Pigs and Bugs

Well one night we were biking home and we saw a bunch of strange creatures. We got off our bikes to figure out what they were and it turns out it was a bunch of wild pigs. And this week we have also been fighting the bugs all the time. It seems like we are putting on bug spray every hour. 😂 It was also transfers this week and I got a new companion. His name is elder Reese. He has been out for about a year. He is from North Ogden and went to Weber High but moved there his freshman year and grew up in Kansas City. We are getting along well and it's been lots of fun.  It's been kind of different having a new perspective and doing everything differently.  

We ate dinner at a members house today and it was a carne!  Basically it's a Mexican BBQ.  They cooked steak and sausage on the grill.  When we sat down to eat I realized that there was no silverware!  So I wasn't sure what to do but then I noticed everyone was just tearing it up with their hands and putting it onto the tortilla.  For all those people out there (Jared) that use there fingers this is the place to be!!  It was super good by the way!

So the moral of this week is to always follow the spirit.  We had about 20 minutes left with nothing to do so we both felt that we needed to go back by the apartment and knock some doors there.  As we were going we both were kind of weary about it to be headed back so soon.  We went and knocked on a door and then as we got on our bikes with 3 minutes left in the day I had the distinct impression to go to a certain door.  When we got to the house we knocked twice and they came to the window looked out at us locked the door then walked away.  Right then a truck pulled up to the apartment.  As we were getting on our bikes the guy rolled down his window to talk to us.  It started with small talk and then he started talking about how he was a biker and was super into it and has tons of stuff for it.  Then the subject got brought up to work and how his family is.  Turns out his son (12) just got through suffering from brain cancer.  The guy opened up to us and we were instantly able to talk to him about the plan that God has for all of us on this earth.  It was a super awesome experience and as I look back on it if we hadn't have left when we did we would have missed him.  Always listen to the spirit no matter what.

Well it was a wet one this week...

So to start everything off this week it poured on us Wednesday night for 2 hours.  When the sky started to turn black and we heard the thunder and it started to rain we headed to the nearest gas station near by.  Lucky for us it wasn't that far away.  As soon as we got inside the rain started to come.  As we sat there and watched the parking lot and street flood and the sky get darker and darker we realized that there was no way we were going to be able to bike home.  We called some other missionaries and they said they were on the way to help other missionaries that their car flooded and they were stranded in the middle of the street flooded up to their knees.  So we called some others and they came to pick us up.  When they got there we loaded our bikes on in the rain and headed to the church.  Traffic was crazy. Every road was flooded and there were cars that were stuck flooded out all over.  It was a super eventful night and I'm glad that we were all safe and there were no major problems from it.  Within 30 minutes after the storm most of the streets were clear.  It's crazy how fast it rains and how much all at once.  I never thought that I would have to worry about flash floods in Southern Texas.

On Saturday I went on my first exchange.  That means I get to be the senior companion for the day.  We went around and visited some people.  It was interesting to find out how much I knew about the area.  I was actually kind of surprised and was able to get around really well.  There was even a road that was closed because a power line had fallen over earlier and we had to go around it.  It's cool to see how much I have learned in just 6 weeks of being in Harlingen.

One thing that stands out to me from this week is a poem that I read.  

The average runner runs until

The breath in him is gone,

But the champion has the iron will

That makes him carry on.

For rest the average runner begs

When limp his muscles grow,

But the champion runs on leaden legs.

His courage makes him go.

The average man’s complacent when

He’s done his best to score,

But the champion does his best and then

He does a little more

I'm not sure why this poem has stuck out so much to me but it has a really good message.  In all things we do whether they be spiritual or physical we can always put in the effort.  Albert Einstein said, "the definition of insanity is doing the same things over and over again and expecting the same results."  Be different, go the extra mile, put in that effort because it will all be worth it in the end.

Always remember the power of prayer! It is incredible! I have seen many prayers answered recently. One mom we are teaching needs a divorce but can't find her husband because he is in Mexico. He has to be notified of the divorce so it can happen. She had tried many times to call him and the number didn't work and at church we called him and the whole time I was praying that he would answer and he did!!! It sounds like he is going to send her the address also! God answers prayers never forget that! 

