He didn't even feel the rain

Dear Family del Sur (literally how our name is pronounced here ps)

All of the little seeds we've planted here have suddenly sprouted up and are growing way fast! Just might be due to the crazy amount of AGUA the heavens have been dumping on us... gaping holes in the "durable" shoes I bought a whole 4 weeks ago wouldn't bug me if every street we had to cross wasn't a rushing river, haha. It's really funn, though...to suddenly realize, "Hey, here I am in the cold pouring rain with about three miles left to walk in 15 minutes. How come I'm so happy?" Hahaha. Our recent convert Domingo told us yesterday, between comments about discovering that bugs have faces too and Obama is the greatest there is, that in the rain the other day he saw a guy with no coat and decided to give his coat to him, and when he walked away he felt such a great warmth and satisfaction that he didn't even feel the rain, even when it started coming down harder. I testify that any physical discomfort of the mission fades away if we're lost in the work. In a more general sense, really our circumstances should never have any affect on our happiness if we're doing all in our power to follow Jesus Christ. There is just no amount of pouring rain, no temperature too freezing, no sun too blazing, no hail too big, no amount of pain in your feet or head, no backpack too heavy, that can't be overcome or ignored completely through what the Holy Ghost brings us as we serve. The Holy Ghost is stronger than ALL that. In a similar way, the evidence that the Holy Ghost gives us is infinitely stronger than anything we could ever see with our eyes. We could be standing in front of Jesus Christ himself, looking right at the marks in His hands, and still not be any closer to knowing that He exists and died for us if we don't allow the Spirit to enter our hearts. It's a matter of being humble. The "happiness" matter aside, my body definitely has taken quite the hit in the almost-year I've been in Mexico, jeje. It's super sweet though because I feel kinda like I have robot legs or something. I can be walking or I can be sitting and it's almost the same feeling! Even though we walk probably 7 or 8 hours per day, I end up more exhausted in my mind than in my body usually. Fun fact for ya: somewhere along the road I think I permanently lost some of my toenails to the Mexico streets...they just kinda faded away and aren't really growing back... #WhatILeftinMexico. I also think it's time to finally come clean about what happened to me 4 months ago: I accidentally burnt off my eyelashes and eyebrows and hairline turning on the water heater. More on the "Parable of the Burnt Eyelashes" will come later (in 4 months), but until then, there's at least one more addition to my new favorite hashtag, #WhatILeftinMexico. But don't worry mom. The rainy Toluca weather has also provided the perfect environment for fast hair-growth...water, sun, the nourishment of the word of God have all handed me a hefty little hair-garden.

So 13 months have come and gone and I have some new additions to my list of "Mexico Is" (please excuse me if there are repeats)

Mexico Is:

doors without knobs. Tapping on windows. Candles, always lit, in front of the virgin. Long braids. Nylons and black leather shoes. Hand-juice-squeezers. 2-pocket aprons. Street-herb-vendors. The guy that walks around yelling "GAAAAAAAAAS" at 8 in the morning. Brutally honest people. Calling your kids slash family members "fatty" as an affectionate and very common nickname. House numbers that make no sense at all (#5 followed by #3006 would be normal). The honk/stare tactic of every taxi driver. Calling KFC "Kentoooooky." Pemex jumpsuits. Tipping every grocery store bagger. People adding "ation" to the end of every word and then laughing hysterically because apparently that makes everything sound like English. Meat that's green, on purpose. "Fue Asi." Julion Alvarez. Bonafont. Big men on little girl bikes. Mopping your porch and the street in front of your house, always. Random fireworks all throughout the day. The sound of a million dogs fighting at night. 

I love Mexico.

In other news, my bishop is still probably the funniest person I've ever met. He either answers the phone every time saying "Kentucky Fried Chicken," "Hello Kitty," or "HOW ARE YOUUU" and when I didn't recognize his voice one time and asked who it was and he said "Batman." The best. 

In other other news, my companion is suuuper funny and her favorite place in the world is Korea. At home she only watches Korean soap operas, listens to "K-Pop" Korean music (like in that episode of the Bach where they went to Korea with Juan Pablo), and wants to marry a Korean guy more than anything. Sometimes when she thinks I'm not listening she sings her K-Pop songs really quietly, which means she's singing in English with a Korean accent. The best.

