Service heals the broken heart and broken body

My sweet, sweet family,

HI. So, when I got home from writing last week I wrote you all a big letter at home that I was going to type up this week. Buuuuut I left it in casa, so I'll just wing it! I didn't write a good letter last week, so I'll try to be better this week!

Whew. A super wet week! Did I mention that Toluca rains every day? It wasn't the easiest week, but we did see some miracles. We're STILL working on the Familia Suarez. Haha, when they get baptized just about all of Toluca will rejoice - the ward is trying so hard to help out. The dad couldn't come to church because one of his uncles is dying, so the mom said she couldn't come either because she was going to have to prepare all of the corn for Monday's tortillas alone... so obviously we offered to help, so we woke up at 5 on Sunday to walk over to their colonia and help. And guess what? Found out that service heals the broken heart...and broken body. I had gotten really sick on Saturday night, and I was obviously not feeling too excited about walking the 40 minute walk to the tortilla place at 6 in the cold morning. But I'm so happy I did it (with the help of some meds)! The rest of the day I hardly felt sick, and today I'm totally fine! Nothing more than a little cold! Aaaaand they came to church. We had some really good people committed to church that fell through, pretty sad, but also some miracles - such as Carlos showing up despite the fact that when we called their house in the morning his wife told me "we're going to MY (Christian) church as a family today, sorry". Also, I can't remember if I've talked about Alicia. She's a super awesome investigator we have who accepted baptism a long time ago. Well, we went to our appointment with her on Thursday, and halfway through the lesson she randomly started telling us "I'm not getting baptized and don't try to tell me that I need to." We've always had such awesome calm lessons with her, she's always been so excited about our invitations, we always feel the Spirit so strong when we're there... but everything just started falling apart. Anyway, instead of feeling frantic or worried, I really just felt so calm. When she finished talking, I felt that I should just calmly explain a few key points and bear testimony. It was one of those moments where I really didn't know what I was saying - I felt the Spirit speaking through me. I can tell when that happens, because I stop worrying about my Spanish (which is still a problem) and the words flow. Anywho, immediately after I stopped talking my companion started sharing a scripture about Noah and 8 years old and baptism and Alicia interrupted and turned to me and randomly said "I'll do it. I'll get baptized. The moment you started talking I felt a great peace and I knew it was the right thing. You have a gift for explaining things." And then she started crying. Of course, I know I had nothing to do with it at all - it wasn't me talking. But it was a cool experience. While I was talking my companion had been looking for this scripture to share and hadn't been listening, so when Alicia said this my companion was all confused and after we left was like "Hermana, what did you say?" I told her "Seriously, Hermana? I can't remember. I have no idea." It was kind of funny. I'm so grateful that the Lord let me have that little experience this week, because honestly it was something I needed. I've been worrying a lot about my Spanish and my knowledge of the scriptures and my ability to explain things, and I've just felt so inadequate this week. Of course, the most important thing is the Spirit. It's the thing I need to focus on the MOST. I feel like this week was full of little tender mercies. My companion and I are still getting along really well, actually we got a dog together this week so I guess you could say things are getting pretty serious... Kate, Christian, Sunni... I hope at least ONE of you is reading this! Remember that dog we found in Bear Lake like ten years ago? The black lab? Pretty sure that same dog found me in Mexico. On Saturday we were walking and I felt sick and was nervous/stressed that people weren't going to show up for church the next day, but I was trying to "fake it til I make it." We say "Buenas tardes" to everything that moves, so to be funny I said "Buenas tardes" to this random stray dog and I don't know what happened but he suddenly got really attached to me and started walking with us, like ALL over. Like through busy streets and neighborhoods and he would walk a bit and then a few seconds later turn around and wait for me and then when I caught up he'd walk with me again. It was so cute. I kept thinking he'd run away but he never did! Only when we were going into a lesson he tried to come in the door with me but the Hermana wasn't feeling it... he wasn't there when we came out :( Anyways, it was just the funniest little thing that made me so happy in kind of a tough moment. Heavenly Father is real, and He loves me. That simple truth was confirmed for me many times this week. I love Him. Please pray this week especially for Carlos, his wife Heidi, Max's mom and dad, Max, Alicia and Antonio, and Benedito, Esperanza, Benedito Jr., Carol, and Mateo Suarez! Here's to a better week, a week of progress and health! Thank you for your words and prayers, I love you all so much! Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God, and through him the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ was restored. Go read this month's Liahona to find some awesome stories of the life of Joseph Smith, PLEASE! I love you guys. Have a good week!

