WEEK - 13:2 PACHUCA, MEXICO

Hey Elder have you wondered why so many people
are wearing those funny masks . . . . . .

“For I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you to bear you up.” D & C 84:88

What a crazy week! First of all, I AM OKAY! We are wearing our nerdy dentists masks so we don´t get sick. It is actually kind of funny, on Thursday we were walking and I told Elder Sander that more people are wearing a mask than usual! Haha we didn't know until Sunday that this whole thing was going on. Some members gave us these masks, I didnt really want to wear mine, everyone told me I should and I still didn´t want to. I told Elder Sander we have a “spiritual mask” and we don't have to worry if we´re obedient. Then he said “ Elder, if you get this flu, you could get sent home!” “oooh…. Okay. I guess I´ll wear it then.” If you were here in Pachuca you´d laugh, lets put it that way. Here is how we found out about this whole thing…
I think I have told you about Consuelo. She is the “oro” or golden that we were led by the Spirit too! Seriously! We planned byt he spirit to go to that street, and I know that it was to find her. She has four kids, Oscar 14, Joel 12, and Leilani 10. She just got over a divorce, and I´m sure that's tough on her. We taught them almost every day last week, and they are doing awesome! They are keeping their commitments and every time the light of Christ shines brighter in their faces. It is so amazing to SEE the Gospel working in their lives. Anyways, Sunday comes along. We usually go by each of our investigators homes, the new ones anyways, to pick them up. We passed by Consuelos because we wanted to remind her and what not. So we go by at 9 45 and they´re not ready! She told us that she received a text from a “Sandy” saying that church was canceled! We told her no way, that somebody didn't want her to go to church! She said oh okay We´ll be there then! So a Little later we get to church and the bishop is out front with a really serious look on his face. He told us that Church was canceled for the week because of this flu. Haha…oops. Turns out a sister in the Ward texted Consuelo to tell her that it was canceled. Consuelo showed up with two of her kids too! We called the President and he told us to stay in our house yesterday and just rest. This week we can´t do any contacting and that's the next story…

This past week we worked so hard. Heavenly Father blessed us so much with finding people who are ready to hear the gospel. I went on divisiones with my Zone Leader Elder Tanner from Gilbert! Theres four of us from the Gilbert area here, Elder Tanner (Highland, he knows the Packer family) Elder Reed, and Elder Howard. Anyways, Elder Tanner and I were walking down the street Javier Rojo Gomez in the Colonia Santa Julia. We were looking for Calle 2 so we could visit a recent convert, but somehow we walked a Little too far.. like half a mile or so. I thought that was weird, and that for sure I should have seen the street sign. We back tracked a Little and found calle 2, and there walking down the middle of the street were a lady, her mother, and three kids. We introduced ourselves and asked if we could share this message with them. They said YES. So we went to their house and long story short they´ve accepted their baptismal date, 10 of May, and were going to go to Church if it hadn´t been canceled !
We found others to teach too, which is a real blessing because we can´t knock doors this week. We can only teach those who we had before, and last week Heavenly Father blessed us a ton with posible investigators. (sorry this computer is changing my words to Spanish! haha) I have tos ay the past 5 weeks were a Little bit of a trial. We were working hard, knocking doors and everything but not finding anyone who coudld really progress. Then week 5 comes and we finally have investigators progressing, with a baptismal date set! We are Reading the Book of Mormon as a misión in 90 days. I really like in Mosiah 24:15. I learned if I just need to submit cheerfully and with patience to ALL the wil of the Lord, even if that means no baptisms for a whole cycle! I´m so thankful for all the blessings from the Lord, I really feel blessed to be here.

Questions!
1. This is Elder Sanders last cycle, the one that's coming, or his last six weeks. He studied English before and he´s been learning here. He speaks English really well, but we speak in Spanish the rest of the time. When I really can´t understand he helps me out, but we´re going to start speaking English in the house so he can go to BYU.
2. There is a nice Little internet place right by our house, it costs 10 pesos a hour and is the fastest around.
3. Mom its okay to read my letters! Haha, dont worry about it! The numbers: The first is baptisms this week, the second confirmations, and the third is investigators at Church. The others are visits to members who need to be confirmed and what not.
4. Missionary work is awesome. It is harder than I thought for sure! I thought everyone wanted to get baptized! Haha just kidding. We´re working hard and I know that's what missionary WORK is!
5. The missionaries before us didn't leave us much to work with. All the investigators they had all need to get married or divorced and really don't want to do much, so we can´t help them. We basically started from scratch.
6. Haha the natives… some think I speak really good Spanish when I tell them I´ve been here a month, and some just look at me with scrunched faces even when I know I´m speaking understandable Spanish. I think they think to themselves •” Wait this guy is White, he can´t speak Spanish!” (Bro Taylor and I talked about this! haah)
Send more questions, I think I can tell you more that way.

Well I have to go. Don't worry!! We have protection from the Lord. Pretty soon I´ll be sending pictures of a baptismal Font! I love you all, hope you got the pictures okay!

Con Amor,
Elder Rasmussen
Ps- dad, the Church is in colonia Rojo gomez, street Emiliano Zapata and C.N.C. There is no number. Our house address is in the picture. Sorry I couldn't send more pics of the hsoes, if you need mroe i will next week.

ps- mom, good job at not having a break down! I´m praying for ya! We´re safe, really. Tell uncle George sorry I couldn't reply today

ps-i think its okay for everyone to write me, I just cant write an email back to them.

WEEK - 13:1 PACHUCA, MEXICO

For the dad it is comforting to see such great leadership in Pres. & Sister Bulloch. I feel very confident Pres. Bulloch is taking every precaution in safeguarding the missionaries, and am impressed with the spirit of the message below.
The truth is Elders, . . . what worries me the most is the potential outbreak of fear, loss of focus and disobedience among our missionaries, the things that will destroy us spiritually. I want you to know that your greatest protection comes from exact obedience to all of the mission rules and a consistent effort to do the work of the Lord. As is promised in the Missionary Handbook, “Following these rules will help you magnify your calling and will provide you with physical and spiritual protection .” Daily obedience and diligence creates a protective shield around you. You know that there are many great promises of the Lord for those who keep His commandments and serve Him in righteousness.. Now is not the time to fear, to relax, and to make excuses or to be disobedient. You need the physical and spiritual protection of the Lord now more than ever before. You should meet this adversity head on and move forward with greater faith and a determination to accomplish all of your inspired goals. The Mexico City East Mission never gives up! Move forward Elder with trust and with more faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and on to the victory.* *

* *

“Be strong and of good courage, fear not, nor be afraid: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee” (Deut. 31:6).

