Letter #99

The zone conference went well. I directed it and the training went well. I didn't have a ton of time to teach, but it turned out well. I don't think I have a ton of extra things to fit in my suitcase. President Titensor did not give me permission to go to the place where a member would give me a shoe discount because 2 other companionship's were going to be there...so I don't know if I will be able to buy shoes.

My favorite book of scripture would be Mosiah 2-5 King Benjamin's speech and Alma 34-42 when Alma and Amulek teach a bunch of people... and parts of 3 Nephi.

I have only been separated from my companion in the mission offices, so it wasn't a big deal. Elder Urrutia hid himself one time while I was waiting and watching for the local transport. I was confused at the start until a nearby store sign (Elder Urrutia's hiding spot) started laughing.

Part of the Alegria family came to church this Sunday. From what I saw they enjoyed it! We are really excited for them!

I feel good about the work right now, we are working hard and looking for more new people. The members little by little seem to be more excited to work. The Relief Society went and visited the Alegría family. That was a big motivating factor to have them come to church.

Something that I loved this week was that I have learned a lot from the lessons that we have had because the spirit was the teacher. I learned about my baptismal covenant a lot. We promise to remember Christ always, to take his name upon us, and to keep his commandments. To be short, we promise to perfect ourselves in Christ or become more like him. As we keep our baptismal covenant we always should be looking for what we can do better and as we do so Christ will show us our weaknesses so that our weaknesses can become strengths.

I invite you to think more about your baptismal covenant and to perfect yourself in Christ

Love you,

Elder Finlinson

P.S. I might be going to visit old areas. Alamedas and Huehuetoca. I will see. I will go with Elder Fraser to Alamedas and then to Huehuetoca my companion will come with me. I will see how things go as far as writing on those days. I have to go in these next 2 Mondays. 

Letter # 98

Fabiola is the same, but we have other families and investigators that are progressing. I will teach in zone conference explaining what each one is (doctrine, principle and application) and why we should study them. Then have two practices one looking for the doctrine in the scriptures and then the second practice I will hand them a paper describing an investigator and a situation and they will put what doctrine principle and application this person could need.

That is great for Jordon, let's hope that they're looking towards the temple. ( A cousin that got engaged.)

One of the greatest things I have learned in the mission is that all this is true. I grew up almost the whole time with a borrowed testimony, going through the motions, but now I love the church and the gospel!

One talent or skill that I have developed. Talking in public. I still am not a super crazy social guy, but by teaching meetings, contacting in the streets, and contacting entire buses, I am getting over my fear of speaking in public.

A couple of great things this week. The church attendance went up by 17 this week because a ton of less active members came to church. Not all of them came because we taught and invited them, but some (about 12) did. I am convinced that if the active members did their part in home teaching and visiting teaching many (not all) less active members would be active. 

Also we are teaching a family. The Alegria family. The dad is a member inactive and his wife and 3 daughters are not members. We had taught the wife and daughters and they have said many times that their family is falling apart. This week we met the Dad for the first time. He was drunk, but as we were teaching, his daughters started to testify to their dad that this is the chance God is giving them to have a happy family and to change. His heart was softened and in the end he said the prayer and asked forgiveness for all the horrible things he had done to his family. We felt the spirit a lot! They are starting to progress little by little. 

Thinking about the priesthood. I think that many times we overlook how big of a responsibility that it is to have the priesthood. The impact of a good wife (as with Elder Nelson) is huge for a priesthood holder. We must always be ready and worthy to use the priesthood. Also the priesthood is more than just giving blessings or performing ordinances. It is the power and authority of God for the salvation of his children. We must visit and help others to participate in the blessings of the gospel. That is our call.

Love you,

Elder Finlinson

Letter #97

We will have a zone conference on May 24. It will be with a couple other zones. I will teach one part alone. The conference will have different topics. I will teach about Doctrine, Principle, Application. 

Fabiola talked with her mom about getting baptized. The situation still has not gotten resolved. Her mom got mad and called her ex husband to come and talk with Fabiola about her decision. Her dad did not show up and her mom is still ticked off. We will visit Fabiola today to see what all is going on. 

The rest of the investigators have not been progressing much. We can only see them once a week for their schedules and sometimes they aren't there when we go by. So basically we are looking for new investigators always.