As far as the work here in Morelos, IT WAS SUCH A GOOD GOOD WEEK. We have seen like three straight miracles in these last few weeks, and in the weeks that come we have 3 for-sure baptisms planned and 5 hopefuls. We contacted a reference named Rosie who had been listening to some missionaries in Arizona, accepted baptism in two seconds, and came to church with her son and her parents, Rosillo and Gregorio, who are also interested. Rosie will be getting baptized on the 27th. Also, our investigator Ada woke up at five with her husband on Saturday to go to the temple open-house and came yesterday with him. She's supposed to get baptized on the 19th, but if her husband wants to get baptized with her she'll have to wait fo the 27th as well. Vanessa also came and we had an awesome lesson with her, her baptismal date is officially the 27th but we'll see where we're at when the 20th comes around, that's a strong possibility. Also, an old investigator Alicia randomly texted me that she had gone to the temple with her family and loved it and so she'll be progressing again soon! Also, we've been teaching the husband of a member who told us "I've never told my wife or any other missionaries that have come teaching me this before, but I think I'm going to join the church. Not right now, in this moment, but soon." So that's some major progress because he's super closed. He came to church too. We found lots of new families as well this week, like Carmen's family and Magdelena's family and people that really have some potential to progress fast. I'm so happy. I'm so happy that Hermana Travassos is so happy. I love this church, and I feel as if this week my testimony progressed a lot. I just know without a single doubt that this IS the church of Jesus Christ, and THIS is the way to happiness. Us four missionaries in the ward bore our testimonies yesterday and it was such a good meeting, I loved hearing the testimony of a new missionary (Hermana Travassos) and a missionary about to bo home (Elder Evelyn). I'm so excited for all these new people and I KNOW that there are lots more out there waiting. I have at least three weeks left in Morelos, gotta make the most of it. I love you guys. So muuuch. t

Beeeeeeg Keeeeees Leeeeeetle Keeeees

Hermana LeSueur

Citlali, Sis Travassos, Emma

Emma's whole mission when Elder Christofferson visited

Suarez Family at Mexico City Temple open house

MTC batch at 13 months

Walk hard, pray hard

Hey.

Crazy, crazy week in Morelos! It was super duper fun I almost felt like I was on vacation this week because we had four half-days of work in all. We had, of course, Pday, and then Zone Conference with President, then a trip to the DF Temple and then a conference with D TODD CHRISTOFFERSON! So a lot of time was spent traveling and taking notes and I stressed a bit about reaching our weekly goals, but the good thing is we ended up doing fine. But MAN it was just so good, all of it! We had some serious miracles on the day we went to the temple, spur-of-the-moment the Familia Suarez showed up, like just in time, to come with us! And the Hermano said that inside he felt like he was floating in the air, that he couldn't even describe his feelings. Keep praying for them! Also, we found a miracle named Ada who was going to get baptized in Merida but just moved here to be with her husband, who is also a new investigator. She's going to be getting baptized soon, once she knows the bishop and such! Our investigator Vanessa will also be getting baptized soon, and she's super cute. Also the husband of a ward member came to the temple and he's started progressing as well. Morelos is good, my little Brazilian is great, and I'm going to enjoy what I'm sure are my last 4 weeks in this area! 

I had a lot of awesome experiences this week, I had forgotten what it feels like to be in a temple, even though it wasn't dedicated. Citlali's mom also came with us and loved it more than life. Too bad she's not married... But seriously, I'm going RIGHT to the Salt Lake Temple when I get back without a doubt. Also, D. Todd Christofferson was one of the coolest experiences of my life. Everything he said was just pure answer to my prayers, the answers to questions I didn't even realize I'd been asking. And when he testified that this church is directed by Jesus Christ himself, the Spirit overcame EVERYONE like a wave. I know that this man was called of God, and that He is a special witness of Jesus Christ. I know as well that this is not just some other church/set of beliefs that someone created based on their way of thinking. It's the organization that God placed here so we can have access to these crucial ordinances. I love you all lots and lots and lots, and thanks for all your words this week! I'll see you all soon, but until then I'll just be over here with my new slogan, #WalkHardPrayHard. Jeje. 

Beeeeeeg Keeeeeees Leeeeeetle Keeeeees

Hermana LeSueur

Hermana LeSueur's last companion Sis Escudero

I'll always have you guys, but I won't always have Mexico

Family of my Corazon,

You are my inspiration...LeSueur fam.

