Hola Familia,
This was probably one of the craziest/best weeks of the misión so far. My new companion (which I will be referring to as….mi hijo) is Elder Golledge from Temecula, California. He is a stud and we are going to have so much fun. I think I was laughing all week because I had completely forgotten how bad my Spanish was when I first got here. Luckily Elder Golledge is reminding me a lot how I used to be with Elder Obregon…..always so confused and not knowing what is going on. He´ll get the hang of it though. Its just funny when he does door contacts and stuff because he says lots of funny things that doesn’t make sense and then he just looks at me so that ill start talking. He is a surfer dude and played water polo and swam in highschool. I think we will get along great.
As for our new area, it is waaaay different then my previous areas. It is neither in the city nor a pueblo. Its kinda in between. But, there are a TON of people. Like I said in my last letter; there are 4 Elders in our ward. We brought 4 people to church which was pretty good for only having like a day and a half to work this week. Mi hijo didn’t get here until Wednesday in the afternoon and we spent all Wednesday night and Thursday moving into our new apartment. Our apartment, believe it or not, is the smallest one that I´ve been in so far. (I didn’t think that was possible) The good thing is though, that we are almost never in our house, just to sleep and study.
The members in our new ward are awesome and i´ve been able to get to know a lot of them in the last week. For example, yesterday at church a family asked if we could help them move some tables and couches and stuff at their house. So we went over there that night to help them and Elder Stirland and Elder Sanchez were already there. Then I was like waiting for them to tell me what to move and stuff and they brought out a huge cake with candles. They said that they wanted me to feel special here in my first week especially since it was my birthday on Tuesday. They felt bad that I was in a new area on my birthday. Ill send pictures next week, I forgot my camera.
My birthday went well though. We bought domino´s pizza and lit off fireworks. (My area Tultepec is the firework central of Mexico….. there are fireworks going off every single night) I was lighting fireworks off and I almost lit an abandoned house on fire on accident. That would have been a great birthday present, to get put in Mexican jail and have my Mission President bail me out. Haha
So yea, everything is going great. The work moves on! Im excited for my new area and my new companion and My Mission President wrote me a really nice email today thanking me for the work that I have shown thus far in my mission.
I know this church is true. I love the work. I love Mexicans. I love my family. I love everything.
Con amor,
Elder Greg Heap
Monday, March 30, 2009
Monday, March 2, 2009
..Neighbors in the Celestial Kingdom
Hey fam!
Pretty good week. We didn’t baptize Ismael which was a bummer, but I think we will baptize him soon! We are expecting 2 awesome baptisms this week with Jose Antonio and Maria. They are the best! We are going to marry them and take them to the visitors center on Saturday and then baptize them on Sunday. They are the best ever! Im excited cause they already want to go through the temple and stuff and in one year ill be able to go through with them. I decided that when we are in the Celestial Kingdom, they are going to be my neighbors. Last Friday, after our zone conference we called her and she was like….. Elder Heap, come over to my house, I made you enchiladas!!! So we our lunch appointment with another Hermana and cancelled it and we went to her house. We watched (The Testaments) and they were both crying at the end. Domingo was also a miracle because Jose Antonio told us that he has to work. We were praying really hard for a miracle and that he would be able to go. We called them Sunday morning and they were excited to tell us that he got the day off! We were pumped!
So the highlight of my week was definitely zone conference on Friday. President Nancollas is THE MAN! He talked to us about not losing the hunger for the work and to have the animo to work hard every day (sorry I don’t know what animo is in English) We also have a new zone leader, Elder Brown. He is tight and I think I haven’t seen him ever without a smile on his face. We are going to start studying chapter 4 this month (recognizing the Spirit) this month and really focusing on being guided by the Spirit! Im excited to study it. Pres Nancollas told us that the night before, Jeffrey R. Holland called him on the phone ( apparently they are long time friends) and was asking how things are going in the mission. Pres. Nancollas shared with him how we have been able to have better converts since he has gotten here. Apparently before Pres. Nancollas got here the mission was baptizing like crazy and very few of them are still active. Now we have seen a significant upgrade in the quality of the members that are being baptized. So maybe im not going to baptize my goal of 200 baptisms, but I want at least 100 converts! Pres. Nancollas congratulated us on that and now is asking us to have mas y mejores (MORE and better converts)
Im still struggling a lil with E. Torralba, we get a long great, but it is a struggle everyday to get him out of bed and get him out the door to work. I think he appreciates my efforts, but I haven’t seen the improvement that I want out of him. He is slowly improving, but I still have 3 more weeks with him to whip him into shape! Its crazy that there are cambios again in 3 short weeks!
