WEEK - 19 PACHUCA, MEXICO

Trevor’s district at the MTC 1/25/09 L to R Elders: Jason HURST (Artesia,NM), Trevor , Jesse SPENCER (Canyon City, CO), Jesse Kelley , Trevor Mays (Huston, TX), Trevor Isrealson (Providence, UT), Ethan Kartchner(Meridan,ID), Alex Bertin (Bountiful,UT)

Original MTC district: Elders Bertin, Mays, Isrealson, Hurst, Spencer, Kartchner, Rasmussen

Querido Familia,
Wow, what a great week!!! MULTI Zone Conference (I saw everyone from the MTC, that was fun!), Mission picture, and food! We ate this big sándwich called a torta. It was awesome.
haha today I contacted 15 peopel in a combi! I think they only looked at me and listened because it was funnyt o see a gringo speaking spanish! haha it was fun.

In the Mex., Mex City East Mission they have trainers like other missions but it seems the Elders like to take it to another level and show "Generations". This picture is for Trevor's comp. Elder Sander (he is Trevor's PaPa and is going home in about 3 wks.) it's one of his "family" lines. Making this a 4 generation picture ! ! ! Elder Pastrana would be his Great Grandson. Elder Sander even looks more seasoned. . . but remember it's not the years, it's the mileage and the road traveled. . . . he has been an awesome missionary ! ! !

Elder Sander trained Elder Mora, who trained Elder Howard, who trained Elder Pastrana, Elder Mora is training a new Elder Fulton from CA

Yesterday we baptized an 11 year old boy named Euri Jave. His family has been inactive for about 7 years and

This is a picture of hermano Sanchez their ward mission leader. He is coming up to Utah and has offered to help return Trevor's shoes to us.
our AWESOME Ward misión leader Bro. Sanchez helped us find them. We´ve been teachign them for about a month, and the family is starting to come back to church. There are about 5 families that live in this house, and I think they´ll all start coming back! Euri was pretty excited too.
Consuelo, Joel, and Leilani were confirmed this Sunday! Every Sunday we go to pick up new investigators and we were two minutes too late, when w ego to the church the doors were closed and we couldn´t go in. We missed their confirmation! We made it up to them though. I found a nice leather bound triple combination in the MTC, I say found because it was on the ¨offering table¨ or the ironing board where everyone puts their stuff that they dont´want. I also found a nice leather bound Bible and I decided that I wanted to give it to a convert in Mexico. Elder Sander and I wrote our testimonies int he triple and gave it to Consuelo later last night. She really liked it! Mom, Elder Sander and I decided our mothers dont´need to worry because Consuelo is like our second mom! Haha, last night she asked ¨You eat on Mondays right? Where are you eating? Are you srue you have food?¨Hahah!

We´ve been teaching Enmanuel and Cristina, they weren´t able to go to church yesterday so their baptismal date is the 7 of June. Cristina told us about a dream she had. She opened a White book and read something, she coudln´t remember what it said but knew that she had to stop smoking, and knew that it was from God. So she has just stopped smoking, from 5 a day to none! We have also been teaching two daughters of an inactive sister. The dauhters go every week to another Ward, but their dad wouldn´t let them get baptized until they´re older. Well now they´re older (11 and 9) but their mom doesn´t really want to go back to church. Yesterday they came! But their mom still isn´t sure about them getting baptized. We´ve been praying for them a lot, we hope their mom will let them get baptized this week. We have also been teaching the sister in law of the bishop. The brother of the bishop and her need to get married before she and her two kids can be baptized. They had a date set for this week, but now all of a sudden they aren´t sure about getting married. So we´ve been praying for them as well, we told them that if they keep putting the date off it will be harder and harder with more temptations. We have been teaching a lady named Ana. She is very humble and poor, She has 4 daughters, and can´t read. We started to teach her how t oread, which is pretty easy because she knows all the letters already. She didn´t come to church yesterday so her date is the 7 of June as well.

