Thursday, December 31, 2009
Christmas Phone Call
December 14th
Cravings of the Week-Tim Tams (An Elder Received Them), Egg Nog (Doesn't Exist here without alcohol). No MP3 Players, Dad read PMG Chapter 13. If I get transferred out of Tijuana I will not get the package for awhile. Alright, I will be calling you all in ten days I am not sure on the time or places if I get transferred so send me an email with what is best for all of you. This week was full of fun. We baptized Jessica and Javier Maldonado. Javier had to work so we set the baptism for 4:00 on the dot, but he was the one that showed up late, almost an hour late. We had a combined baptism within the district. Our three wards joined together and we all had baptisms and sang a very...special musical number, and it was very special in fact a member told us later that it was feoissimo. On Sunday we baptized a young girl named Michelle and that brings my companion and I to a total of eight baptisms and five weeks consistently baptizing, and we have a hopeful four for this coming Saturday as well. I get more and more accustomed to the food here everyday. I ate Nopale tortilla's, alfalfa juice, and almost like home I ate bananas with yogurt and maple syrup on top. I have gone over budget on food almost consistently since I got to Mexico. But I came up with a really tight budget plan starting with the coming month. My companion and I are getting along just great. We have a much better relationship then when we started out. We both started roughing out the edges of each other right of the bat and now we understand our strengths, weaknesses and will help each other out. He is an awesome worker, tries to be obedient in almost all things and knows how to work with members-especially with our Posada plans. We spoke with members and are having mini Posada's (FHE) in members houses' if they bring an investigator. We are going to help our recent convert men, Daniel y Javier receive the priesthood and we are animating the Ward by having the young men baptize, and the confirmations by the high priests (our ward doesn't have an elders’ quorum). Alright time for me to sign off, I love you. The newsletter was awesome. I am a little behind. I love you All and pray for you.
Yours Eternally,
Elder Benjamin Baria
December 7th
This week has been good. We have been teaching the Family Mandonado. A few weeks ago some recent converts from another ward stopped us in the street and she said her sister is interested in the church and has been attending church with her. We got her number and tried calling her but to no success. Then last week she came to church on a whim. We are teaching the whole family and this last Sunday they all came to church. We are planning on driving to San Luis this Friday to get them married. And have their baptism planned for this Saturday along with another young women. And Jose. Jose actually has gone through a rather rough patch. He was the union libre spouse of one of our converts. When we were teaching his neighbor he came over and was being antagonistic. My companion promised him that if he did not repent he would be alone and lose everything. That weekend we had the Baptism of Irma (the neighbor) and he was antagonistic again. Next day the police kicked him out of his spouse's, Carmen's, house. We then baptized her and by the time we baptized her, she didn't really want him back. He told us he wanted to be baptized. And from that week till now, he sleeps in his taxi eats in the street, and has become completely alone. He almost lost his taxi, but he began to pray to change. He found the money he needed to pay for the rent on his taxi, and our plan is to help him get away from Carmen, and help him truly repent. And now we are house hunting for him. Our Ward is incredibly animated and wants to work. In the Consejo del Barrio the leaders were demanding more of us, so we came up with some ideas. We only teach the lessons when we eat with members. We set a goal to call every leader if we have a sure cita and make sure we always have members present when we teach. My companion and I have been getting along better and better with the passing weeks. We started out really rough and now we only have the occasional joist. We teach more in unity and have the spirit much more. He isn't perfect, but neither am I. We are both coming out better men of God. Alright, Till Next Week, Love You All. I Will write, I may not get your package if I am transferred. Be Valiant in all things.
Yours Eternally,
Elder Benjamin Baria
November 30th: Letter and Email
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The last line just cracks me up. I was totally not expecting it and how he just through it on at then end like it was nothing....well it made me laugh. It's good to know that now they are married.