The perfect combination...LeSueur fam.

Another week of popping & locking & jamming & breaking has come and gone. Familia Suarez is BACK in black (and possibly soon-to-be white). Some new prospects for this transfer have arrived at the Bachelor Mansion and the first rose of the season goes to... a teenager named KAREN (no relation to Karen/Nerak from Watcher in the Woods). Speaking of woods, it seems to me like Morelos 2 has come out of them and we're FINALLY seeing some sunshine. On a related note, I finally got out of the Isaiah chapter in my Spanish reading in the "Book of the Mormons" (as it's mostly called here). Also, a whole week has gone by and I'm still not fluent in Portuguese, so that's quite the bummer. Highlights of the week include:

Some new family gave us their direction as "the white house in front of the Jehova's Witness church." Suffice to say, I couldn't remember where that was and there came a point where I asked someone where I could find the Jehova's Witnesses. The lady didn't know, and we moved on with our lives.

For the very first time in my whole mission, some lady opened the door for us, saw who we were, growled the ugliest growl in the world, and slammed it in our face. Someone give me props for making it more than a year without having that sweet experience.

We finally figured out the real reason Familia Suarez comes to church: The mom told me that every time they come my favorite old lady in the ward (Hermana Remedios) tries to kiss her on the cheek but ALWAYS ends up kissing her on the mouth. Fellowshipping at its best (take notes). 

Our recent-convert Domingo continues to be a guitar-teacher/lawyer/part-time maker of DJ tables who always has a bag of bread on hand because that's what he gets paid in. RC Toni took a break from his XBox obsession and is about to get the Priesthood. RC Citlali got highlights and RC Gabi thinks we're her BFFFFFs in the world. Which is true. All is well, all is well in my little ZION. 

We had an AWESOME week, my little Brazilian and I. We found so many new people, especially a super golden family - Erika, Carlos, Karen, Carlos. On our first visit with them the daughter actually asked us when she could be baptized, and that's always the best, the dad has read a lot of the Book of Mormon before, he practically stole my book of Gospel Principles and said he would read the whole thing in a few days, and the mom told us "you both have ALL my confidence, I believe EVERYTHING you've told me, and I believe that God has sent two angels to my house for a reason." Also, this 25-year-old named Ana came to church and she's super interested and also made lots of friends with the young single adults, she jokes that her grandma is going to disown her for going but she said it was worth it. We have another 25-year-old named Vanessa who is super great as well and is going to get baptized and that's exciting. Familia Suarez is suddenly super close to baptism. The mom actually said that - it'll be happening soon. It all depends on the dad, everyone else is completely on-board. We're going to focus more on the Book of Mormon this week with them. The day they get baptized, because it WILL happen in this life, I will be the happiest person on this Earth. They are seriously my family here in Morelos. 

I love my companion a lot, she's so much like I was when I first got to Mexico - the missing her family thing is pretty tough. But I'm so grateful that President put me with her because I know what I needed to get through and I hope to be able to help her out. She's learning way fast and I remembered why I like training so much - I love just going over and over the basic things, because I learn so much as well in the process. We're working with a lot of different members, and the fellowshipping is going really well. We have a temple trip on Wednesday, please pray that the Familia Suarez will make it to the Open House! I feel that that will be a really crucial part of their conversion. Man, I'm so grateful I have 5 months left to work. I know I have a LOT to do still, and I'm striving to give it all. I have to remember that I'll ALWAYS have you guys, but I won't ALWAYS have Mexico, this ward, this opportunity. My little boot-camp is slowly coming to a close, the last stretch of my marathon is visible... I CAN'T BELIEVE I'VE BEEN IN MEXICO ALMOST A YEAR. Thanks for all you've done to help me and motivate me and strengthen me every week. I love you all a lot a lot. The church is super duper true. 

