WEEK - 37 Ixtapaluca

CLICK THIS LINK: http://picasaweb.google.com/homebuyer.scott/IXTAPALUCA?authkey=Gv1sRgCMDGtcHNt9LFwgE&feat=directlink

for more pictures of Ixtapaluca.

Hola Familia!
Right now, we’re in a internet café around the corner from the Ripley’s believe it or not museum. We went with Elder King our District Leader and his companion. There’s a wax museum that was pretty awesome! I’ll have to send pictures next week, because there’s no place to put my memory card.

This week was awesome! Our Zone Conference was amazing, and filled with the Spirit.

President talked to us about the new Bible that came out. We read a verse in the Bible we use now, and then read the Joseph Smith Translation, and it is completely different! He talked to us about exact obedience and we read from the missionary handbook. We have a new rule, all the Mexico missions can’t drink coke anymore! I guess some missionaries were going and buying it and giving a bad look for the members so they made a new rule. They always give us coke to drink here, so that will be interesting when we tell them that we can’t drink it.

The Zone Leaders trained us on “programming” the investigators baptismal date in the first lesson. It is something that comes from President, and it really works! It made me realice(realize: neat to see how Spanish is taking over) how important questions are. When we use questions efficiently, the investigators realice for themselves that they need to be baptized. It is really a great experience, and I have felt the Spirit and I know they have too when they accept to be baptized.

This week we took the Manzilla Hernandez Family to the Visitors Center, and they loved it! They saw the Testaments and they all cried afterwards! They told us that in a year they will be in the temple! I told them to tell us so we can be there too. This family is awesome! After Roberto and his son, Beto, had their baptism we went to their house and I made them French Toast! Haha, they were all amazed by it! This family is great. Their daughter Fabiola doesn’t want to be baptized. She didn’t come to Church yesterday, so her date is for the 11 of October.
Yesterday when we baptized, we baptized with the other missionaries in our area. We had 5 baptisms in total, and all of us were in white except for my companion, (I asked him if he wanted to baptize too).The picture is awesome!! I’ll send it next week.

Also this week, we took one of our investigators Maria del Carmen to get married! Her son was just baptized, and we’ve been working with her. She’s really excited to be baptized, but she wasn’t married. We talked to her husband once and he basically told us to go away, and that he wasn’t going to get married. We talked to him on Friday and he said to his wife, “Oh, well if its so you can get baptized that’s fine” !! We took them early Saturday to get married and this Sunday is her baptism after the first session on Sunday.

The Lord is really blessing us! Elder Martinez and I are seeing miracles all the time. We try and contact as many people as we can in the week, and this week we tried extra hard to contact. A lot of people said no, and I told my companion not to get down on himself because it was probably a test of our faith! We were walking to an appointment and a guy called us and asked us what we do and why there’s always an American with a Mexican. We told him we’d like to teach him and he accepted! His name is Raul and I know he’ll progress.

Well I have to go, not much time to write! Love you all, thanks for your support and prayers! Hasta luego,
Elder Rasmussen

WEEK - 36 Ixtapaluca

Hey Everyone!
“Our Purpose is to Invite others to come unto Christ, by helping them receive the restored góspel through faith in Jesus Christ and his Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end.” (I hope I remembered it right? I can only think of it in Spanish!)
This week was great! Ixtapaluca is awesome, its the real Mexico! It’s a lot different than Pachuca, but I like it.
Mom and Trent asked me some questions…
Mom- we wash our clothes with a member in the Ward. He has a Lavanderia and gives us a discount of 5 pesos every kilo. Hot water and shower-yes. Food-YEEESSSS. They feed us a ton here! Everyone wants us to eat with them. I’m sure I’m going to leave this area fatter! No don’t worry, we eat a lot but our area has a ton of hills so we get a good work out every day. It rains about every day here, and it´s a little warmer, but nothing like Arizona!
Trent- My new companion is awesome! He’s a hard worker, and knows a lot about the work because he was the Ward mission leader in his Ward, and had the chance to work with the Zone leaders.
My new area… well it is called Bautizaluca for a reason! The people here are so ready to hear the gospel! It’s a little different working here. The streets are all “cerradas”, streets with a gate to close it off. If we have an appointment we have to shout their name or wait until someone opens the door for us. We do a lot of contacts in the street, and we’ve had quite a bit of success with that. The key for area is to work with the members, so w ego with the new converts and less active members to ask them for referrals. The sister who was baptized this week was a referral!
Yes I’ve dreamed in Spanish. I thought I told you about it already…last week I was talking in my sleep. I woke Elder Martinez up and he said I was propped up on one elbow and shaking my finger saying “Hermana, tiene que bautizarse…” –“Sister, you have to be baptized…” haha! I guess that means I dream in Spanish right?