My favorite part of this week was, yesterday we had an appointment with a family of less active members. They have not been sealed in the temple. We did an activity about preparing ourselves for the temple (a puzzle) then listened to a video of Thomas S. Monson talking about the temples. After that they started talking about the great experiences they had when they went to church and the spirit was felt very strongly. They now have a desire to work towards the temple as a family.

I´m enjoying the mission and we are working hard. We have found some people that can progress, but it will require time. 

This week I strengthened my testimony that God answers prayers if we look for answers. I was praying and studying to find an answer and a confirmation from God about some things. At the end of my study I found a big answer in a talk from General Conference from last April, then I received a call from a missionary in my zone that said he felt to tell me something. It was the answer I was looking for. ( I asked him if he wanted to share what he had been praying for, this was his answer: I was just feeling a little sad because I didn't feel like I was progressing or that I was seeing results. The talk was truly good and without guile. And the missionary called to tell me thanks for being there to help him and support him.)

God knows and loves us because we are his children. Ask and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you. That is a sure promise from a loving Heavenly Father. Try it!

Love you,

Elder Finlinson

Letter #96

TRANSFERS!!!! We stay the same here in Ciudad Labor. I stay here with Elder Servin. The elders from Chilpa are from Oaxaca, Mexico, and Chandler, Arizona (look up "barney bites" on youtube and you will find him)

I wrote one letter to Alma Ramos from Tepeji. (She got baptized a few weeks ago). I sometimes talk with Elder Huxford to check up on things in Tepeji.

In these Last 6 weeks. I want to help someone get baptized and leave the area with lots of people to get baptized after I go. I also really want to have a more unconditional love for the people and see the worth of every soul like how God sees them. I also want to help the members to work and that the attendance can go up.

The time is flying, so we will have to pray that these last couple weeks go a bit slower haha. 

The mission is preparing me to serve all my life with all my heart. That choice isn't just a two year choice, its forever!

One of the most special things that happened this week was that we watched "Joseph Smith, the Prophet of the Restoration" with Fabiola. I had been reading Joseph Smith History and praying to strengthen my testimony of the restoration. I felt the spirit so strongly as I watched the movie. One part that really impacted me was when people had kidnapped and handcuffed Joseph and some other members. They started saying a bunch of bad stuff. Joseph stood up repremanded (I hope thats a word in English) them and then everything went quiet. They stopped saying bad things and Joseph said, "The worth of every soul is great in the sight of God". 

Two thoughts about that scene: 

1) In D&C 121:43 I think it says that we admonish and correct with the spirit and then show greater love to him who you have corrected so that he does not think you his enemy. We must invite people to repent because they are worth much for God, but we must show greater love after. 
2) Even with the way they were treating Joseph and the members he showed greater love towards them. He saw the worth their souls had and Loved them unconditionally. That is the pure love of Christ- Charity. Something we must all develop, because without it we are nothing (Moroni 7)

I invite you to show greater love to those who surround you and look to see the worth of every soul. I promise you that as you do, you will see the worth that you have for God. 

Love you,

Elder Finlinson

Tepalcapa Este Zone 

Sportin' their sombreo's!

 Alma Ramos' baptism. She was a lady that Elder Huxford and Andrew taught. She was baptized 2 weeks after Andrew was transferred. Elder Urrutia (another of Andrew's favorite companions is also in this picture.)

Pres. & Sis. Titensor with Alma Ramos

Letter #95

This week Fabiola was going to come to church, but as we know satan works in many ways. If he can't attack her, he will attack her family. Fabiola was with her sister and her sister started to drink a lot! Fabiola couldn't move her sister and had to take care of her all Saturday night and Sunday morning.

Some thoughts that I had as I read the talk, The Will of the Father in All Things, by Elder Holland are:

The story of Nephi. He had made a promise with God to obey him in all things. Not long after his declaration to obey God put him to the test by asking him to kill Laban. God gives us opportunities to prove ourselves worthy of being with him and to show how much we really love him. Also something I thought was interesting was that it is obedience to God and nothing else. If Nephi were to only obey the commandments he wouldn't have killed Laban, but he knew that what God requires is that we obey HIM, not just a structured system. 