Beeeeeeg Keeeeeees Leeeeeeetle Keeeeeeeees

Hermana LeSueur

Emma's cutest greenie

Her apartment

I understand better what faith is, what hope is

HEY FAMILY 

So hey! Here writing on Wednesday because I didn't have a P-day on Lunes - we had transfers! So what's currently happening in my life is something pretty unexpected - I'm training again! It's surprising because President told me a little bit ago that we weren't going to have really any new Hermanas coming into the mission for awhile, so I wouldn't be training for awhile. But 1 Hermana DID enter the mission this transfer, and I actually get to train her! There's another Hermana who's entering temporarily, so my friend Hermana Valle will be training her for a bit. We had to go to President's house to pick them up, and it was just Hermana Valle and I and then tons of elders, my previous zone and district leaders who will also be training this cambio as well. She's from BRAZIL, so Heavenly Father amped up my mission difficultly a few notches considering that neither English or Spanish is her native language... But her name is Hermana Travassos and she's awesome! I don´t have too much time to explain everything, but she's super excite dto work and the investigators that had stopped progressing have started again, like the Familia Suarez! Also, I forgot to mention that we baptized on Sunday, that guy Domingo, one of my favorite baptisms of my mission because he jsut changed so much and was so incredibly grateful for this chance to let his sins go in the water. He's one of those people who has a really hard time forgiving himself, but after his baptism he said he felt like he'd truly been born again and felt like a different person. I'll send pictures when I get them from Hermana Escudero :) Sorry momma

Also, I fixed my card and I'm about to go get a camera! Whooooohoooo

Man, I learned so much this last cambio. I got super frustrated, my patience was pushed to the limit every day. All in all, it ended up being almost exactly like my cambio with Hermana Nuñez. I learned SO much about patience, faith, and love. I loved my companion. I understand better what faith is, what hope is. The time I spent knocking on Domingo's door on Sunday show me that my patience has gotten better, haha. He actually had sent us a text as we were waiting for the transfer call on Saturday night saying he wasn't going to be getting baptized. Well, we went straight to his house on Sunday morning and I decided to knock and hope he came out.  Well, he didn't. But walking away, I starting calling him and he answered. Suddenly, he answered and simply said, "Hermana, I'll be to the church in a few mintues. See you there." And he was. With the baptismal clothes he had bought and all of the books and booklets he'd collected. Ready to be baptized. Without even mentioning the fact that a few hours ago he'd said he would not be getting baptized. I'm so happy I got to end up baptizing with Hermana Escudero. 

I have so much more to say, but my time is about up! A better letter is coming next week, I promise. I think wek'll be baptizing a reference from the bishop this Sunday, so if you could prayer for her and the familia Suarez and a few other families we've found that will be coming to church on Sunday - Familia Mejia and the Hermana Erika and her family. I love you all, tlhanks for you prayers and advice!

