Nov. 11th New Area, New Companion

Hola todos!

 

Pues, estoy escribiendo hoy porque ayer tuvimos cambios! ¿que loco no? ahora estoy con mi primer compañero que también es gringo! que raro... no hemos hablado en inglés todavía... quien sabe si vamos a hacerlo o no? Mi nuevo compañero es Elder Porter, es de Hurrican ( creo que se escribe así) y apenas terminó su entrenamiento y ya habla bien el español y es muy bueno. Mi nueva área es Ciudad Mante en el barrio Morelos. Aquí hay 4 misioneros. no es muy cuidad aquí es como un vecindario pero definitivamente más fresa que Anáhuac... jaja. 

 

Translation:

Well I am writing today because yesterday we had changes!  How crazy right? Now I am with my first companion that is also a gringo! How strange....and we still haven't spoken in English...who knows if we are going to do it or not?  My new companion is Elder Porter, he is from Hurricane and he just finished his training and now speaks Spanish well and is really great.  My new area is Ciudad Mante in the Morelos ward.  Here there are 4 missionaries.  It's not really a city here it is more like a suburb but is definitely more posh than Anáhuac...ha ha

 

So ya, here the streets are paved and all that and the houses are nicer and I am pretty sure there aren't any problems with having water here. And I didn't write yesterday because we didn't get here until the evening and they had appointments so we went out to teach, this area has some great potential. We went to the house of an investigator that they hadn't talked to in a month because they hadn't been able to find her and it turns out that she was reading the Bible and had a question and then later read in the Book of Mormon and found the answer to the question and she, all by herself, said that she was in the wrong church and then was asking about how to become a member of the church and how to accept Christ in her life and we obviously explained a little about baptism and the confirmation. We have an appointment with her on Saturday so we will see how it goes, her name is Alexandra.

 

About the last week in Anáhuac... well it really wasn't a very good week, my companion was kinda dying... he is really great and all, but he was kinda down and he just didn't want to work very much and it was already hard enough with how the area is that we didn't have much success. Don't worry, I made sure we worked and stuff but it just wasn't very effective... they actually closed the area and now there are only two missionaries there because we really didn't have much support from the members and stuff like that. But last couple weeks we were having family home evenings to animate (he means get the members excited) the members and those were starting to work out so I hope they can keep working with that so the branch can get back into gear and they can put another pair of missionaries there.

 

A good experience that we did have with the FHE that we had with the branch president and his family, well at least it was something really cool that I learned, was that Christ gave his life for us because He knows our potential, He was willing to give his life because he knew it would give us the chance to someday become like our Heavenly Father. He knew that some wouldn't take the chance but even then he was willing to give it to them. All we have to do now is take advantage of the opportunity that The Savior has so lovingly given us and make sure that He will be proud of the things we do and that he will know that we truly love Him because of the choices we make. I know that our Father in Heaven and His son Jesus Christ love us and that They have prepared a way for us to return to them and become like them and have eternal happiness.

 

Well, that's about all the time I have for this week, I hope all is well at home and that you enjoy my email :) Keep on keepin' on! haha. I love you all :)

 

-Elder Sampson

Nov 3rd Some great things happened this week

Oh my... it's already November...

Well honestly, Halloween is kinda weird here... they don't really celebrate it... we were walking down the street at like 6:40 and everything was all dark when I actually realized that it was Halloween... Ha ha the only people that "celebrate" Halloween here are the little kids that went around in little groups chanting "¡queremos Halloween! ¡queremos Halloween!" it was kinda funny :) The people here do celebrate el Día de los Muertos which is actually two days the 1st and 2nd of November and they just all go to the cemetery to hang out, like alllllll day even late into the night, it's crazy.

Some great things that happened this week :) We have been teaching two of the friends of Angie (a resent convert) Miriam and Nayeli. With Miriam, it is a little hard to teach because she says that she doesn't understand what the scriptures say or if she does understand it doesn't stick for very long... at least that's what she says. But what happened yesterday was really great. We showed up in the stake center for Stake Conference not expecting to find any of our investigators but as we walk in, we see Angie with Miriam! How crazy is that?! We hadn't even invited her because we hadn't seen her all week but Angie had invited her. But later Angie told us that Miriam had gone to Angie's house at 7 in the morning to wake here up so they wouldn't be late, and it didn't even start until 10. It was really great to have that experience :)