Beeeeeeg Keeeeeees Leeeeeeetle Keeeeeeees

Hermana LeSueur

I love Mexico

Hola Familia!
WOOOOH another week in Morelos, this time with Hermana Escudero! Seriously, we have a GREAT relationship and she's truly one of the favorite companions I've had. We teach well together and we had some awesome lessons, really getting to the bottom of our investigator's needs. We're inching closer and closer with the Familia Suarez, which is exciting, and I already know this next week we'll see success. I'm sorry this is short, but I didn't leave myself too much time! Just know I love you all, I love Mexico, and I love the true Church of Jesus Christ. Thank you all so much for the prayers, I'll include my experiences from this week in my letter next week!
Beeeeeeg Keeeeeees Leeeeeeetle Keeeeees
Hermana LeSueur

Wax strong

Wholaw UTAH!

Just would like to start this thing out with a big LO SIENTO for my last few letters. I'm aware they've been pretty lame slash negative, I swear to ya that's not the spirit they were written in! I sit in front of the computer thinking "what are some significant/out of the ordinary things that happened this week?" And then I type in a few, forgetting to explain myself/think about how they must sound to the world... I get so wrapped up in this crazy adventure, my view of things is so different... it's like, nothing can phase me, nothing surprises me... The streets of Mexico are super crazy slash funny, I have completely learned to expect the unexpected. As far as my health goes, donut worry at all - my health has been so good on my mission, I have gotten SO lucky. I haven't even gotten parasites once! I took some medicine I had packed in my suitcase and rested a few hours (because I've now learned my lesson about "walking it off") and I was alllllll bien. The hazelnut reaction was combatted by some allergy pills Dr. Hugo gave me before I left Lomas Verdes. Also, I shouldn't have said "dangerous situations"... I just felt the Spirit kind of screaming at me that week to do certain things, or not to do certain things... to trust in certain peoples' intentions, to definitely not trust others...The experiences I had only served to make me feel safer, realize that as a missionary it is so much easier to recognize the Spirit and if I'm in tune He'll guide my steps. It's cool because I've felt the Spirit freeze me in place - my mind says "it seems harmless, this person seems truly interested, it's not THAT late to walk through this iffy neighborhood..." but the Spirit says "SERIOUSLY YOU CAN'T DO THAT." Haha, sorry if I alarmed ya! I'm failing ont he journal-writing lately...it's overwhelming trying to write down all the things slash experiences that happen every day, I don't know where to start a lot of time! The most significant thing of the week would be that we baptized! Citlali se mojo yesterday, her mom and sister came and seemed very happy. They're both going to have to marry their live-in boyfriends to get baptized, too, but I know it'll come. Also, the Familia Suarez came to the baptism and that was a great thing for them. I also think it's about time to let you know that my new name is Hermana LeSuarez. Their baptism date is still this coming Sunday, but they're still not feeling totally ready to go for it as a family right now. They want more time. Well, the DAD does. I think if it was up to just the kids and mom, they would do it this Sunday. The thing is, they're like a Mormon family, very close and united and together all day long, so they want to do it all together. Which is what we want as well, of course. The mom is Esperanza, the dad is Benito, the kids are Benito (13), Carol (10), and Mateo (6) and they are the CUTEST. The mom and dad are both very fair with light eyes so their kids look like straight North Americans. They consider us to be their family and they make me laugh so hard. The mom is especially really funny and always does this "party don't stop" dance. I've been teaching the weekly English classes in the church and the famis super into it. Also, can't remember if I mentioned that they own a hand-made tortilla shop and they asked us to help the other day? Anywho, they said they're reading the BoM and praying as a family a lot, and through the daily contact we have wiht them they've had all the parts of all the lessons. Today our first appointment is with them, then tomorrow we set up an FHE with them in the house of a member afmily. We're going to re-teach the Restoration tonight with the Restoration video (if we can get the power in our house to work before then, haha) and then we'll read 3 Nephi 11 with them to teach how to STUDY and APPLY the Book and we'll emphasize how to recognize the Spirit. That's the problem - they understand that they need to know the BoM is true, and they haven't been able to recognize their answer. Man, I love them so much. They'll be baptized in my time here, and I'll be back in a year to see them sealed! We've talked a lot about temple marriage. The little kids are so super funny and have tons of friends at church and a lot of people have asked them if they're a new member family that just moved in, haha. Anyways... we brought a new family to church this week, super interested and way awesome. The mom is Alysia and her husband is Antonio and they have 2 little boys. She looks like that actress Piper Perabo and is probably the nicest person ever. They'll get baptized next cambio! The guy who owns the little ice cream shop near our house finally came, Carlos, he also has a cute family and his little son came to the English class this week. He's super interested. I love our lessons with him because he has awesome questions and always has this expression on his face like we're just blowing his mind, haha. We brought another new guy, too, Ivan. He's younger and we need to help him make friends but he definitely has interest in turning his life around. We set a baptismal date with another guy we're teaching named Esteban, he's older and living with his girlfriend and her kids but is willing to get married so he can get baptized. He really likes the Book of Mormon and honestly kind of accepted everything immediately... he even had already heard of the Word of Wisdom and told us he doesn't even like coffee, haha...just gotta get him married...