 The Ortiz family found a nest that was knocked out of the tree and have the birds at their house

The aftermath of the flood

And we did find a tarantula on somebody's porch this week.  So we did the natural thing poke it with a stick!

I have no idea what this frog's intentions are...

Fake Hurricane, Spiritual Fire

We were told at the beginning of the week that we were supposed to get hit with a big hurricane or tropical storm or something and where I am it hasn't rained very much but I guess in other parts of Texas it's has a lot.

Martes - Not a ton happened this day but we did have the opportunity to door contact some cool people.

Miércoles - We talked to a bunch of new people and gave away a couple copies of the Book of Mormon to some people.

Jueves- The day the "hurricane" came. There were a lot of super big black clouds that rolled in while we were out on the bikes and it started pouring on us. And of course there wasn't really anything we could do other then take shelter on someone's porch 😂😂. And so we did that and then just kept being missionaries. You never know what opportunities you might have rain or shine. But it was kinda fun to be running from house to house to get on people's porches to get our of the rain while we saw if they were home or wanted to learn about the gospel!

Viernes -  The time is spiritual fire started with interviews :) President came and interviewed everyone in the zone and it was cool to have the opportunity to tell him how things are going and ask questions and stuff like that.

Sabado- Baptism!!! The Ortiz family was baptized! It was a super spiritual moment and really awesome! It's hard to describe feeling from it other than it was awesome!

Domingo - The kids were confirmed in sacrament meeting and were given super awesome spiritual blessings. The youngest one that is 7 is not old enough to get baptized yet but we were able to give him a blessing in sacrament meeting.

Lunes - We had a big mission meeting in McAllen so we all got up early to get to the meeting. Elder Piper and Elder McKay of the 70 came and talked to us. They talked a lot about how we need to be instruments of the Lord and find our mission purpose. They also did a couple hour training and talked about how we can answer our questions. They said that the best way to answer a question is to study, understand, and apply the doctrine behind the question then the question will answer itself!

A cool experience happened a couple of weeks ago. We stopped at a gas station to use the bathroom and this lady bought us drinks. We don't know why she did or who she is but she said "I see what your guys do, and how you get around on only bikes and I thought you might want these."  People are super nice here and willing to help and listen (most of the time).

Overall this week I have learned that we can do hard things and that 2 Nephi 2:11 is very true. We must have hard experiences to be able to feel true happiness.

Baptism!!

Christian, Esmaralda, and Miguel

I kind of hope that it's not a bad thing that people have a sword sitting in a shelf outside there door 😂😂

The so called "hurricane" 

Wedding and Miracles

Hola todos! I hope everyone is doing well. Just a heads up for everyone next week pday will be on Tuesday because we have an all day meeting on Monday in McAllen. This week has been another good week. I had the opportunity to attend a wedding this week! One of the less active members we are working with had his wedding at the church. We were able to go and attend.  It was a short small ceremony but wonderful. He has been coming to church for about a month now and has a super strong testimony!  It was small and simple and a great reminder of how important family is.  

We have had so many miracles with the family we have been teaching!! They are doing great.  We taught them twice this week and they are such amazing people!!  Some of the miracles have been finding them because of a flat tire!!  We were also able to get them all mattresses to sleep on this week!!! It was a miracle. We called the mission and asked if they had any mattresses they were going to get rid of and if we could give them to this family and they said they had 4!! They said they could come deliver them the next day!!  When they got here they had 6 mattresses and a sofa!!! They had pillows blankets and sheets for all of the beds also!!! The Lord has helped us and blessed them so much! We moved their baptism to this Saturday!!!!  The people down here are amazing! 

Wedding

Service Project

One of my favorite places to bike

Well it's easy to say that this person doesn't live here anymore. Me and my companion were trying to find someone that was taught a long time ago by the missionaries so we went to their address and it turns out the house isn't there anymore 😂😂