This week Piedad and her daughter were baptized. They were so excited they could hardly stand themselves! Next week Piedad´s husband Roberto, and their son Roberto are going to be baptized. Roberto went to the Church farm on Saturday and had so much fun, and worked so hard he couldn’t get up on Sunday to go to Church! We told him if he didn’t go he couldn’t be baptized next week (they need three Sundays at Church to be baptized). He got up real quick and changed. Piedad´s daughter, Fabiola, is going to be baptized October 4th!
The Lord really blessed us this week. We found a new family that looks like they will really progress. The dad’s name is Alejandro and his wife Sarai. Alejandro has read the Book of Mormon before, and used to sell books in the Distrito Federal when he came across an original copy of the Book of Mormon! He really liked Church yesterday and wants one of the new bibles that the Church just came out with. Everyone is so excited for it!
My computer isn’t working, I don’t know if I’m going to be able to send you the pictures!

Our Ward meets in a different Casa de Oracion than the one Elder Hunt is in. He’s another District Leader in my Zone. Our Ward is called San Buenaventura. Dad, our divison is the street that says “ Paseo de San Buenaventura”. We have the part where the Casa de Oracion is, if you can find that you’ll know my area. Just a little about my area there are 25,000 houses, with about 4 people in each one so 100,000 people…mas o menos. We have half of that and some other little pueblos so our area is really big. (Since Elder Ras has no time to send pics I found these off the internet and he confirmed "this is his area" . . . amazing! ! ! !)

Tomorrow is our Zone Conference, and Elder Martinez and I have been assigned to give a 5 minute talk on “Our Purpose”. Wish me luck!

Okay I’m out of time because I was trying to send you a picture, I’ll have to send you more next week!
Adios!

Elder Rasmussen

WEEK - 35 Hello Ixtapaluca

VIVA MÉXICO!
Hey everyone how’s it going? I’m here in my new area, and it’s so great! Hope everything’s going well at home. Everybody is getting ready here for the 15 of September, its the Independence Day of Mexico, and everyone is going crazy for it!
It was really weird leaving Pachuca! I´ve been there so long, it was just so strange to think I was leaving. We ate three times on Monday because everyone wanted to feed us! Raúl and his wife Yadira fed us, then we went and ate with Mari, Antonio and their family, and after with Griselda and her family. Antonio gave me a painting/carving he made of a tiger. They all signed it and wrote a note. When we ate with Griselda all her kids gave me a Little picture of them that they get in school, I also got a recording of them talking so I´ll send that next week. One of the families in the Ward wrote a letter and gave me a snickers, it was pretty nice. They told me how much they appreciated my work in their Ward, and told me I could come back and visit anytime. When it came time to leave Tuesday morning I really didn’t feel like I was leaving!
Okay it sounds like you’ve all been wondering where I got sent so I’ll tell you, but first I want to tell you about cambios. We went on the bus from Pachuca and headed out for D.F. Elder Spencer was in Pachuca as well, so when he saw me he was excited and asked me if I was training as well. He was really excited and nervous to train, just like I was! We finally got to the “Manzana del Templo” or.. that translates into Temple square. The trainers had a meeting so Elder Spencer and I went to that. President told us how the assignment as trainer is one of the most sacred assignments he can give as president of the mission. He told us how the Lord expects us to give the best to our companions, to help them start their mission off right. I walked out feeling pretty overwhelmed! In this meeting there were all the trainers and all the new missionaries. Everyone was trying to guess their new companion! At the end there was only one American and one Mexican in the room, so they knew who their companion was.
The changes meeting is in the chapel. All the missionaries sit in the seats, and the new missionaries sit on the stand behind President. It’s pretty funny to see everyone so nervous waiting for the changes. President reads the zone and then he reads one Elders name and says who they’ll receive and what Ward or area they’re in. Everyone in my generation from the MTC has changes, Elder Bertin went to Palmar with Elder Mora, and Elder Spencer went to Constitución with his “hijo”, or the missionary he is training.
“Elder Rasmussen, you’re going to receive and train in the area San Buenaventura, Ixtapaluca. You will be working with Elder Martinez from Monterrey.” Elder Martinez is awesome! He’s from Monterrey, and is so ready to get to work. He was the Ward mission leader in his home Ward and got to go in divisions (splits) with the zone leaders all the time.
A Little about our area… Ixtapaluca (pronounced eextapalooka) has the nickname in the mission- “Bautizaluca”. Our area is called San Buenaventura. Its HUGE! It´s the biggest…fraccionamiento? Sorry I don’t know that translation of that. Its the biggest fraccionamiento (Housing Subdivision) in all of Latin America! If you look at it on the map there’s a road called San Buenaventura that divides the fraccionamiento in two. We have the biggest part. Everyone says they want to come to our area because its so elect. I think President knows there’s so much potential here that they put another companionship here. That road I told you that divides it in two also divides our areas. The other companionship is a trio, so we have 5 missionaries in our Ward! Our Ward was going to another church building kind of far away, and so they built a “Casa de oración”, a House of Prayer. It’s a three story building about twenty five feet wide. We had 150 people at Church yesterday, and we were all crammed in to it! They put in a tv system so there are people in another room that watch sacrament meeting! Its pretty crazy.