This week we saw a lot of miracles, with Cristina for example. I want to tell youa bout another one. We were walking in the street Puerto Tuxpan, when all of a sudden I Heard a faint voice say ¨hermanos!¨ Elder Sander adn I turned around at the same time, I looked at him and said ¨DId you hear that?!¨he said yes and we looked for sonmebody calling for us, but there was nobody. We were ina hurry to another appointment, so we memorized our location and hurried off. The next day we planned to knock all the doors near that area. As we were knocking, soembody had CCR blaring out their window, I thought that was kind of funny, I haven´t Heard that for a long time! When we finally got to the apartment with the music ont he 4th floor of the building, a man opened it. Without a Word from us he said ¨Come in, come in! Que dicen?!¨ We looked at eachother a little surprised and went in. We found out Jaime Morales has been inactive for 15 years, he was the secretary of his Ward and something happened with his family, married a catholic and has been inactive since. He has something wrong with his arm, and is handicapped. He and his wife went to church yesterday! We felt blessed that we were able to find him and his wife, and know we were supposed to find him.

This really is the work of the Lord! I know it with all my heart. I hope next time the Spirit doesn´t have to shout at me to get me to listen, so I can find more people like Jaime and his wife. I´m so lucky to be here, I´m learning so much everyday fromt he Book of Mormon and my companion. Thanks for all your support and emails, sorry I can´t reply to each of you individually.
Con Amor,
Elder Rasmussen

WEEK - 16 PACHUCA, MEXICO

The Elders get together for some P-day "Futbol" fun ! ! ! !
Querido Familia,
Whoa what a week! We weren’t sure if we were going to have a meeting until Friday. As soon as we found out we went telling every member we saw that we were going to have servicios, and everyone told us “Thanks, but we already know.” We’re always the last ones to find out! It was so great to go to Church! I learned we take for granted some things like the Sacrament. We weren’t able to take the Sacrament for a month! Technically, we ( the missionaries) were considered inactive. Haha!
Saturday the 16, (the day before Sunday, the NIGHT before Consuelo and her family are supposed to be baptized) we went to Consuelo’s house at 7. We get there, and as we walk in I thought I heard a whisper that said “She doesn’t want to be baptized tomorrow.” Sure enough, the first thing Consuelo tells us is that she doesn’t want to be baptized tomorrow, but in a week. My heart sunk, I’m sure I probably made a funny face. Elder Sander acted like it wasn’t a big deal, I think a lot of people say that in the mission. We just talked to her, and told her about all the blessings that she’s going to receive. Her sister was there. This sister, Rosalinda, never has been interested in listening to us, but this night she was basically telling Consuelo that we were right and she needed to be baptized. She never said that night that she wanted to be baptized. We just went on to say “You’re going to need a change of clothes, sandals, a towel…and a smile” And that was basically the last thing we said about it. All during this her sister was peering over The Book of Mormon, reading very intently. We told her we’d like to talk to her as well, and promised her the Book has blessed our family and will bless her life. She held the Book up and looked at us and said..
“THIS Book has blessed YOUR family?! I want these blessings!....But I’m not going to be baptized” “Yes hermana, it’s okay. If we mark a chapter will you read it?” “YES!!...but I’m not going to be baptized!” It was so great to hear and SEE the example of Consuelo to her family. We left her 3 Nephi 11 and Moroni 10:3-5. I’m sure she’ll be baptized.
Well, Sunday finally came. We were praying all the night before and that day that Consuelo would come with the four things we told her she needed. We got to Church and…. What do you know?! Consuelo was there with Joel and Leilani with all their stuff in a big bag.

At 12 o’clock, we started the Baptismal service. We had the wonderful, sacred opportunity to help three of our heavenly siblings take upon themselves this covenant. I baptized Consuelo first, she was shaking because she was so nervous (probably the only person there as nervous as I was!...maybe.) Then I baptized Leilani. I didn’t explain very well that you need to hold your nose, and she came out of the water gasping for air…oops. Elder Sander baptized Joel after. It was the greatest feeling ever! I was so happy, but not just because we “baptized three”. These are real people, who through study of the Book of Mormon and prayer, changed. We saw the Atonement working in the lives, the change that can only come when we accept the gospel.

