November 1st 2010

He mentions to send all letters and packages to his original mission address so if you are sending letters to him please keep that in mind.

My companion and I contacted yesterday in a place called La Chapala. It was a village of abandoned houses. The people that do live there don’t have electricity or water. I thought it would be so awesome to live in a place of complete serenity.

As for experiences of the week, my companion had the worst week finding people of our entire missions. We worked our butts off and nothing. The President said that since the announcement of the temple numbers in the missionary work have come crashing down even though we work as hard or harder than ever.

Michelle-The last letter I got was awhile ago. I don’t know if you have sent some recently. As for my companion he and I are good. We are friends, and the sector is beautiful and tough. Oh I actually dropped out of the AP class of Mrs. Weston because I did not like her way of teaching, though no extra credit would be gained. I really enjoyed my other teacher. I would love to see the song you wrote.

Liz-YOUR GONNA BE A BRIDE AND SOON A MOM!!!!!! I am so happy for you!

Song of the month “I Don’t Speak Americano”

Please send Beware of Pride-Ezra Taft Benson, recipe for Chicken Divan and enchiladas, brownies and fudge. Dad all packages would go to the mission address. Can you send me list of cool places to visit close to San Quintin? And could you please send a little bit of money.

Will send list next week! Out of time got to go!

Con amor,

Elder Baria

October 18th 2010

At this point in his mission, Ben was transferred to a little town called San Quintin. As many of you know at this past General Conference it was announced that a temple was to be built in Tijuana Mexico. That was very exciting for him and all the other members, leaders, and missionaries in that area. I really like that letter from his Mission President because it is so true. Any time we as individuals, or as a people, take a step in the right direction, Satan is always there to try and bring us down. That is why it is so important that we focus on what is really important in our lives and cling to our standards and our beliefs. We can't get discouraged or stop trying because it might be harder that we had originally anticipated. We must renew and strengthen our resolve to live righteous lives. You know revenge is frowned upon because we are supposed to love our enemies? Well, Satan is our enemy and he tries his hardest to get us to sin and go against what we know is right. To get "revenge" on Satan all we have to do is choose the right. Throw right back into his face everything he tempts us with by saying "no", or in some cases saying "yes." Say no to seeing that inappropriate movie. Turn off the song when you feel uncomfortable. Say yes to reading your scriptures. Say yes to going to seminary, but go ahead and say yes to the snooze buttons a couple of times:) Hey, we aren't perfect; all the Lord asks of us is to always be striving.

Alright starting off with the answers to the questions San Quintin is amazing it is a promised land, my companion is a really sentimental guy and is totally awesome and we are pumped to work here, the work is awesome and way different, the branch has between 120 and 140 members that go every week and the church is about to start building a chapel for the branch so all the members are super excited. The last Elder here finished his mission here so didn´t leave too much but that is perfect becasue my companion and I are going to start working in another area about 30 minutes away. My sector extends fro Manadero until Lazaro Cardenas. The Spanish here is a little different there are a lot of people that dont speak Spanish, and speak dialects, they also say Los Globos instead of Sobreduelas. The Elders don´t do to much in the branch leadership. And yes I did get the package my last day in Pinos and my comapnion got the pen after I left. I hope Michelle posted to the people that that direction now won´t work for me it is now back to the old mission address. I did buy the bike 700 pesos and then 100 pesos for a seat.
Fun Story of San Quintin there is a Mormon Polygamist colony in me sector on the maps it shows up as Los Molinos but here it is know as Zarahemla. And it is forbidden to contact there, think about living in Utah before Wilford Woodruff and thats what it is like. As for other news there is problem with the Camera, I don´t know how to describe it but it pretty much donesn´t take picturess anymore becasue the screeen stops working. As for fun scriptures DandC 31-3-5, 50.23,1 Tim 4.12, and for dad Alma 30.7-that if you know a law is unjust and dont do anything the sin falls on your head as well.