We've dropped a lot of investigators these past few weeks, and it's been worth it because we've had some great new people. Also, can't remember if I've talked about Max, the 13-year-old who wants to get baptized so bad but his parents just will not sit down and have a lesson with us and so they still won't let him be baptized - but he faithfully shows up to church alone every week and loves it more than life. Man, we have A LOT to do this week. FYI, next Monday will be the start of a new cambio. We had intervies with President this week, he said that I'll be staying here in Toluca for awhile, so I'm really expecting to only have one more area before I come home. I like that idea. I guess we'll see, though. Side note - four more cambios til Christmas! Well, I'm happy here in Morelos. It feels weird that I'll be reaching my 11-month mark in a week. I can't even believe I've been away from my home and family almost a whole year! I still remember when you guys were all excited when a whole week on my mission countdown was covered in stickers. Now, I'm looking at my LAST 30 weeks! So many people are coming home from missions right now, and even though my time is far from up, I love seeing the changes they've made in their lives and thinking about what the next 7 months can do if I let them. There are some things I've changed for good, and lots that I'm still working on. Things I've let myself backtrack on. For example, It's been a pretty sad few weeks in the life of President Whitehead, and thus, in our lives. The 40-year-old husband of his daughter was playing basketball on Father's Day and his heart failed and he died, leaving behind 5 little kids. Hna Whitehead left immediately to go be with her daughter, and President stayed. Our interviews were held a few days after, and he was struggling. But something he told me in my interview: Have you ever thought about what it means to "wax strong?" A skier skiing with unwaxed skis, what happens to him? The water and dirt and every other thing gets to him and he trips and falls. Waxing strong to him means building our testimonies up so much that nothing, no thing can permeate our happiness/tranquility. Not even the death of a loved one, a change of circumstance... He told me about his role as a mission president, about how he wants us to be truly successful people instead of "successful missionaries" by botched standards. He said there was a missionary who went home awhile back. In his final interview he told President that he'd been "one of the most successful missionaries you've ever had because I baptized 10000000people." A few weeks later, President discovered that this missionary had already fallen away from what was true and right. So, how successful was he REALLY, said President! He told me he wants to be sure that I'll continue in this path for the rest of eternity. That's his goal as my President. He let me know that I have an important role in the mission, and he has some challenging things in store for me, and that he's most happy to see my happiness... because he wants to assign me to help the new missionaries who are struggling to find joy in the journey! Haha we only have one new sister coming in this change, so I won't be training any newbies, but President told me that this is going to be a time for all of us to focus on bettering ourselves. Anyways, with president's devastating challenge, i've started worrrying a bit again for the safety of my family and friends all over the world. But I'm also trying to RE-apply what I've already learned. That is, "wax strong" - learn by the Spirit, build my testimony so nothing can permeate it. One of my favorite quotes in the mission is "you can't teach by the Spirit what you've never learned by the Spirit." I'm working on it, working on making it impermeable. I think I'm entering another great accellerated period of growth in my mission, kind of like at the beginning. BRING ON THE LAST 7 MONTHS. I love you all, and I like you too. 