I’m so grateful that Heavenly Father blessed us with this success. We are doing this 90 day study of the Book of Mormon, and we’re in Alma right now. I’ve learned so much! Things I’ve never seen before (I think I’ve said this already, but it’s true. Every day!) I promise that when we read the Book of Mormon with a sincere prayer, we will receive personal revelation. In Alma, if I’ve learned anything I’ve learned that success comes from the Lord. Also, something I read this last week was something that came to mind after Consuelo’s baptism.
Alma 29:10. "10- And behold, when I see many of my brethren truly penitent, and coming to the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy; then do I remember what the Lord has done for me, yea, even that he hath heard my prayer; yea then do I remember his merciful arm which he extended towards me."
THAT is real joy, when we see children of our Heavenly Father coming unto Him. I’m so happy, I really can’t describe it. I think I could go the rest of my mission on this joy that I feel. I’m ready to go out there and get doors slammed in my face over and over again, just to find that family or individual that is prepared and ready to hear the Gospel.
This last week we found two “jovenes” or teenagers. Enmanuel y Cristina are progressing. Our only problem is that it’s hard to find them! Enmanuel goes to high school in the day, and at 10 he goes to work cleaning mcdonalds and gets home at 7 in the morning. Cristina works all the time, she was smoking 5 times a day but we foudnd them (again, not really us) and took them to Church. She hasn’t smoked- ONCE! She said her friends even offered it to her! This Gospel is amazing. I know this Church is true, I know Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. I know that as we strive to come closer to Him, HE comes to us too. The Book of Mormon is true, and has the power to change lives. I’m thankful for examples like my parents and grandparents that keep reading that amazing Book. You’re a great example!
I love you familia, thanks for all your support!

WEEK - 15 PACHUCA, MEXICO

HOLA FAMILIA!!

It sure was great to talk to you all yesterday! I don’t have much time to write today, we weren’t able to go to Teotihuacan, but we went to Real del Monte. We’re planning on going next Monday to Teotihuacan.

Ok, whats wrong with this picture . . . . . . TIES have been vanquished by the Mexican Government . . . . instead of the FLU . . . .major cause of spreading the FLU ? ? ? ? Politicians . . . . go figure ! ! !

Real del Monte was pretty cool, it’s a pueblo here in Pachuca. It’s also the highest altitude in MX. I bought some cool little things for you, whenever I can find a place to send them!
Random fact: With the influenza, I guess they say it’s dangerous to wear a tie. So we haven’t been wearing ties, I forgot to tell you that yesterday!
Well lets see…something I didn’t tell you all on the phone.. Our reading in the Book of Mormon is awesome! Everyday I find something new that I have never noticed before. As a missionary, there is so much that I can apply. Really we can apply it to all of us but I don’t know it just has more meaning when it says the Anti Nephi Lehi’s could never fall, because of the faithfulness of the sons of Mosiah and Alma! I realized I really want to become an instrument in the hands of the Lord. In Alma it mentions this phrase quite a bit. As I studied, I realized how I can become an instrument. I know as we work hard, put our trust in him, fast and pray, we can become this kind of instrument and missionary.
I know this is the work of the Lord. I’m so thankful to be a part of it! I know the message of the Restoration can bless people’s lives, I know that through the Atonement we can receive more joy than we thought possible. This is what I tell the people here, and it’s so awesome to see the change in people.
Coming soon…Elder Sander y Elder Rasmussen…en la ropa bautismal!

Les amo con todo mi corazón,

Elder Rasmussen

WEEK - 14 PACHUCA, MEXICO

HOLA FAMILIA!