“Fear not to do good, my sons, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward. Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail. Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not” (D&C 6:33-34, 36).

With love,

President Bulloch

WEEK - 12 PACHUCA, MEXICO

Haha, that´s our ¨theme¨ in the mission. After every district meeting we put our hands in a circle and do a little chant, here in pachuca its: ¨PACHUCA EN AGUA!¨haha
Preach My Gospel quote of the week:
¨Do you want to be happy? Forget yourself and get lost in this great cause. Lend your efforts to helping people...Stand higher, lift those with feeble knees, hold up the arms of those that hang down. LIVE the gospel of Jesus Christ.¨ Pres. Hinckley

Well Hola familia y todos!

This week was awesome. Oh just an fyi, I print off your letters before and read them and then email. Go ahead and email me ALL YOU WANT and I´ll still have time to reply, promise :)
Question time!
1. Do you sleep on a bed or hammock?
-We live in the City, pretty much. Elder Sander says nobody sleeps in a hammock in the mission. I think a hammock would be more comfortable then my bed! haha, but my awesome pillow makes up for that!
2. Do you have a kitchen, running water, hot water,(irons in water do not count!!!)
-We have a nice apartment. After we cleaned it, its pretty nice. Every morning we light the water heater, like the one at home, and the water is usually too hot. The water is fine, we got the bill for the water for this month. $58 pesos, or 5 dollars, not bad eh? The kitchen is small, but we have a refrigerator, sink, and a pan to cook pancakes in (which I made this morning, and I have to say were pretty good...I dont know if Elder Sander thought so though! haha)
3, How do you wash your clothes?
-There are a ton of lavanderias around. We got permission from Presidente to take our garments and everything to one around the corner. The lady is really nice and washes and folds them for 10 pesos a kilo. So its about 3 dollars each time, but hey at least I´m not washing them on a rock.
4. Do you fix your own meals? What do you eat besides chicken feet?!?
-Haha chicken feet was only once. We eat some really good food! Por ejemplo, the other day we were walking down the street and we see a tent with¨barbacoa¨ on it. So we decide we would see how much and everything, I was picturing a bbq, you know a bbq with steak and hot dogs...nope. The guy pulls out some meat from his cooler and looks at me and says ¨billy goat meat is really expensive here!¨ ...yeah we decided not to try it! Yesterday we had molé, I thought of Uncle Steve. It was awesome! We only eat with members at lunch, that is their big meal, but they always feed us a ton. We eat dinner only if we´re really hungry, there are a bunch of taquerias around, dont worry they´re okay to eat at! Tacos el pastor are the best. I´m sure nobody over in Az will be surprised that I spille molé on my shirt yesterday...ay ay ay.
5. Are you wearing your sunblock? Make sure you protect that beautiful Danish skin!!!!
-Yes I´m wearing it, and I´m still getting a nice tan too, maybe I´ll get my wish and look and sound mexican after two years!?!
6. Have you used your water purifier?
-No not yet, we dont´really need to. We buy a 20L thing of water for 3 bucks every week, I just fill my water bottle up with that. I´m sure I will need to use it sometime though, I´m glad I have it.
7. How are you and Elder Sander getting along?
-Elder Sander is great! He has one more cycle left after this, hopefully he´ll still be here, I don't know how I´d get around without him. He is a hard worker, and I learn a lot from him when we teach. He has some awesome analogies and its kinda funny, when people give him excuses he asks them directly ¨why can´t you come to church? you can do that later can´t you?¨ It´s awesome.

Mom, you even caused a riot here in MEXICO! When I pulled out my mini PMG all the Elders in my district said ¨NO MANCHES!¨and pulled it out of my hands! I wonder what its going to be like when the Spanish one comes. (you did say she was sending one right? I can´t remember)

Nothing big happened this week. The investigators we were working with towards baptism either said they don't´want to, or can´t. You have to be married to get baptized, and a lot of people aren´t. Its hard to get divorced here and a lot of our investigators have to do that first. BUT there were a ton of miracles this week.
Friday night Elder Sander told me about this thing called ¨Referencias Celestiales¨Its where you start with prayer for inspiration, then one of the companions reads out 10 street names while the other writes them down. You both look at the names of the streets, and pick the three or four you feel you should go to the next day (this is during nightly planning). Then you come together and see which ones to go to. We had three same street names, so we decided we´d go to them on Saturday.
Saturday came and we went to Mezquititlan in Parque Poblamiento (I think.) One of the first doors was a lady who was interested but couldn't talk cuz she was moving in. We invited her to church, told her what she should wear, and told her we´d pick her up. She said she wasnt sure but woudl try to be ready. Sunday came and when we went by she was ready to go! We went to Church and after testimony meeting, the stake president introduced himself and talked to her. She asked if she could bear HER testimony, and the President said ¨Adelante(Go for it)¨ Cool eh? We have a cita with her tonight.

Also, we´ve been praying for service, to know who we can help and what not. So we were tocando puertas (knocking doors) when we knocked on the door of an older couple that lives next to a member. We went in after the lady said her husband was sick. We went in to their small home to fnd a man in a bed moaning in pain. This guy has had diabetes for the past three years. I´m guessing it´s slowly impairing him. We gave him a blessing, and asked if we coudl help with anything. The wife said we could help put him in his wheelchair, which we did, and returned later to put him back in his bed. We did it yesterday too, and will continue to do help them this week. Hopefully they will want to hear the message of the restoration sooner or later!

Also on Saturday, we were walking down Puerto Tuxpan and I saw this family and the dad kept looking at us. Elder Sander was talking to some young men from the ward, and I knew we needed to talk to them. I told Elder Sander, Elder, we need to go contact them! So we walked over and the wife and the daughter hurried away but the dad stopped to talk. Turns out he´s been going to another ward in a different part of the city for a year but never been baptized. We took down his ¨datos¨ or address and went back later. He answered and told us to come back later, when we did they were there but wouldn't answer. _I think the wife doesn't want to listen, and that is why, but still pretty cool! My whole point in telling you all this is that the Spirit will direct us if we just open it up for him too.