We’ve been so blessed to find people to teach. Elder Martinez and I decided to contact at least 12 people everyday, and we’ve already seen the blessings from it! We found a family of four that is just so ready to hear the Gospel. The missionaries before found a family of five that is also progressing for their baptism. The mom, Piedad, and her daughter went to Church last week and yesterday so their baptism is this coming Sunday. This sister’s story is really great… She had been praying that Heavenly Father would show her the right way, when she was in the park later that day someone in the Ward saw her and asked her why she looked so down. She told him that she has had problems with Money and didn’t have Money to make a phone call, he invited her to make the call from his home. When she was there the missionaries came over and she started crying! Those missionaries both left this last transfer, and we came here, when we set her baptism date she accepted full heartedly! Her whole family is progressing for their baptism.

I love missionary work! Elder Martinez and I have felt the Spirit guiding us, and helping us with this great work. Oh! I forgot, Elder Sander was here with Elder Mora! When Elder Sander trained Elder Mora they were in my same house! Everyone remembers them because they really helped out the Ward. I´ve already met some of their converts! Pretty cool huh? Well I have to go, my area is awesome, my companion is great, and we’re working hard! I forgot my camera so I’ll send pictures next week of everything you asked me for.

Con mucho amor,
Elder Rasmussen

WEEK - 34 BYE BYE PACHUCA

Hola Familia
We´re reporting a Little early today. We have a ton of stuff to do because we both have changes!
Yesterday, Marisol was baptized. We sang a musical number with some people from the ward. Marisol was crying a lot! She really liked her baptism, and I am positive she felt the Spirit testifying to her that the covenant she had entered in to was real, and true.
Well, we were in her baptism, about to start, when Elder Tanner walked in to our church. He pulled us aside and told me I have changes. He told me I´m going to “train” or receive a new missionary. Elder Mora is changing areas to Palmar, where he´s going to be District Leader.

This last week was a little crazy, they told us on Monday that we had to find a new house in Palmar. We didn´t know why, but did what we were told! We had to find it by last Monday or by Tuesday. We found the only available department in the Department buildings in Palmar. That was Monday, and then Tuesday we didn´t have water so we went to our District Meeting without showering! (Don’t worry, we didn’t stink up Pachuca, we showered later) We had to fix the tank on top of our house almost all day Tuesday. Then Wednesday we had to meet up with the secretaries to put all the things in the new department. We finally got to work Wednesday night, it was a little strange to only have half a week to work!



This last Thursday, Elder Jaramillo finished his mission. He was one of our awesome Zone Leaders! He was a great example to all of the Elders in our District, I really looked up to him and learned so much. His last District meeting with us he said how as he was thinking about his mission, all he could remember were the happy times, all the blessings he´s received from serving a mission. Seeing him leave made me thankful for everyday I have in the field, time is going by so fast!!




Last night we went to tell the Tavera Family that I´m being changed. Maribel, Griselda, and their mom all started crying! Antonio, Mari´s husband, made me promise I would come back after my mission to visit them! I told Estela, their mom, that I was leaving. She looked really sad because I won´t be here for her baptism, we told her that it wasn´t too late to be baptized. So she might be baptized today! She has to do some things first, but she definitely could today!

I´m really going to miss this area. I am so grateful I started my mission here. It has been such a blessing to serve the Lord here in Pachuca. I will definitely miss the people! I can´t describe the joy I feel, to have seen these people change their lives. This has been a great experience here, that I will never forget! President, in the last Zone Conference, said "EN PACHUCA, SÍ, SE PUEDE!". There is a bad attitude in our mission that when you get sent to Pachuca, its a bad thing. Well I´m glad I was here, and I leave with "EN PACHUCA, SÍ, SE PUEDE!"