In spanish the song that says " shall the youth of zion FALTER, in defending truth and right?" (sorry I can only think of it in spanish) in Espanol its Fallará en la defensa...
Our theme for our District this month is, NO FALLO EN MAYO. And let me tell you family, no vamos a fallar en mayo, entiende?!?
Okay, first of all. This whole swine flu thing is NOT a big deal. There are 25 million people in Mexico City, and not that many are sick. And definitely not here in Pachuca. If it was a epidemic I think we would have met someone who was sick, or known somebody who knows somebody who is sick, but no. Don’t worry I´m still going to follow the rules and everything, I just don´t want anyone over there to worry, cuz really it´s not a big deal.

Wow what a great week! Well, a hard one, but a great one! It was only hard because we walked by hundreds of people we could of contacted but couldn’t! The Lord truly blessed us.

Por ejemplo, usually we go a whole week with maybe 5 or 6 referrals from members. This week, we couldn’t talk to anyone in the street but we could visit members. We received 14 referrals from members this week! All of them accepted a return appointment, and almost all of them have a baptismal date. Saturday night, we were walking home and a member happened to be walking out of her house. She stopped us and told us she wanted her friend across the street to hear the Gospel. We set up an appointment, and went last night. She just had a hernia and has a hard time walking around. We shared the message of the Restoration with her and her member friend bore her testimony too. It was really powerful, and I know Jovinta felt it too. We asked her to give the closing prayer and as she did, she asked Heavenly Father for a knowledge of how her family can be together forever or something to that effect (we had mentioned it earlier in the lesson) and as she did, she started to cry. After, we gave her a blessing. Elder Sander and I both felt during the blessing that she would be healed. I know she´ll be dressing in white here soon.

Another day we were walking (we do a lot of that) and a member pulled up in his car. He is a recent convert (Elder Sander´s “dad” baptized him) and he invited us over to share with his daughter. At first she was very closed, and didn’t really want to hear. One thing I can say is that no matter who it is, after we teach the first lesson people always smile a little more or are that much more open.

I found a quote in a little quote book I have that I like.
“No ray of sunshine is ever lost,
But the green which it wakes into existence needs time to sprout,
And it is not always granted to the sower
To see the harvest.
All work that is worth anything
Is done in faith.” –Albert Schweitzer

Elder Sander and I decided that is what we´ve seen. We have taught a bunch of people that don´t want to progress now, but I know we have planted some seed there.

left to right: Elder Kartchner, Elder Rasmussen,Elder May

Wednesday we took a trip to the Immigration Office, that was fun! All my district was there, minus Elder Bertin. Everyone has a sweet tan (we were all pretty white in Utah!) Everyone is excited, and doing well with their Español. We went to the Church office building after and President was there with all the secretaries and Assistants. He told me dad emailed him. I said uh oh, are they scared? And he said “ No Elder, su papá tiene mucho fe…mucho fe.” (faith) I know it too! I know my parents have mucho fe!

Okay, Día de Las Madres! We are going to call you Saturday night to set everything up.   It´ll be fun to hear from you all!

This week really was awesome. Consuelo and her family are anxious to be baptized! Theyre getting antsy, their date is the 17- IF we have meetings this week. We´re teaching Marisol, and she is really progressing. I could tell she felt the spirit when we last spoke. We bore testimony of the plan of salvation and how she can see her Mother again. Maeg, I heard about your friend. I´m really sorry. I´ll share with you what I shared with Marisol, 2 Nefi 2:24. I don’t have my English scriptures but it says “All things have been done in the wisdom of Him who knoweth all things” My institute teacher taught us about that the day that Mr. Adams died. It gave me so much strength to know that everything that happens, happens because the Lord has a plan and a purpose for everything. He knows everything that is going to happen, and why they happen. We just need to trust in the Lord.

Well until next week! I´ll give you a call Saturday night around 6-7 your time. Love you all! I am so thankful to be a ´part of this work. I cant believe Ive been here a whole 6 weeks already! We´re in cycle 2 now! This is Elder Sanders last cycle, and we are going to put our trust in the Lord and go to work! Don´t worry, we´´ll be sending pictures of us in white here soon!

Con Amor,
Elder Rasmussen