I also thought of how Nephi´s decision to obey and kill Laban allowed us to be members of the church today. It led the way for the restoration and the Book of Mormon. My ancestors´ faith in crossing the plains and obeying God allowed me to have the gospel and serve in Mexico. Every decision that we make will affect generations.

Love you,

Elder Finlinson

Letter #94

* Story behind the picture I received in my email this week from a member in Mexico. We were walking in the street to visit someone with Brother Lopez when we saw the car. I said "I need a picture with this car, but I don't have my camera." So he took the picture and I told him to send it to you. 

I have had dogs try and attack, but that haven't had success. *When asked about any animal encounters.

Elder Servin does everything from his heart, and tries his best. *Favorite thing about his companion.

The Best and Worst of each of the areas he has served in:

Alamedas: Best- They fed us very well and we lived 4 missionaries together. Worst: Pride and a tiny area.

Xahuento: Best- more humble. Worst- NO Members.

Huehuetoca: Best- The ward, and area were great. Worst- Washing clothes by hand.

Xalpa : Best- We lived really close to the church. Worst- House problems and we couldn't wash clothes much.

Tepeji: Best- The view, small town feel, people are very receptive. Worst- Not much member support.

Ciudad Labor :Best- The house. Worst- We never eat with the members.

This week it was hardish. Margarita and Alberto were telling us that they don't want to get baptized and continue in the church. We listened to them and felt that we needed to talk about the genealogy work for the dead. Their expressions changed and they were very intrigued. They decided they wanted to know more. Fabiola and Berenice didn't come to church. Fabiola had a rash and Berenice let all her work of the year add up and now she is in crunch time with doing the year totals in her work. 

I did give a talk this week it was about something that Thomas S. Monson said. "We know where we want to go and our choices matter." Pres. Eyring said that Gods purpose and our purpose should affect every decision we make. Our purpose in in Moroni 10:32-33. Be perfected in Christ. We do that through covenants and his Atonement. We go to church, read the scriptures, and pray, etc. to be perfected in Christ. It's not just a checklist of requirements to enter into heaven. 

I invite you to do those small things, thinking of Your purpose and Gods purpose.

Funny experience: My companion and I were walking by and saw a group of women about 30 years old with their kids. As we passed by they all stared. Later in the day we stopped on a street to look at our agenda. As we were standing there one of those same ladies passed by us and says, "I`m Denise! I am 29 years old and I live in that red house!" Then her 9 year old kid starts yelling Spanish pick-up lines.... it was weird.

Love you,

Elder Finlinson

Brother Lopez sent this picture of Andrew and Herbie the Love Bug!

 The Mauricio Family was baptized!!! This is a family Andrew taught in Xahuento but they couldn't get baptized because they were not divorced from former spouses. They were able to get divorced, married and baptized! So happy for them. 

Letter #93

My favorite thing about Ciudad Labor is the view, the house, and the members want to work.

The main employment-... there isn't one, but the majority work in Mexico City and get back about 7:30 at night.

Best thing I ate this week- Dominos pizza. The worst- I don't know, the thing I don't like much is that we never eat with the members. They are never home at that time so they just give us a bit of money to go buy something.

I have not had any animal encounters here in Ciudad Labor.

This week we have been pretty busy with a lot of visits. I actually taught a lesson in English to someone who just got here from Chicago. She did not want anything the 2nd time we went because she looked up the comments on Joseph Smith on the internet. 

We did see a miracle though. This Sunday no one that we were teaching came to church for a lot of different excuses and reasons. I was feeling pretty bad for a bit, but then as we were walking in the street 3 different people contacted us and said that they wanted to learn more about Christ and find out how to get closer to God. That experience helped me to know that God has a plan and that he knows what is happening in our lives. If we trust in him he will put things in order and lead us to success. 

Hope everyone is doing well and I just want to remind you all that you are children of God. You have divine priviledges as you follow the counsel of a loving Heavenly Father. He is always there to help us. It may be hard to do all that he asks us to do, or to make changes in our lives to align our lives with Gods will, but it is always what will bring us happiness in the end. 

I invite you to think of your blessings as a child of god. Romans 8:16-17

Love you,

Elder Finlinson

 Cleaning his 'favorite' wall. 

The finished product!