Beeeeeg Keeeeees Leeeeetle Keeeeees

Hermana LeSueur

Emma's cute little greenie from Brazil

All the trainers at the mission home to pick up their greenies

The Word of God can help us in every single situation

Hey my family-est,
WHAT THE QUE LIFE SOUNDS SO CRAZY AT HOME! Haha, so fun to hear about everyone getting home and starting up real life again. I still have quite a ways to go, definitely super happy to have so many awesome examples there at home. 
It was a good week, miracles are happening, even though it's probably been the most disappointing transfer of my mission as far as losing investigators and falling baptismal dates. We're baptizing next week, though! A guy named Domingo. Probably the funniest guy in the world. At church yesterday he almost broke our recent convert Citlali's wrist trying to teach her self-defense and calls me "the hermana with golden hair" (Golden-Hair-Kate? hahahahaha Kate remember PRESKOOL). But yeah, a true miracle and like I've said, I've learned a lot this cambio. We're working a lot better with the members these days, and I'm loving teaching the Plan of Salvation... which is awesome because it's a lesson that's scared me my whole mission until this cambio. I love how it gives everyone a different perspective of life if we teach it right. 
Well, I made it to a year this week - Thursday. That morning, I was reading in the part of Nephi where he has to build a boat for his family to cross the sea. I started relating the whole entire thing to my life in the mission - completing a year at probably the most frustrating time in my mission, work-wise, was a little hard. But the story reminded me that I need to remember all the miracles I've seen in my mission, because I'm aware I've seen so many, and I'm capable of using these last six months the way the Lord expects me to. Man, it was such a good study. I'm excited to be able to really, REALLY share with you all what I've learned when I get home - it's just so impossible to do here! But my companion said something that made me happy this morning, that something she's learned from me is how to apply every scripture to our lives. I've definitely become a lot better at applying the scriptures, and I can't even explain how much I love the Book of Mormon. Seriously. Of all the inspired, good books there are out there, only the WORD OF GOD CAN HELP US IN EVERY SINGLE SITUATION, can really truly speak to our soul like the Book of Mormon does. It's almost like a magical book. I know that sounds dumb to say, but that's the way I always describe it, haha. 
Man, I'm so imperfect in so many things and I still get so overwhelmed at how far I have to go. As far as gaining knowledge goes, the more you know, the more you know you DON'T know. But I continue to be so extremely eternally grateful for the opportunity I've had to study more each day, and much more importantly, to see a correct understanding of the Atonement work miracles in peoples' lives. Of all the little details - and great concepts - that I'm coming to understand better out here, I think the most important thing that I'm learning is our divine nature and potential as children of the Most High God. It probably sounds silly, super silly, but I think I've learned something about my OWN potential. I couldn't really accept myself for who I am before my mission, and most of the time I just wanted to be someone else. Today, I know who I am and what I'm capable of - and this knowledge comes from the studying I've done on the Plan of Salvation. I know without a doubt where we were before we came here, and what we're here to do. I understand why we experience different things, why we have different strengths and weaknesses, why I am the way I am, and as a missionary -  I have come to understand just a little bit more how our Heavenly Father feels about each of us. How sad He is when we bag on ourselves and think we must be the exception to His great promises. How much He wants us to realize that if we just use the tools He's given us, we can find REAL AND TRUE HAPPINESS. I know these are all things I've said before, but really guys. I know that we have the truth. We're so, so, SO lucky. We are members of the church of Jesus Christ. We have what we need. We are responsible for using all of the wonderful things we've been given, ACCEPTING THE SACRIFICE OF JESUS CHRIST, applying the Atonement every single day of our lives - and then sharing what we know with the world. Our salvation begins here. I can't remember if I shared my thoughts about building our house upon a rock. I probably have. But it's something I need to remember, especially if I'm going to be able to continue helping in missionary work when I get home. The "homes" we're building have lots of "rooms" - lots of different aspects. I think before my mission, the Gospel, the Church, was a "room" - a big one, but still. It needs to be the BASE. It needs to affect EVERYTHING we do. Living the gospel should not be on the same level as friends, school, work... it's something completely different. It's not an aspect. It's the thing that shapes who we are, how we act, when we're in all those OTHER "rooms." I need to be better at making sure that the BASE of my "home" is Jesus Christ, is His church. Just a thought. I love you all so much, and I'm so grateful, again, for all of the awesome examples I have out there that help me so, so, so much. If there's anything I can do for any of you just let me know! You can even start requesting some homemade tortillas in advance, because that'll definitely be happening in six months. I can't remember if I mentioned that I'll be opening a tamale stand-on-wheels in the Wilkinson Center? Start lining up now...
Love you all a lot. And I like you all a lot as well.
Beeeeg Keeeeeeees Leeeeeetle Keeeeees
Hermana LeSueur

Just Persevere

DEAR UTAH:

I love you, a lot.

Oh man you guys what a week! Lots of learnin'. We've been building up the Familia Suarez's confidence in us again through service, so I got the chance to become a master tamale-folder, which I picked up on super fast and the Familia Suarez LITERALLY couldn't get over it. What they don't understand is that as a missionary I have the Gift of Being Able to do Random Mexican Tasks, and also I'm 99% positive that my new name of Hermana LeSuarez gave me some kind of Eagle Power. Also, a bird pooped on my head but then it rained so all was well. (Sorry mom I couldn't think of a word that's less crude than "pooped"...) Also, the Church is true. 

We spent a good portion of the week "sweeping out" the area book, going all over looking for old investigators and being adventurous and saying "buenas tardes" to more stray dogs. It's nearing the end of the cambio, which is crazy, and as I've been explaining I'm going through a bit of a frustrating time in the area...but that's okay because I have TWO WEEKS MORE. 

I hope I get to spend another cambio here, but if not, that's okay. Just going to have to accept it, even though I do love it here. I REACH MY YEAR MARK REEEEEAL SOON IS THAT CRAY OR IS THAT LOCO. I want to try to explain how I feel reaching a year but...I just can't. Haha, trying to sum it up would be impossible, I believe. But hey, here's what I know:

Heavenly Father exists, He is the Father of our Spirits, and we can't see Him but we can feel Him.