As for things I need could you all send me in email maps of all the peuplitos close by and ideas for games in a noche de hogar. And share with me your expericens of how keeping the Sabbath Day holy has been a blessing in your life.

I love you all till Next Week,
Love, Elder Baria

Letter from the Mission President

Estimados Elderes y Hermanas:

Estamos al igual que todos los miembros de la Misión muy felices por el anuncio del Templo. El templo será una gran bendición para la vida de los miembros pero a la vez para todos los habitantes de Baja California Norte, Sur y Sonora.

Teniendo esto en cuenta también hay alguien que NO esta muy contento con este anuncio: SI, Satanás el enemigo de toda justicia y verdad.

Hemos visto una baja sustancial en los números y bautismos de la misión. Al hablar con los misioneros hemos observado que todos siguen trabajando fuerte y esforzándose por cumplir con los indicares claves, consiguiendo nuevos cada día y llevando nuevas personas a la iglesia cada semana.

Esto me indica que Satanás ahora está trabajando muy fuerte para impedir que la gente progrese y se bautice. El sabe que aquellos que se bauticen ahora serán de los primeros que entren al templo cuando ya esté dedicado.

Por esta razón no podemos desanimarnos ni dejar que Satanás gane terreno. Tenemos que trabajar más fuerte que nunca. Tenemos que hacer un esfuerzo sobre humano para cumplir con los indicadores claves y mantener nuestro enfoque de un bautismo cada semana por compañerismo y mantenernos espiritualmente dignos, mediante la obediencia, el estudio diario, la oración y deseo sincero de hacer las cosas que Nuestro Padre Celestial nos requiere.

Demostrémosle a Dios que El no se equivoco cuando nos llamo a esta misión en este TIEMPO. Estamos aquí ahora porque el confía en nosotros y sabe que no nos dejaremos ganar de Satanás. Que vamos a dar todo lo que tenemos para encontrar a los escogidos y mantener los conversos que entraran en su Santa Casa.

Vivamos dignos de esta hermosa época en que fuimos llamados.

Con Mucho Cariño,

Presidente Heyn

For those of you who aren't fluent in Spanish, here is the English translation:

Dear Elders and Sisters:

We like all members of the Mission are very happy with the announcement of the Temple. The temple will be a great blessing to the lives of members but also for all inhabitants of Baja California Norte, Sur and Sonora.

With this in mind there is also someone who is not happy with this announcement: Yes, Satan the enemy of all righteousness and truth.

We have seen a substantial decline in the numbers and baptisms of the mission. In speaking with the missionaries we have observed that all are working hard and striving to meet to designate a key, getting new ones every day and bringing new people to church every week.

This tells me that Satan is now working hard to prevent people from progressing and be baptized.He knows that those who are baptized will now be the first to enter the temple when it is dedicated.

For this reason we can not discouraged or let Satan gain ground. We have to work harder than ever. We have to make a human effort to meet key indicators and maintain our approach of a baptism every week for fellowship and stay spiritually worthy, through obedience, the daily study, prayer and sincere desire to do the things that Heavenly Father we require.

Let us show God that He is not wrong when we call this mission at this time. We are here now because he trusts us and knows that we will not gain from Satan. We will give everything we have to find the elect and maintain the converts who come into His Holy House.

Live worthy of this beautiful time when we were called.

With love,

President Heyn

October 4th 2010

There was quite a few spelling mistakes and run on sentences. Some I fixed and some I left. There were one or two words that I had no clue what they were supposed to be, but I just left them.