We are studying the Book of Mormon for 90 days in the mission. We highlight all the principles of conversion, Christlike attibutes, everything the Lord says, and references to Christ and write the total on the bottom of the page. I´m learning so much, We´ve used scriptures from our morning study in our lessons several times! It´s so awesome. I´m learning things to apply as a missionary. It has really strengthened my testimony that the Book of Mormong testifies of Christ, on every page.
Well I want to send some pics so I´m going to send this. I love you all, If you want to know specific things, you could send an email with all the questions and I can print it off before and take time to answer them.

Thank you for all your prayers and support, this is the greatest work in the world and I´m so thankful to be a part of it!

Con Amor,
Élder Rasmussen

Dad- Our Chapel is on C.N.C. and Emiliano Zapata. Our house is on Tatzadho and Tulancingo, the orange one on the corner.

Mom- Have you sent anything in pouch yet? I´m curious to see how long it gets here. No worries about the package. Some CDs would be nice, Elder Sander has a bunch of music and a cd player so we listen to that every day. Anything you´d want to send me woudl be a treat, really! Thanks for being thoughtful. Happy Birthday again, I love you!
Grandma and Grandpa- Thanks for the emails, I really appreciate it!

WEEK - 11 PACHUCA, MEXICO

Hola hola familia!
I have 30 minutes to write you today!
This week was great. We´re working hard to find as many people as we can. The problem we run into, and a lot of other elders here, is that people love to hear the message or anything about Christ. But when we encourage them to read and pray to know for themselves the message that can change their lives- they don´t. Alot of times after a lesson, they will say thank you and tell us they´re catolícos and don´t want to change. So we´re going to take a new approach this week, we´re going to start teaching more short first lessons, so we can reach more people. After conference this weekend, we´re going to get the members involved more, or try at least. We have a plan to go to the members homes for a short visit, and ask them right then to have everyone write down a few names they know. Then ask them to pray about the names, share a scriptures with them, then come back the next day to see who they have. Hopefully it will work!
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=114054482221229652040.0004666afc317de7d9100&ll=20.109417,-98.780351&spn=0.030909,0.038495&z=15">

Dad, you have our area exactly right! It´s a triangle. Our street is Tulancingo. We´ve been working alot in the "Puerto" streets, they´re apartments in Palmar. There are alot of people there that we can contact. Our area is pretty big so we´re going to start going to the other ares of Santa Julia.

Mom, Elder Reed is in my zone, he´s in a different district though. My district leader is also our Zone leader.

Okay you ready for this? Remember in the Church News they had a bunch on the Mexico City East Temple? I remember when Grandpa showed that to me, I looked at the picture of all the missionaries in front of the temple and wondered if my future companion was in it, well he was! Elder Sander is the 4th one in from the left, barely poking his head in the picture. The 7th elder in is my Zone Leader, Elder Camacho. Pretty Crazy huh?


L TO R: Elders Camacho ZL, Trevor, Sander(Comp) , Tanner ZL

Wow, Conferencía was perfecto no? The first session was in Spanish. That was hard! I wanted to know what Pres. Monson was saying, and I caught some of it. But I definetly caught when he talked about México! Everyone in that stake center perked up and whispered and got excited. It was neat to hear that. I felt the spirit so strong in that conference though, so that was good. That was how I had to learn, by the spirit! I really liked when they sang Israel, Israel God Is Calling! It reminded me of our home because Mom always has the hymns on! I don´t know why but that particular hymn has always stuck out to me, and I remember hearing it in our home.

Then the choir sang Consider the Lillies of the Field! I dont know if I told you or not, but in the MTC I sang in the choir once, and that was the song we sang! I´m so glad I was able to sing that one, it has so much meaning especially now that I´m in the field. I know Heavenly Father cares about every one of His children and wants them to find true happinnes in this life.

It was awesome to hear Elder Ballard speak! I felt some type of connection with all of the Elders that participated in conference we heard in the MTC.
I really liked Elder Pearsons talk. I want to thank you Mom, Dad, Grandpa and Grandma for having faith. He said "If we do not give them faith we have given them little" You 4 have definetly given me that and I¨am so grateful for that! Thank you. Dad and Grandpa, I wanted to thank you too. In priesthood Elder Costa quoted Elder Ballard saying that fathers need to "prepare them both spritiaully and temporally to look and act as servants of the Lord". I felt very grateful to have you two as amazing priesthood examples to look up to. Thank you again to all four of you, Pres. Monson told us to thank our parents, and if I have felt anything being out here inthe field its gratefulness for all you have done for me, every lesson and act of love, I have felt really grateful to be raised by such wonderful parents, and have such wonderful grandparents.

I really likied Elder Eyring´s talk in priesthood. Actually alot of these talks helped me specifically as a new, junior companion. Elder Hollands talk was great! When he said his message was to a new missionary feeling homesick the other elders in my zone looked over at me to see if that was me or not! haha!
The last song was awesome. "God Be With You ´Till We Meet Again" I felt the Savior´s warmth, and love knowing He really will watch over my family "till we meet again".
Yup, Conference was great! I learned so much and am going to be a better missionary because of it.

Sorry, I guess my whole email was about conference. I dont know what exactly to tell you about here, Everyday we go to our teaching appointments. We do alot of contacting and I´m getting better at that! Every other Tuesday we get mail, so tomorrow we should get some in our District Meeting. Hmm, what else..Do you have questions for me? Oh! I ate patas de pollo the other day! I knew it would come sooner or later! (chicken feet) It wasn´t as bad as I thought it would be, I just tasted like chicken- go figure!

I love you all, sorry I don´t have time to email each of you, Trent and Maegan and Maddie. We only get an hour to email. This Church is true! I know the Book of Mormon is true. I know the Spirit guides us and the promise is DyC 88 that He will go before our face is real. I have felt the Spirit speaking through me, when my Spanish vocabulary is drained and we´re in the middle of a lesson. How else would I be able to teach about Enduring to the End if the Spirit wasn´t there to help me? Thank you for all you do for me back home, I love and appreciate you all. Adios!
Élder Rasmussen