Oh I almost forgot! I got your first package! It was awesome! Yes, I opened it early, but I figured if you are sending another one, ill have something to open for my birthday still haha. I loved the goodies and the ties and the letters and the pictures! I think im getting old though because I liked the letters and the pictures more than the candy and ties! Im becoming more like dad….weird! haha I also noticed the hint of all of the stamps….. Don’t worry mom ill start sending some hand written letters! Oh also another comment about the package….. Thanks for not learning how to count mom! You wrote in your letter that attached was 20 dollars, you know, 1 dollar for every year! I counted the money and came to find 3 five dollar bills and 1 twenty dollar bill. I still have 15 years to go to be 35 years old! But thanks! Ill be sure you to buy another tie or something cool! Love you mom! : )
Ill be sure to send the pictures that I promised from last week! Oh and to answer your questions mother, I think it was the 5 by 7 journal, but im not completely sure, I just know that its navy blue with gold (journal) on it. On the first page there is a geneology chart and I would love to have the same one! Thanks!
Oh another random thought. We had lunch in the house of Guillermina and Gustavo on Sunday. They are so humble and don’t have money to buy gas for their stove, but they put there names on the list to give food to the missionaries and we went! They are the best and even though they live in a cement box they are the richest people in the world (in Spirit). I am excited to see them when we all reach our Celestial Glory.
If you have noticed I have talked a little bit about seeing these people in heaven after this life and I think that is what drives me. I mean, you can be a missionary for 2 years, going through the daily motions, and never really be a missionary. The most important thing is to work hard for the people so that they also come unto Christ. Not only that, but do the ordenanzas necessary to be able to reach that goal.
Im so thankful to be a missionary. I love this work and it is the most gratifying work that you can possibly do. It is the work of God….. ´´To Bring to Pass the immortality and eternal life of man´´ I know this is His work and that I have been able to be an instrument in the His hands to bring this people unto Him. I know that He lives. He answers my prayers. He knows me personally. He puts me in positions where I can struggle, learn, and grow. He wants me to be successful. He loves each of you and each of His children and wants the best for every one of us. I have seen so many ´´lost´´ people here in Mexico and to see them recognize the love that God has for them is one of the greatest blessings that I have received. I know as we follow the commandments of God, He blesses us. I know the Joseph Smith is a prophet of God and that he restored the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that he saw God the Father and Jesus Christ and that he received the keys to return the Church of Christ back to the earth. I know we have a prophet today that talks to God. He with his apostles lead and guide this church. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and contains all that we need to be happy…..if we just follow the principles and words of the prophets. I know that families can be together forever. That is my goal for me and my family and as a missionary it has been my ´´fuel´´ to bring others families into the kingdom of God…..to be together with our eternal family as brothers and sisters and as children of God.
That’s it for this week! Everyone have a great week!
Oh and Bead, I want to thank you especially for you card that you sent me. It really strengthened me a lot. You are stud. That stinks about Bball! Now you can focus on school and get ready for your SENIOR YEAR! CRAZY!!!!
Thanks for all your love and support!
Con amor,
Elder Greg Heap
Pretty good week. We didn’t baptize Ismael which was a bummer, but I think we will baptize him soon! We are expecting 2 awesome baptisms this week with Jose Antonio and Maria. They are the best! We are going to marry them and take them to the visitors center on Saturday and then baptize them on Sunday. They are the best ever! Im excited cause they already want to go through the temple and stuff and in one year ill be able to go through with them. I decided that when we are in the Celestial Kingdom, they are going to be my neighbors. Last Friday, after our zone conference we called her and she was like….. Elder Heap, come over to my house, I made you enchiladas!!! So we our lunch appointment with another Hermana and cancelled it and we went to her house. We watched (The Testaments) and they were both crying at the end. Domingo was also a miracle because Jose Antonio told us that he has to work. We were praying really hard for a miracle and that he would be able to go. We called them Sunday morning and they were excited to tell us that he got the day off! We were pumped!