Well we don´t have much time to write, we have to pack and do a ton of stuff. We leave tomorrow at 8:30. We have our “reunion de cambios” or changes meeting, at the Stake Center right by the Temple in D.F. So next week I´ll have a new companion, Elder Mora was awesome. I´m grateful I had the chance to serve with him for 2 cycles!
Love you all, adios!
Elder Rasmussen

WEEK 33 - PACHUCA

Link to more photo's from Trevor in Pachuca:

http://picasaweb.google.com/scottmster/PACHUCADISK?authkey=Gv1sRgCNfHu97ywtKiDw&feat=directlink

HOLA FAMILIA!
How are you all doing? It sounds like everything’s going good! Tell Brandon I said hi! Tell him to write me if he ever gets a second.
The package came! I got it Thursday in the Zone conference. Two weeks is pretty fast! Wow thanks for everything! I thought you had sent me a bowl of mashed potatoes! I couldn’t figure out what it was, I opened it and THEN saw the Graham crackers! Thanks so much, its an awesome treat! The FHE book was like you read our minds! We saw it in a members home and wished we had it! Thanks! The ties are awesome too, I gave one to Juan Antonio at his baptism. Everyone was eyeing the pens, I gave the one pieced one to Elder Jaramillo, my zone leader that goes home this week! I gave one to Elder Mora, and Elder Tanner wants one too. Thanks for the watch! Its great! Thanks for everything, I really really have enjoyed it!

See more of Ramon's incredible story in week - 25 Bares testimony - week 28 Bapt, and story of a 12 yr olds missionary efforts ! !
Ramon was sooo excited to get his missionary tag! So were his brothers! Ramon wore his badge and the tie I gave him to Church! His brothers wore their ties too. Jude and Toñito want one too! I have one left, so I don’t know who I’ll give it too. They really liked it!

I don’t know if you remember when I did the magic trick you sent me. It's the one where the cards are all White, then they turn color, and then change White again. Well I showed it to Elder Mora and asked him how I could use it for the Gospel. We came up with this…
So I start out showing how all the cards are White. Then we say how when we´re born we’re completely free from sin. But we go through life and we start sinning a Little, and a Little more, and a little more, until we have a lot of sin. I show that all the cards are colored. But when we receive baptism, our sins are completely washed away. I take the deck of cards and put them behind my hand and act like the cards are being baptized. Then I show that the cards are all white again. Haha! Its so fun to see the faces of the kids! They are so amazed! The adults like it too, the y just don't show their awe as easily, haha. Pretty fun.

Well This week was a miracle. Juan Antonio, Mari’s husband was baptized! When Mari and Griselda and everyone was baptized last month, Antonio couldn’t be baptized. They told us he needed to wait but couldn’t tell us why he couldn’t. So we just kept on teaching him, and this week he was baptized! President told us it really is a miracle that he was baptized! This family is so awesome. In Antonio's baptism, Mari bore her testimony and said how their goal now is to go to the temple in a year! I´m so happy for this wonderful family! I feel grateful that the Lord permitted us to be the means of helping Juan Antonio receive baptism. This family is so different now, the Spirit in their home is even different! I pray this family will continue strong and faithful so in one year, they can be sealed together as an eternal family.

This week was our Zone Conference and it was soo awesome! Elder Tanner and Elder Jaramillo trained us on how to McConkear. I´ve explained a little about this verb, basically its a Word the Mexican Elders came up with. It means to help others to accept baptism when they are keeping commitments and everything, but don’t want to be baptized. President Bulloch wrote a thing called “Baptismal Invitation” and it is truly inspired. I tried my best to translate it and sent it to dad through pouch, so you should get it here soon.
Presidente Bulloch´s message was the best! He read a letter from a pair of missionaries in Pachuca. I haven’t really told you guys this, but Pachuca has this really nasty reputation for not baptizing. Missionaries in all the misión say “Oh, they don’t baptize in Pachuca. En Pachuca, no se puede.” This companionship was in an area for six months, and saw their Ward was suffering because the missionaries before were not doing anything. These missionaries worked hard, and started to gain the trust of the members. After a while they started to baptize and baptize. This Elder left Pachuca with 23 baptisms. In his letter to President, he said how in Pachuca, sí se puede. In Pachuca, they DO baptize. We talked about their qualities and the things they did good, and then compared it to Captain Moroni in the Book of Mormon. I left my study journal at home so I don’t have the scriptures, but it was great. President taught us with such power and authority, we all felt the Spirit so strong.
It amazes me how when people come to accept Jesus Christ, and His Atoning sacrifice, they come closer to our Heavenly Father. They start to change. They look different. They treat their family differently, they have a different aspect on life- an ETERNAL aspect. The Book of Mormon is true, when we read and study and mediate on the things in this sacred book we change, because we´re becoming more like Christ. I’m so grateful that we’ve seen these people change their lives for the better!