WEEK - 10 PACHUCA, MEXICO

From: Trevor Rasmussen

Date: 2009/3/30
Subject: BIENVENIDO A MÉXICO! parte 1
Hola hola!!
Well I made it here safely, it sounds like you know a little already about whats going on. But I´ll tell you anyway!
The Airport was...fun! Haha, I didn´t get to write letters like I said I would, it was a little crazy. So you´ll have to apologize to Sam and Sister Seamons for me not replying to their letters. I was going to, but the airport was a little crazy.
After I hung up with you I went over to our gate and there were only about 15 missionaries, and that was ALL the Americans! The missionaries were sitting around talking and I thought that looked boring so I found an older guy sitting by himself and tried to talk to him in Spanish. It was pretty cool, his wife came over later and we started talking. I taught the first lesson, gave them a pamphlet and a Libro de Mormón. They were Pentecostal, and really believed in Christ. So it was easy for them to accept a lot of what I taught them. I got their "datos" or address, and then said goodbye. Well we got on the plane and guess who I was sitting by? The older couple! It was so cool. So we talked for a little but then everyone fell asleep!
We landed in la Ciudad safe and sound. Mom, when we landed I was wondering if you were watching us! Haha. Well we went through customs, one of the elders had a hard time understanding what they were saying, but we finally made it through and found the Secretaries. They went to the airport at 9 pm when we were supposed to be there. Turns out, the Church travel department said they would call and tell our President that we were coming the next day, but what they really did was EMAIL them! So nobody got the message until after they had been at the airport for a few hours. When they found out it would be the next day, they went home then came back and didn´t get to sleep.
President and Sister Bulloch were up all night too!

We finally got to the Mission Home, put our suitcases down and went inside. We met the President and his wife and had an awesome non-mtc breakfast! haha, They gave us some training, including how to do the "abrazo" Its a thing the men do down here. It starts with a handshake, right arm over their right shoulder, two pats, then another handshake. He had us practice because our companions were going to do it and he didn´t want us to put our head on the wrong side and hit their head! Pretty funny. Well after that we all had interviews with the President. He is so awesome! He asked me why I am serving a mission, and told me about my companion. He told me to watch out for getting discouraged, because that´s how satan gets the missionaries.

After the interviews, they sent us off to sleep for an hour. We left the mission home at 12 with an awesome sack lunch from Sis. Bulloch. We got to the "temple square" that was so cool! Its the temple (even better than I imagined) the MTC, the Visitors center, a stake center and some apartments. That´s where we do Cambios or changes. Everyone was excited to find out their new companion. Presidente had us sit on the stand in front of everyone, and after all the announcements they started announcing the changes. Elder Mays leaned over to me and said "I think I´m about to hurl!" haha It was pretty nerve racking, just because we wanted to know who our companions was!

They finally called Elder Sander and me and I felt alot better, I dont´know why any of us were nervous. Elder Sanders is from Uruguay. Get this, his "papa" or trainer was in the same district as Hermana Nash when they were in the MTC. Elder Folao, (from Tonga picture that a tongan speaking spanish! Elder Sander said he sounded Colombian!) showed him pictures of the MTC and Elder Sander recognized her later in pictures with his family in Uruguay! Small world eh? Elder Sander trained another Elder who trained Elder Howard, so Elder Howard is Elder Sanders nieto or grandson. I know mission lingo is weird.

Well we got on the bus after cambios and after about 2 hours arrived in Pachuca. Everyone says its mas tranquilo than the D.F. so don´t worry, not that there´s anyone over there in our house that would. We got a taxi and found our apartamento. We walked in and the smell of dust and dirt hit us like a ton of bricks. The elders before us left it a mess, complete with trash from christmas, dishes piled, and dust everywhere. The bathroom looked like it hadn´t been cleaned forever! haha so the first night we started cleaning. We´re finishing up today, because we haven´t had time this past week.

Photo's Dad found on the internet of Pachuca (till we get some from Trevor)

Below is a link to a GoogleMap of Trevors mission area and his area in Pachuca, zoom in to see a closeup.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=114054482221229652040.0004666afc317de7d9100&ll=20.228125,-98.888067&spn=1.837441,2.463684&z=9

Pachuca is awesome! I´m in Av. Insurgentes and Constitucion. Dad wanted to know where I am, I dont´ exactly know. But those are two streets. Our area is a kind of triangle. We go from Blvrd. Luis Donaldo Colosio east to Emiliano Zapato, and from Blvrd Del Minero south to..well I dont know the street. but that gives you an idea.

From: Trevor Rasmussen
Date: Mon, Mar 30, 2009 at 11:45 AM
Subject: Parte 2


We started off the week with proselyting and door contacting. The Elders before us didn´t leave us much to work with. They hadn´t really filled out the area book or many investigators so we set to work. Elder Sander is a really hard worker, he walks way faster than I do! I thought I walked fast! He brings a whole new meaning to walking with purpose.
We did alot of contacting this past week. We found a lady name Francisca and her 15 year old daughter Yessica. They seemed interested, we went ot their house and taught them. We even committed them to come to church but saturday rolled along and they didn´t want us to come anymore. That was really hard for me, but I´m realizing you have to move along. There isn´t time to waste if they´re not sincere and really wanting to change. In Preach My Gospel it says our job is to teach the doctrine clearly so they can decide to change their life. Well we found a few more people but same story as Francisca and Yessica. On Friday we found a lady named Teresa. She got kicked out of her house for some reason, not sure why. We contacted her in the street and she invited us to her one room cement house. I mentioned the Book of Mormon at the beginning and as I was teaching she kept asking so what about the Book of Mormon? It was cool to see her interested in reading! So we commited her to read and come to church. Saturday we stopped by and she said she´woudl be ready for us to pick her up the next day. We came by but she was no where to be found. So we´re going to stop by tonight.
The mission standard is to have 1 person baptized every week in each companionship. We figured to do taht we have to have 8 progressing investigators and 16 at Church each week. We only had 3 at church this week so we´re alittle behind but we´ll get there! I think the Lord is trying my faith. I´m realizing how big a part of their conversion we have to be, I have to be able to teach clearly and that makes me want to study even harder so I can be able to teach them. Alot of people are willing to listen to us but not many want to change their lives. So we justhave to look that much harder!!

Everyone was so tired that first day at the ¨Mission Home that we all forgot that I had a bunch of stuff in everyone elses suitcase! I left my coat and one of the bags of stuff with Elder Spencer, my ziploc withthe bedding with Elder Bertin, and my ziploc of Pday clothes with Elder Kartchner. My zone leaders are going to get it this week, and itmade me thankful that Mom made sure I had two of everything! Pday clothes arent that big of a deal cuz we stay in our white shirts and everything on Pday. I think I may have brought a little too much, or my suitcase just weighs alot. Oh, the mission just changed its policy on Ipods and nobody can have them in the mission. I left mine in the Mission home the first day so dont buy a charger!