Now a little about Nayeli. She is a little easier to teach and really thinks about what we are saying so that is really great. What was good that happened with her this week is that she talked to her mom about going to church (they are Catholics and her mom was kinda en contra de nosotros...) and her mom said she could! She is also reading her scriptures and so we feel like she is really progressing. In one of the lessons she asked us about la virgin... and what we believe about her. Elder Cortez and I tried explaining it to her but we didn't do a very good job because she was still a little unsure about it all but luckily we had a member with us because she totally saved the day. She says to us "Elders, let me explain it to her." Well that's perfect! so we say " Go for it!" and she explains it all really well and Nayeli understands perfectly and accepts it! It was a really great experience and it was cool because we weren't even going to take this member with us, we were going to take Angie but she wasn't home so we went next door and asked the daughter of the ex-president of the branch to go with us. I am sure it wasn't luck that things turned out that way... it was really great to see this little miracle that helped Nayeli to learn a little bit more :)

Also, a little boost that I had in the Stake Conference was that I am still in the stake of my first area so I got to see a lot of the members and they were all really great and some were pretty excited to see me and I got to see a recent convert that I started teaching but left before he got baptized (his name is Juan Manuel). It was a good experience and helped me feel better about the work I am doing and that although it is hard and a lot of the time I don't see much success, what I am doing has at least a little bit of an effect in the lives of some and helps them find a little more happiness. I felt the love of our Lord through the kindness of these members and I am glad to have had the chance to see them again :)

I hope that you all have a very amazing week and I love you all :)

-Elder Sampson

Oct. 14th Fuimos al Templo

Hola!

Discúlpame mamá por favor, es que la semana pasada olvidé decirles que íbamos a ir al Templo esta semana.... y no podemos ir el lunes porque está cerrado entonces... cambiamos p-day al martes... pero no se preocupen! todo está muy bien! :) y pues, tuve una experiencia muy buena en el Templo entonces estoy muy feliz :)

I made a short little recording this week  that talks about what we are going to do this week, forgive me if you don't speak Spanish because I have been struggling with my English and it was easier to make it in Spanish... I don't know why it is still easier to write in English, but talking has become easier in Spanish... I think that is a good thing :) I still have plenty to learn but it is coming along quite well :)

(For those who don't speak Spanish I will just tell you the just of what he talked about in his recording....He told how they went to the temple on Tuesday because it is closed on Mondays so they switched their pday. He shared what a great experience it was and that they got to be in the Celestial room for awhile and could feel peace and tranquility.  He also talked about that the investigators they have are not really progressing and doing their part so they need to move on and find a lot more new investigators.  So that is what they are going to focus on this week.  That's basically what it said.)

A little bit about Francisco, unfortunately he wasn't able to come this week because his leg is in a lot of pain right now and it was raining pretty good and his vision is really bad so... there were a whole lot of things working against us but he really did want to come with us and I am sure he will come this week :) he is still really interested in what we have to teach and wants to learn. He always says such great prayers.

A little bit about what is going on there. Charles it's good that you have work, I never thought of you as a waiter but I am sure you are doing great! :) I am a little glad I wasn't there for the potatoes... ;) but I don't know what I am going to do without my annual workout... The people here say that I have gained a little weight (I thought I had lost some but who knows?) so maybe it would've been good if I participated in that... Lauren, what is going on with all the boys? are you going to pick one and marry him or what? ;) did you get the Facebook message from Edwin? ;) he is the branch mission leader and just got back from his mission like a year ago, You can come down here and meet him if you want ;) you've gotta tell Claire she can't just skip classes like that ;) it would be pretty cool to learn about that stuff... :) Dad, I am getting to experience what it is like to be choir director a little bit, they don't have me do it in sacrament meeting but in other classes and meetings we have they almost always pick me to lead the music... The people here have some pretty interesting ways of singing the hymns... and it would really help to have someone that plays the piano really well (mom, you don't have to comment on that last part, I already know what you are thinking... ;) ) to help them learn what the notes and tunes really are...

This is home sweet home for Elder Sampson

Bueno, eso es todo lo que tengo para ustedes esta semana pero les amo muchísimo y espero lo mejor para cada uno de ustedes esta semana :) Disfruten la grabación!

-Elder Sampson

October 6th Very Touching Experience

Hey!

Wow... it's crazy to me that it is already October... That's right I just went to my second General Conference in the mission... And it was pretty dang awesome... and in Spanish :) I thought it was really cool how much they talked about having a real and strong testimony, also how much they testified of the current prophet as well as Joseph Smith. Also learned some really great things that I believe are going to help me be a better missionary or improve my manner of teaching which I am really excited for because it will help the people I teach grow closer to Christ. Unfortunately we didn't have any investigators in any of the sessions and I am kinda beating myself up a little about that but I will explain that a little later on...