Alright starting off the week. I had capicitations, then the conference. As for baptisms I included those of last week and Carlos that we baptized on Saturday after the conference. As for the Temple announcement all the members began to shout and clap for joy, my comapnion and I were cleaning the font and we heard the news and started singing. As for where it will be it will be close to the Blvrd Insurgents where there is a Smart and Final actually my companion and I will be going and taking pictures of the lot. It will be in the Stake that I am in right now, and there is a pretty big chance that I will be changed this coming Monday so if you are going to send the pacakge please do it as quickly as possible. As for for the Priesthood the broadcast, it kept failing so I didnt get to see it. My district won District of the month with Eleven baptisms. We have a lot to improve so that we can find and baptize more people this coming month, the goal of my companion and I is baptize everyweek and we have two weeks running and a baptism planned for this Saturday!!! As for the money that you started sending, Mom can you please stop sending it. I decided I would let you know when there was a a need to deposit, like this week I took it all out to planch my clothes. Alright I love you all so much, enjoy the pictures

Till Next Week,

Love Elder Baria

September 27th 2010

So his math right there in the beginning doesn't quite work out, but nevertheless they had quite a few baptisms.I looked up the band that he mentioned. They were good, but since they were a spanish band I had no idea what they were singing about.

It was a sweet week this last week. My companion and I baptized five people this week and the other Elders in my district baptized four, so that means my district finished this month with Eleven baptisms. One of the women who was baptized is named Guadalupe and she has been going to church almost two months and loves everything about the church, we had to help her get married and everything. Actually her now husband was an inactive member so the ward helped her get married. They couldn't just give her the money so what they did was use all the money they earn in a week 600 pesos like 45 dollars and paid for everything and the ward gave them their dispensa. She is faithful and incredible. Also a young man named Christian who when we invited him to pray if this message was true said, no, I know this is true. And the other three were kids. The other Elders baptized a family suave. I love doing baptisimal interviews and they are seriously the most powerful spiritual experiences imaginable. So I will be sticking it here in Pinos for at least two more weeks but my district will be increasing by four more elders to have a total of eight Elders in my distrcit (as well as the zone leaders). The ward I am in is about to divide and so the stake presidency and bishopric asked us to actualize the ward directory to facilitate the division. In Private they told us how the division would be going and asked to keep everything on a low down until the divisions happens. I am pretty sure that when we finish the ward will divide immediately. There are no cheeze its in mexico nor choclate pudding. :) My comapnion would love a scripture marker and I need the color orange but that can be another package. Michelle I think you might like a band called Belanova.

Remind me to tell you about the story of a colony in my sectore called the Third of October it was an attack of the government on the civilian population that happened here. Or look it up if you would like.

Got to Go. Love you

Luke 22:32

Elder Baria

September 20th 2010

If any of you (if there is anyone even reading this) have any scriptures or catchy phrases that get you going that you would like to send to Ben, please let me know!

Quick Notes and Updates-There are possibilities of changes this week. So if you all send a package or cards send them fast so that they can get here before the week gets out. If I am not changed then I’ll let you know. Oh Dad, I read a scripture I thought you might like Romanos 3.8 JST. That the idea that the ends justify the means is false. A question, did you all get the album I sent a while ago?

As for this week it was amazing. I had divisions with the Zone leaders on Tuesday and it was a good day. On Wednesday it was sweet. My companion and I had so many appointments that we pushed back our comida hasta las ocho de la noche. Then the next hasta las 5 because we had a lot of appointments and set a lot of baptismal dates. Then the weekend didn’t turn out so good. We started teaching a man who is an alcoholic and his wife and kid are about to leave him if he doesn’t change. So we will be helping him overcome his addiction.

It is fun being district leader and being able to see the strengths and weaknesses of the Eldres and trying to help them and lift them up all the time. And doing baptismal interviews are some of the most powerful spiritual experiences I have had on my mission.

My companion is an awesome missionary. I decided that I would love to train the whole rest of my mission. He is a great teacher, pumped and loves the work. Can you all please send me posters of scriptures, catchy phrases to get you pumped to work, things that get one excited to do something. I sent a letter in the mail and hope it gets to you all soon.