Well my Spanish has come along way already, I can see how much the Spirit has helped me to learn in just the past few days. It was really hard to communicate at first. I still dont understand some things, they talk so fast here! I´m learning alot and the Spirit truly guides us.

Well I have to go, I need to write the President. We report each week on our key indicators.
Thanks for all your support and prayers! I really appreciate it. This Church is true, I gain a stronger testimony of that everyday.
Te quiero!
Élder Rasmussen (aquí es Élder razmuzehn)

MTC - Week 9

03/18/09
Date: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 16:34:20 +0000
Subject: El Ultimo Email!
Hola familia!
Wow, el ultimo semana en el MTC! LOCISIMO! Not a whole lot has happened this past week...
Except for ELDER L. TOM PERRY!
That was pretty exciting! The Elders that went to Choir said there were people with metal detectors going around the gym so we ate cereal and booked it to the gym so we could get our favorite close seat. He spoke to us about companionships and how learning to get along with them is the greatest thing we're going to learn. It was a great devotional, nothing too deep or earth shattering it was just a nice devotional letting us know that we had better get along with out companions, I think it really applied cuz I know I'm going to need help with certain companions in the field (at least from my setting apart blessing!)

Well I've been reflecting a lot on what I've learned here, and how exactly I've grown. In my journal Grandpa and Grandma gave me it asks for what I've learned- in one page! So I've been thinking about it... And here's what I've decided I learned.

I know I didn't explain it very well last week, but this idea of focusing completely on the investigators isn't new. In Preach My Gospel it talks all about focusing on the people's needs. Well in the MTC whenever we teach they have always said, "so what can YOU do better next time?" It doesn't matter what WE did, it matters how the investigator came unto Christ- our whole purpose! So lesson number
1- Focus completely on the investigators,
the Purpose statement is central to EVERYTHING
For example, Hermana Nash has been telling us since we got here that if we will focus on them completely, then the Lord can use us as a mouthpiece to speak to them. If we have studied our Spanish and "treasured up continually" the doctrine, all He asks us to do is focus completely and solely on the investigator- then our Spanish will come. THAT is the real definition of the Gift of Tongues. Last week we were in the Referral Center. I was doing calls in English and wanted to try it in Spanish. So I called Hermana Nash over and asked if we could do a split call. She listened in while I did the call. I called about 4 or 5 times before someone finally answered, each time I was about to just give up! When someone finally answered it was his wife. I read the script perfectly (haha, yeah right) then she said her husband could come. So when he answered the phone I started speaking Spanish, without even thinking about it. I mean at first I asked the questions I needed to, and when he replied super fast I needed help, but when he asked me again I just answered in Spanish- focusing on him! Hermana Nash told me after "Elder! When you weren't reading the script, your Spanish was so much better!" Pretty cool huh? I mean I'm not a pro at all, it was just really neat to know that Heavenly Father watches out for all of us.

2- Our call is inspired.
Wow, this is huge. I know I was ordained to be a missionary at this time in this mission, with certain companions. Heavenly Father had it figured it out down to the TEACHERS in the MTC. They are so amazing, I've learned so much from them these past 8 weeks. They taught by the Spirit, they looked for our needs as their students. Hermana Nash even plans for EACH of us! Everyday she has our names where investigators names go, and next to it she puts what she thinks our needs are, and she tries to meet them as she teaches. Hermano Barrios is so knowledgeable in the gospel, he is from Chile and only knows English form going on his mission to Mesa, and studying at BYU but he speaks amazing! It gives me hope cuz I want to master the Spanish language in every way possible. In PMG elder Holland tells us to do that, and I know if I apply myself I can!

3-Learn by the Spirit
This is just something I've recently been learning. In PMG, again, It talks about this. Hermana Nash told us about how much we can learn if we have the Spirit with us. I really want to do this and grow this through my mission! I have great companions who get great insights from the Spirit, they love to share with me so it's fun to hear what they learn.

I've grown so much here in the MTC. I've learned what I need to do to become a better missionary FOR the people in the Mexico City East mission. I have the materials, and the preparation to be great, now all it's goign to take is self-discipline (which I've also learned a lot about)

Thank you to all of you for writing me. Thanks so much for the packages mom and dad, I'm definitely the best cared for missionary here! I feel bad though, quit spending money on me! I'm already costing you a fortune.
Grandma and Grandpa, thanks for the letters. They really uplift and encourage me.
Maddie, Keep up the great work in school! I didn't know you slept in my bed, when mom sent that dear elder it was the first time I had heard that. I'm glad you keeping it good for me! Hope to hear from you before I leave.
Maegan, I have only gotten a few letters on DearElder from you, I'm sorry! You mighyt be putting the info in wrong but I do appreciate you for being the diligent sibling and writing me. Chiste chiste, I love you too Maddie and Trent. Maegan just loves me more ;)
Trent, Study Preach My Gospel- PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!! I wish I would have at LEAST read it through all the way. Go through and take that nice pencil that you got in that awesome package, mark all the things we need to do as missionaries in blue and all the promises in yellow. There are so many awesome promises in PMG. Please read it. okay?? I feel so strongly about this, I wish I would’ve known to do that before. I didn't know how fundamental it is in Missionary work. you're awesome, keep up the good work in sports and plays and SCHOOL!
oh, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! I can't believe you're 18. Keep preparing, you'll be great! Tell our Mission Prep class hi for me.

Okay, FLIGHT PLANS! I know you have them too, but I wanted to talk to you about it. What would you think about me calling when I get to Georgia? I figured in SLC it might be kinda hard, I don’t know if I'll have enough time.
Oh yeah random fact- I bought a hundred pass along card for finding faith in Christ DVD to give out in Georgia. We always get calls in the RC from people in Georgia and back east wanting their free Bible and Christ movie! Cha-Ching!

Mother dearest, I DO indeed have a plan for packing. My new suitcase is light and has a lot of room. My big suitcase is all packed already, and my carry on can weigh up to 40 pounds. So I figure I still have 90 pounds left to pack my bedding, some shirts, garments and books. I'm wearing my boots on the plane, I'm putting extra clothes in my carry on in case I lose my suitcase- POR FAVOR no se preocupado! Don't be worried! You've taught me well, I learned from the best parents in the world!
So what do you think about me calling about 4:30-4:40 Georgia time?? Let me know in an email if you can or dear elder.

mom, I don’t' know what Elder Maxwell talk you're talking about. Did I send one home??
Ps- I don’t' have addresses for a lot of the ward people. Like Bro Knaperak.

