Ground Zero 9-25-2017

Hey everyone, I AM ALIVE! Thanks for all of the prayers for Mexico City because we have had a rough week! The earthquake from a few weeks ago obviously hurt the city, because when the Earthquake on Tuesday hit, over 100 buildings fell in the City! There are some crazy videos out there of what happened in the City. My area is trashed. We lost power, water, signal, gas, everything. We couldn't tell anyone that we were alive until the next day! They pulled us out of the area and we have been living with our District Leaders because our area is really bad. I didn't take any photos because there were a lot of deaths. Houses full of people went to the ground in seconds, and even the giant catholic church in the center of my area fell completely to the ground. I saw some really sad things. 2 schools fell down, with all of the kids in them. It is a mess over here, but every single missionary is alive and accounted for. I wish I could say the same for the members here. Please pray for everyone, because many don't have a place to live, food to eat, nothing. We have been ordered to not serve because the only service the city needs is professional, like doctors and stuff. But anyway, it is really sad here and everyone is on edge because it's going to happen again. 

When the earthquake hit, I was on a bus. The bus started rocking back and forth really hard, so we all got off and everyone was crying. I wasn't shocked or anything, I was just amazed because I had never felt an earthquake before. We kept walking and saw tons of fallen houses and fires and everything. The videos make it seem scarier than it was. 

Then, on Saturday, I got in the shower at my District Leader's house, and the seismic alarm went off! My companions booked it, without waiting for me, and I grabbed my towel and ran out to the street haha. It wasn't as bad as the quake on Tuesday, but it was awkward standing in the street cause everyone else ran out of their house too, so I was just standing there naked until we could go back in again haha!

Our Prayer house is really damaged and the streets in my area are destroyed, so we had a blasting attendance of 9 people this week. I really hope that they can start to rebuild my area soon so that everyone can start coming to church again!  

Well, I'm okay. And I always will be okay, as long as I'm a missionary. Pray for those that are still in need of help! And remember that life is a very fragile thing, so live in the best way, the way you want to live, because tomorrow you may not get a chance. Do what you need to now, don't wait! 

Remember, God does this so that we will remember him. So let us remember him! 

Photos

1. this is the only photo i took of the earthquake out of reverence for all of the many other buildings that fell down with people in them. no one died here so i felt better taking a pic of it. but it isnt even bad, the building only has moderate damage.

 

Baptismania 9-18-17

This week was super chill, even with Mexico's Independance Day this week. I expected parades and fireworks and a lot of drunks, but didn't see any of it. We worked a lot this week, and I am dead tired. DEAD tired. As in, I look dead some days because of how much hiking and running and teaching and everything that we do. 

This week we had another baptism! He is Jorge, and I am so excited for his baptism because he is 18 and will become a Priesthood holder very soon, which will be a huge support for this little branch! He was so excited, and his mom started crying cause she was so happy and she isn't even a member! It was awesome. 

For the first time in almost a year, I had McDonalds! Woo! 

Other than that... Well, that's it! It was a fast, calm week. 

I hope you all are having a great time, wherever you are! 

Earthquakey people 9-11-17

Greetings from planet Earth!

I think planet Earth is angry. There is so much going on right now! Hurricanes, fires, earthquakes! The 8.2 magnitude earthquake hit us in Mexico City. It was pretty cool to experience, the entire house was swaying like it was a piece of grass in the wind. But nothing fell! Not a single house or building in my entire mission fell. There was literally zero effects of the earthquake here. But it was still cool haha. 

This week we also baptized Julio Cesar! He was super excited and I'm pretty sure the water was past the freezing point because I squealed when I got in it was so cold. But he was a great sport and loved his baptism! I am super proud of him because not only is he baptized, but he helped reactive his grandparents, and his sister is getting baptized soon, and his mom isn't far behind! 

Other than that, well, we have just been working and working! I'm still sick because I don't rest, I wake up too early, I work too much and I don't keep myself warm. Oh well. It's the mission, right? 

I hope you are all okay, and that you are having a fantastic week! 

Spiritual thought: James 4:8. 

Photos:

1. A great dane I found in the street haha

2. Julio! 

3. The cutest human being on earth and her favorite missionary

Mogley and Clark Kent 9-4-17

This week we were teaching in the park, and this super high guy came up to us and started to talk to us. My nickname was "f****** Clark Kent" (sorry for the profanity, but that's exactly how he said it😂) and my comp's nickname was "Mogley", from The Jungle Book. He taught us about Rocky Balboa, the importance of taking drugs, and strangely had a large knowledge of Mormon vocabulary, like Heavenly Father, Atonement, and the Plan of Happiness.

That was the only thing that happened to us this week. It was the same every day, wake up, work, go to bed. I got sick, and we ran out of gas so I take an ice cold shower every day. I'm sure that's helping me. Today my foot got stuck in a hole in the sidewalk and a semi truck bathed me with the street water it kicked up. Then a tarp filled with water fell on my head. I feel great.... I'm going to be sick for a long time. Butttt I am a missionary and I am happy. Most of the time. I was not happy when that truck drenched me. 

Mexico's been getting a lot of rain cause of the Hurricane, but I am sure that nothing has happened to me in comparison to what has been happening in Texas. But, now I know the Lord has a plan. Almost every single one of my friends from school went to Texas. The Lord prepares way before we know it. And before we understand it. It is a very prominent lesson in Faith! 

We have a lot of work, a lot of baptisms coming up, and well, that's it! 

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:5-6

Photo- Elder Paz and I found a cool laser design shop. I like the outcome!