Beeeeg Keeeees Leeeeeetle Keeeeees

Hermana LeSuarez

I feel so lucky

Hey!

Whooooo so first things first, Toni finally got baptized yesterday! Bad news is, I left my camera in the house on accident tehe oops sorry. BUT next week we should have pictures of two baptisms, because Citlali already had her interview and is gearing up for this Sunday! WHOOO. The Familia Suarez came to church for the third time, along with the English class I gave and the Father's Day activity the ward had. They are preparing for the 5th of July! Super exciting, watching a big cute family progress like this. I feel so lucky to get to watch it. This week was a bit hard, I got sick with a way fun fever so as stressful as it was I had to stay in a few hours. Also, if you're wondering if I'm still allergic to Hazelnut, I am. (I thought it was chocolate ice cream...) Haha, other than that, it was a good week and I'm excited for the rest of this cambio! Only a few weeks more and then we'll see what happens! I hope I stay in Morelos for a few more cambios, honestly. I kinda cut it close with my time today, but THE CHURCH IS TRUE and I love you all more than words can describe!!! I'll talk to you next week!

Beeeeeg Keeeeeees Leeeeeetle Keeeees

Hermana LeSueur

How to recognize the Spirit

HEY FAMILY WHO'S IN DISNEYLAND!

Well, you're all there on rides...here I am in an internet cafe listening to some mariachis and some really LOUD cackling going on outside... something I love about Mexico is that they find a reason to have a fiesta just about every day... aka, something like "teacher's day" is a big deal and pretty much every week there's SOME kind of holiday! But I'm so happy you're there having fun for Kate's graduation! Seriously, it's probably good I'm not there to stress everyone out with my over-planning, jaja. It was quite the week here in Morelos, we didn't have too much success with finding new people, but the Familia Suarez is AWESOME and showed up to church early, everyone dressed up in suits and dresses. So SO excited! PRAY THAT THEY'LL GET BAPTIZED PLEASE! Something sad - Toni got really sick a few days ago, after he'd already helped us plan his baptismal program and was really excited. He was bed-ridden when we went to get him yesterday, and we're going to baptize him next week. Citlaly still has a bit to go before she can get baptized, because she needs to have gone 5 times to church, so the 28th is her date. The Familia Suarez can get baptized on the 5th of July, so we're going to be focusing on them a ton! Other significant things - an eight-year-old got baptized in the ward yesterday and wanted me to speak at it... also the Elders made me speak at their baptism last week, so I'm just on a roll these days. Man, you guys wouldn't believe how calm I am about having to speak at things spur-of-the-moment these days! A major sign I've changed a lot, haha. 

It was a bit of a disappointing week, because the whole week we had had 15 people committed to church (two more families) and little by little they flaked out. But the good thing is that our best people did come yesterday, and Citlaly came with her mom (who can't get baptized right now but wants to). This is seriously such a golden area! I hope I stay here three cambios like my other areas, then I'll have one more area and that's it! Haha, I like staying in areas a long time. Also, I talked the Familia Martinez Maldonado, and they totally remember Elder Gardner! They LOVE him and say they're coming to Utah to visit in a few months. 

My companion and I had some cool experiences this week listening to the Spirit and avoiding some dangerous situations. I'd say that was the theme of the week - how to recognize the Spirit. I studied it a lot, and we focused on trying to bring the Spirit more than anything else when we enter a casa. We had some AWESOME lessons on the Atonement, which I just love teaching here using Jesus' experience in Gethsemane because seriously so few people know about that part. They have their cross and that's it. I love watching them come to realize just how much Jesus did for them. Our two other main families at the moment, Gustavo and Jasmin and Abril and then Viki and her three kids, are great, but they need LOTS of confidence. We'll get them to church next week! Thanks for your letters, love you all!

Beeeeeg Keeeeeees, Leeeeeeetle Keeeeeees

Hermana LeSueur

Gaby's baptism

Emma's "kitchen"

Emma's room

Emma's desk

Maria Guadelupe, Esmerelda, and Rubi

Mendoza Family

Franchini Family

4 cakes and a tres leches

Hey Guys!