Okay I les quiero mucho! When you hear from me next I'll be on my way to Mexico!
Este iglesia es verdadera, Jose Smith fue un profeta de Dios, soy llamando de un profeta viviendo para predicar el Evangelio de Jesucristo!
Love you all,
Elder Trevor Rasmussen

MTC - Week 8

03/11/09
Hola todo!!

Hope you all had a great week! It sounds like everyone is doing well.
It snowed up here on Sunday! It was awesome. Everyone thinks I'm crazy cuz I've been wishing for snow before we leave.
Whoa, you mean we actually leave this place?! It's week 8 already! We only have one more full week here, and we should be getting our flight plans tomorrow! Yee haw!

All right, la historia de la semana!(story of the week)
Saturday night they came on the speakers and reminded us that we needed to change our clocks cuz of day light savings time. Well we get to our rooms and some elders needed our help with something and we did that until it was time to go to bed.
Sunday morning comes along and I go out in the hallway and nobody is there. Usually there are people hurrying to beat everyone else to the showers but there was nobody.
I go back in the room and tell my companeros that there's nobody awake so either we're an hour early or an hour late.
So we got ready and went to our class...on the way there was nobody around! Elder Israelsen thought we had missed the Second Coming! haha!
We get to the building and we were definitely an hour late! Instead of it being 7 it was 8 am. President Crawford came in and asked "So where were you this morning??" We just kinda looked at each other looking for who was going to tell him first! All I said was "We don't have Day light savings in Arizona!" He laughed at us and asked if we were reminded. We sheepishly said yes then he gave us one of his quotes (he always has some sort of wisdom/cool phrase) "The dullest pencil is better than the sharpest mind" So after he kinda scolded us for being late he called our companionship to be Zone Leaders. He wanted to know why we weren't there because he wanted to call us earlier so we could be at the meeting that we weren't awake for...oops!
So DST is a new adventure for me!
Yesterday Elder James J. Hamula came. He's such a great speaker! He gave this awesome talk on The Creation, The Fall, and the Atonement (The Three Pillars of the Gospel, right?)
...
I just had a whole bunch typed up and it deleted it.
Basically Elder Hamula said we are all going to be resurrected right? Our job is to prepare the investigators f0r that day! We’ll all return to the presence of God, whether we stay there or not is a different story!
It was such an awesome talk. It felt like General Conference!
It made me really think about our purpose and how it really is all about inviting THEM to come unto Christ. If I focus on them I don’t' have to worry about my Spanish or about leaving a commitment and following up and all of that. If we think of Preach My Gospel as a checklist we're missing the point.
This is what our teachers have been telling us about he past week, it's pretty cool! It's mind boggling actually. They told us its going to change missionary work completely. They said the MTC is going to start teaching missionaries to not focus on "How did we do?" when they teach but "How did we bring our investigators to Christ?"

Okay I had a whole bunch typed up and I don’t 'have much time. Lo siento!
Haha, after I emailed you last week I went to shave and my electric shaver broke! No more laziness for me, now I have to actually use a razor! Hey I forgot I wanted to bring some of those magic tricks I have. If you happen to send something up before I leave could you send the little clear stick with the colors on it, and the pen that goes through paper? Sorry I don’t' mean to be demanding I just think it'd be fun to take down there.
About the whole suitcase thing.. Cherisse feels in the dark about it. So here's what I'm going to do, When I leave I'm going to take the suitcase up to the front and leave it there. They told me to make sure when I call you from the airport to pick it up. If I'm overweight I might put some stuff in there,. Can you ask Cherisse if that’s okay? I think she might be going down to AZ and not even be here so if we could work it out that'd be awesome!

I love you all, thanks for the letters! I want to hear more from Mis HERMANOS!! (siblings) I'm sad the recorder erased all of your recordings, sometimes you just have to look for them on the recorder.

Well things are going well here, I'm coming around the corner- we're all ready to head to Mexico!
Se que este iglesia es verdadera, y que Tomas S. Monson es un profeta de Dios. Se que el Libro de Mormon contiene la plenitud del evangelio y respuestas por todos las preguntas! Se que Jesucristo vive y El es mi Salvador y Redentor.

Te quiero!
Elder Rasmussen

Ps- Heads up, I'm going to be writing Josephine and the boys. I have felt like I just need to write them and tell them about what I’m doing out here. I think the spirit has been telling me for the whole time I've been here that I need to share with them my testimony. I think they will come to know this is the true Church if we do our part- I think I’ve thought this because I'm teaching the plan of salvation this week and I keep thinking of them and how they can be with their Dad again. And I read the talk in the New Era by Pres. Eyring? about telling everyone about the gospel. How when we get to the other side they will look at us and say "You knew, why didn't you tell me?" I read that and I knew I had to write Josephine and the boys. I dunno, tell me what do you think! I have four minutes to reply! love ya!

MTC - Week 7

03/04/09
Hola todos!
Yesterday we were sitting in class doing personal study when the nice little old lady in the front office called on the speaker and asked for the elders in room 225 to come to the ....TRAVEL OFFICE!!
So we of course get up slowly and under control... yeah right. We got up and booked it over to the travel office. WE were disappointed when we got there cuz they said our visas are going to be delayed a month....
....
.......
Just kidding! We went to el CONSULADO DE MEXICO yesterday at 1:00 to " make an appearance" to sign our VISAS!! We are the second group of elders to go out on time to Mexico! Our prayers were answered, thsi is what we've been praying for for the past 6 weeks! Even our teachers have been praying for us!
03/04/09
Hola mis abuelos! como estan?! Grandpa & Grandma
Thank you for the letters you send me, I like them so much.
Even if it's just hearing how your week is or anything, I miss you two and want you to know I pray for you and think about you a lot.

The MTC is so amazing! Have I ever told you that? ;
The firesides are so incredible and my teachers are so amazing too!
If I can be close to the kind of missionary they were and how my dad was then I'll be set, really! I can tell they worked so hard.
Hno. Barrios was in the Mesa Mission and we talk about stuff all the time...Mostly the good restaurants. He really likes Filibertos! haha, I don’t know if you know but he's from Chile. His dad was a General Authority. He's only 23 but he acts like he's way older! I want to be as knowledgeable in the gospel as these two are. Preach My Gospel is so cool! Elder Packer said it was written on the other side of the veil, and I can definetly tell it is.

Well I have to go, just know I love you and think about you. Try and calm my mother down so she doesn't have to worry about me going to Mexico! I'm so excited and can't wait to get out there!

