...Christmas Spirit as a Mexican

Heeeeeey fam....

Life is great. I love being a missionary. The blessings keep rolling in from everywhere. This work is true and it`s a blessing to be a part of it.

This week was interesting. Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday Elder Garcia and I worked extremely hard. I mean really really really hard. Knocking doors asking references, climbing hills talking to EVERYONE and teaching the gospel. At the end of those days we looked at each other and realized that it was already Friday. The week was almost over. It is crazy to see how fast time flies when you are 100% dedicated to the work of the Lord. Elder Garcia is helping me a ton. He is so focused on ending his mission well and having his zone be the most successful. It is fun. Before being his comp I had heard that he had been slacking now that he doesnt have much time left, but when he got here with me he was ready to work. It`s fun. I love it.

I have developed a lot as a missionary in a year and a half and it is fun to be able to use all the talents, tools and experience the Lord has blessed me with.

I think I like doing the whole ``highlights of the week`` thing because I get the most important things in the email....

First things first, Mom, I got 3 packages last week. It was AWESOME. 2 Christmas ones and 1 normal one. Thank you so much. The socks you sent have saved me because I have holes in all my other ones. The ties are pretty tight as well. I loved the pictures and the letters and just about everything. I think I`ll put up my Christmas paper tree one of these days. I send my appreciation and love to everyone. I got all of Grandma and Grandpa Heaps`letters too. Tell them thanks. I know they have been tryin to get them to me. Also the testimonies of all of you have strengthened me a ton lately. Grandpa and Grandma Riggs. Everyone. It would take me a while to name everyone who wrote me and I am so happy that I have such a strong family living the gospel.

Another highlight, Thursday night. We went to do baptismal interviews for Elder Christensen. I got to interview Arturo (the father of the family) and my comp interviewed his son. I already knew Arturo from doing divisions a couple week back and I was really happy that he got baptized. IT was a very spiritual interview. I asked him about his conversion experience and his story is awesome. His wife is amazed that he has changed so fast in so little time. He has shown his faith and has had a sincere repentance over the past few weeks. He has stopped drinking and his wife now loves him more than ever. We hope that she also enters in the baptismal waters here shortly. There was a moment when I think it clicked in Arturo and in me just how simple is the gospel. We show our faith by keeping the commandments and repent and get better daily showing a real repentance. Doing that changes lives. Doing that blesses families. Doing that brings happiness. Talking to Arturo was a real blessing. Him and I both received a powerful testimony of the gospel and the Holy Ghost was very strong. It was hard not to break down crying. Moments like those are the moments that help when trying times come and when we have trials. I`m so thankful to be able to experience them on a weekly and almost daily basis.

Saturday we were a little frustrated because despite our huge efforts in the week we still didnt have many new investigators or many people that accepted to go to church. (It`s always harder in December with people going out of town and visiting family.....not to mention the parties that they throw in the centro) We went to a couple appointments on the other side of our area and they werent there. We decided to finish knocking to the end of the street. After a few rejections and after talking to a few Jehovah`s Witness, we were pretty dissappointed. We decided to finish the street and on the second to last house we found a family of 8. All we had to say is that we are missionaries and they let us in. They were all on the couches and they brought us out to chairs so that they could all sit around us and listen. We taught the Restoration and the spirit was really strong. It`s another family Lopez (If you remember Pablo and Olga from my last area). We had a few of them go to church, but for one reason or another not all of them could go. It will be fun teaching a big family like that and we just hope that they progress. We will see what happens.

Today was fun. We played some bball in Elder Christensens area. It`s fun playing street ball with Mexicans. Especially little ones from Oaxaca. Elder Golledge and his comp Elder Beazer came. Two of the sons of the stake president came and Elder Summers and Elder Loeza came and Elder Fillerup and Elder Palomec came. We had a lil 4 on 4 tourney.

Well I hate to cut it short on ya`ll, but I gotta jet. I got to go shower and go to a meeting then head over to the offices. Tomorrow we have our zone meeting council. Those are always the best. I`m pumped. Not to mention I get to chill with a bunch of my buddies tonight. Elder Romney, Elder Arnett, Elder Francis, Elder Drake, etc. Oh and the new zone leader is Elder Koons and I love Elder Koons so that will be fun too.

This next week we have a goal as a zone to have 9 baptisms and 12 confirmations. If we reach our goal (which we should) we will be leading the mission. Pray for Ecatepec. Pray for the missionaries. Pray for missionary experiences and pray for the work of the Lord.

I love you all. Live the gospel and be happy.

Con amor,
Elder Heap