Heavenly Father loves us a lot and wants us to come back to live with Him. He gave us the chance to be LIKE Him. We are here because He gave us that chance. He hasn't left us alone. He's given us the Holy Ghost. He's given us prayer. He's given us prophets and apostles. He's given us His authority. He's given us His written word. He's given us families. He's given us the chance to be part of His kingdom here on Earth. He's given us the perfect example, His Son Jesus Christ. He's given us a Savior. If we want to accept the Atoning sacrifice we have to do some basic things to show our faith and ultimately be saved - have faith in Jesus Christ, repent, be baptized by someone holding the Priesthood, receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and continue enduring to the end. We CAN LIVE IN ETERNAL HAPPINESS WITH ETERNAL FAMILIES IF WE JUST PERSEVERE FOR THIS SHORT TIME PERIOD WE HAVE HERE. 

I ask you to pray for this family, pray for this area, pray for the many new people we found last week. I know you are, and thank you so much for that. I love you all, and if there's anything I can do for me let me know!

Beeeeeeeg Keeeeeees Leeeeeetle Keeeeeees

Hermana LeSueur

I need to love everyone

Sounds like our girl is struggling a bit, I'm so happy that she knows what is really important and that is to love everyone. That's all that really matters in this life. Please keep her in your prayers. 

Hello my fam.

Well, I'm still here in Mexico and stuff! Finishing off a pretty intense week in Morelos 2. It started on Monday, after I got back from writing. I decided to relax for a few minutes before it was time to leave and work so I sat down to watch The District on the mini DVD player we have. Sitting there on my bed, watching The District, I remembered watching The District on my bed in preparation for my mission - more than a year ago. I remembered just sitting there so overcome with emotion, with tears rolling down my face, just so excited for what I was about to be able to do. I watched the real changes that happened in these peoples' lives the way the Spirit touched them, the understanding and patience the missionaries taught them with... I saw, in those moments at home, missionary work as leisurely strolling around, going house to house with well-planned lessons, waiting at the door of the church on Sunday to greet smiling investigators... The reality is, the mission is a lot better than what I thought. But man, it's also different. For example, I got to Mexico and the first thing they did was the "scare" talk - it's the tradition here - where the assistants scare you into thinking that you're not worthy to be in "The Great Mission" and you should probably just go home if you're planning on making a mistake during your mission, haha. Maybe that's what they do at the start of every mission, but MAN it made me feel so awful. Still hard to laugh about it. I know it's the "initiation" here and it's half a joke, and the purpose really is to help us understand the importance of 100% obedience. But obviously, right off the bat the mission was pretty different - seemed to me more like a boot camp, haha. And then the assistant made me come up with Hermana Heinz to practice contacting someone in front of everyone and then had everyone make a list of what I did wrong. Well, I was so scared that day. AND so mistaken. "THIS is the mission:" I thought "being told we're not and never will be good enough, constantly. Being made fun of and yelled at and put on the spot and judged." I know that's an awful attitude, but I think I was kind of angry, honestly. I think I was angry that I was in the mission that prides itself in trying to do the double of what every other mission does, "The Great Mission," that to me at the time, seemed more like "The Insensitive Over-board Forcing People to Get Baptized Mission." The point is, IT'S NOT TRUE WHAT I THOUGHT AT ALL, really I believe that I misunderstood. Still, I know I'm not the only missionary who's misunderstood the concept of the "Great Mission." I think there have been periods of time in my mission when I have started actually conforming to the supposed ideas that this mission lives by that made me so sad when I got here - that is, the concept of not accepting "no" for an answer ever, baptizing everything that moves whether or not they actually want to and understand why why they should. I've had some insensitive time periods of my mission, quite honestly, and talking with other missionaries I think we all have. I've definitely also had a lot of moments of enlightenment, too, like "WHAT AM I DOING - THESE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD, AND THEY'RE TELLING ME IT'S NOT THEIR TIME." I didn't realize coming out here almost a year ago that it would be so hard not to get caught up in everything, becoming a little tired/mindless/robotic and forget that this isn't a "job" - it's a life. My experience watching The District was something that really motivated me to really help in providing my investigators with the tools necessary to have their own spiritual experiences, to help them build testimonies instead of just a collection of mounds and mounds of biblical evidence and pretty words. I KNOW I came here to do a lot more than that, and I know that there are lots of times in my mission where I have done it. But man, I needed to remember it last week. Patience. The time of the Lord. Covenants and ordenances (how do you spell that in English?) are like a motor and a car. Separately they can do nothing. The ordinance is hollow if it doesn't mean that you're making a real promise in your heart. Baptism in another church is like just the motor - something pretty, a desire to follow Jesus Christ, but without the ability to get us there. It made me really sad this week to hear about how many people have been baptized in this stake recently and the tiny tiny number that's active, or at least come every once in awhile. There are so so so many that have never even set foot in the church after getting baptized. I talked to a lady this week that got baptized about 30 years ago and truly has not been since. What's more, she doesn't want anything to do with the church. She goes to Catholic Mass every week. She said she only got baptized because the missionaries insisted and insisted and obligated her. I hope that there was more than that, I really really do. But it's just a sad example of an almost-empty car. Not to say that she doesn't have the desire to follow Christ, she just never understood WHY her baptism in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was necessary for her salvation - she couldn't make that covenant in her heart, start that motor, because she just  never understood. So many of the people who got baptized before I got to Morelos in the recent months won't even let me in their house, let alone come to church. This week, I once again cried in my bed watching The District, and remembered why I came. What I expected to do. And I gave thanks that I still have six more months lefts to apply, ONCE AGAIN, what the Spirit has told me I need to do. I need to love them. I need to love everyone. I need to testify with power. I need to help them learn how to recognize the Spirit, how to pray with faith, how to study and find answers. These are the most important things I can do. It doesn't matter how clearly I teach if they don't understand that the conviction they develop in their heart is the most important thing. I'm not explaining myself at all, huh? All I'm saying, is that the mission is different than I thought. And so much better. Different in that it IS a spiritual boot camp, and the failure comes frequently. And walking in the hot sun, not entering in a single investigator's house for a whole day, being lied to... it is what it is. I want real converts. I want to not only teach them with power, but motivate them to pray and find out and have the patience to wait for their answer to come - the motor to form - before forcing the shell of the car on them. It sounds funny, but I really really loved that emotional moment I had on Monday. 