And guess what? The gift of tongues is so real! We went to the consulate yesterday and the people were speaking in Spanish of course and we were all trying to follow along, yes 40 of us were leaning in trying to hear what they were saying, haah! And after wards everyone was like "They were speaking so fast! holy cow!" but I could understand almost everything. I'm not being boastful, I just know the Lord is blessing me with the Gift of Tongues already.
Love ya!
TREV
I mean,
Elder Trevor Rasmussen
03/04/09

So as if that wasn't enough to make yesterday the best day at the MTC, we went to the fireside but before we did they came on the speaker and told all the missionaries to bring their Preach My Gospel. So of course we all thought it HAD to be Pres. Monson or something. But it was just as good.
Elder Yoshihiko Kikuchi came! I thought of Dad right away, I remember Dad saying it was one of his Favorite Authorities. It was one of the best talks I've ever heard, really! It was so cool. He talked about the Atonement and how its really important for us to be clean as missionaries. Then he talked about "Learn to become a master teacher and a celestial missionary"
He challenged us to get up 2-3 minutes early everyday, he said "The way you spend your mornings is how you're going to spend them in the morning of the first resurrection" Whoa.
He challenged us to master the first four lessons. While he was teaching us this it was so funny cuz he kept pointing at the air like he was karate chopping it! Then he had some missionaries come up and tell the first vision. They went through it really quickly then he had some sisters come up. The sister missionaries told the first vision so carefully and slowly, that the spirit filled the entire room. Elder Kikuchi told us to pray for them up on the stage, and it was amazing. He said to take time to tell the greatest thing that ever happened in the world!
He told us this awesome story, Dad you'll like this.
He told us about a young boy right after World War II who's dad was out fishing for their business when an American submarine sunk the boat, killing the boy's father and several workers. The family had to sell everything and became really poor. They were so poor that the boy couldn't go to high school, so he moved 9 hours away to work. He would get up early and work all day then go to night school and then go to sleep at 11. This happened for along time until he was 15 and in the hospital, I guess form the effects of all his hard work. He was near death, when this young boy who had been raised Buddhist prayed to the Christian God, "If you're there I promise to repay you if you let me live" Three days later he was out of the hospital. Eight days after that two young missionaries were tracting and getting door after door slammed in their face. They were about to go back when one of them said "lets knock on a few more doors" The boy saw these two Americans coming to his house. He answered the door and said "Go away, you killed my father." The missionaries said okay but before we go we want to tell you that Jesus Christ and God appeared to a young boy about your age. He remembered the promise he had made eight days earlier and holding up both his hands he said "TEN MINUTES!"
"That young boy was me. Thank you for bringing me the gospel of Jesus Christ" (talking to US, he was telling thank you to us!)
He said "I love you for bringing me this gospel. Thank you"
It was such a powerful meeting. Before this meeting Hermano Barrios told us that General Authorities are on assignment from the Quorum of the Twelve and can speak as if they were they Lord. He told us if we give a blessing we could even say "I love you" as if we were the Lord speaking. When Elder Kikuchi said "I love you" It was such an amazing feeling! The spirit was so strong in that huge gym, I know that the work we're about is the greatest in the world! Heavenly Father even said it is HIS work and HIS glory! It's what brings him the most happiness, pretty cool huh?

Real quick I wanted to tell you about something Hno. Barrios told us. One of the trainers here at the MTC teaches the teachers and he taught them something yesterday. There is a turning point with every investigator, we have to listen to them and focus on them. He said if we get out of a lesson and say "Okay what could we have done better" Then we've MISSED the point! The "atomic turning point" as he called it. We have to have faith that if we focus completely on them then the Lord will help us. It's kind of deep, and I'm not explaining it right. But Hno. Barrios said the church is going to be moving over to this over the next few years, people are just now developing this idea. The basics of it are in Preach My gospel under listening. (basically everything you've taught me my whole life)

Thank you for the awesome package last week, it was awesome! We haven’t opened the bubbly yet but we will! We usually don't have time to eat anything.
I got the credit card stuff today and I'm going to send it off right now.
Te quiero! I have ten minutes so you can write me back if you want! Adios!

Elder Trevor Rasmussen

MTC - Week 6

02/25/09
Hola Familia y amigos!
What a great week! I hope you all had a good one too!

I want to start off by telling you about something so cool that happened here. There is a place called the R.C., Referral Center. You know those pass along cards you give out? Well when people call it comes HERE. So we go and answer phone calls and chats and actually call people. Our district set a goal last Tuesday to get 25 referrals where we send the missionaries over. Well we went Tuesday, and I called for almost an hour and got answering machiens THE WHOLE TIME! It was disappointing. So we went back on Thursday, Wed is p day, and again- nothing! So we went in on Friday, our scheduled R.C. time, and I told Hna. Nash that I wasn't getting anything. She told me that sometimes the Lord tests our faith before we have success. I just kinda shrugged my shoulders and kept making calls. I decided I should pray and by the end of Friday I had 5 referrals. Now here's the cool part.. We set the goal for 25 by Saturday, Saturday comes along and we still need some. But we all prayed and told Heavenly Father we had faith that we could reach our goal. We went to the R.C. that day and by the end of the day we had 34! It was so cool. I had some great experiences, I talked to a lady in a rest home. She had called me and needed help with a word (agency) and after I told her what it was and explained it I asked if she wanted the missionaries, and she said "Oh yes! I know this is true with all of my heart! I can just FEEL it!" It reminded me of what Elder Ballard said last week, people feel its true long before they know its true. I know if we set a goal and put our faith in the Lord he will help us.

Last Saturday we were talking as a companionship and decided we really wanted the Gift of Tongues. In Preach My Gospel it says part of getting the Gift of Tongues is by Struggling for it. So we thought, "How can we do this better??" Cuz of course Spanish is a struggle but we  

 

to know how to do it better, you know? So we made a goal...again! Sunday rolled along and we started un ayuno de comida (regular fast) asking the Lord for help in our next goal of AYUNO DE INGLES!! (English fast) We fasted all day Sunday and when we went on our Temple walk we found a bench that was kinda quiet (theres hundreds of missionaries taking pictures at the temple) and plead with Heavenly Father for help with this goal. When we got up from that prayer we broke our fast and started a new one... for Two years! No Ingles. Nada.
Now it SOUNDS a lot easier than it is. Trust me. I've caught myself speaking English many a time, while Elder Israelsen is ONLY speaking Spanish, .like I should be! We mostly just don’t' talk at meal times, it's too hard. But we're doing it- all the time. In personal study- I study in Spanish, with my English stuff next to it of course. And in Comp. study, we study in Spanish. If we don’t' understand we say it in Spanish first and then in English. The Gift of Tongues is real! I can FEEL it already. And it's only Wednesday! Words from my freshman year of Spanish are coming back to me and it is really amazing!