Alright Not A Lot of Time-Get this newsletter thing of and on the waythen I can just print it and get a longer email out to you. I am goingto come up with a few ideas for the blog and send them your way. Justsend me a lit of questions in an email or whatever you would like. Ineed the address of Miranda, Abe, Mark, and Torry.Fourth Baptism! Her name is Gloria and she is part of a part memberfamily, just her and her dad are not member and we are now working onhim and then getting them off to the temple.We passed out cards for all the member to write down their addresses sothat we can contact their streets like Elder De Hoyos said. We startwith our list tomorrow. A fun recent convert experience, actually we hada really good one this week. A while back some new converts stopped andgave us a number of their family who wanted to come to church. We triedcalling but to no avail-the number never picked up. In church thisSunday the reference came to church. She came with her two kids, and hasalready been to the church at least two times before. Then after churchwe went to her house to give her child a blessing and her husband toldus that they want to be baptized!!!Only stumbling block is that they need to get married first.
Out of time, I love you all!
Yours Eternally,Elder Benjamin Baria
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The joke was...interesting. Made me chuckle.
Familia Baria!
Buenas Tardes? Como les van?
I’m trying to get better with the card writing thing, but as the weeks turn into months, it appears to be the area that needs the most growth. So I will start with my companion’s joke. The prophet, a pastor, and the pope are in a boat. The prophet gets out and starts walking on water to the shore. The pastor and pope are amazed (What?!). That pastor then decides to leave and walks on water to the shore. The pope thinks to himself, if the Mormon and Christian can do it, so can I. The pope steps out and beings to sink. The pastor says to the prophet, “Should we tell him where the rocks are?” and the prophet says “What rocks?” (p.s. This joke was originally told in Spanish and was intended for a Mormon Spanish audience – if offense is taken, I apologize). It turns out a least for now, that I remember almost everything in jingles.
So it rained really hard the other day but my companion imparted his wisdom and advice. He said that for every hour I spent in the rain, my future wife is spending equal time in the gym (True Doctrine). Worst Mexican dish I have had – Clamoto. Words could never describe its interesting flavor (he crossed out awesome putridness). Best Mexican food has be Birria – with lots of meat. Most like home has been Lasagna!!!
Childhood Memory – We eat at Peter Piper’s Pizza sometimes on P-Day and they have a sweet pizza that taste just like Cinnamon Toast mom would always make for Michelle and I.
Christmas is coming and I have one recommendation – forget about the gifts – take a whole afternoon serving people, invite people over for dinner, read the four gospels and BOM every day. Here in Mexico, instead of Santa Claus they have the gifts from the Magi.
Mission joke: Yo, Buenas Noches
Random Person – no response
Companion – Oh, Buenas Noches Elder
I’m sorry I am not better with letter writing. In the Newsletter, make a little section of things you all want to hear. I do love all of you. You’re always in my heart and in my prayers.
Your Eternal Brother and Son,
Elder Benjamin Baria
November 23rd: Double the Fun
Reply-I pod's Are Not Allowed, I GOT THE PACKAGE TODAY!!!!!!Gracias!!!!!Everything was there. Weekly Cravings-Shish Kabobs, Gorditas, Reese's Pieces, Chicken Tertazinni Need-Breathe Right Strips Weekly Memory-De La Rosa is a candy we see in the tienda's and I remember I think when we went to whistler when I was a kid I had it. MY Companion Has a cat named Gohan. Start planning for the Christmas call. SO our converts are named Irma and Carmen I am going to ask them to write and send their conversion stories to you and then I would love you to write them. I got all your letters today. I love you all so much. Be safe and go forward with faith. I'll include some scriptures in my card. I love you Your Eternal Son and Brother- Elder Benjamin D. Baria Recent Convert Experience-Martin the recent convert of only four months baptized the first person of his whole life. He taught his neighbor, set the date, and baptized her. He is amazing, and he taught our recent convert Irma. Second Baptism-Carmen called the police, four cars came and kicked Jose out of the home. She then decided to be baptized and our recent convert Irma (next door neighbor) told her to go for it and kept bearing a testimony of the change in her life. Saturday we baptized Carmen. Jose came to the baptism and now wants to be baptized. When she came out of the water, she looked at me and her whole disposition was different. When we got to church the bishop told us to do the confirmations, I learned the prayer in five minutes and then confirmed Carmen, telling someone to receive the Holy Ghost was a intense experience. Words can't describe any of these experiences.