My companion is pretty good. He works hard although he isn't the hardest worker around but it's all good, we do the work we can. I am going to send some pictures of us next week. He is pretty serious, but has really opened up with me, and we get along great. Something interesting he told me is that I am one of the happiest missionaries he knows... I thought that was weird because a lot of people think I am very serious, at least at first but here I think I have kinda changed a little and am less reserved with the people I don't know, but... who knows?

This area... well, the area is fine and the people are great, but I was kinda hoping to change areas because I want to get to know other areas of the mission, I have been in this same stake my whole mission and I want to see other parts but it's all good, I know I will have the chance sooner or later and I am just fine working here :)

Yes the branch mission leader is helping and also his dad has been helping. We are going to see what we can do to get all the members involved in the work.

About not having investigators in the church... well this week I was trying to take Elder Cortez around so he can meet all the people I know and get to know the members and investigators. I had in mind to go visit Francisco  but I kept saving it for he next day and the next day (lesson about not procrastinating) and the next thing I knew I was sitting in the Sunday afternoon session at the end and thinking "ah crap! we never went to visit Francisco!" (pardon my strong language ;) ). I felt pretty bad about that... so when the conference ended we went and visited him. When we got there he was like "Oh, I was waiting for you guys to visit me all week to see if we were going to go to the church this week" that's right, sucker-punch to the face... I felt so bad and well at the end of the lesson we asked if we could have a prayer and my companion said he would say it and then Francisco said "well you can do one then I will do one" we thought... " well that's great" :) so when my companion finished his prayer Francisco starts his... He thanked our Heavenly Father that we had come to teach him again and that God had answered his prayer that we would come again. He was so sincere and loving in his prayer and I felt so warm and happy inside  that I cried a little... and right now as I am writing this and remembering that experience I am holding back my tears because I feel that it would be really weird if the people here in this cyber saw me crying right here at the computer for no apparent reason... wow that was weird... Anyways, Francisco has shared a Christ-like love so strong and sincere desire to follow our Savior that I believe it has effected my whole soul... wow... I don't think these words can express how I feel... but it is such a great feeling... and again I am trying not to cry... wow :')

Well that's all I have time to write this week I hope you all enjoy it and that you all learned really great things in the conference :) I love you all and hope you have an amazing week!

-Elder Sampson

Sep. 29th Finally! Investigator came to Church!!!!

Hello...

We didn't have investigators in the chapel... BUT! we did have AN investigator! ¡¡¡Por FIN!!!  We finally had an investigator in the church :) a good way to end the cambio :) This week we really didn't have very many lessons, but a lot of lessons aren't good for anything if the people don't do anything and don't come to church so I am satisfied with the work we did, we really focused on the people and it helped them have a little change in their lives. We saw small changes in the way the people listened to us and how they responded and little by little I think they are changing for the better.

A little bit about the investigator that came to church this week. His name is Francisco Hernandez and about 14 years ago he met the missionaries and was going to church with them and all that good stuff but then the missionaries got transferred or something and he lost contact with the church. This week the elders in the other side of the branch contacted him in the street then gave us his address and we went by to visit him. He really liked that we went by to visit him and that we could teach him, he is going to una iglesia adventista ( I can't remember how to say that correctly in English right now) but wants to know why there are so many churches and which one is the church of God, we figured we could help him with that ;) so we invited him to church and all that and he came!

It was really great to see someone actually do something they said they were going to do!

Well that was good... I hope we will start having more success here :)

Oh by the way, I am still here in Anahuac, I am now with Elder Cortez, un chaparro de El Salvador... interesting isn't it? I was just here with one of those... :) he also has the same amount of time in the mission as Elder Escobar, They got here at the same time, how crazy is that? I don't know, I think it is kinda crazy... but anyways, we will see what we can do here and try to have a great cambio! Well that is about all I have got for now, I will see if I can make a recording or take some photos or something but for now...  I love you all and have a great week :)

-Elder Sampson 

Sep. 22nd We have a Branch Mission Leader finally!

Hey y'all!

Well we had another disappointing week with investigators in the chapel... that's right... another week with nobody.... That makes 9 weeks in a row. I feel bad for the people that are missing out on all these blessings the Lord is just waiting to give them but I can't make them show up so I don't know how to help them. But I actually feel worse for my companion. This whole thing has been really hard on him... He actually cried yesterday because he felt so bad for the people and that they were missing out and not coming to church. Also he feels like a failure because with so much time in the mission, people expect him to have a lot of success and stuff like that and he expects it as well and really wants it and feels bad because it just hasn't happened. He says that all of this has been teaching him humility. I want to be able to help him not be so down, but I think the only thing that will help him with that is having people in the church.... anyways, that is a lot of what has been going on since yesterday.