This gospel is true. I know it with all my heart. Thanks for being so supportive of me! Your prayers really help Elder Mora and I. Hey I was thinking, why don´t you guys put together a list of questions you want to ask me? I don’t think I’m explaining some stuff very well, so if you have questions just let me know.
Adios! Les amo,
Elder Rasmussen

Week 32 - Pachuca

Trevor and Elder Mora at the Pachuca soccer field

"Mission Title of Liberty" see Week 25 for details
Hola Familia!
Hope everything’s going well, sounds like everyone’s excited about going to school right? Haha, school just started down here and they’re not too happy about it! We just saw a tiger in the back of a truck! They’re still advertising the Circus before it leaves town!

Raúl was baptized yesterday! He was so excited, and afterwards he was smiling the whole time! We showed a slide show with “His Hands”, in Spanish of course. It was great, and the Spirit was strong in his baptism. We had a good turnout too! The room was full of people! This ward has gotten really excited since the Tavera Family got baptized. Now we just need to help them give us referrals!

This week a sister named Marisol has her baptismal date. She works in a place where everyone is a member. The family that owns it invited her to the Visitors Center and to Church twice. We know she has been prepared by the Lord, and is excited for her baptism this week. It just shows the effect that we can have on others as members of the Church. I tried to help the members of the ward see that yesterday in my talk. I didn’t think I was so nervous but Elder Mora told me I was! I shared the story about Raul and how a member simply shared his testimony and a Book of Mormon, and now Raul is the newest member of the Church. Wow, I feel so grateful that the Lord led us to him. In a year he and his wife can enter the temple! You can do so much just by being an example to those who aren’t members!
Saturday we did a thing called Celestial Referrals. We prayed for what streets we should go to and went to knock doors. When we were knocking nobody listened to us, or let us in. The last building we were going to knock a lady opened the door, I told her we had a message that would bless her and her family, and how the Church of Christ has been restored to the earth. She let us in, and the first thing we did was invite her to Church. This lady, named Janet, told us she would like to go. We taught her and said that it was very interesting and caught her attention. She went to church yesterday and left with a bunch of questions. When we went by last night we set her baptismal date for September 6, and she accepted! Heavenly Father is really blessing us with people who have been prepared to accept the gospel!
Remember Antonio, Mari´s husband? He’s going for his baptismal interview tomorrow, but he´s still unsure about whether he wants to be baptized.. We’re going to help him resolve his doubts, because he knows this is true! I think he’s just scared to accept it, but don’t worry we’re going to help him this week!!

Trent asked me some questions, if you guys want to ask me questions maybe this is the best way?
1. What is the weirdest thing you’ve eaten so far? - We eat the best food! The weirdest thing was “patas de pollo”, or chicken feet!
2. Have you had any more encounters with dogs lately? – yeah about everyday!! I’ve learned my lesson and now I carry a rock if they look like they’re going to chase us.
3. Has your love for spicy food increased or decreased since you´ve been in Mexico? – I don’t have a choice, its increased! We eat chile with every meal! I’ve even eaten part of a manzana, they say they’re more spicy than Habanero!
4. What percentage of your budget is used for ice-cream? Haha- Remember Belen and Diana? Me and Elder Sanders last baptism? Their mom has an ice cream shop and always gives us free ice cream!
5. How’s your Spanish? Are you starting to think in Spanish yet? – The people here tell me it’s good when I tell them I’ve only been here 5 months. I don’t know if they’re being nice or if they really think this white boy can speak Spanish! And yes I’m pretty sure I am thinking in Spanish because the other night Elder Mora said I sat up in my bed and started mumbling in Spanish! Haha

This week we have our Zone conference and interviews with President. I always look forward to that, I always learn so much!! I’ll tell you about it next week!

Well I have to go. Don’t forget to be an example to everyone! Missionary work is so easy, and we don´t know how many of our friends and neighbors are prepared and ready to hear the gospel. I’m thankful you guys are doing such an awesome job and helping out the missionaries!!
Con mucho amor,