Well, what can I say... my first and last birthday in Mexico has come and gone! I'm having a major problem uploading pictures slash videos of the two time that I got the whole "face-in-the-cake" thing pulled on me, but just know that it happened. I got lots of cute little presents and notes from members and investigators, even though I'm new here I already feel really close with the ward. My cakes were: a Ding-Dong cake, a chocolate cake that a member bought me, a white cake the bishop's family brought to me, the microwave cake momma sent me, and a tres leches cake with raspberries that the family we ate with yesterday made me! Suuuuper spoiled, I know. I still don't have the Mexico birthday song memorized, but it's really cute slash long and I've heard it so many times in the last weeks! In response to your question momma, other than my cakes it was a normal day, can't believe I'm no longer a teenager! Just want to thank you all for the birthday wishes, super nice, definitely made me so happy! Also, the best birthday present of all... we had a baptism on Wednesday! A little girl named Gabi with inactive parents, we taught them and they allowed her to get baptized. Super fun. This coming Sunday we're baptizing the jovencito Toni and then after that a jovencita named Citlaly. Also, we had a great miracle this week. I was having a bit of a hard time navigating the area, a little frustrated, and my zone leader (who's also my district leader) told me to just focus on contacting every single family we see and he promised us that we'd have a new family at church on Sunday. Well, we did what he said until Saturday night, and had no luck. Even that great family we brought last week called and cancelled and told us they'd left as a family and wouldn't be back til Sunday night. Well, a few minutes after that phone call (on Saturday night!) we ran into a family we had contacted a week before, a family of five, walking out to go eat. When we saw them they straight-up told us right away "We'll see you at church tomorrow!" and they all came! We had a great new guy named Julio come as well, and of course Toni and Citlaly and Max (pray for him please - his parents won't let him be baptized) and it all-around ended up being a good week at church. And we have lots of baptismal dates planned! We basically set a date with everyone this week, and our investigator Oscar and Jazmin and Abril also have tentative fechas for the 28th and the 5th. I'm getting used to this new area, it's so different, but I love it! I had an awesome personal study this morning, reading Jesus the Christ and just thinking about how lucky we are to be members of the true church in this time. Man, Heavenly Father trusts us so much! I love Him, and I love His church. As I always make a point of explaining, it is God's kingdom here on Earth. Thank you all again for sending me a birthday note, hope you have a great week!

Beeeeeeg Keeeeees, Leeeeeeetle Keeeeees,

Hermana LeSueur

20th Bday Celebrations

I just love being a missionary, okay?

Hey FAM

Sorry this will be short, I left my long email for last for some reason! 

But, here's the deal:

I live in Toluca, Mexico

My companion is a year younger but went to BYU a semester

We had lots of people in church this week, I think the most of my whole mission, and we're baptizing on Wednesday, a girl named Gaby!

We found a great family who came with us and we're hoping to baptize them once they've been to church the five times

My area is like Lomas Verdes in that we spend a lot of time walking from cita to cita because they're really spread out, not like Palmas at all

We have another baptismal date for the 14th, a teenager named Toni

Our bishop is the funniest person in the world (he calls everyone "sinners," literally in every sentence and loves to say "pure iniquity" and just says super funny things like "sorry Hermanas, I was drunk so I forgot about our appointment")

I love my new area, my ward is awesome and love to come on visits with us, getting lessons with a member present is easy 

Already made a super cute little future-missionary friend in the ward, Monica, and she's 18. She came to me on Sunday and said she received specific revelation that she should talk to me about some things she's going through, even though we don't know each other too well. She said she even fought Heavenly Father on it because she thought it would be weird to come to me, but He persisted and said "I already told you, talk to Hermana LeSueur!" We had a super good talk, we have things in common, and I directed her to read Joseph Smith History. You're all invited as well :)

LOTS of rain, so much rain. Rain, rain, rain! 

I'm expecting such a good cambio here in Morelos, it's a fun area and I feel content! Thank you for your prayers, I love you all! I'll see you soon... how many months more? Crazy. 18 months is a short period to serve the Lord with ALL your time, I'm trying hard to make the most of it, and I'm seeing a lot of permanent changes in my character. I just love being a missionary, ok? 

Beeeeeg Keeeees, Leeeeeetle Keeeees

Hermana LeSueur