priesthood. So we gave him one for Strength to stop drinking and he stood up and was like what is this? What am I feeling? And ya... It was just so crazy. So then we told him that we would walk by and get him for church on Sunday. So on Sunday we called him to see if he was ready. And he was at a party... Drunk. Talk about super discouraging. Everything fell through! AHHH! A ton of people here in Mexico make commitments, but it is really rare that they keep them. At first I was like wow! This missionary stuff isn´t that hard. But then I learned the hard way that people rarely do what they say they are going to do. haha But its ok.I guess thats part of this whole mission thing. Dealing with let downs. So right now is this thing called The Canicula. I think thats how you spell it. It goes on for like 40 days. And basically its at least 120 degrees everyday... And it starts today. So I am probably going to die... But thats ok! I never realized how much running transfers over to everything. Especially missionary work. Like I will have some discouraging thought or something. And then something that I have learned from running pops into my head. Either an experience or one of the many Coachie talks that I have had. For example... this one happens a lot. I went through a little phase in running where I was just like, I hate those moments in races where I hurt a lot, and just want to die. And those come like every race haha. And I just remember Coachies voice saying something like, who cares if you hurt? Eventually it will stop hurting and you can look back knowing that you gave everything. And so on days where things don´t work out, or I am frustrated with the language, or it is super hot and I just want to stop. I just think. Who cares I only have two years, out of eternity to fully focus everything on serving the lord. Thats it! Like sometimes it feels like two years is a long time, but then sometimes I feel like its not enough haha. Because really, its not that much at all. Welp it is all great here! I am really happy! Sounds like Ivy is growing up super fast on me! Haha I miss her haha. Welp love you guys! Have a great week! Oh and thanks for the Happy Birthday wishes! And thanks for the treats Mom and Dad! Oh, and I realize how poorly written this is. But this computer is different and I can´t figure out how to change it to write in English haha Love you guys!

July 7th, 2014

Hello! alright so hopefully it works out this time! :) So my life is really good here! I am super overwhelmed with how my I need to learn! I just have no idea where to start! haha Alright so this is pretty much how my day goes. I wake up at like 6 and I read the Book of Mormon in spanish because of the promise of President Gordan B. Hinckley. And then we get ready for the day. Then there is an hour of personal study, then two hours of companionship study where I practice with my companion. Then one hour of language study. Then we go and teach, and contact, and teach some more. Everyday we have one lunch appointment with a member at like two. There has only been one that has been interesting haha. I actually really like the food. Even though its all pretty much rice and beans. I never know what it is because I don't understand so I just eat it. I have probably eaten lots of things that are gross and I don't even know haha. Tay would sure love it though. I will be eating and everything is great, then BAM some sneaky super hot spice of some sort enters my throat and I start crying and coughing a little bit :) haha. Ya they are pretty sneaky. But I am getting used to it! And the food isn't an issue! I still haven't been sick. But everybody says like the third week you get sick so we will see what happens. :) But when we got to this house, there wasn't any food so for like the first week I was only eating that one meal a day. But than this last week my companion taught me how to make this really good food, so I have been cooking those. And today I got a lot of cereal and oatmeal so I am set :) haha So yup. I don't have a made. I do my laundry on a wash board out back by hand. And almost everytime I go out there to get my laundry off the close line there is at least one spider in my clothes haha. And there are a lot of cockroaches too but I haven't found one in my clothes yet haha. :) There is only one temperature of water so my showers are cold and my drinking water is warm! But thats not really a big deal. I actually really like cold showers! haha Also mom, there isn't really fruit anywhere haha. Sometimes on random stands in the streets but not growing on trees haha. But there are insanely amazing beautiful mountains! Wow! Super beautiful. It is so humbling to be here! When we got to our house and our area, I was thinking wow. I must be in the poorest place. But I came to find out that I am in the nicest, safest place in the mission! Haha wow! I am so humbled. The houses are super small, and some only have like a couple chairs, and then the whole thing is cement. Apparently other areas only have dirt floors and huts and stuff. I am loving it here! The people are pretty cool. I am still working on loving some of them ;) no just kidding, they are great. My language skills are coming along I think... :) I can understand sometimes. They speak so stinking fast!!! I just pray super hard that in A couple of months I might be able to talk to someone! Man I need some divine help of some kind! haha But I just bare my testimony, and my companion says that it always fits in so thats good eh? :) My companion is so so so great! He is a native but he speaks some english. His name is Elder Barrera! He knows his scriptures incredibly! And he is always so happy and patient with me. He is very very hard working and is a great trainer. I am extremely lucky to have him as my companion. Alright for some important information. If I heard correctly, they only send out mail and give us our mail once a month. But I also don't have time to email everybody that I want to. So ya! :\ but I would love to get letters still :) haha But here is my address to write letters to. There is one for letters and one for packages Letters Elder Austin Slade Concha Espino 303 Col. Roma Sur Monterrey, NL 64700 Packages Elder Austin Slade Chiapas 2202 Col. Roma Sur Monterrey, NL 64700 Amazing!!! Thanks for everything! I love you guys so so much! I will try to send pictures in one of these next times! :) love ya! -Elder A-Sizzzladers

Hola

Sorry! so so sorry, I had a huge email to send, but it went away. And now I have no more time, once a month we go to the temple and when that happens p day is on wednesday, but I will write on Monday. Sorry, I am doing good, loving it. Its hard but so spiritually good. Love ya guys! Sorry, hopefully I will get a working computer next time. BTW I am in Felipe Carrillo. When I got here I thought I was in like on of the poor places, but its the richest safest place. haha wow Next time I will send my addresses. Oh and have Jamie put on my blog that I can send and get letters once a month haha. Just so everybody knows. (: Oh and mom, I don't have a maid I have to do laundry by hand, like the pioneers, but with spiders and cockroaches everywhere. (: Its great! I am learning the language, slowly but surely. This is so humbling. I will tell more monday. Love ya!