Week 31 - Pachuca

HOLA FAMILIA!
The Lord really blessed us this week. We went to our District meeting last Tuesday, and we received about 10 referrals! We received one from other missionaries in our District, saying that this couple was “oro” or golden.
We decided we would go visit them with the Relief Society’s son at 7 o´clock last Tuesday. He helps us out a lot and is a great help. Anyways 6 o’clock came around and I had written down that we needed to meet up with him at 6, but Elder Mora had 7. We decided to go double check, and when we got there, the Relief Society President, Hermana Norma, was talking to two sisters, I didn’t recognize one of them, and the other we knew. As we walked in Hermana Norma said “Oh! Fallen from the sky!” haha… The sister I didn’t recognize was the sister who we were going to go try to find at 7! Her name is Yadira, and her husband’s name is Raul. They are a miracle! Yadira is an inactive member, and knew that her sister in law (the sister we already knew) was a member. She went to her sister in laws house looking for US! The sister in law took her to the Relief Society President and there she was when we walked in. (I hope I’m explaining okay, I’m writing fast)
Raul and Yadira took a trip to Oaxaca two weeks ago, because Raul is a truck driver. When they were there Raul met a member, and while they were working this member talked to him about what we believe, the Book of Mormon-basically everything! They talked all through the night one night about the Church. The member gave him his first copy of the Book of Mormon and Raul started to read it. Well they got back to Pachuca, and Raul told his wife they were going to church! They went to Church and that’s how we got the referral. This brother really is one of the children of our Heavenly Father who is looking for the truth, but doesn’t know where to find it. After Raul talked with the member in Oaxaca, he stopped smoking and drinking. We set his baptism date the first day there, but he told us that he might be leaving for his work in a few weeks. We talked about it after and decided between us we should put his baptismal date one week before. When we got to their house to teach the next day, he asked us FIRST if he could be baptized one week before he left! I feel so grateful that Heavenly Father blessed us to find this couple. Raul has read into 2nd Nephi already, and has felt the power that only comes from our Heavenly Father to change lives. I think its hard for us to realize just how hard it is to stop smoking! He stopped and hasn’t smoked once.

Heavenly Father really does prepare his sons and daughters to hear this glorious gospel. I feel so blessed to be a part of this work! I don’t know if it’s the same in the states, but we get the Liahona every month and for this month there was a talk by Elder Octaviano Tenorio about Success. http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=08e38b707a312210VgnVCM100000176f620a____&vgnextoid=f318118dd536c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD

It really impressed me, and I realized I can apply it to the work. He said to have success we need to have concentration, effort, and joy in what we’re doing. He shares some pretty cool experiences. Elder Mora was here when he came to speak to the missionaries. He said Elder Tenorio locked himself in a room and studied English all day and all night, only stopping to eat and sleep every now and then. Wow! I know if I have that kind of dedication the Lord will bless us with success.

The Bishop asked Elder Mora and I to give a talk in Sacrament meeting next week! I’m just a Little nervous. I pray the Lord will help me know what to say to the people in our Ward so they will WANT to give us referrals! I think I’m going to share Grandma and Grandpa’s story, and how they have always been member missionaries.

This past weekend we had Stake Conference. The people here in Mexico surprise me all the time. They are so humble, and know where their blessings come from. The Spirit was strong in the meeting and I know our investigators felt that Spirit testifying to them that what they were hearing was true.
This really is the work of the Lord! I know the Church is true, and I know that the Book of Mormon is true! I know as the people we teach ask with a sincere heart they receive an answer. I know Jesus Christ lives and is our Savior and Redeemer. I’m so thankful to be here in Mexico! I love sharing the gospel with everyone I can meet. I feel so disappointed when they don’t want to listen, but it just makes me want to work harder to find those who really want the blessings now!

Love you all!
Con Amor,
Elder Rasmussen

WEEK 30 - PACHUCA

" Lo que persistimos en hacer llega a ser más fácil, no porque la naturaleza de la cosa cambia, sino porque nuestra capacidad de hacerlo aumenta." - Presidente Bulloch

Elder Rasmussen translation- "What we persist in doing becomes easier, not because the nature of the thing has changed, but because our capacity to do it has increased."

I hope you can translate President Bulloch´s letter for this week, because it is awesome!! He is so inspiring, after reading his letters I just want to go out there and contact the whole world!... well I like doing that anyways but even more after I read his letters! He´s great. His letter this week talks about how we should always demonstrate our humility, and acknowledge that the Lord is always helping us, and without him we can´t achieve anything! I know that´s so true! We saw it again this week.



Juan Carlos- It really is a miracle that this man got baptized this week! His dad has been in three bishoprics, and is really active. All of his family are members, except for him! He has known the Church for most of his life, he even fasts and pays tithing! He used to smoke, but we set the goal with him to not smoke at all and he did it! I know that only only happens with the help of the Lord. It´s so amazing to see the change that happens to people when they turn themselves over to the Lord. Juan´s dad baptized him Saturday at 7:30! Elder Mora and I woke up at 5 to go fill the font! We were pretty wiped out by the end of the day. It was so neat to see Juan Carlos enter into his first covenant with the Lord. The Spirit was strong in the baptism, and yesterday was his confirmation. He actually looked different after- the look that someone has when they have the Spirit with them.