I love you all so much,

Love Elder Baria

September 13th 2010

It is pretty crazy what we can learn from the people we associate with every day. Little kids mimic what they see, you know, monkey see monkey do. If they hear a bad word, then they are likely to repeat. And since the people they are with the most are their parents, that could be a little awkward. So clearly we can pick up bad habits, but we can also learn good things. I see my parents and I am grateful everyday for their example of genuine love and commitment. I am grateful for their faithfulness to each other as well as to the gospel. Their testimonies have helped strengthen my own. We can also BE the example. Remember that people watch you. Not in a creepy stalker way, but they watch you because they are curious. We live differently than most of the world and people notice. Stick to what you believe and never be ashamed of it.

Please send pictures, cards, and all the wedding stuff. I would love to know everything that is going on.

As for the week in the mission field it has been great. Elder Morales is an amazing Elder and he only has two weeks in the mission field. I pretty much decided that in the moment I finish my mission I want to work in the MTC as much as I possibly can. But back to my companion he took boxing for two years and the other day in the morning he began teaching me a little bit. It is fun what we can learn from each other with just a little communication and asking for someone to give us a helping hand.

As for fun stories there have been a few. The other day while knocking on doors and a man let us into his house and started speaking in English. Long story short, he is a Cuban American who grew up under the communist rule of Fidel Castro and he explained to us the lifestyle under communism and socialism. Besides dad, that was the first time that someone who lived under that ideology told us how it was. It made me truly grateful for the blessing of happiness that the liberty to choose brings in to our lives.

On Friday the ward had a Mexican night to celebrate the bicentennial and centenario of their independence and revolution. While there, my convert Karla began talking with the sister missionaries, and on Sunday she received a calling. She also told me that she wants to be a missionary. WOOOOO. The joy at seeing a convert receive a calling was incredible but when she told me that she will be serving a mission in three years, when she finishes her schooling, I felt an exploding joy in my chest.

As for fun scriptures read in the week...this one is for love birds Liz and Jake because it is something you would send to a spouse. Romanos 1:9-12

Till Next Week I love you all so much,

Sincerely Elder Baria and thanks for the card Liz

Please send cheese its, the student seminary guide to the bible and the book of Mormon and ties.

September 6th 2010

Once again I've gotten behind on the blog posts; big shocker there. But I made a goal to post all of his letters/e-mails so by golly that is what I'm going to do no matter what or when. Liz, our sister, and Jake, now our brother-in-law, had just announced that they were getting married which of course was very exciting. I love how he calls newbies kids. Just shows you a little bit of his personality. He mentions being chased by dogs, why can't we hear more about that story? :) He continues to ask for work out and weight loss ideas; he also continues to ask for cookies and other sweets. For those who don't know what mole is, it is a spicy chocolate sauce, doesn't sound to appetizing does it?

Congratulations Liz and Jake!!!!!!!!!!HAHA I feel so happy. I will be writing you both cards.

As for mission news, my companion is named Elder Morales and he is from the D.F. and is sweet! This kid is amazing as it has only been his first week and everything is new to him. He loved contacting, teaching, being chased by dogs, everything. And it was an incredibly fun week, although I was and still am really sick. I pretty much can never eat mole again in my life because it causes a lot of problems for me. But I am super pumped to work with him in this coming week. Even though we are both only a week into our change, this will be the best transfer of my mission. We are working hard and having a blast doing it. Actually, if you could all help work out a health routine that would be sweet. I want to lose weight and build muscle so that I can have more energy here in the mission field. What can I do?

We had a meeting the other day and our mission leader said that the stake president said that la correlacion misional is the most importante meeting outside of Sacrament Meeting. It has been great sticking in the same ward for awhile because I get to see my converts recieve callings and take steps in their life to endure to the end. I know that God knows everyone of us and helps us to help ourselves everyday of our lives. I got to go right now but take of yourselves I will be writing cards to yo all soon.

Love, Elder Baria

P.S.'Please send recipe of pepper steak, and please send sea salt vinegar chips