This week was filled of a LOT of fasting and prayer for the Familia Suarez. They're still not baptized, but the boy went to EFY and loved it and bought a suit and came back calling himself "Elder Suarez." MAN I love hearing that. I need to have patience with this family. I love them so much, so much, and it's hard feeling like they still don't totally understand. Or WANT to understand. 

Carlos' wife is angry that he came to church, and he's reluctant to come back for that reason. She wants him to go to her Christian church. I know he has the desire, I know that he knows that what we're teaching him is important, he reads the Book of Mormon still and is slowly building his faith and learning to really pray. But his family situation is complicated. Sad. 

Ivan has had a hard life, and he's kind of shut down on us again, lost the little bit of desire that he had to actually better his life. He didn't come to church, we'll see what happens this week. 

Alicia was all ready for church, but she didn't want to come with her kids for some reason so stayed behind waiting for her husband to come home and take care of them. He never did, according to her. It's so hard because every time we're with her I just thank my lucky stars because she seems SO golden - until it comes to following through on all the promises she makes. I think we need to make sure she understands that the committments she makes aren't with US, at all. 

All in all, we found some good new people this week, like a big family of 9 named the Familia Flores. We were so excited until we found out that the dad is really against us coming and started talking to his kids and wife and basically the family that started out so pumped to come to church on Sunday one by one started lying to us and making excuses, and our last ray of hope - the mom Elizabeth, who told us on Saturday night that she'd be waiting for us at 8:20 on Sunday morning - had already headed off to the Catholic church when we showed up. We'll still be passing by this week and see what the Lord can do. 

I AM SO GRATEFUL TO BE HERE. It's the most incredible experience of my life, and I can't even start to explain what it's like being here. It's the most insane rollercoaster of emotions every day, and I'm learning so much about myself and about my Father. I know that this is the only true church on the face of the Earth, it's the Church of our Savior Jesus Christ. If we want to truly and completely accept the grand gift that he's offering us, we need to be baptized by someone who has the sacred authority directly from Him. And I know that EVERY PERSON will have that chance, if not here, in the Spirit World. HashtagSeriouslySoBlessed that I get to help build the kingdom here on Earth FULL-TIME for 6 more months. Love you all, thanks for all you do.

Beeeeeeg Keeeeeees Leeeeeeeetle Keeeeeees

Hermana LeSueur

Traci

801-647-5244

Sent from my iPhone