I dont´think I´ve told you this, after every baptism, I like to read.
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.
I feel that joy every time I see someone being baptized. It´s hard to describe this joy, its the best thing I´ve ever felt in the world- pure happiness. That really is our motivation here. That same joy that we feel, we want everyone else to feel as well!

This week was really effective. Our District Meeting was about how to find more investigators. It really opened our eyes, we focused on doing all of the different ways, instead of just focusing on one. We went and visited Consuelo and did a fun activity with them. We gave them each a piece of paper and told them to fold it and draw themselves on one side. We all drew ourselves, Elder Mora and I drew ourselves looking really buff, and wrote "SUPER ELDER". We had everyone show their picture, then we told them to turn it over and close their eyes, then draw themselves again. Its really funny because you end up with your feet above your head, my tie was on my face, and yeah it looks really funny. Then we have them read Alma 13:24.
24 For behold, angels are declaring it unto many at this time in our land; and this is for the purpose of preparing the hearts of the children of men to receive his word at the time of his coming in his glory.
We share with them how when we have the gospel in our lives we can see clearly, and when we don´t, we look different and it doesn´t turn out so well. We shared that Angels are preparing many of their friends to hear the gospel and accept it in their lives. We have them write five names, and then we had Consuelo say the prayer to ask for inspiration to know who to send us to. We came out with 5 referrals! It´s a fun activity, and it helps them to feel the missionary spirit.

Hey if you really want to surprise a missionary, give them a referral without them asking! That's all it takes! you´ll make their day, I promise you!

Mari and Gris´s mom and dad aren´t so sure about their baptism anymore. They got talked out of it by their family, but Mari is excited to help them accept their baptismal date again, and I know they will. Your prayers would be great!

Hope you all have a great week! We´re going to continue working hard down here and doing the best we can with the Lord´s help. This really is our Heavenly Father´s work. His work and his glory! We´ve seen so many miracles, and just like President Bulloch said, when we give thanks for even the small miracles we´re demonstrating our thankfulness and the Lord is more anxious to bless us! I love you all, and don't´forget to let you light so shine! You´re the light of the World that the children of God will look to as an example! Love you all,

Elder Rasmussen

WEEK 29 - PACHUCA

BUENOS DÍAS!


Wow, only in Mexico could you see a small pickup truck with a real Lion in the back with only a cage around it! Haha! It´s promoting the circus that’s in town, and yes there is a real lion outside of the internet with a ton of people around looking at it!



The baptismal picture last week, the people are… in the back Griselda, her husband Alejandro with their daughter Aleida, Maribel, her husband Juan Antonio and their son Antonio. Front row, Elder Mora, Alejandro (turns eight in September!) Jude, Pedro, Ramón, and that ugly looking “güero” at the end. Haha look at Ramón´s belt!! We didn´t have an overall so he had to use pants, but they were so big they were falling off of him! He was walking around with his hands in his pockets to hold them up! One of the counselors int he Ward saw him and went for some clear tape! If you look close you can see that his pants are taped up! Haha Ramón is awesome.  He bore his testimony yesterday again! He’s going to get the Priesthood next week! He went to their stake priesthood meeting last Sunday, we saw him walking in, he was so excited to be there!

Yesterday the familia Tavera was confirmed! (I don’t think I said that right…my English is suffering if you can’t tell…) The mom and dad of Maribel and Griselda came, and that was a real blessing! It’s hard to get their dad to come sometimes, not because he doesn’t want to but because he’s so weak he can hardly walk or move. This week we worked with their mom and dad. They’re separated, their dad lives with them and their mom lives across the street. We taught their mom (Estela Carrillo) and I know she felt the spirit in the baptism of her kids and grandkids because she told us before we could say anything “ I want to be baptized, just give me two weeks to get things in order.” She has a boyfriend that is kind of dangerous…he threatens her and stuff, but she’s going to give him a talking to, and be baptized this week! The dad of the kids (Mariano Tavera) also accepted his baptismal date for this week!

Juan Carlos is the son of one of the members in the Ward that never got baptized. He has a daughter that was baptized but he hasn’t been baptized yet. His baptismal date is this Saturday. The Lord is really blessing us. Last week four kids came to church. They said “ we’re looking for two Mormons with plaques!” The members showed them to us quick, and we met them. Turns out, they live right in front of the Church. The family lived in the other Ward and went to Church two times, but then they moved. The mom knows the Book of Mormon is true, we just have to help her realize that now she needs to be baptized!

Maddie, that’s so cool that you have sister McLean for your teacher! I remember you wanted to have her as your teacher before! Cool! Thanks for sharing your testimony with me Mads, you’re so awesome! You´re growing up so fast, and so is your testimony! Keep it up!
Trent I can’t believe mom let you drive to CA! Howd it go?? Hey hows misión prep going? I want to hear about it. Tell everyone I said hi, tell Bro. McConkie hola! Keep getting ready for the best two years of your life! Its hard to describe the joy that comes from being out here, the only advice I have is keep studying Preach My Gospel and the Scriptures! Keep it up bud, you’ll do great!