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Alas, I only have 10 minutes to write. I am going to include both the journal entries of the baptism and confirmation. The weeks keep rolling a long and time quickly becomes a habit (if that makes sense).
Health is good. Testimony is 50X bigger. We baptized and confirmed 3 people. Spanish is 80% most of the time. I should be here until December or Jan. The water is not OK. We drink from purified water jugs. Curfew is 10:30. The members are awesome. The Bishop is 26, newlywed, future father, has a job and school. Hermana Felicitas is the world’s best fellowshipper. Jared told me he has had 4 baptisms (that is a month here – generally more towards ten). The food is awesome.
I am growing. I love the newsletter idea and next week I will spend two hours writing to just you all. We hitch rides everywhere we go. I have to go now. I feel bad for not being able to write more. I know you all want me to. I love you and you’re always in my prayers.
Your eternal son and brother,
Elder Benjamin D. Baria.
He also included the new Mexican wide missionary plan from the area presidency. But it’s all in Spanish so you’ll have to hear about that from someone who reads Spanish better than I do. It’s three pages. I think it’s something along the lines of inviting everyone to the temple. Inviting everyone to read the Book of Mormon. Seeking the guidance of the Holy Ghost. Acting on the testimony of the Savior, especially during the holiday season. Inviting people to come to church. Inviting people to be baptized. (there’s a lot more than that, but that’s the flavor).
He also sent a Sacrament meeting program. It looks just like a program here. Even in the announcements there is a reminder to please be reverent in the chapel (that one is underlined). It does have a place to take notes on the back. Also a note to “recuerde apagar su cellular?”
That one we should probably include on ours! And a fun little note that says, “Gracias por su puntualidad”. Maybe Mexican Mormon time is even later than regular Mormon time.
From the Back of the Envelope
(From Nov. 16th)
Wants
Christmas Candy
A Smore Stick J
Christmas Tree
A pumpkin bread roll thing from college (think giant hoho)
Name this movie: Rapido y Furioso
Please tell Torry I can’t reply to his email but I read it. Tell Tessa I am getting her cards and also we are teaching someone named Beatris!
Item of Purchase
Hobo Loho (another candy)
Don’t worry about anything. Taking Care of Business.
(From Nov. 9th)
I’ve never traveled in a more high speed and dangerous way than on a Kalafea (Bus) in Mexico. Best part of Mexico in the morning and the best part of every morning….marshmellow mateys!
¿Is there a blog?
Need
Sweater
Photo Albums
Basically stamps and envelopes are always good ideas
Gospel Art Book
Jump Rope
Christmas Ideas—email improvement ideas
Today during P-day – Cleaned, did laundry, internet, solores, MacroPlaza, Carls Jr., Heard some apostasy (Ting Tings and other bands) had Fresa y Nivez cone, writing letters….
What I heard: Costco in Mexico is different. Costco in the USA works in the USA and Canada but Mexico works only in Mexico. Don’t worry about it. I’ll be fine J
Title: SKWINKLES (Candy Bar Here)
Yes Dad, please tell me – When/How did you receive guidance/counsel from the Lord?
Cooking tip: Mix onions in with Beans…Machaca
November 16th: Once Again
¡Barias!
Memory of the week—During my hour of personal study every morning I found a fun scripture that made me think of all of you – 1st Nephi 17:6. I thought of our family trips to the beach with Jadyn and her kite. And our camping trips to the beach and our final trip to the beach.
The baptism – after the baptism Jose threatened. He had a pistol and was being belligerent. And four police cars took him away. The next morning it sounded bad in the email. I just copied and pasted part of my letter to the President. I’ll send my journal page that explains everything – do not call the mission office – it was absolutely nothing. If anyone is worried, don’t be. We have the power and protection greater than all else.
Mexican food of the week – Birria, Fruit with yogurt, granola y sweetened condensed milk.
Alas, this week I have had very little time. The email was better this week, I hope. I love the newsletter idea. I love all of you so much. I should get the package this Friday for our conference.
Love,
Elder Benjamin Baria