So the highlight of my week was definitely zone conference on Friday. President Nancollas is THE MAN! He talked to us about not losing the hunger for the work and to have the animo to work hard every day (sorry I don’t know what animo is in English) We also have a new zone leader, Elder Brown. He is tight and I think I haven’t seen him ever without a smile on his face. We are going to start studying chapter 4 this month (recognizing the Spirit) this month and really focusing on being guided by the Spirit! Im excited to study it. Pres Nancollas told us that the night before, Jeffrey R. Holland called him on the phone ( apparently they are long time friends) and was asking how things are going in the mission. Pres. Nancollas shared with him how we have been able to have better converts since he has gotten here. Apparently before Pres. Nancollas got here the mission was baptizing like crazy and very few of them are still active. Now we have seen a significant upgrade in the quality of the members that are being baptized. So maybe im not going to baptize my goal of 200 baptisms, but I want at least 100 converts! Pres. Nancollas congratulated us on that and now is asking us to have mas y mejores (MORE and better converts)
Im still struggling a lil with E. Torralba, we get a long great, but it is a struggle everyday to get him out of bed and get him out the door to work. I think he appreciates my efforts, but I haven’t seen the improvement that I want out of him. He is slowly improving, but I still have 3 more weeks with him to whip him into shape! Its crazy that there are cambios again in 3 short weeks!
Oh I almost forgot! I got your first package! It was awesome! Yes, I opened it early, but I figured if you are sending another one, ill have something to open for my birthday still haha. I loved the goodies and the ties and the letters and the pictures! I think im getting old though because I liked the letters and the pictures more than the candy and ties! Im becoming more like dad….weird! haha I also noticed the hint of all of the stamps….. Don’t worry mom ill start sending some hand written letters! Oh also another comment about the package….. Thanks for not learning how to count mom! You wrote in your letter that attached was 20 dollars, you know, 1 dollar for every year! I counted the money and came to find 3 five dollar bills and 1 twenty dollar bill. I still have 15 years to go to be 35 years old! But thanks! Ill be sure you to buy another tie or something cool! Love you mom! : )
Ill be sure to send the pictures that I promised from last week! Oh and to answer your questions mother, I think it was the 5 by 7 journal, but im not completely sure, I just know that its navy blue with gold (journal) on it. On the first page there is a geneology chart and I would love to have the same one! Thanks!
Oh another random thought. We had lunch in the house of Guillermina and Gustavo on Sunday. They are so humble and don’t have money to buy gas for their stove, but they put there names on the list to give food to the missionaries and we went! They are the best and even though they live in a cement box they are the richest people in the world (in Spirit). I am excited to see them when we all reach our Celestial Glory.
If you have noticed I have talked a little bit about seeing these people in heaven after this life and I think that is what drives me. I mean, you can be a missionary for 2 years, going through the daily motions, and never really be a missionary. The most important thing is to work hard for the people so that they also come unto Christ. Not only that, but do the ordenanzas necessary to be able to reach that goal.
Im so thankful to be a missionary. I love this work and it is the most gratifying work that you can possibly do. It is the work of God….. ´´To Bring to Pass the immortality and eternal life of man´´ I know this is His work and that I have been able to be an instrument in the His hands to bring this people unto Him. I know that He lives. He answers my prayers. He knows me personally. He puts me in positions where I can struggle, learn, and grow. He wants me to be successful. He loves each of you and each of His children and wants the best for every one of us. I have seen so many ´´lost´´ people here in Mexico and to see them recognize the love that God has for them is one of the greatest blessings that I have received. I know as we follow the commandments of God, He blesses us. I know the Joseph Smith is a prophet of God and that he restored the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that he saw God the Father and Jesus Christ and that he received the keys to return the Church of Christ back to the earth. I know we have a prophet today that talks to God. He with his apostles lead and guide this church. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and contains all that we need to be happy…..if we just follow the principles and words of the prophets. I know that families can be together forever. That is my goal for me and my family and as a missionary it has been my ´´fuel´´ to bring others families into the kingdom of God…..to be together with our eternal family as brothers and sisters and as children of God.
That’s it for this week! Everyone have a great week!
Oh and Bead, I want to thank you especially for you card that you sent me. It really strengthened me a lot. You are stud. That stinks about Bball! Now you can focus on school and get ready for your SENIOR YEAR! CRAZY!!!!
Thanks for all your love and support!
Con amor,
Elder Greg Heap
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