Actually, I have some good news about yesterday. We finally have a branch mission leader! We haven't had one this whole time and that means it is kinda hard to work well with the branch. But now we have one, he is a recently returned missionary so he knows how all the mission stuff works so hopefully we will be able to have some success.

I made a recording that is in three parts that I will send (it is all in Spanish by the way so I hope you can understand or at least have someone tell you what it says, I don't know, it is getting kinda hard to talk in English sometimes...). In it I talk about someone that we were going to visit on Saturday but just to let you know he wasn't there when we went because he had work, just so you know what's going on with him. We are going to look for him this week and see how things work out.

This week was a little better than the past couple that we have had but by way of people in the church it was the same... I am really hoping the work this week pays off and we will get to see some of the fruit of the labor start to appear. Not only for the people here but for my companion and I.  It has been a little hard on us.

I am so sorry about Claudette.  I don't really know what to say about all that happened. I am with mom on this whole death thing... it would be good if it just took a break for a long while... I don't know, it seems that so much has happened at home since I have been in the mission and it will be weird when I get back, not that that is anytime soon but still...

Well I love you all and hope you have a great week and all that good stuff :) You are all very amazing people and I am blessed to have you in my life :)

-Elder Sampson

PS I am going to invite you all to guess what it is that we ate with some of the members ;)

PSS

If you couldn't tell what they are... they are chapolines! (they are like grasshoppers :) ) We ate a bunch of those fried in tacos :) they are actually pretty " tasty;)"  go very well with a little salsa lemon and salt; and have a nice crunch :)

Sep 8th Él escribe en Español

Hola todos! :) 

La conferencia de Zona fue bien padre la verdad! Presidente nos enseñó mucho del bautismo y como podemos ayudar a las personas a entender la importancia de este convenio. 

Un poco acerca de Alejandra, pues ella todavía tiene interés y todo pero casi nunca esta y es muy difícil encontrarla entonces no hemos tenido mucho éxito con ayudándola a progresar y no ha asistido.  

Esas dos hermanas, Mari y Gladis han escuchado y todo pero otra vez no vivieron a la capilla entonces no hemos visto progreso con ellas tampoco pero vamos a seguir tratando de ayudarlas.  

Un experiencia que tuvimos que fue buena pero no increíble fue con un hermano que se llama Francisco.  Al principio él no quería recibirnos en su casa ni nada pero después nos permitió entrar y enseñamos a él. La próxima vez que fuimos, le encontramos leyendo el Libro de mormón que dejamos y todo fue muy bueno eso. El único problema  él tiene es su trabajo. Pero, él estaba pensando en cambiarlo para poder asistir.  él nos dijo, " espérenme un poquito, me gusta todo eso pero necesito un poco de tiempo." El problema es que no quiero esperar pero es lo que me toca entonces voy a hacerlo... :)

 No se preocupen por el agua, siempre podemos encontrarla, viene y se va pero no es un problema muy grave, solo me molesta un poco.

No sé, quise escribir este correo en Español :) La verdad, tardo un poco en escribir en español entonces quizás es corto pero espero que les gusten :)

Les amo a todos ustedes mucho! Tengan una buena semana :)

-Élder Sampson

 

Translation for non Spanish speakers

 

The Zone Conference was in truth really great! President taught us a lot about baptism and how we can help the people understand the importance of this covenant.

A little bit about Alejandra, well she still is interested and all but she is almost never there and is very difficult to find her so we haven't had much success with helping her progress and she hasn't come to church.

Then there's the two sisters, Mari and Gladys, they listen and all but once again they did not come to church so we haven't seen progress with them either but we're going to continue trying to help them.

An experience that we had that was good but not incredible was with a brother named Francisco.  At the beginning he did not want to have us come in his house or anything but then he let us come in and teach him.  The next time we went we found him reading the Book of Mormon that we left and he was really great with all of it.  The only problem that he has is his work.  But he is thinking about changing it so he could attend.  He told us..."Be patient with me a little bit, I like all of this but I need a little time."  The problem is that I don't want to wait but if that's what I have to do then I will do it...:)

Don't worry about the water, we can always find some, it comes and goes but it's not a big deal,  it only bugs me a little.

I don't know, I just wanted to write this email in Spanish:)  In truth I'm a little slow at writing in Spanish that's why it's short but I hope you enjoyed it :)  

I love you all very much!  Have a great week :)