We are officially halfway there, we are on "Week 6" and we leave on 9! So I was released as District Leader and Elder Bertin is our new one, he'll do great! He used to always ask me if I got the mail, just to be funny. Now it's my turn to bug him, "Did you get the mail?" haha, just kidding! It was kind of a relief actually, but then they put me in as Senior companion! I don't do nearly as much though, no meetings!
I learned so much in my time as DL. I learned what not to do, and what to do better if I ever get called in the field. I went to some awesome trainings with my Branch Presidency that taught us about leading by the 121 section. I'm very thankful for the chance Heavenly Father gave me to do that!
Elder Daryl H. Garn came last night, wasn’t' he our dentist?!? It's been bugging me, I can't remember! He is in the second quorum of the 70 and said he was a dentist in Mesa. I know I've heard that name before! He talked about agency, it was awesome!

Hope you enjoyed the package!
Te quiero mucho!
Elder Trevor Rasmussen

ps- Tell Cherisse and Kathe thank you for the packages they sent me, my district and I liked them a lot!

MTC - Week 5

2/18/09

Buenos Dias Familia! Lo siento, we didn't have time to type today so I'm starting now. I won't be able to do copy and paste today so this is all I got...
So much happened this week, I hope I can get it all in here!
First of all, Elder Israelsen's companion went home last Wednesday. So he's me and Elder Kartchner's third companion now! It's different having three people, but we're using it to our advantage. For example, when we teach we have one of us be a convert that knows the person we're teaching, pretty cool eh?
Okay, I am learning new rules all the time and here's one I learned this week. We're not allowed to take pictures or write letters unless it's P-day! So when you write me and ask me questions, I try to remember them but I have a hard time, and I can't write you back right then so it's kinda hard.
Oh yeah, because last wed. was so hectic with one of the elders leaving I didn't have time to buy the suitcase and now it's gone soo... I'm not sure what we're going to do. Sorry!
Next week we're teaching the first lesson en ESPANOL!?! Loco eh??
Oh, I never got a package from Cherisse and Sis. Glaus, I went up to the front but they said the mailroom would've given it to me, so I don’t know what happened there.
I'm sending the SD card today so you should get it hopefully Saturday or so? I'm excited for you to get it, I recorded some stuff on the recorder, hope you don't get bored of it!
OHH MAN! Yesterday was pretty exciting! Guess who came? Come on guess??
well let me start by telling you this, we usually sit by the side of the stage so we can be close to the person, even though its their profile, and have a TV right there to watch them from straight on. So we go to our usual spot and it's reserved for EMT Personnel?! What?!
Then we usually sing songs before the fireside, and the conductor got up and said "Elders and sisters, to show respect to their calling, if an Apostle-" Everyone started whispering and yelling and...mass chaos pretty much. The conductor held up his hands and yelled, "IF you were to see one tonight, then you should stand." By now I could barely contain myself. So we were singing and in walks...
Elder M. Russell Ballard! You know, "Our Search for Happiness"?? Yeah. Him.
It was soOo cool! It's funny cuz everyone from Utah has seen or met or is best buddies with an apostle and I've only seen one from far away! Elder Israelsen has met Elder Ballard five times I think, Elder Bertin from Bountiful used to home teach Elder Bednar..and yeah. It's pretty crazy how everyone seems to know one of them!
Well Elder Ballards talk was pretty amazing. I took 5 pages of notes...haha.
He told us about how he and Elder Cook went to several newspaper places last year when Mitt was running so they could be interviewed. He told us the most common question was, "Why does the whole world say you aren't Christian?" He told them its because we don’t' believe in the Nicene Creed, and a bunch of other stuff. He talked to us about how really important our message is to the world! He said, "The world is steeped in spiritual darkness, what are YOU going to do to penetrate that darkness?" whoa.
He went on to tell us how a positive attitude is essential! He told us they've done studies and how the appearance of the missionary is the #1 factor that determines whether people are going to listen to the missionaries. No pressure right?
"Lock this into your brains, In the beginning it's always what they feel, NOT what they know!" He has gone everywhere you possibly can in the world and says that he always asks recent converts of two years to stand and they ALL say "When the missionaries came, I felt this...I felt...I felt..." Always before what they knew!
He told us to believe all the time and trust in the Lord. you have to keep that burning in you.
One of the main things he spoke about was INTERNALIZING Chapter 3 of Preach My Gospel. He said in 7 months, once we have some experience, He'd like to take US to the New York Times and have them ask US questions. "Own it so well that you can teach any principle at anytime, so you can teach the message of the Restoration."
When we master chapter 3, they will FEEL that you are sincere, and special young men and women.
There are many people that are just wallowing in spiritual darkness, they will see it RADIATING in your eyes, your heart and your spirit! They will feel and you'll have more opportunity to find, teach and baptize.
This work needs to be accelerated! If all 53,000 missionaries were excited about the Gospel baptisms would accelerate!...

THEN he talked to us about being cheerful! He said regardless of how difficut it may be remember Alma 29:9. Hold on to that! I promise you in the name of the Lord as you have an upbeat attitude, the divine witness of the Lord will carry you through any affliction.

"On behalf of the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve, and the Seventy, we send you forth as ambassadors of Jesus Christ! This is His Church! WE will be as close to Him as we let Him!...Be cheerful, excited, and upbeat for the privilege of representing the Lord!"
May the heavens be close to you and enlighten you for the greatest opportunity you'll probably ever have in your lives...

Yeah. It was so cool. I felt the Spirit so strong! It really is a blessing to be serving the Lord. I learned something cool in District Review last night.
There are only three groups with the title Elder!
-The General Authorities
-The Apostles
-And...the missionaries. 19 year old missionaries.

Se que Jesucristo vive! Se que el Libro de Mormon is verdadero, y lo contiene la plenitud del Evangelio. Estoy muy agredecido por la oportunidad ser un misionero de Dios.


Te Queiro mucho familia!

-Elder Trevor Rasmussen

ps- I want to hear from all of you!!