It hailed here last week! The weather in Pachuca is so weird! When we leave in the morning its sunny and a Little warm (I know, my blood must´ve thickened or soemthing, its only around 80 or 85!!) Then around 2 or so it might rain or just keep staying hot. Then in the early evening there´s a ton of wind and dust, and at night it get really cold sometimes, yup. Pachuca is different! But I love it here.


I can´t tell you enough how glad I am to be here. I´m so thankful for the opportunity to serve the Lord for two years, it really does go by fast!! Thanks for your letters and prayers, I know it helps us here. I know Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer, I know that through faith in Christ and his Atonement, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost we can come closer to Him than we´ve ever imagined. I feel so blessed to see the lives of Heavenly Father´s children change as they learn to come unto Him. I´m so proud of my missionary family! Keep it up guys! That is the greatest thing you can be doing right now! I promise you! I promise you as a servant of Christ that as you continue to do so the Lord will bless you in a special way. I know it, because I have already seen so many blessings in my life, and the lives of others. Love you guys,
Elder Rasmussen

WEEK - 28 PACHUCA, MEXICO

Hola querido familia!

We had a great week, and worked hard to get our baptisms ready. The Tavera family was baptized yesterday!! It was such a great experience. Also last week we went to the HUGE youth conference with youth from all of the Mexico Area. We helped them out with their missionary activity, and it was a lot of fun. I saw all of the Elders from my generation so that was fun too. I don’t have changes…what’s the Word in English? In Spanish it’s cambios…TRANSFERS! That’s the word. I’m staying here another cycle with Elder Mora. I’m going to be in my first area for 6 months! I’m excited because I’ll get to see some of my converts progress, and their family progress as well.
We just got back from helping the Zone Leaders pack up. The owner of their apartment kicked them out, so we helped them move! I don’t know if Elder Tanner is going to be my Zone Leader anymore, which I’m kinda down about, he’s awesome! I saw Elder Howard at the Youth conference, and Elder Reed too. We always have fun talking about Arizona! Small world huh?

From Left to Right-front row: Elder Mora, Alehandro Jr., Jude (Griselda's daughter),Pedro,Ramon (aka: Ammon),Trev. Back, Griselda,Alehandro,Alayda,Maribel,Juan Antonio, Jr.

Okay the Tavera family. They went for their interview last Friday, Griselda, her kids Ramón, Pedro, Maribel her husband Juan and their daughter Jude all went. Everyone “passed” their interview, except Juan. He wants to wait a little bit. But don’t worry, he’ll be baptized here soon! Yesterday, we helped Mari and Griselda´s sick father come to church. He can hardly move, so we carried him to the car, and from there up the stairs to sacrament meeting. He really liked the church, and when I talked to him, he said he would like to be baptized! He just needs to come to church more.
Elder Mora and I made little programs to hand out at their baptism. We had the primary kids sing “When I Am Baptized” and I played the piano, and electric keyboard that a member had. I know they felt the spirit. The kids were so excited for their baptism! You should’ve seen it! They were jumping up and down they were so nervous and excited! Elder Mora baptized Maribel and Jude, and then I baptized Griselda, Ramón, and Pedro. It was so neat to see this family entering into their first covenant with the Lord. They really are elect, I know the Lord has been preparing them for a long time. Afterwards, we went to the house and I read Alma 29:9-10. I love reading that scripture after baptisms, because it truly describes my joy that I feel after a baptism. I’m so grateful I was able to see this family progress towards their baptism. We contacted Griselda in the combi (ice cream truck) the end of last cycle, and it took them all this cycle to be baptized, but I’m so grateful that they were baptized, and I know it was the Lord that lead us to them.

Well I don’t have transfers. It was kind of funny, all last week Elder Mora was saying “ You have changes, I know it” and then we went to the activity with all the youth, and even the secretary Elder Olson told me I was going to probably have changes and be his companion! Haha, and then yesterday when we report they told me I didn’t have changes. I know this is where the Lord wants me to be.

Well there isn’t much else to report. We had a great last week of the cycle, and we’re ready to work hard this cycle. We’re going to put a high goal to help us work harder. That’s what we did this cycle and it helped us so much. I know when we set a goal, Heavenly Father provides a way for us to complete that goal, if we have faith and put in the work.

Love you all, thanks for all your love and support. Tell Aunt Niki thanks for the postcard!
Con amor,
Elder Rasmussen