Letter #102 Last letter from the Mission Field

This week was great. We found 6 new people to teach and 2 of them came to church and are preparing to be baptized on July 24th! Patricia and Viridiana (the 2 people) went to the temple open house 9 months ago and have been waiting patiently for missionaries ever since. When we taught them, they were so happy when we invited them to be baptized saying, "I am convinced that this is what God wants me to do!" They came to church and LOVED it!

What will I miss most: The people that I have come to know and love.

What am I looking forward to when I get home: It will sound a little weird, but I am looking forward to the "disturbing the peace law". There won't be people shouting and weird sounds all the time. (I will explain later.)

Summarizing the mission: The best experience of my life up to this point, and the best experience to prepare me for the rest of my life. 

It still hasn't hit me that I am leaving. I delayed packing up to avoid all thoughts of going home until about an hour and a half ago. I have loved the mission and wouldn't trade this experience for anything. I know that it was God´s will for me to be here at this time.

Tomorrow morning we go to the offices, have a brief meeting, then eat with the new missionaries. Then we go to President´s house and we will do something, eat, have a devotional, and sleep. Then Wednesday at 9 we will be in the airport and at 3:30 we are in the air.

See you soon!

Love you,

Elder Finlinson

 The missionaries that will be coming home this week.

 Temple trip with missionaries that will be leaving.

At the beautiful Mexico City Temple

Letter #101

Fabiola didn't come to church this Sunday. I don't know if we will keep teaching her much longer. I wasn't able to go to Huehuetoca today, but I did go buy some shoes. I don't know what I would like to eat.(When he comes home.) I am not used to eating at 6:00/7:00 anymore and I can't fit much in my stomach anymore. I would say something Chinese to mix it up a bit.

I will go to the temple this Thursday morning. I will be on the same plane as Elder Huxford, Van Tassel, Black, and Stanger.

Best part of the week: We had a lesson with the Alegria family this week and in the end we invited them to be baptized. They have always told us no, but this time Gabriela (the mom) said yes. Then I didn't invite her to get baptized on a specific date like we need to do. The whole night I felt horrible and I asked God to give me a second chance to see them and invite them to be baptized. The next day we were walking in the street and we saw the Alegria family! They invited us in and we taught them about baptism and when we invited them to baptism in the end of July they all accepted! This Sunday they came to church and are very excited.

I loved that experience so much because it showed me that God wants me to repent and that if I have the desire to do what he wants me to do, He will do miracles to help me change. I have been able to see that God is a God of miracles many times this week. I hope you also recognize His hand in your lives too.

Funny experience: This morning I came to write and the electricity went out, went to cut my hair and the girl that cuts my hair wasn't there and the older lady that cut my hair..... well she cut it at least (it wasn't that great), then while we were eating the food slipped out of my hands and went ALL over my shirt. That has been my day so far. 

Love you,

Elder Finlinson

Letter #100

I visited Alamedas today!! Also I will fast for Jordon this Sunday. Thanks for telling me so that I can be praying too.

 

If I could go back to teach someone... I don't know because they are either baptized or they don't listen to the missionaries. If there would be someone it would be the Gamboa Family in Huehuetoca. They are a great family, I don't know what happened. They were really excited to progress in the church.

 An area that I would have liked to serve in, maybe Tepotzoltlan. It is a cool area I have heard, but who knows. 

I would like to visit all my areas again! 

This week was stake conference. We also had 4 investigators there. Fabiola came and invited a friend. Angel (he always comes). Sister Alegria and her daughter Gabby (a different daughter than last week). It was great. The last talks were great...The Mexico area plan and the Family Proclamation. The family proclamation has a lot of great things in it. I love the 3rd paragraph the most. It teaches so clearly Gods plan. 

I have thought a lot about a scripture lately in Nehemias. (I know right! Almost nobody knows who he is!) anyways, Nehemias was called by God to complete his own "mission" to reconstruct the walls of Jerusalem. Many people wanted him to relax or do something different, get distracted. Nehemias replied "I am occupied in a great work and cannot come down". We are all embarked in the work and Glory of the Living God and We Cannot Come Down. We don't have time to lose our way or get distracted, to complain, relax. God has called each one of us to come in these last days to work in his vineyard and work for the salvation of men (D&C 138: 56). I hope that we can all realize what a great calling we all have from God and that there is nothing more important that we could possibly do. 

I invite you to pray and ask God everyday, "What more can I do to help in your vineyard?" As you look for revelation the Holy Ghost will let you know what to do. Pray to be able to help someone to progress towards our Heavenly Father. Follow the impressions of the spirit. They are Commandments from God for YOU!

Love you,

Elder Finlinson

 Service Project

 Zone Tepalcapa Este

 Michelle and Her Mom (Andrew taught her and her Father)

 Andrew visiting his old area Alamedas and some of the people he taught who were baptized.

 Andrew and Elder Servin at the Mission Offices

Andrew and Elder Servin